Underperforming

Hi, I've been told to make a LinkedIn, but now that I've seen my year mates' accomplishments, i.e. the summer schools they'll attend and other courses, I can't help but feel like it's too late for me to make my application look good.

Does anyone have any advice or ideas as to what I should do?
I'm aspiring to go to Queen Mary and to study History there. I have also done some work experience, intend to do volunteering work, and am working as a Mental Wellbeing Champion.

Reply 1

emilyalexandria

9

Original post by khushiii!

Hi, I've been told to make a LinkedIn, but now that I've seen my year mates' accomplishments, i.e. the summer schools they'll attend and other courses, I can't help but feel like it's too late for me to make my application look good.

Does anyone have any advice or ideas as to what I should do?
I'm aspiring to go to Queen Mary and to study History there. I have also done some work experience, intend to do volunteering work, and am working as a Mental Wellbeing Champion.

Summer schools and courses really aren't necessary for a good application. I'm studying History and Politics at Oxford, and I didn't include a single course, summer school, or any experience outside my house in my personal statement. A good personal statement shows capability and passion for the subject, and you can demonstrate both of these just through reading. My advice would be:

1) Read around some areas of history you find interesting that are not included in your A levels.
2) Find a few texts you understand well and enjoyed.
3) Write about these in your personal statement, demonstrating that you understood them well, and gained something from the experience.

As long as you don't just name drop books, this is a perfectly good way of filling up your personal statement. If you haven't read it already, I'd definitely recommend The Silk Roads as a starting point.

Reply 2

McGinger

18

Unis don't care what you have on Linkedin.

They just want to see evidence of a genuine interest in the subject you have applied for.

Extra reading list here - https://le.ac.uk/history/study/undergraduate/introductory-reading
and an excellent background/skills book - https://le.ac.uk/history/study/undergraduate/introductory-reading

Useful Moocs - free online short courses - to do over the summer -
https://www.york.ac.uk/study/moocs/hidden-history/
https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/empire
https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/policing-and-protest-in-manchester-the-moss-side-riots

BBC In Our Time sound podcasts - a very wide range of topics - https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qykl/episodes/player

Reply 3

khushiii!

OP

2

Original post by emilyalexandria

Summer schools and courses really aren't necessary for a good application. I'm studying History and Politics at Oxford, and I didn't include a single course, summer school, or any experience outside my house in my personal statement. A good personal statement shows capability and passion for the subject, and you can demonstrate both of these just through reading. My advice would be:

1) Read around some areas of history you find interesting that are not included in your A levels.
2) Find a few texts you understand well and enjoyed.
3) Write about these in your personal statement, demonstrating that you understood them well, and gained something from the experience.

As long as you don't just name drop books, this is a perfectly good way of filling up your personal statement. If you haven't read it already, I'd definitely recommend The Silk Roads as a starting point.