Cambridge History Students and Applicants
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Hello everyone. What is the expectation around Reading Lists prior to starting in October? Got mine emailed through at the end of May, although not given it too much focus until A2 exams over. 40 books on it, and I was pleased to see some that I had already read - well two of the forty at least 
. There's some fascinating topics. I don't think I'll get anywhere near reading all 40, but hope to get through at least 10 to 12 and focus on periods I've not studied before. Any tips appreciated.
. There's some fascinating topics. I don't think I'll get anywhere near reading all 40, but hope to get through at least 10 to 12 and focus on periods I've not studied before. Any tips appreciated.Original post by ooh-la-laa
Hello everyone. What is the expectation around Reading Lists prior to starting in October? Got mine emailed through at the end of May, although not given it too much focus until A2 exams over. 40 books on it, and I was pleased to see some that I had already read - well two of the forty at least . There's some fascinating topics. I don't think I'll get anywhere near reading all 40, but hope to get through at least 10 to 12 and focus on periods I've not studied before. Any tips appreciated.
. There's some fascinating topics. I don't think I'll get anywhere near reading all 40, but hope to get through at least 10 to 12 and focus on periods I've not studied before. Any tips appreciated.Can only give my experience as I'm sure it'll differ slightly between colleges, but I didn't actually end up reading any of my reading list. Mine was a v broad list, with a lot of the 'big' works on it, everything from Gibbon and Marx to the Bible and the Qur'an. I mean, aside from general interest as an historian, a lot of the books are quite irrelevant for anything you'll do in first year (apart from possibly the HAP paper - and even in this paper you only pick 1-2 topics anyway). My DoS never even asked me if I had read any of it. Of course you get people who are at the other extreme to me, who arrive lamenting that they've "only" read 30 out of the 40 (or whatever it is). All comes down to personal preference in the end, I suppose.
What I actually found a lot more useful and beneficial was looking at one or two of the introductory books for the papers I was planning to do in the first year. (Find reading lists for these under the links here).
Oh, I should probably add that I didn;t get sent my reading list til September. If you've got a good few months then, yes, definitely have a look at periods you haven't studied. Just don't get too bound by the list - if something really interests you then follow that. Your DoS can hardly get mad at you for pursuing your own interest, esp if you used the list as a starting block.
Original post by ooh-la-laa
Hello everyone. What is the expectation around Reading Lists prior to starting in October? Got mine emailed through at the end of May, although not given it too much focus until A2 exams over. 40 books on it, and I was pleased to see some that I had already read - well two of the forty at least . There's some fascinating topics. I don't think I'll get anywhere near reading all 40, but hope to get through at least 10 to 12 and focus on periods I've not studied before. Any tips appreciated.
. There's some fascinating topics. I don't think I'll get anywhere near reading all 40, but hope to get through at least 10 to 12 and focus on periods I've not studied before. Any tips appreciated.As mondegreen says, there's very little expectation. Some people will have been busy during the summer, and the faculty is (despite some evidence to the contrary) made up of mostly sympathetic human beings.
If you're keen and have free time, you could help yourself by reading textbooky stuff for the three papers which you'll do this year. The standard five-day schedule for getting on top of a topic is pretty tight, and it's very useful to know the general shape of the period before getting stuck in. If you want to read any 'big works' now's the time to do it.
You could also think about historiography a little bit. HAP is a bit of a strange one, given that it asks you these big questions when, after 2 terms, it's impossible to know all that much. The best approach seems to be to draw heavily on your other papers, rather than to try to learn something from scratch. In addition to getting to grips with your papers' topics in terms of chronology and outlines, then, you'd do well to get a sense of the historiography within the papers. This is where the 'great books' might usefully be read, but don't lose too much sleep over it. I'd always recommend Quentin Skinner's 'Foundations of modern political thought' volume 1, which is a series of methodological essays, especially if you're thinking of a political thought paper (and you really should; they're great).
Above all, though, stay keen and have a nice holiday. It's easy to lose enthusiasm through overworking. As long as you turn up ready to get stuck in, this summer really doesn't matter all that much; anything that you do's just a bonus.
Mondegreen / Veni Vidi Fugi thanks for the advice, hope I get the grades.
