My Guide To University Interviews - Tips, Preparation and Essentials

University interviews can be incredibly stressful, as you essentially have half an hour to prove that you're passionate about the subject and want to study it further, as well as trying to stand out from all the other candidates. It can definitely be daunting, especially if it's at a particularly prestigious university, however I want to assure you that it's not as scary as it seems. Since I've had multiple university interviews and learnt many lessons from them, I thought it'd be worth sharing this advice with you to hopefully help if you have any upcoming interviews.


P A C K I N G   T H E   E S S E N T I A L S

If you're attending a university interview, then there are a few basics that you should definitely consider bringing with you. A pen is always an essential in case you have to do an exam, any written work or just fill out some forms. A bottle of water is also good to pack, as it's important to stay hydrated and also gives you a couple of seconds to formulate your answer in your head while taking a sip. If you've been asked to bring anything else, including submitted written work, then make sure you also remember this.

If your interview is further away and involves travel, there may be some other essentials to pack. Aside from your phone and money which are guaranteed to go with you, it may be handy to take a book or some college work to pass the time, especially if you're travelling on the train. I also took my laptop, charger and earphones with me to help pass the time on the journey and whilst waiting in the station. Some other things you may want to pack are some snacks, mints, body spray and a map, just in case.


T I M E   M A N A G E M E N T

The last thing you want is to be rushing to your interview and getting yourself worked up beforehand, and it's much better to be incredibly early than making a mad dash for the location with only 5 minutes to spare. It also helps if you have maps ready on your phone and know the address of where you're going, as well as any specific buildings or room numbers, so that you won't start panicking before your interview trying to find it. If you are early, it's best to acquaint yourself with the area, both so you know exactly where to go for the interview and also to get a feel for the town or city that might become your new home whilst at university.


L O O K   P R E S E N T A B L E

It's likely that the university will have specified a dress code for your interview, but if in doubt then it's always best to air on the more formal side. This doesn't mean you have to be wearing a full suit (unless specified of course), but it looks more professional and respectable if you're wearing something smart and formal rather than simply opting for jeans. However, also remember to dress practically, considering how much walking you'll have to do and what the weather is like.


E N J O Y   T H E   A R E A

If you're in a new town or city for an interview, you might as well make the most of your time there and get a feel for life there, especially since it could become your new home. Whether that's by shopping, sightseeing or just spending a bit of time in the area, it's great to get a feel for the atmosphere as well as enjoying the day out while you can.


P R E P A R A T I O N

You don't want to walk into your interview feeling completely lost and inexperienced, so the best way to prevent this is to do as much preparation as possible. Make sure you know your personal statement inside out, including any books or articles that you've made reference to, and be prepared to answer questions on any of the topics you've discussed. If you've had to submit any work, then you should also know this like the back of your hand as it's likely they'll discuss it in the interview.

It's also worth looking at the university's website again and familiarising yourself with their facilities and the course, in case any questions are asked about why you've chosen to apply there specifically. Also, be prepared for the generic questions of why you want to study that subject, maybe having a few examples in mind that you could easily slot into any question.


M O C K   I N T E R V I E W S

Mock interviews are extremely important, perhaps the most important thing out of this entire post. I had six mock university interviews in college and it's crazy to see the progression and development made between them. I'll be completely honest, on my first one I was incredibly nervous, had very short answers to all of the questions and felt ridiculously unprepared, yet by my final one I could discuss the topics with ease and felt a lot more confident and prepared with my answers, including lots of examples and wider knowledge.

I really want to emphasise this point as my mock interviews helped incredibly, as they give you the chance to practice questions, as well as getting feedback on what you did well and how you can improve, so that you can perfect your interview technique for the real thing. For me, my main area of improvement was having the confidence to show my knowledge and give examples and quotes in questions, rather than just briefly discussing the novels I was talking about. You'll also gain an idea of what you may be asked and how they may phrase questions, so you'll definitely feel more prepared. If you have a teacher like mine, you'll also be pushed and stretched a lot farther than you thought possible, so that in comparison the real thing will feel less daunting and intimidating.


