[abbygaildeanna]

Hi
Could anybody possibly suggest some extra reading or work experience ideas in order to build up my personal statement to study history!? thanks x

[CUFCDan]

You can try and get work experience archiving or in a museum, helping out at a school maybe. But, to be honest, I doubt most applicants will have a vast array of 'work experience' to study History as it isn't something that leads directly to a career (except being a historian...). Most places, though, especially if you live in an older town, will have museums, tours or small archives that you can work in.

Books: Hobsbawm, Merriman for general history. After that you'll need to be more specific. For example: Russian Revolution I like Orlando Figes' A People's Tragedy, or for the Nazi's Kershaw's The Nazi Dictatorship.

[Regius Lupus]

As CUFCDan said, a museum would be good. Or if not try and get some work experience elsewhere and in your personal statement say how the skills you learned or developed will help with history.

You could read E.H.Carr's What is History. It's considered a classic in the field of historiography.

[abbygaildeanna]

I've already done experience in a care home and a primary school so i guess i can write them down.... I also bought Andrew Marr- History of modern britain, i don't suppose either of you have read this? thanks for the other book suggestions, seems like it's going to be a busy summer

[FedorDan]

From personal experience (not guaranteed to work for everybody, but I got straight offers from doing in), it is recommended to illustrate your interest in history, by referencing a particular period/section of the subject you possess personal interest in. For example, I discussed (briefly), King Leopold II's private acquisition of the Congo, quoting an author in relation to it. However, I used this personal interest to exemplify the claim I was making, in regard to the perceived importance I hold of history, as a subject.

It is also recommended to include references to extracurricular activities which you have pursued (which are history-orientated). I talked about my involvement in archaeological digs, which, if I'm honest, I overstated. In fact, I only attended a day's digging, once; but this doesn't matter, they can't find this stuff out (as long as your account of it seems genuine and well-informed). Work experience at a museum would be perfectly suitable.

Most important of all, is to link everything you talk about back to your interest in history. For example, I discussed the other A-Level subjects I was doing in relation to history...I talked about the significance of Classical Civilisation (particularly Ancient Athens), in as much as it being the birthplace of civilisation, literature etc...I discussed the role of Philosophy in history (namely the distortion of Nietzschean philosophy by the Nazis)...

Hope this helps!

[abbygaildeanna]

Ah thanks that's been a great help! I think i know what to include in terms of content, i'm just finding it difficult to actually start my personal statement and how to open it?!

[CUFCDan]

(Original post by abbygaildeanna)
Ah thanks that's been a great help! I think i know what to include in terms of content, i'm just finding it difficult to actually start my personal statement and how to open it?!

I think mine was quite good; my tutor was part of the applicant process for Cambridge so I think she knew her stuff. Anyway, I opened mine by elucidating why I thought it was particularly important to study the subject (then, Politics) and its relevance to me and my goals.

[abbygaildeanna]

Wow that's really good! It's not particularly the order of what I need to say, it's just getting on and starting it!