Oxford History Students and Applicants

So seeing at the interviews are starting to come through, have any former students got any tips?

How well do you all think we need to know the books mentioned in the PS? I read one of them last summer and so don't really remember a great amount of details, I was wondering if it is necessary to reread it and possibly take some notes...

Reply 442

shlin28

Original post by cynthialf

How well do you all think we need to know the books mentioned in the PS? I read one of them last summer and so don't really remember a great amount of details, I was wondering if it is necessary to reread it and possibly take some notes...

Right now I am planning through to re-read one book thoroughly (already started to re-read it before I got an interview and frankly it is a good read anyway) and only read the intro/conclusions of the other two books, as I think my weakest area would be historiography and most books cover it in those two bits.

Other than that, I'm just going to check through my essay/PS, then just wait in trepidation I guess :frown:

Reply 443

Bezzler

1

Original post by cynthialf

How well do you all think we need to know the books mentioned in the PS? I read one of them last summer and so don't really remember a great amount of details, I was wondering if it is necessary to reread it and possibly take some notes...

Well I always tell the story of how I'd written on my PS that I was "currently reading Die Verwandlung [Metamorphosis, by Kafka]". However, I never actually got round to finishing it before my interview. Then during the interview I was asked on it, and it was all fine, and I was giving examples from the first half of the novel. I think my interviewer (now tutor) cottoned on, and asked "what did you think of the end?" I went completely blank, and asked something along the lines of "which bit exactly do you mean?" to which he replied "the bit where..." and I made up some crap on the spot. Apparently it worked!

Reply 444

marieparis22

1

Original post by Liles93

Balliol

They're being really slow though :frown:

I'm just waiting constantly, heart jumps everytime I get an e-mail :P

How annoying! Good luck for when news does, eventually, arrive :smile:

Reply 445

I Murder Carrots 4 Fun

8

Original post by Liles93

Balliol

They're being really slow though :frown:

I'm just waiting constantly, heart jumps everytime I get an e-mail :P

Not a peep out of Queen's either! If I have this interview I'm going to need to get working... which is obviously going to be thwarted by the heavy snow forecast for tomorrow.
"So what are your views on the Optimist analysis of the Polish electoral monarchy?"
"Oh. Er. Well, you see, I never got to that bit because I was building a snowman."

Reply 446

HelloToYou

Subject: History (Ancient and Modern)
College: Worcester
How you found out: Letter, after waiting for the postman all day with the Beatles 'Please Mr. Postman' going round in my head.... I'm absolutely ecstatic, and yes, I did start screaming....

So for Worcester History I'm guessing it's letter only for UK applicants! Good Luck to everyone else! :smile:

Reply 447

username416369

Original post by 4 I Murder Carrots Fun

Not a peep out of Queen's either! If I have this interview I'm going to need to get working... which is obviously going to be thwarted by the heavy snow forecast for tomorrow.
"So what are your views on the Optimist analysis of the Polish electoral monarchy?"
"Oh. Er. Well, you see, I never got to that bit because I was building a snowman."

DAMN THE POST MEN ALL TO HELL! I still haven't had anything, and I'm guessing that the snow won't help the delivery D:

I guess we have to find out tomorrow, right? If they have to give us a whole week to prepare? :P

And lol!

"So, how do you think politics evolved in the Renaissance, basing your views on the Medici and their rival families?"
"I LIKE SNOOOOOOOOW :biggrin:

"
"... You're in!"

Reply 448

username416369

Original post by marieparis22

How annoying! Good luck for when news does, eventually, arrive :smile:

Thank you very much, nice to have some support :biggrin:

Very well done to you though :smile:

Reply 449

I Murder Carrots 4 Fun

8

Original post by Liles93

DAMN THE POST MEN ALL TO HELL! I still haven't had anything, and I'm guessing that the snow won't help the delivery D:

I guess we have to find out tomorrow, right? If they have to give us a whole week to prepare? :P

And lol!

"So, how do you think politics evolved in the Renaissance, basing your views on the Medici and their rival families?"
"I LIKE SNOOOOOOOOW :biggrin:

"
"... You're in!"

I just emailed Queen's which said that they haven't finished making the decisions yet :rolleyes:

Reply 450

username416369

Original post by 4 I Murder Carrots Fun

I just emailed Queen's which said that they haven't finished making the decisions yet :rolleyes:

I phoned Balliol but all of the admissions legends had gone home... So I'm left flailing around in fear once again :wink:

You look like you'll get a place with those grades though, good luck man! xD

Reply 451

I Murder Carrots 4 Fun

8

Original post by Liles93

I phoned Balliol but all of the admissions legends had gone home... So I'm left flailing around in fear once again :wink:

You look like you'll get a place with those grades though, good luck man! xD

HAT dependent XD

Let's just hope our letters don't get snowed out tomorrow... :tongue:

Reply 452

username416369

Original post by 4 I Murder Carrots Fun

HAT dependent XD

Let's just hope our letters don't get snowed out tomorrow... :tongue:

Ahh the HAT, that madman of the academic world :') How did you find it? Apparently average score is like 40-60% :P

If they do, I'm going to kick some ass in the Post Office!

/I'll probably just ask politely when my letter will arrive :frown:

Reply 453

marieparis22

1

Original post by Liles93

Ahh the HAT, that madman of the academic world :') How did you find it? Apparently average score is like 40-60% :P

If they do, I'm going to kick some ass in the Post Office!

/I'll probably just ask politely when my letter will arrive :frown:

Sorry to intrude, but does anybody know if we ever actually get our HAT results back? I thought it went catastrophically, but curiosity is consuming me :redface:

Reply 454

username416369

Original post by marieparis22

Sorry to intrude, but does anybody know if we ever actually get our HAT results back? I thought it went catastrophically, but curiosity is consuming me :redface:

Haha, don't be sorry :smile: