Re: dress code - by all means dress smartly, but don't look *too* slick - deep down tutors resent the fact that 50% of their undergraduates end up becoming investment bankers, so maybe don't dress like one at interview.

oliver, Hong Kong,

The most important thing for science and engineering is a keen mind and willing to tackle something you don't know. This is what you'll encounter in the course as well as later in industry, so if you're the type of person who likes a challenge, they'll like you.

Tom, London,

By all means try and read what your interviewer has written but you may find it difficult, so don't be put off! Regarding appearance, yes it may be a good idea to dress smartly, but that doesn't necessarily entail wearing a suit. That would be an unfair expectation on the part of poorer students.

Luke, Cambridge, UK

They asked me a lot of dilemma style questions, where either answer was wrong.
One was, "A bomb has been planted in a city and the only way to find out where is to torture a suspect. Do you allow it?". As either point of view could be argued, never step down from your first answer!

D, Oxford,

Point 20 is nonesense. I received a rejection letter from my 1st choice college and was gutted. 8 days later mentally I was going elsewhere and then received an offer from my 2nd choice Oxford college. No question that it was a turning point in my life. It does matter. Don't hear otherwise!

Rob, Southampton, Bermuda

Most tutors only deal with undergraduates, because they have to: most are there for research.

They are all different and award places to people with whom they can tolerate spending a couple of hours a week.

Know your subject and be bright!

If you don't know them, the rest will be pot luck.

Robert, Midlevels, Hong Kong

I believe I got into Cambridge before the interview, by asking plenty of questions of the lecturer on a general open day about the course. He found out my name from my school, and arranged for me to go to the College's open day.

In the interview itself, I was relaxed as I really liked Durham Uni

S, London,

In my interview at Cambridge, I got into an argument with the tutor about inevitability in Aeschylus's Prometheus Bound (Classics). He dismissed and ridiculed my argument, but I stuck to my guns. I got the place, and later mused that he had actually enjoyed a bit of a fight. Most male academics do.

Matthew Oakley, Seoul, South Korea

I don't know about Oxford, but a generation ago (the 60s) what some Ivy schools were looking for was one really good academic idea of professional quality original to the student. That was enough to get one in...but standards for this route were fairly high.

Furnald Hall, Toronto, Canada

I arrived an hour late for my interview, did not plan anything and got in easily. That was 17 years ago. The only useful things I learnt in my entire time at Oxford were how to roll spliffs and send email. Pretty town tho, despite the appalling traffic and air quality. Jesus 1992-95

harry, london,

Hmm, please don't pay too much attention to the article's advice on appearance. I wore holed black jeans to mine and still got happily in. You only need to look at everyday tutor-wear to see how much they care...

Anna, Oxford,

I'd agree with not over-preparing in a sense that don't try and predict what they are going to ask you. know what you have written on your personal statement and show your passion on the topic by reading around the topic. As for the 'dress code', do whatever you are comfortable in,

Sally, Cambridge,

Entrance exam is cruclal. If its there you should take it and practice so to do as well as you can. In the interview, be prepared for the curve-ball questions. Know your hobbies well especially as they may relate to your chosen subject. But ultimately, be yourself and remember that ability rules!

Michael, West Midlands,

Our daughter was a succesful applicant. The interview system was fair and open. The questions were thought provoking and took her out of her comfort zone. As a scientist there was much emphasis on her Maths. The school received useful feedback on all its applicants far better than many other unis.

Janice Sheel, Aughton, UK

I assume from all the above that maths and sciences have completely dropped of the radar ?
- Jesus, Oxford, 1971 (maths).

Tom Collinge, Johannesburg, South Africa

An Oxford interview isn't like a normal job interview. Employers are looking for someone who is a good subordinate and will fit into the organisation. Oxford tutors are looking for someone who can defend an argument. The two are almost diametrically opposed.

