Oxford history - supercurriculars?

Hello!
I'm Y12 hoping to apply to Oxford for history currently. However, I fear I haven't got enough supercurriculars and I'm also struggling for what COUNTS as a supercurricular. I decided on Oxford quite late compared to some other people I know and this is stressing me out quite a bit
Any help, advice or literally anything is greatly appreciated

Reply 1

artful_lounger

Universities Forum Helper

21

It's just a general term for any kind of activity you are doing beyond the A-level curriculum that is related to your proposed area of study.

For history this can just be wider reading and learning, but could also encompass e.g. essay competitions, getting involved in archival/heritage activities locally, etc, among other things. I would expect for most the typical thing would be exploring your subject through wider reading and if you have the opportunity, perhaps look at essay competitions relating to your interests.

But generally anything that demonstrates your interest in your subject area which you are able to critically reflect upon and discuss analytically would be suitable. Bear in mind it's not just a case of listing things in your PS - they want you to show how you have developed your interests through these activities, not just tell them what activities you've done.

It's mainly a term to distinguish from "general" extracurricular activities not related to your subject e.g. random music grades, sporting achievements, etc, if not applying to a course related to those things. They are fine to mention as some other unis will be interested in those, but I wouldn't spend too much time in your PS writing about those.

Reply 2

MarchmontNedham

4

The Youtube videos of Jesus College, Oxford: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnNVlMl7ZIy2laJ4Md8AdLA are really useful when it comes to finding and doing supercurricular activities. They are also valuable in preparing for entrance exams and interviews.

Reply 3

liverninthered

12

Don't overcomplicate it. Just read about history.

Reply 4

KingsleyArtha1

9

Original post by Erinlol&lt

Hello!
I'm Y12 hoping to apply to Oxford for history currently. However, I fear I haven't got enough supercurriculars and I'm also struggling for what COUNTS as a supercurricular. I decided on Oxford quite late compared to some other people I know and this is stressing me out quite a bit
Any help, advice or literally anything is greatly appreciated

it depends what you want to do. For example, I want to do Russian so I'm reading loads of Russian literature and volunteering at Russian community centres next year. The key things is that they show you are interested in the subject area, and then in the interview, you can demonstrate your depth of knowledge in the subject to show that you are interesting. Those are the two things that they want from you to get in

Reply 5

Stiffy Byng

19

This article from Past and Present, Oxford's excellent history journal, reflects not only on one of the greatest history books ever written (I read Religion And The Decline Of Magic as an undergraduate, and it blew my mind), but also on the history of history at Oxford.

https://academic.oup.com/past/article/261/1/259/7246025?login=false

Reply 6

KingsleyArtha1

9

Original post by Erinlol&lt

Hello!
I'm Y12 hoping to apply to Oxford for history currently. However, I fear I haven't got enough supercurriculars and I'm also struggling for what COUNTS as a supercurricular. I decided on Oxford quite late compared to some other people I know and this is stressing me out quite a bit
Any help, advice or literally anything is greatly appreciated

o yh u should start a podcast w other ppl at school. I host our schl's history podcast- it is a rly good way to show a breadth of historical knowledge as well. Speak to ur teachers abt it

Reply 7

KarrotsMitKase

3

Original post by Erinlol&lt

Hello!
I'm Y12 hoping to apply to Oxford for history currently. However, I fear I haven't got enough supercurriculars and I'm also struggling for what COUNTS as a supercurricular. I decided on Oxford quite late compared to some other people I know and this is stressing me out quite a bit
Any help, advice or literally anything is greatly appreciated

Hi, do not stress!

I applied to Oxford and probably only decided around August 2022 - the application needed to be in by October.

I study History at Oxford now so hope I can help!

For extra things, you could try:
1) In Our Time (podcast on the BBC about history)
2) Reading history magazines
3) Reading any history blogs that interest you
4) Watching documentaries
5) Visiting historical places - maybe even volunteering at a local museum or archive.

They really just want to see your passion for History and why you should be there. It is an academic enviornment and they want you to thrive there.

So, show your interest and expand on this - e.g., do a research project, maybe even make a blog about all the historical things you like?

Best of luck with it all!

Reply 8

NotRike

12

Original post by Erinlol&lt

Hello!
I'm Y12 hoping to apply to Oxford for history currently. However, I fear I haven't got enough supercurriculars and I'm also struggling for what COUNTS as a supercurricular. I decided on Oxford quite late compared to some other people I know and this is stressing me out quite a bit
Any help, advice or literally anything is greatly appreciated

No-one has mentioned this yet, but the John Locke Essay Competition (history category) is great, as you can write for it, and even if you don't win an award you can talk about your research for the essay. I would advise you check it out!

Reply 9

Erinlol<3

OP

10

Original post by KarrotsMitKase

Hi, do not stress!
I applied to Oxford and probably only decided around August 2022 - the application needed to be in by October.
I study History at Oxford now so hope I can help!
For extra things, you could try:
1) In Our Time (podcast on the BBC about history)
2) Reading history magazines
3) Reading any history blogs that interest you
4) Watching documentaries
5) Visiting historical places - maybe even volunteering at a local museum or archive.
They really just want to see your passion for History and why you should be there. It is an academic enviornment and they want you to thrive there.
So, show your interest and expand on this - e.g., do a research project, maybe even make a blog about all the historical things you like?
Best of luck with it all!

Thank you! Out of curiosity how did you prepare so quickly for things such as the HAT? I'm feeling really nervous about balancing entrance exams and supercurriculars

Reply 10

McKerrow_History

9

Oxford provides past papers going back to 2016. Do all of them and get a good/very good history teacher to mark them and feedback to you. I'm sure you know some teachers aren't great, so don't let a mediocrity mark your HATs.

HAT (History Admissions Test) | University of Oxford

(edited 9 months ago)

Reply 11

Stiffy Byng

19

A good read for all Oxford historians and applicants -

https://academic.oup.com/past/article/261/1/259/7246025?login=false

Reply 12

KarrotsMitKase

3

Original post by Erinlol&lt

Thank you! Out of curiosity how did you prepare so quickly for things such as the HAT? I'm feeling really nervous about balancing entrance exams and supercurriculars

Hi,

So to prepare for the HAT I basically looked at all the previous past papers and analysed all of the sources. Have a go at analysing them, read the mark scheme. I had one or two timed practice attempts and discussed one of my answers with my history teacher at school. There is a good YouTube channel from one of the Oxford colleges, or Oxford themselves, which goes into the HAT and also a mock interview. I watched these and this helped.

I remember not spending that much time with it, maybe a month tops. (Although I really remember just doing this over the October half term mostly).

Best advice is don't stress. On the day it's going to be random and maybe different to what you studied for it. I remember every year before my HAT cohort had two or so focused and ours had quite a few in the question. Remember it's quality not quantity.

I didn't have "super curriculums" I just did a club twice a week outside of school, my weekly 25h+ revision and maybe doing some extra reading around for my own enjoyment.

Reply 13

McGinger

20

Lists of super curricular suggestions for both Oxford and Cambridge :
Suggested Subject Resources | University of Oxford
super-curricular_suggestions.pdf (cam.ac.uk)
and How to Incorporate this into a PS :
Guide-to-Super-curriculars.pdf (ox.ac.uk)

Reply 14

Scotney

20

Original post by Erinlol&lt

Thank you! Out of curiosity how did you prepare so quickly for things such as the HAT? I'm feeling really nervous about balancing entrance exams and supercurriculars

I have posted link on main Official Oxford Applicants thread of HAT prep book.

Oxford history - supercurriculars?

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