So I'm in the process of starting my personal statement, and I will be applying for different courses. The thread provided in the FAQ seemed mainly to be berating the poster for not being decisive, whereas I'd actually like some help.
Ed. and UCL are the only places in the country which do Scan. Studies so that shouldn't harm my chances too much, right? Is it wise for me to apply for that course seeing as I didn't do a language at AS and got a B in GCSE? (I would be taking a gap year for that course to spend time in Sweden picking up the basics of the language because I have a lot of family there)
Choices:
Oxford: History & Politics
Sussex: History & Politics
Durham: Combined Arts Honours (History, Politics and Philosophy)
Edinburgh: Scandinavian Studies & History
UCL: Scandinavian Studies & History
In my PS I should focus on History, yes? Would I be harming my chances of getting in by having this variety of courses?
I don't see how you have much choice other than writing about all three subjects.
Maybe a short thing about each and then an ending paragraph linking all three together.
I do think the FAQ has a point though. Realistically if you pick three subjects rather than just one or two it is going to look like you can't decide what you really want to do.
I mean obviously your strongest subject is History as this links all the courses together (and really I think you should write most about it).
If you would consider changing your UCL choice I think you would definitely be able to write a more effective PS.
Its important to focus on what you really want to do, rather than just what direction you want to go in. Surely you must know out of the three which ones you enjoy the most?
Its hard to write an effective PS for two subjects, let alone three that arnt that similar so I think maybe you should consider your options a bit more.
So I'm in the process of starting my personal statement, and I will be applying for different courses. The thread provided in the FAQ seemed mainly to be berating the poster for not being decisive, whereas I'd actually like some help.
My subjects aren't completely different, and I've chosen them because I don't know precisely what I want career-wise, they all interest me, I'm good at them, and I could go on from all of them to do law which is looking likely.
So how can I write about them effectively?
They are:
Oxford: History & Politics
Sussex: Philosophy and History
Durham: Combined Arts Honours (History, Politics and Philosophy)
Edinburgh: History and Politics
UCL: Philosophy
The only one I'd consider changing is Philosophy at UCL, by the way.
What subjects do you do in A level and maybe I may be able to help you more. Looking at the face of it I would mainly foucus on history and mention how maybe you enjoy history of philosophy and history of politics if you get what I mean. I think Oxford allows you to add a small PS on the separate application form (Not 100% sure but I was able to add a small PS on Land econ on my cambridge form).
If you can tell me what you currently study then I could help you give you a plan to work on
What subjects do you do in A level and maybe I may be able to help you more. Looking at the face of it I would mainly foucus on history and mention how maybe you enjoy history of philosophy and history of politics if you get what I mean. I think Oxford allows you to add a small PS on the separate application form (Not 100% sure but I was able to add a small PS on Land econ on my cambridge form).
If you can tell me what you currently study then I could help you give you a plan to work on
I do history, english lit, politics and sociology.
History and politics are my two best subjects.
They don't have a separate application form anymore, they've recently got rid of it for better or worse so thats not an option.
mollymustard: yeah, I'm definitely having second thoughts about UCL due to the accommodation and location. I'm now looking at Manchester or York for History and Politics so that'll probably help :]
It looks like History is your common subject across all your courses (if you decide to switch UCL for Manc/York) - so I'd definitely devote more space to talk about History on your PS. After that, I'd probably give Politics second priority to talk about, as you're applying for Politics in four institutions, then perhaps mention Philosophy as another discipline related to His & Pol that you're also interested in - how Politics and Philosophy link in with the study and interpretation of history, for example. Make sure you do mention all three subjects, but weight them differently.
I think all the courses are sufficiently related enough to be able to write a convincing PS - I think what the PS FAQ writer was trying to warn people against was applying for, say, Law, History, Biochemistry, Medicine and Geography or something.
It looks like History is your common subject across all your courses (if you decide to switch UCL for Manc/York) - so I'd definitely devote more space to talk about History on your PS. After that, I'd probably give Politics second priority to talk about, as you're applying for Politics in four institutions, then perhaps mention Philosophy as another discipline related to His & Pol that you're also interested in - how Politics and Philosophy link in with the study and interpretation of history, for example. Make sure you do mention all three subjects, but weight them differently.
I think all the courses are sufficiently related enough to be able to write a convincing PS - I think what the PS FAQ writer was trying to warn people against was applying for, say, Law, History, Biochemistry, Medicine and Geography or something.
I do history, english lit, politics and sociology.
History and politics are my two best subjects.
They don't have a separate application form anymore, they've recently got rid of it for better or worse so thats not an option.
mollymustard: yeah, I'm definitely having second thoughts about UCL due to the accommodation and location. I'm now looking at Manchester or York for History and Politics so that'll probably help :]
Righty o this is how you should plan your PS. I think your problem is including philosophy to the picture but it can be done
Introduction- here talk about your passion why do you like history. Whilst you are talking about how much you love history you may also want to include something in the likes of:
I love looking at history especialy in relation to the history of our political system and those philosophers who have in the past contributed to religion, science and especially politics.