Malcolm McLean, Bradford, UK

Don't be put off by well-meaning, but misdirected, current students. My interview at Cambridge was nearly sabotaged when a student helper informed me that the tutor I was about to be interviewed by 'hated first years'. Not at all helpful or reassuring. Fortunately I survived; but take heed!

Hannah, Nottingham,

Stella in Croatia - you really shouldn't hang everything on getting a place at Oxbridge. For a start, they have don't have the space for every suitable applicant so being brilliant isn't enough.

Second, as an example for you, Oxford is not in the top two universities for music.

Julia, London,

Potential, and a keen mind. Be intellectually omniverous, know how to put an argument together and it is yours for the taking. If you can't do well at the interview you will not benefit from the one on one teaching at these places.

That is all the interview is, a dry run of the supervision system.

Kate, London,

The most important thing of all is... SHOWING PASSION!

The Tutors interviewing you have devoted their entire lives to academia. If you are being interviewed then they know you are capable of studying at Oxbridge! Now try and match their enthusiasm for your desired field of study!

Greg Albanhouse, Oxford, UK

Stella - you misunderstand the last point. You can still show your enthusiasm for the university, without pinning all your hopes on it. 20 is just reassuring you that failure to get in is not the end of the world!

Leila, Oxford, UK

My top tip is DON'T over-prepare. Coaching can be counter-productive because Oxbridge interviews vary by tutor/subject - if you expect it to go one way, you may be thrown when the tutors take a different approach! And just be yourself - don't worry about wearing a suit!! (I got in by the way!)

Liz, London, UK

As a sometime Oxon interviewer, I can say with confidence that what you wear makes no difference at all. Concentrate on listening to the questions, responding thoughtfully and confidently, and demonstrating breadth of knowledge rather than slavish repetition of what you have been taught at school.

Alexander, St Andrews,

Most of these are perfectly reasonable comments, based as they are on common sense. They would therefore be good advice for *any* interview - the problem with this article is that it implicitly perptuates the myth that oxbridge interviews are 'different' in some mysterious way

Maria, Cambridge,

Just remember to take the time to think before speaking and be prepared to change your mind. I started disagreeing with my interviewer and explaining why, then decided she was right halfway through my explanation and agreed with her.

Sarah, Taunton,

I asked my son to get his interview clothes sorted well in advance - he didn't. So we had a 9pm trip to Tescos and he chose chinos and an grandad style shirt to avoid having to wear a tie. Afterwards, he reported that they had only been 3 people not wearing a tie, the two tutors and him - he got in!

Diana, Derby, uk

The interview is designed to see how you will cope with the unique style of small group teaching. It's not a way of catching you out or giving you a 'grilling' for the sake of it. You need to be able to look at an idea from all angles and challenge it, and keep up with the pace of discussion.

Monika, Cambridge,

I'd agree with Stella's point. You need to communicate how much you want to go there. Indifference comes across terribly in an interview. The people interviewing know the value of the places that they are awarding (Oxbridge is still the gateway to so many opportunities in life), so show desire.

John, London,

I disagree with Point 20, you should set all your hopes on the privilege of getting in to Oxbridge and you should communicate your enthusiasm for your first choice university at interview. Oxford and Cambridge are peerless and you will inevitably be disappointed if you fail to get a place.

Stella, Pula, Croatia

You forget the best strategy of all: I did so well in the entrance exam, gaining an open scholarship, that they scrubbed the interview altogether.

Ian Kemmish, Biggleswade, UK

Someone at interview informed me that all his family had gone to Balliol, and who asked what books I'd read, then said he'd read all of them adding, "You should read Timaeus. It's excellent". He didn't get in. The people who seem to know a lot or say they know a lot aren't always the best candidates

Stuart, Plymouth,

I'd also say - don't be afraid to get into a bit of a debate with them on a topic. I'm not saying argue with them, but showing you can form/express your own opinions and won't just sit there and parrot what a teacher tells you is much better than trying to curry favour by blindly agreeing

Hollie, London,