05. Interviews!
So you’ve made it all the way to interview. This part can be a little daunting, but hopefully exciting, too! This post goes through what to expect, how to prepare, and what it’s like on the day.
What to Expect
At Cambridge, the large majority of applicants will be invited to interview sometime between late November and early January. Interviews are often thought of as mini tutorials or supervisions — the small group teaching formats Cambridge is famous for — and they’re a way for interviews to test your aptitude for that style of teaching. The number and format of interviews varies between colleges, so here’s what to expect:
You’ll either have one interview or two — with separate interviewers for both. They should each last around 20 minutes. One interview might be based solely on your portfolio, and the other on more general academic interests; or you could have two portfolio interviews. You’ll have at least two interviewers with you in the room, who may or may not specialise in architecture!
These days, all interviews but Trinity College’s will be conducted online — no need to pay to travel to Cambridge carrying heavy portfolios!
Your portfolio interview(s) will very likely take the form of a presentation and discussion of your artwork. Non-portfolio interviews could take many forms, but are likely to be full of interesting, challenging questions. However you answer, your interviews are trying to see how you think, more than what you know.
How to Prepare
There are a number of things that can be helpful to prepare for. The first is to…
Check out who’s interviewing you! When you get your interview schedule, look up your panels — are they architects, or not? There’ll be likely to ask different questions using different language! It’s also helpful to know your interviewers’ names and faces beforehand.
Re-read your Personal Statement. It’s often a starting point in interviewers, so make sure you really understand what you wrote a couple months ago. Have your opinions changed or developed at all since then? This is a great chance to further discuss what you’re excited about in architecture.
Practice presenting your portfolio. Think about how much time you want to spend with each piece, and be prepared to answer further questions about your work. What’s most important is your ability to succinctly explain your pieces.
Keep reading, listening, watching, looking, visiting, and engaging in art, architecture, space, literature, and everything you’re excited about in architecture. One of the biggest things your interviewers want to see is your passion!
On the Day
Keep calm and know that your interviewers are human too. More than being about what you know, it’s about how you think. Think aloud and explain your thought processes as you go, and if you don’t know something — just say! Your interviewer would much rather put you at the edges of ground you’re familiar with than in areas you know nothing about at all.
You might also be asked to respond to totally new information — you could be presented with an image of a building and asked what you notice in it, or given a quote from an architecture critic or theorist and asked whether you agree with their opinion. In either case, make sure to explain why you find a certain part of the image interesting, or why you agree or disagree.