Paragraph 1- Talk about history and what you have enjoyed the most. The ones that you enjoy the most should be topics that is politictically and philosophically related (if you are stuck on this maybe you could give me some topics of what you studied in history and I will help you here)
Paragraph 2- Talk about your politics stuff here, say that you enjoy politcal philosophy and maybe some philosophers that have inspired you and how they have contributed to politics e.g
I find Jeremey Bentham Utlitariansim theory quite interesting as much of our laws today is based on the common good of society and give an example
Paragraph 3- Talk about sociology and tlak about how you find the philosopher Karl Marx's Theory interesting and talk about how is theory contributed to communism/politics and his importance in history
Paragraph 4- Any other extra activities stuff may go here it would be good if you some debating stuff or part of your school debating club as usually they tuch on a lot of historical, philsophical and historical stuff (well mine did ) and maybe give an example on topics relating to each subject
I hope this helps you. It would be nice if you trust me to PM me your PS (more reason to trust me is that I have applied already and got offers) so that I can help you to check it e.t.c.
You probably don't have a clue on some of the stuff that I mentioned as you may have not done it in school. Best to click the links and it will give you more info on the topic. If you are to do a good PS and an interview at oxbirdge you would have to do some research around the topic and it also shows to other unis that you understand the topics very well and have done some research around the degree course you intend to study
Hope it helps and I hope youc an PM so I can check a draft for you
Thanks very muchly
I'm definitely gonna talk about Marxism, it links to the topics I've done in history, sociology and politics and also is something I personally believe in.
I'll PM you when I have a bit more going on with it (at present I only have a rather lame paragraph about the rather pathetic work experience I went on which the school made me write xD)
What is Scandinavian studies?
I understand it will be about Scandinavia!
but what aspects of that region will it study?
From the UCL prospectus:
"In the Scandinavian Studies BA you nominate your language (mine would be Swedish) and undertake cultural studies in history and literature as well as language based studies such as linguistics and translation studies."
The third year is spent abroad at a host university in the country of primary study.
From the UCL prospectus:
"In the Scandinavian Studies BA you nominate your language (mine would be Swedish) and undertake cultural studies in history and literature as well as language based studies such as linguistics and translation studies."
The third year is spent abroad at a host university in the country of primary study.
It is not helpful given the other three courses you are looking at that:
i)UCL specify literature as that is not referenced by the other courses.
ii)UCl do not specify politics.
It is not helpful given the other three courses you are looking at that:
i)UCL specify literature as that is not referenced by the other courses.
ii)UCl do not specify politics.
As a PS Helper specialising in History, my advice to you would be to focus on History and Politics as your main subjects (look in the History Degree of the Wiki for specific advice about History PSs, which is readily adaptable to H&P) and refer to Scandinavia as an area that particularly interests you within those disciplines. The unis that offer Scandinavian studies will know it's a minority interest and will not be expecting the usual depth. Make sure your PS is at least 2/3 academic, if not more. However, I see you are thinking of applying to Durham, in which case you do need to make sure your extra-curriculars are strong, though you don't need to go into huge amounts of detail. Work experience, unless directly relevant to your course choices, can be omitted.
In the end only you can decide what you really want to do, but I would just caution you against applying for a minority interest course as a way of getting into a highly ranked uni, just in case that had crossed your mind. When you have made up your mind the PS Help forum (we generally advise against PMing PSs to people) offers your next port of call.
My advice to you would be to focus on History and Politics as your main subjects and refer to Scandinavia as an area that particularly interests you within those disciplines. l.
That was what I was thinking would be the best option for you but I thought I should find out more about Scandinavian studies first.
Originally Posted by Minerva
However, I see you are thinking of applying to Durham, in which case you do need to make sure your extra-curriculars are strong, though you don't need to go into huge amounts of detail.
So do Durham have a reputation for carrying a lot about extra-curriculars?
I did not know that.
Thanks for the advice, Minerva, I will do just that :]
And no, I'm applying for Scan Studies because I'm genuinely interested not due to admission statistics. If I cared about trying the 'easy route to a top uni' then I definitely wouldn't be applying to do History at Oxford xD
So do Durham have a reputation for carrying a lot about extra-curriculars?
The common complaint that Durham rejects Oxbridge applicants 'on principle' - clearly unfounded! - coincides with Durham's interest in looking for evidence that applicants will be able to make the most of college life - ie that people will work but also play hard. As Oxbridge doesn't care about extra-curriculars much, people applying there sometimes leave these out of their PSs, so the 'evidence' that Durham is looking for isn't there.
No, because I don't speak Swedish. The point of the Scan Studies BA is to learn the language and study the culture.
Yes I have just noticed that in your opening post that you say you did not study a language at AS and only got a B at GCSE. So that must hurt your chances.
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FAQs not helping- Different Courses PS (edit)
) and maybe give an example on topics relating to each subject