S H O W   Y O U R   P A S S I O N

Ultimately, you need to show that you enjoy the subject and want to study it further, as it's this enthusiasm and passion that'll really shine through when you're talking about the subject. This shouldn't be hard to channel, as at the end of the day if you really enjoy something then you should easily be able to convey that in an interview.




Hopefully these interview tips were helpful, and if you have any upcoming university interviews then I wish you the best of luck! If you follow all of this advice then I'm sure that you'll do really well, and the university will definitely recognise your potential. Thank you very much for reading this blog post and I'll be back next Sunday with another one, so I'll see you then.

Love from Daisy x
A Week In The Life Of Outfits - Winter College Lookbook

Over the past year and a half of being in college, I've really stepped out of my comfort zone in terms of fashion. I never used to particularly enjoy putting outfits together and found it incredibly stressful if I'm honest, but the freedom of wearing my own clothes every day has led to me experimenting a lot more with different combinations and now I really enjoy curating different looks. I thought it would be nice to share a few outfits here on my blog, since it may also inspire any of you who are also students, so I decided to take photos of what I was wearing every day this week and combine it into a winter college lookbook. I've definitely covered as many bases as possible, as well as a lot of the items being affordable, so I hope you like this post!



M O N D A Y





Dresses and pinafores are something that I wear quite often, especially for college, as I really like how they look and also seem a bit more put together. This checked pinafore is something that I spotted in Primark and instantly knew that it was a very 'me' item, and the hint of mustard running through it is especially nice. I paired it with a basic black jumper to keep me warm without detracting from the focus of the pinafore and cardigan.

As it's winter and therefore cold, an oversized boyfriend cardigan is a staple item to throw on. It's a comfortable option to add to an outfit, which is definitely what I needed on a Monday, and I think that it added a finishing touch to my outfit whilst still being warm and comfortable. As with most of these outfits, I paired it with a pair of tights and my black Chelsea boots, which is the most practical option when I walk to college.


T U E S D A Y





I actually attended a blogger event by The Body Shop on this day, and so I wanted an outfit that would look pretty whilst still being comfortable for an entire day of college and then being out all evening. I decided on this denim pinafore, which is an extremely versatile choice and definitely one that will take me through from winter to spring. I also love the frayed edge and pocket details that just add a bit of interest.

I was initially going to wear this with a jumper but I thought that I might get a bit too hot, especially since I was out all day, and so I instead layered it with this lace blouse from Stradivarius. Anyone who knows me will know that blouses are a staple of mine, and this one is beautiful with the lace pattern and bows around the sleeves, and I think combined with my pinafore this made a very nice outfit.


W E D N E S D A Y



By the middle of the week, I decided to choose a comfier, more relaxed option for college. Warmth was also imperative on this day, as I definitely learnt my lesson the previous day whilst in the torrential rain in Liverpool, and so I made sure to wrap up warm. I don't wear jeans that often, but some days I much prefer them as the comfier option, as well as keeping my legs warm, and they look nice when paired with my Timberland boots.

Although I didn't photograph my coats in any of the other outfits of this post, this sheepskin coat was the main feature of this outfit and so I really wanted to share it. I've seen a lot of people wearing coats like this on Instagram and Pinterest, so when I spotted this one on sale in Primark for £15, I knew I had to try it. Not only is this a bargain for a coat, but I fell in love with it and adore how it looks. I added this chunky scarf to ensure that I truly was warm, which has lovely checked and houndstooth prints that match my coat nicely, and I wore a basic cream jumper underneath as well.


T H U R S D A Y





A jumper and skirt is my go-to outfit combination for college, and it's honestly surprising that it's only occurred once in this week, and I much prefer wearing something like this than jeans. It's really easy to put together outfits like this when I'm rushing to get ready for college, and there's a variety of options to mix and match with jumpers and skirts, so you really can't go wrong.

I love this wintry printed jumper, as it's very apt for the season and a pastel blue like this is one of my favourite colours to wear, and I wanted to make the most of this jumper while the weather is still cool. I tucked it in to give a more fitted look, as well as to show off the zip detailing on this taupe leather skirt, which is something that I didn't think I could pull off but I've actually enjoyed wearing.


