Ellie Whelan
The key advice to anyone applying to Oxbridge is to “read around your subject” and to “read into your interests”. Yet, what does this even mean? Where on Earth do you start? Unfortunately, there is no reading recipe that, if followed, will bake the cake of success.
Instead, it is important to be individual. There is no need to follow some niche rabbit hole about the literature of an obscure Celtic tribe just to ‘stand out’. What tutors are looking for is people who enjoy their subject and read more because they want to learn more, not just because they want to impress tutors.
When should I begin?
There is no starting date for when your super curricular work should commence. In fact, if you are passionate about your subject, you will have already started. In order to leave preparation for the personal statement and admissions test, start reading more after Year 12 mocks and during Year 13 summer. The earlier, the better.
So… where to begin?
As an English and French student, I started by reading around the books I was studying in school. I loved Jane Eyre so I decided to read more by the Bronte sisters. This in turn made me fall in love with Victorian literature, thus I darted over to the Dickensian universe of Pip and Oliver Twist. After reading blogs and articles online, I discovered that post-colonial literature had been written as a response to Victorian literature, so I delved into more modern works, like “Wide Sargasso Sea” and “Beloved”. You need to find your trigger. Whether that is a book you love studying in school or something you have read independently, you need to find your interests and then delve deep.
This strategy can be applied to science, maths or even law. Find a concept or idea that fascinates you and mine down into the nitty gritty. Books, articles and even YouTube videos will develop your passion and most importantly, discover whether you love this subject enough to dedicate several years to studying it.
For modern languages, it is a bit more difficult. WJEC A Level French involves one book, which is usually very short and simple, and not exactly gripping. I struggled with finding the door into the world of French literature. Thus, I did what we all do when a problem arises: resort to google. Short but interesting works were recommended, like the classic “L’Étranger”. However, my reading was not limited to the google list. Instead, I read other works in the same genre and by the same author to develop my interests beyond the basics. Every languages applicant will have read the rudimentary: read beyond.
How will I remember everything?
Reading into your interests is all well and good if you can actually remember what you have read. You may be able to say that you have read lots of books, but can you actually remember what they are about? The key to organising and remembering your reading is to make a log. Note down what interests you about the tone, plot, ideas or character development. Why did you enjoy the book? What made you want to explore the genre/ author? Being organised will help you draw links between your reading and make writing the personal statement so much easier.
In essence, it is not about how much you read, but what you read. Read into your interests and form opinions so you can discuss them in your personal statement and at the interview. Finding your start point is the most difficult part: after that, have fun and discover your love for academia.
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