Prospective English Literature MPhil student at Cambridge University

I am looking at applying to Cambridge University for my English Literature Masters. I think I have a fairly good chance, I'm currently averaging a first, and my first year average is 71.38. I'd like to specialise in animal studies in romantic literature. I have a bit of imposter syndrome about the application process and think the best way to combat this is to get as prepared as possible for when the application period does roll around. If anyone could answer any of my questions, I'd really appreciate it.
1. What do you think made your application stand out?
2. How did you approach your personal statement - any tips on tone or structure?
3. What kind of writing sample did you submit, and why did you choose it?
4. Did you tailor your application to individual tutors or specialisms within the course?
5. Did you do anything outside your degree that helped your application (e.g., publishing, conferences, internships)?
6. Would you recommend mentioning personal context, such as first-gen or access background?
7. If you applied to other universities too, what made Cambridge’s course unique for you?
8. Any final tips for someone starting to prepare their application now?
Thanks all!

1. What do you think made your application stand out? First great grades, second strength across all aspects of the application, though research proposal is important for some subjects
2. How did you approach your personal statement - any tips on tone or structure? Tone is irrelevant, the course in international and therefore the tone is too. The structure is simple, just why you want to do the course, why you want to do the Cambridge course and why you'd be good at it.
3. What kind of writing sample did you submit, and why did you choose it? The best grade you've got
4. Did you tailor your application to individual tutors or specialisms within the course? Not people, but fit to a strand if the course offers them
5. Did you do anything outside your degree that helped your application (e.g., publishing, conferences, internships)? They can all add to the strength of the application, but they have to be 'all-access' type activities, ie not so much things you paid for
6. Would you recommend mentioning personal context, such as first-gen or access background? No, at Masters level that's pretty much run out of steam, you are a graduate and presumably a good one, with all the social, cultural capital that brings.
7. If you applied to other universities too, what made Cambridge’s course unique for you? Just compare the courses and pick a difference.
8. Any final tips for someone starting to prepare their application now? Don't bother, you are too early. You need to start thinking about it in the summer after your 2nd/penultimate year, when you have 2 years of competitive grades and reasons to be confident about your final year. Look at how much you changed academically from the start of Y1 to the end, then you are going to change that much again Y2 and again in Y3.