Hello, I have an unconditional offer (well, now anyway, yay 
), to study History at Cambridge. I have been told to pick my modules as soon as possible. I have made what i consider pretty solid decisions but have some further questions from people who have already studied them on the course structure. The one i have the prying question on is paper 4 (British political 1485-1750) and its broadness. It seems to include a lot of content and the course outline suggested that you study themes and chronology but not the entire period. So would i just choose which aspects to study and go to those lectures, or go to all the lectures and then just concentrate on some? Plus, as someone who has studied exclusively modern history up until now i was wondering how easy it is to fit into the paper with very little background knowledge (i have read very little on the period and i've only read post 1750 stuff really not to mention it is usually European or American history ;() or is that not a problem people find. The website did suggest some books to get to get started, however. I just want to try something new )
The other papers i'm doing are paper 11 and 18 (British Economic/Social c.1880 and European c.1880). No one can convince me not to do the European c.1880 haha, and i'm looking forwards to studying the themes of 11. On paper 11 however, it seems to have fewer lectures and study thematically (which i have no problem with) as oppose to chronology and i was wondering if that was a positive aspect of the course and how far you delve into the themes on a sociological or even philosophical level e.g. gender and social structure which I think would be a very refreshing aspect. I also would like to know the economic vs. social balance of the paper
otherwise, if you particularly want to recommend a paper i would love to hear that, although i'm pretty stubborn haha)
Thank you
), to study History at Cambridge. I have been told to pick my modules as soon as possible. I have made what i consider pretty solid decisions but have some further questions from people who have already studied them on the course structure. The one i have the prying question on is paper 4 (British political 1485-1750) and its broadness. It seems to include a lot of content and the course outline suggested that you study themes and chronology but not the entire period. So would i just choose which aspects to study and go to those lectures, or go to all the lectures and then just concentrate on some? Plus, as someone who has studied exclusively modern history up until now i was wondering how easy it is to fit into the paper with very little background knowledge (i have read very little on the period and i've only read post 1750 stuff really not to mention it is usually European or American history ;() or is that not a problem people find. The website did suggest some books to get to get started, however. I just want to try something new )The other papers i'm doing are paper 11 and 18 (British Economic/Social c.1880 and European c.1880). No one can convince me not to do the European c.1880 haha, and i'm looking forwards to studying the themes of 11. On paper 11 however, it seems to have fewer lectures and study thematically (which i have no problem with) as oppose to chronology and i was wondering if that was a positive aspect of the course and how far you delve into the themes on a sociological or even philosophical level e.g. gender and social structure which I think would be a very refreshing aspect. I also would like to know the economic vs. social balance of the paper
otherwise, if you particularly want to recommend a paper i would love to hear that, although i'm pretty stubborn haha
) Thank you
Original post by ButtonsDeSpacey
Hello, I have an unconditional offer (well, now anyway, yay ), to study History at Cambridge. I have been told to pick my modules as soon as possible. I have made what i consider pretty solid decisions but have some further questions from people who have already studied them on the course structure. The one i have the prying question on is paper 4 (British political 1485-1750) and its broadness. It seems to include a lot of content and the course outline suggested that you study themes and chronology but not the entire period. So would i just choose which aspects to study and go to those lectures, or go to all the lectures and then just concentrate on some? Plus, as someone who has studied exclusively modern history up until now i was wondering how easy it is to fit into the paper with very little background knowledge (i have read very little on the period and i've only read post 1750 stuff really not to mention it is usually European or American history ;() or is that not a problem people find. The website did suggest some books to get to get started, however. I just want to try something new )
The other papers i'm doing are paper 11 and 18 (British Economic/Social c.1880 and European c.1880). No one can convince me not to do the European c.1880 haha, and i'm looking forwards to studying the themes of 11. On paper 11 however, it seems to have fewer lectures and study thematically (which i have no problem with) as oppose to chronology and i was wondering if that was a positive aspect of the course and how far you delve into the themes on a sociological or even philosophical level e.g. gender and social structure which I think would be a very refreshing aspect. I also would like to know the economic vs. social balance of the paper
otherwise, if you particularly want to recommend a paper i would love to hear that, although i'm pretty stubborn haha)
Thank you
), to study History at Cambridge. I have been told to pick my modules as soon as possible. I have made what i consider pretty solid decisions but have some further questions from people who have already studied them on the course structure. The one i have the prying question on is paper 4 (British political 1485-1750) and its broadness. It seems to include a lot of content and the course outline suggested that you study themes and chronology but not the entire period. So would i just choose which aspects to study and go to those lectures, or go to all the lectures and then just concentrate on some? Plus, as someone who has studied exclusively modern history up until now i was wondering how easy it is to fit into the paper with very little background knowledge (i have read very little on the period and i've only read post 1750 stuff really not to mention it is usually European or American history ;() or is that not a problem people find. The website did suggest some books to get to get started, however. I just want to try something new )The other papers i'm doing are paper 11 and 18 (British Economic/Social c.1880 and European c.1880). No one can convince me not to do the European c.1880 haha, and i'm looking forwards to studying the themes of 11. On paper 11 however, it seems to have fewer lectures and study thematically (which i have no problem with) as oppose to chronology and i was wondering if that was a positive aspect of the course and how far you delve into the themes on a sociological or even philosophical level e.g. gender and social structure which I think would be a very refreshing aspect. I also would like to know the economic vs. social balance of the paper
otherwise, if you particularly want to recommend a paper i would love to hear that, although i'm pretty stubborn haha
) Thank you
Hi, I'm an unconditional offer holder as well, so I might not be able to help as much, but I had to choose my papers in June and I asked some similar questions.
