Jaymin Shah

When you reflect on your interviews, focus on what you did right.

Maybe you structured your reasoning clearly.

Maybe you recovered from a wrong turn and found a better approach.

These are signs of mathematical maturity.

The best candidates aren’t those who never stumble.

They’re those who recover intelligently when they do.

1 hour ago | [YT] | 0

Jaymin Shah

You might feel like the waiting period is wasted time. It’s not.

This is when your identity as a mathematician starts to form.

You’ve seen what university-level problem solving looks like.

Now you can decide how to keep developing that mindset, whatever the outcome.

Offers come and go.

Mathematical curiosity lasts much longer.

1 day ago | [YT] | 13

Jaymin Shah

The best way to handle the post-interview wait?

Keep your brain active.

You’ve trained yourself to think deeply about mathematical ideas. Don’t switch that off now.

Explore interesting problems from sources like STEP or the UKMT mentoring schemes.

But do it for curiosity, not pressure.

You’re no longer preparing for an exam. You’re developing as a mathematician.

2 days ago | [YT] | 8

Jaymin Shah

On the morning of your interview, remind yourself:

You’ve already done the hard part.

You earned the invitation.

Now you get to do what you love: solve maths problems.

Approach each question with curiosity, not fear.

You don’t need to be perfect.

You just need to think.

That’s what mathematicians do.

3 days ago | [YT] | 13

Jaymin Shah

Remember: the interviewer isn’t your opponent.

They’re your future tutor.

They’re imagining sitting with you every week for three years.

If you show curiosity, humility, and engagement, you’ll be exactly the kind of student they want.

They don’t need perfect answers.

They need teachable thinkers.

4 days ago | [YT] | 10

Jaymin Shah

Before your interview, test yourself on concept definitions.

Can you clearly explain what “continuous”, “differentiable”, or “injective” mean?

If you can’t say them clearly, you probably don’t understand them deeply enough.

Interviewers love asking for definitions — not to catch you out, but to see your precision.

Definitions are the grammar of mathematics.

Know your language.

5 days ago | [YT] | 5

Jaymin Shah

One of the simplest ways to sound confident: use full sentences.

Instead of “then times by two,” say, “I’ll now multiply both sides by two to isolate the variable.”

It’s subtle, but it matters.

Full sentences slow you down and make you sound precise.

You’ll project clarity even when you’re thinking on the spot.

6 days ago | [YT] | 13

Jaymin Shah

During your interview, narrate your discoveries.

If you suddenly notice symmetry, say it: “This expression looks symmetric in x and y.”

If you spot a clever substitution, say it: “I might try letting u=x+y.”

Interviewers aren’t psychic.

They can’t assess what they can’t hear.

Your narration turns thinking into evidence.

1 week ago | [YT] | 11

Jaymin Shah

If you get a hint, use it visibly.

Don’t just nod and continue silently.

Show that you understand the hint and can apply it:

“Ah, right. If I substitute x=2t, that might simplify the denominator.”

They’re not helping you because you failed.

They’re checking how well you respond to new information.

1 week ago | [YT] | 15

Jaymin Shah

If you blank completely on a question, don’t panic.

Say: “I’m not sure yet, but let me try something simple.”

Then explore.

Plug in small values. Draw a quick sketch. Look for patterns.

Even if you don’t finish the question, you’ll show mathematical curiosity and resilience.

Interviewers love that.

Going blank isn’t the problem; staying blank is.

1 week ago | [YT] | 16