20 crazy interview questions for Oxbridge applicants, taken from the Times Good University Guide (
Click here; Imperial emerged third again, just a few points behind Cambridge;
Ranking tables):
1 Do you have many hormones? I find girls get distracted by male mathematicians (to maths applicant, Oxford).
2 What effect on the whole of society does someone crashing into a lamppost have? (law applicant, Oxford).
3 Are people living on the streets mad if they can sing? (PPE, Oxford).
4 Give an example of two statements that can't both be true but can be both false, and two statements that can't be both true and can't both be false (philosophy, Cambridge).
5 Would a good liar make a good lawyer? (law, Cambridge).
6 I have a horrible aunt who hates mathematics. Can you, without telling her of your feelings, convince her that mathematics is exciting? For example, a proof that once you've seen it makes mathematics seem completely amazing (mathematics, Oxford).
7 Tell me about a banana (medicine, Cambridge).
8 When is it acceptable for writing to be boring? (French and Russian, Oxford).
9 Calculate the average interatomic spacings particles in the room (chemistry, Oxford).
10 If we define fear as "something that can hurt us", why are we afraid of spiders? (classics, Oxford).
11 In biblical times Joseph carried out the first buffer stock scheme. Why would he not be in the same position to do that today? (economics, Cambridge).
12 How do you define baldness? (experimental psychology, Oxford).
13 Why don't plants have brains? (veterinary science, Cambridge).
14 Is the Eurovision Song Contest an example of living nationalism? (history and politics, Oxford).
15 Do you see me like a camera? (history of art, Cambridge).
16 Could there still be a Second Coming if mankind had disappeared from the planet? (theo- logy, Cambridge).
17 Is this can of corned beef safe? (medicine, Cambridge).
18 Is it possible to split a human brain in two and create two identical people? (PPE, Oxford).
19 How do you know if 2+2=4 in the past? (philosophy, Cambridge).
20 If it is 12pm, what is the exact time here in Oxford? (physics, Oxford).
Good luck to my batchmates, whoever you are, who applied to Oxbridge. Boy am I glad I didn't have to go through that...
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