Vivas

ApeXaviour

I'll possibly be having one of these tomorrow, I reckon I may get one as there's a chance I'm on the arse end of a borderline.

tbh.. I'm sh*tin a brick. Anyone have any advice on what to expect, what kind of things are they looking for? I reckon I'll just have a glance over my notes in the morning and some questions I answered badly in the exams.

Tacitha

I don't know anyone at TCD who's done a viva, but I saw this link in an article I read recently on, bizarrely, the history of exams at Oxford, Cambridge and TCD. Somebody's viva at Oxford - it is quite an encouraging account, with some useful advice I think. Hope it goes okay.

Dubliniensis

ApeXaviour wrote:

I'll possibly be having one of these tomorrow, I reckon I may get one as there's a chance I'm on the arse end of a borderline.

tbh.. I'm sh*tin a brick. Anyone have any advice on what to expect, what kind of things are they looking for? I reckon I'll just have a glance over my notes in the morning and some questions I answered badly in the exams.

I know this sounds stupid but *think* before you answer any questions.

If you get on to a topic you don't know much about try and steer the conversation on to something you do know about -ie- keep talking!

Don't mention something you don't know anything about.

Go over your papers and look over stuff you think you answered badly.

If applicable, be prepared to talk about your final year project.

Wear a suit and look sharp - appearances do matter.


I know a lot of this is bleedin obvious...but common sense goes straight out the window when you're under pressure. I've been there

bug

ApeXaviour wrote:

I'll possibly be having one of these tomorrow, I reckon I may get one as there's a chance I'm on the arse end of a borderline.

tbh.. I'm sh*tin a brick. Anyone have any advice on what to expect, what kind of things are they looking for? I reckon I'll just have a glance over my notes in the morning and some questions I answered badly in the exams.

is this for your PhD?

ApeXaviour

Thanks Tacitha and Dubliniensis, those were both very helpful. Much appreciated.

No bug it's for my degree.

Dubliniensis wrote:

but common sense goes straight out the window when you're under pressure. I've been there

Yep, for an interview on a poster I made for my project I made such god awful mistakes by blabbering. Things any leaving cert student would know is blatantly wrong, and I had been researching this for 3 months.

bug

You're just selling your work. It's like marketing a product.
If you sell a product you are supposed to know how it works, even the basic principles of how each component operates.
This is standard procedure in the college I went to regardless of the final result.

It's a project you were involved in I'm assuming, which is a hell of a lot easier to recall information on than exam questions when put under pressure.

I don't know your course or project to help you, but two things, if all else fails, appear enthusiastic and confident in what you are presenting.

Best of luck.

Edwardius

appearances don't matter for a Physics viva. Know your project inside out and remember, you can't be brought down a mark in a viva so it's just a mark getting thing. I'll have a look for the list today to sava ya'll comin in from the wild west.

Nietzschean

supposed to be lots of viva's this year for TP anyway so i was told so trip is well possible. Anyhhoo dec gl with it dude, if all else fails just talk like a pirate

ApeXaviour

Okay was preparing all this morning and then I get the call... apparently no viva. They're only giving it to one person in our class oddly (and 5 TPs, none of whom I'd have expected either). I'm vert much relieved yet a little disappointed that am not as borderline as I thought I might be. Ah well... Solid, in the middle grade it be so and means study is OFFICIALLY over now, excellent

To the liquor establishment!

Nietzschean

lol congrats? i guess? go get wasted...