F R I D A Y





Friday's outfit was perhaps my favourite one of the week, with the piece de resistance being these gorgeous Zara pants. I've been obsessed with them ever since I got them and really wanted to wear them for college, as they're extremely comfortable yet still look put together, and the white and khaki stripe detailing adds more interest than a regular pair of leggings.

I paired them with this white and black striped cropped jumper, which I spotted in the New Look sale for £10 and instantly had my Zara pants in mind. It's a very flattering fit due to being cropped, especially with my leggings being high waisted (although you'll have to be brave having a cold stomach!) and I also love the baggy fit and flared sleeves that I wouldn't normally opt for. This was definitely one of my favourite outfits in this post, as it both made me feel confident and was comfortable at the same time - a win-win situation!


I hope you enjoyed seeing a week of my outfits, and I really enjoyed putting together this blog post! I certainly have way too many clothes, so I'd definitely do something like this again, perhaps when the seasons begin to change and the Spring clothes come out. I'd love to know what you thought of this post down in the comments, as well as telling me what are your outfit staples for winter! Thanks for reading and I'll see you next Sunday with another new blog post!

Love from Daisy x

Happy 2018! I'm sorry that this blog post is late, considering my normal Sunday upload, but I've had a hectic week of mock exams and many other things going on, so I've only just got the chance to sit down and finish this post! Anyway, since we're officially in 2018 and I have a feeling it'll be a good year, I just wanted to take the time to fill you in on a few of the things I'm most looking forward to this year.

One of the biggest things happening at the start of 2018 is going on holiday to New York in February, which I seriously can't wait for! I've been dying to visit for years and I can't believe that I'm finally getting the opportunity to, so you'll definitely be hearing about it a lot both on my blog and social media. There are so many sights I can't wait to see, as well as making the most of the American clothing and beauty stores, so it'll be a jam-packed trip that I'll definitely be well documenting. If you have any New York recommendations then make sure you leave them in the comments as well!

Another exciting thing coming up in 2018 is going to watch Bastille in concert! I feel like I've waited for this moment for years, and it'll honestly be magical hearing my favourite band perform live and I'll be singing my heart out to all of their songs. Although I've still got quite a while as the concert isn't until mid-April, I'm really looking forward to this!

2018 will also be a very big year for academics, as I'll be sitting my A Levels in June, followed by moving away to university a few months later. This is definitely a huge milestone and one that I'm honestly quite scared for, but I'm determined to try my absolute hardest and get results that I'm proud of, as well as studying at a university that I genuinely love and will thrive at. There are still decisions to be made and a lot of revision before these ones happen, so it'll also be a very work-oriented year.

In terms of blogging, my main goal is to continue to branch out and develop my blog. I'm aware that I probably won't be able to post as much during exam season, so I want to make up for it by really dedicating myself to my blog and growing it, especially in the summer. Daisies and Delights is almost 4 years old, and it's crazy to think how much has changed in that space of time, and I can't wait to see what this year holds in terms of improving my content, working with brands and growing my blog.

I'm also working on a little something that is very exciting - I don't want to say what it is yet as it's still a long time in the future, but I'm doing something kind of related to blogging that you guys definitely won't want to miss out on. Even at the early stages, a lot of hard work has gone into this, so I can't wait to talk about it more in the upcoming year. Consider it my little 'secret project' if you will!

On top of all of this, I really want to make 2018 an amazing year of making memories, spending time with my friends and enjoying myself. It'll be the last few months with my college friends before we all move across the country for university, as well as hopefully meeting lots of new people as I start uni, and there's also my final ever Lipa show to look forward to in summer. I really want to share more of these things on my blog, so there'll definitely be more lifestyle content coming up this year.

I wish you all the best for 2018 and I'd love to know down in the comments what you have in store for the upcoming year! Thank you very much for reading (and I'm sorry again that this post was so late) and I'll see you on Sunday with a new one!

Love from Daisy x