Whether you have an interview this year or after you have completed your Foundation course at Oldham College the time will come when you will be interviewed for a course by either one person or a panel of admission tutors. The purpose of the interview is to help art schools find students receptive to the kind of course being offered and determine whether you are up to the challenge of a particular course. It is also an opportunity for you to ascertain whether or not this is the right place for you. Many students who dread the prospect of the interview do so because they do not know what to expect and therefore fear the worst. Most people feel nervous when being interviewed and in some ways this quite healthy as it keeps you alert and even if you don’t come across as well as you intended remember that;
Everyone being interviewed is in the same position as you
You were probably more articulate than you think
Interviewers will understand your concerns and make allowances (we’ve all been there)
Remember that without students these courses would not exist: they need you as much as you need them and it is not in their interest to make life difficult for you. With that in mind it is important to approach the interview positively. Try to be yourself and if you can do any advance preparation this will only help your cause and make the prospect of the interview less daunting.
In some colleges you may be interviewed by one person whereas elsewhere you could expect a panel of interviewers and possibly more than one interview. The interview may last for as little as 5 or 10 minutes to up to 30 or 40 minutes for specific degree courses.
The format of the interview will vary from college to college and it is impossible to know what they will ask you nevertheless there are some guidelines suggested here that will help. Consider the following:
Why have you applied for this particular course?
Why have you applied to study here?
Which artists have influenced you?
What are you hoping to do in the future?
Make sure you have done your homework. Attend open days, read the course prospectus and any literature that is sent to you related to the interview. Talk to students already enrolled on to the course – find out if this is really what you want (have you seen examples of the kind of work created there; have you seen exhibitions or end of year shows?). By preparing in advance you can answer both positively and honestly to the first two questions.
Think about the advice offered when ‘preparing your portfolio’. Looking through your portfolio will remind you of the artists you used as influences. Can you remember who they are and why you used them? Reread the analysis and contextual material you originally wrote.
In terms of your future aspirations it is perfectly natural to not know at this stage what you want to do however you could show that you are aware of some of the possibilities which in turn would require some advance research on your part. There is plenty of material and guidance available on the Art & Design website to help you with this task.
Regardless of the type of questions you are asked during your interview it is also important to consider how you come across. No one expects you to turn up in a suit – after all this is art school but you can make an effort to establish eye contact with people you are talking to as this will reinforce both your enthusiasm and commitment and similarly demonstrate a mature and independent attitude - all of which are considered desirable personal qualities. Think about your body posture; are you sat defensively with arms and legs folded or talking to the floor with a hand in front of your mouth or hair obscuring your eyes? People often take comfort and resort to playing with their hair, fiddling with their hands or rubbing an imaginary spot on the floor with their foot because they feel shy or embarrassed. This is quite understandable however if you start thinking about and adjusting how you use your body posture and movement to reinforce your verbal comments it will become second nature to you very quickly (watch your tutors when they talk to you or your class – it can be quite amusing).
Make sure you listen carefully to the questions you are being asked and take time to gather your thoughts before responding. Don’t be afraid to ask for further explanation if you do not understand.
Be willing to consider new ideas after all you want to learn and you will be difficult to teach if you find it hard to keep an open mind. Try not to become defensive if some of your responses to questions are challenged – it may be that you have touched on something particularly interesting and they are waiting to see how you might respond further.
Be yourself. You don’t need to put on an ‘act’ and don’t try to bluff or lie. It’s okay to not know the answer. Never show work that isn’t yours as it will stand out and could seriously jeopardise any chances you may have had.
Above all be enthusiastic. Don’t be afraid to express your passion and commitment for your subject. Let them know how hard you have worked to get to this point and how motivated you are to continue.
Mock interviews can be both amusing and informative whether conducted between friends or whether you are able to arrange an interview with your subject tutor. You should jump at the chance if offered as mock interviews provide excellent preparation; you can make all the mistakes you like here and hopefully get critical feedback. If you’re feeling particularly brave you could use one of the department cameras to video the interview – when you watch it look out for the mannerisms described earlier.
After you have had your interview it will help to discuss ‘how it went’ with a friend. This will help you to put things into perspective and sharing your experience will help other students in the same situation. Think about what you have learnt from your own experience or what you have learnt from other peoples’ experiences. Hopefully you will be successfully in your first interview but it certainly won’t be your last and you might find this feedback helpful for next time.
