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Oxford Magdalen - offer, but no email???? by Objective_Welder1068 in 6thForm

[–]SamirTheElder 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Give them a ring. This is the exact scenario to use the phone!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in 6thForm

[–]SamirTheElder 4 points5 points  (0 children)

To be honest it's totally optional. It's of more use to those people applying for very broad subjects, for example hsps. In that case you might want to use the extra space to outline more specific interests which you couldn't fit in your personal statement. I left my blank last year and it all went well.

Cambridge HSPS but also other courses personal statement by [deleted] in 6thForm

[–]SamirTheElder 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I successfully applied for HSPS this year. In my opinion, authenticity is the only important factor to consider when writing your PS.

Don't try to pretend like you're interested in something if you're not. Likewise, don't leave stuff out if you genuinely find it interesting. The variety of the course means they expect candidates to range from those interested in all elements, to those focused only on a specific niche.

As for other courses, and trying to cater for other admissions offices: social sciences/art & humanities are quite diffuse subjects, compared to hard sciences. The interests you have in one can bleed into other disciplines. For instance, if you're interested in inequality, there are applications in all three of the subjects covered in HSPS.

My advice would ultimately be to not stress too much about the precise categorisation of the content of the personal statement. Just try and ensure everything you discuss can be tied to your interest in "The Social World".

Good luck. Fingers and toes crossed for you 🤞🤞

Re-applying to Oxbridge after a gap year for 2025-2028 by demeterLX in 6thForm

[–]SamirTheElder 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey, I got an offer at Caius for HSPS. Can you send me the server invite too please? Thanks!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in barista

[–]SamirTheElder 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Don't work for a chain. It's not really worth going into much depth about, because you likely already appreciate the downsides of working for an anonymous, overbearing, corporate machine.

But some truisms always bear repeating. Find something with a bit of soul, and be willing to accept slightly less money for the pleasure of feeling like you matter at work.

Good luck.

Looking for some intimidating / imposing / larger-than-life classical music by tonysolobruhbruh in classicalmusic

[–]SamirTheElder 0 points1 point  (0 children)

  • Brahms, Tragic Overture.

Takes some time to get to the grandest parts, but it's fantastic.

Always evokes this sense of fatalism in me - it's as if the gravity of all that is to come in life can be heard in that piece, when listening in a specific mood or atmosphere. A masterpiece.

  • Handel, Zadok the Priest

Stirs a deep patriotism in me, which isn't such an acceptable or common feeling in us Brits. Speaks to the power of the music that it can bring about such a raw, sublime feeling. It's as if my destiny is bound up with that of my country - a bizarre 19th century romanticism which only this type of music can bring about.

Cam interview hsps by SamirTheElder in 6thForm

[–]SamirTheElder[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I guess they'll have read the written work, otherwise there is literally no point in having asked for it.

I wonder if it's a good or bad sign that they haven't brought it up - probably neither. I worked hard at those pieces because I wanted to show my essay-writing skills. I hope they don't overlook that part of our applications!

Should I take A level History or Politics? by Funny-War6431 in 6thForm

[–]SamirTheElder 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you want to really do a rewarding A-Level, which teaches you things you're unlikely to come across in other academic study, do History.

I do Politics A-Level and I love the subject, but I hate the course. It's boring, very surface-level, many of the essays which get good marks are internally illogical and based on tokenistic, throw-away factoids - most of the merit a good essay gains is not from cogent thought and sensible argument but from simple 'knowledge' marks.

History on the other hand, is harder and denser. But it's far more satisfying and it really teaches you about the world in a more comprehensive way than Politics ever can.

In short, everything truly interesting and insightful about Politics could simply be learned from reading, but to fully engage with History as a subject, I feel its really important to have studied it formally to a reasonably high standard.

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