With the 1485-1750 paper, and most papers in general, the idea is to focus on 100 years - and so iirc you would go to lectures focused on your specialism and this is what your supervisors would focus on as well. There are enough questions on the exam papers so that you'll be able to answer one on the period of your choice. I think quite a lot of people do only modern, and it's recommended that you choose different periods to what you've studied at a-level, so I imagine that most people will be in the same boat
.Original post by smile:D
Hi, I'm an unconditional offer holder as well, so I might not be able to help as much, but I had to choose my papers in June and I asked some similar questions.
With the 1485-1750 paper, and most papers in general, the idea is to focus on 100 years - and so iirc you would go to lectures focused on your specialism and this is what your supervisors would focus on as well. There are enough questions on the exam papers so that you'll be able to answer one on the period of your choice. I think quite a lot of people do only modern, and it's recommended that you choose different periods to what you've studied at a-level, so I imagine that most people will be in the same boat.
With the 1485-1750 paper, and most papers in general, the idea is to focus on 100 years - and so iirc you would go to lectures focused on your specialism and this is what your supervisors would focus on as well. There are enough questions on the exam papers so that you'll be able to answer one on the period of your choice. I think quite a lot of people do only modern, and it's recommended that you choose different periods to what you've studied at a-level, so I imagine that most people will be in the same boat
.Thanks for replying
Yeah, that makes sense. The course outline was just an overview so didn't explain it in detail. I was just a bit panicky because it would be so much to do all of the Tudors and all of the Stuarts 
Thanks. I think it's probably a good that they "make" you do pre-1750 and modern, or i'd be stuck in my way and probably never try something new . Out of curiosity, what 3 did you pick in the end? I want to apply for History in 2015 for 2016. I am so unsure of everything though, even though I KNOW Cambridge is where I would like to be.
Original post by SydneyKid
Hey everyone, is there anyone on this thread applying this year for 2015 entry?
Yep. Probably best to wait for a few weeks until this years students drift away
Original post by Mrkingpenguin
Yep. Probably best to wait for a few weeks until this years students drift away
Hey! Nice to meet you
Original post by SydneyKid
Hey! Nice to meet you
You from Australia? ('sydneykid...')
Original post by Mrkingpenguin
You from Australia? ('sydneykid...')
Yep
are you an international too?Original post by SydneyKid
Yep are you an international too?
are you an international too?Nah I live an hour away from Cambridge haha. Hardly international!
Where you thinking of applying?
Original post by Mrkingpenguin
Nah I live an hour away from Cambridge haha. Hardly international!
Where you thinking of applying?
Where you thinking of applying?
Wow I'm jealous I've never seen that part of the world! I'm still torn atm I really like Kings but I doubt I'd get in if I'm international. What about you?
Original post by SydneyKid
Wow I'm jealous I've never seen that part of the world! I'm still torn atm I really like Kings but I doubt I'd get in if I'm international. What about you?
I really like St. John's, personally. Kings is big and beautiful, but as you said it is competitive (and it has a reputation of being quite left wing if you mind). Cambridge really likes international students actually, especially in history which is less competitive than other subjects.
I suppose it must be pretty hard applying to a college when you have never set foot in the country lol! Much more rainy than aus
Original post by Mrkingpenguin
I really like St. John's, personally. Kings is big and beautiful, but as you said it is competitive (and it has a reputation of being quite left wing if you mind). Cambridge really likes international students actually, especially in history which is less competitive than other subjects.
I suppose it must be pretty hard applying to a college when you have never set foot in the country lol! Much more rainy than aus
I suppose it must be pretty hard applying to a college when you have never set foot in the country lol! Much more rainy than aus
True I have to decide from what I can find online :/ what are your A levels if you don't mind me asking :P I'm curious haha
Original post by SydneyKid
True I have to decide from what I can find online :/ what are your A levels if you don't mind me asking :P I'm curious haha
History, English, Economics and Maths. I think you do A levels in aus as well right?
Oh and if you want any info on colleges feel free to direct message me.
Original post by Mrkingpenguin
History, English, Economics and Maths. I think you do A levels in aus as well right?
Oh and if you want any info on colleges feel free to direct message me.
Oh and if you want any info on colleges feel free to direct message me.
Oh thanks
Well in Australia we do the Higher School Certificate (HSC) and we take quite a few subjects, most people do about sevenQuick Reply
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