I went to London for an interview of the MArch Urban Design program at UCL, Bartlett School of Architecture with the course director who advised that the interview was to decide clearly whether my application is successful to get an offer to pursue MArch Urban Design. He also told me that since I have already posted the portfolio to them, I didn't have to bring anything to the interview. The course director was late for 30mins for the meeting. Another two academic staff saw me and asked me why I visited Bartlett and they told me that it was not a normal practice to have an interview with only one lecturer in the meeting.

I posted my A4 size graphic portfolio to them and the course director was supposed to take it to the interview and discussed about it. But he didn't do so. Although I have my tiny iPod with me but the screen was so small to let anyone to see anything. In the interview we didn't have a chance to discuss about the portfolio to find out whether I am suitable for the course. He just spent time in asking me why I applied for the course and then asked me questions about my nationality which determines whether I pay international fees (£13000 a year) or the cheaper local UK student fee $5500. During the so-called interview, he spent some time to answer two phone calls. Afterwards, one of his students came in for a tutorial lesson. At that point, the course director immediately closed the so-called interview by suggessing me organising another interview by myself in Dublin, Ireland (another country) with another lecturer who is based in Dublin. And the next sentence he said was, 'goodbye.'

The way they deal with selection process is very loose and it also shows that discussion about my nationality is more important than discussion about my graphic portfolio.

If they take the selection process and interviews lightly, I do wonder how serious they take in other workshops and one-to-one tutorials.