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Oxford 2026 Applicant, tips?

Hi! I've never posted on here before so I'm not totally sure how it works, but I'm going to apply to Somerville for Psychology this year, and I was wondering if anyone has any tips for the application process/ suggestions for wider reading/ ways to strengthen my application? I've wanted to go to Oxford for as long as I can remember, and now that it's actually getting closer to applying I'm worried that I won't be a strong enough applicant.
(Some of my stats/ECs, I'm studying Psych, Geography and Sociology, I don't have predicted grades yet but I'm hoping for A*A*A*, I have roles in equality and mental health at my college, I've done psychology-related volunteering, silver DofE, I will be doing an EPQ, HE+ program etc)
Anyways, tips/ suggestions are super welcome, it's good to be here!!

Reply 1

cactus11235813

Original post by unpunisherable

Check out the suggestions given by the university/other universities for wider reading and pick what seems interesting!

https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses/suggested-subject-resources

There's a word document with a list of suggested books etc for experimental psychology linked to on the Oxford website under psychology. I've heard The Man who mistook his Wife for a Hat is good (linked to in both the psychology and medicine reading lists on the Oxford website).

Googling "Cambridge psychology reading list", here are some of the (better) ones which come up:
https://www.christs.cam.ac.uk/psychological-and-behavioural-sciences/reading - college pages have a lot of information, and some are better than others.
Also, the main Psychology page for Christ's: https://www.christs.cam.ac.uk/study-here/undergraduate-study/subjects/psychological-behavioural-sciences#resources

The Cambridge department one is here: https://www.pbs.tripos.cam.ac.uk/prospective/faq/faq-pbs-tripos-course#toc-10 (right at the bottom of the FAQ).

There was also another TSR thread, but I can't confirm reliability/quality of those books mentioned (whereas the college/university ones are more fact-checked by default): https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=4482918

Also, probably the best resource I found when looking up wider reading back in the day was the University College Oxford page about book recommendations: https://www.univ.ox.ac.uk/applying-to-univ/reading-bank/

It's basically reviews by students about books they read as students, and it's generally very good + helpful.

There's a lot of information out there - it's just a matter of finding it!

Also - this is not an official suggestion, but brushing up on your maths beforehand can be useful, for any science degree in general! I don't do psychology in any way shape or form, but I know people doing psychology/neuroscience, and what applying to Oxbridge for sciences is like, so happy to help if you have any other questions!

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