Oxbridge "extras"

[pisspants]

I am not too sure on this so was hoping I could get some advice here.
Dd is year 11 and doing very well with good predicted GCSE grades. It is still too early to know if she could realistically consider Oxbridge but I see a lot of chat about having extras on personal statements relating to the subject they are wanting to do if considering applying there. DD is interested in studying history, so I was just wondering what sort of extras would be the type of thing she would need to demonstrate? As it could help with any other uni she may want to apply for it would be great to have more of an idea so can start looking into it if anyone is able to advise?

Maybe but it doesn't matter [if the courses are elementary] if they cover a different area to that being studied at A level, or maybe the same area but a particular aspect

lockdownmadness.com I would say that reading and learning independently rather than signing up for Noddy courses would be more the thing for serious Oxbridge History applicants. Quantity isn't what Oxford and Cambridge are looking for.

Apologies if my answer was the one that came across London-centric - I was trying to make the point that it was easy for DD to do those particular things but it wouldn't be for everyone.
And when I say we're from London were actually from a small town from which it is incredibly easy to get into central London but actually isn't London. So the local museum DD volunteered at is based in a small village hall in a village where it feels nothing has happened for decades. But it gave her brilliant experience at talking to history enthusiasts from a totally different generation (she was 15/16 and the next youngest volunteer was 78!) and an appreciation of oral history that she wouldn't have got elsewhere (her partner was 86 and had never lived anywhere else).
So I think there are experiences you can get anywhere that you can make worthwhile.

No "extras" expected at all. Read (or listen to, or watch) material related to history beyond school texts and, most importantly, have something to say about it. And closer to the time, practice the very important aptitude tests (Oxford).

I think the essay competitions etc are most useful as a way to provide a focus and motivation for additional reading and thinking. The fact of the essay competition itself is not important.

DS is about to start studying History at Oxford. We got him a subscription to History Today for Christmas in year 11, which he loved: it was a great way for him sample lots of current writing and check out reviews of new books, which in turn lead to more reading outside of the curriculum . DS also entered the Vellacott essay competition run by Peterhouse College - he was asked about it in his Oxford interview.

they’d surely rather see that she was a well rounded individual.

Not really for Oxbridge.

Ds did a mooc, the summer before he applied. It helped a great deal but it was science so maybe a bit different.

I'm with @goodbyestranger here - Ds had a place at Oxford - History - he just read and read around . He was told "clearly interested and know your stuff" - just by reading - I would not worry about part time related jobs etc . Now not to say DCs won't enjoy that & it could give them something to talk about - but the main point it seemed to Ds was just read and read ( and then read a bit more ) He did for enjoyment not for revision etc so he seemed to be a natural historian.

(not to say jobs are not a good thing to do to save up some money etc )

Oh and - downloading aptitude tests from website to practise is a good thing - sorry done in more posts than I should )

Very big yes to doing all of the past aptitude papers that are available to download. DS is so grateful that he did, as his state school hadn’t prepared him at all for that sort of thing.

I really appreciate all your help. It's good to have the information in advance as I suspect info from the school (if any) would all come through too late to be able to make a meaningful difference if she does end up applying.

@LaundryFairy

Very big yes to doing all of the past aptitude papers that are available to download. DS is so grateful that he did, as his state school hadn’t prepared him at all for that sort of thing.

Same here for DD. Practise, practise, practise, was all DD really did in terms of targeted preparation. It was something she enjoyed, so it wasn't a strain. She had her own personal side projects, which she talked about in her PS, but they were nothing formal or directed.

I would say that reading and learning independently rather than signing up for Noddy courses would be more the thing for serious Oxbridge History applicants. Quantity isn't what Oxford and Cambridge are looking for

I disagree, You can learn a lot from those courses, they are not "noddy" and they lead you to plenty of further reading. Go and have a look. Some of the courses are a bit basic, but the one I mentioned is not. I agree History Today is a good magazine too, DH had a subscription for years (and he studied history at Oxford, by the way).

The R4 In Our Time podcasts are also useful for delving into topics in more depth and they cover lots of areas, including science, medicine, art, literature, history.