Philosophy Personal Statement - Wish I'd Known (Expert Oxford & Cambridge Application Advice)
When it comes to personal statements, above all it is important to show a true interest in Philosophy and a comprehensive knowledge of certain components of it. This is best demonstrated through literature you have read, which is not prescribed as part of your course. This isn’t to say that the literature can’t be linked to modules on your course - in fact, this is a useful starting point - but reading around the subject will show tutors that you have taken the time to explore independently, which will indicate to them you have a genuine interest in the subject.
Understanding here is far more important than volume.
Listing lots of books is likely to do you no favours, whereas insightful commentary is much more likely to catch their attention. Understanding, not reading, is what takes time and therefore what can show true commitment to a subject. This commentary could be either analysis and evaluation of the literature. Bonus points for comparison across pieces of literature, but only do this if you have something truly interesting to say.
The literature itself can be both books and articles; perhaps even lectures you have attended which have caught your attention. Cambridge has a great recommended reading list, but feel free to go beyond this and certainly do not feel the need to read all the books that they list. Another item that can be used to compliment this are any essays you’ve written of note that relate to the books and articles you wish to mention. Essay competitions are of particular use in this area, but feel free to also mention essays directly related to your study of the A Level.
The key to a good Oxbridge statement is insightful analysis and evaluation of relevant literature.
Whilst, it’s good to still mention extra-curricular, it should take a back seat at the end of the statement with only a few lines dedicated to it. The vast majority should be your analysis of the subject, which is the most effective tool you have to demonstrate passion and intellect.
Lastly, it is important to keep in mind the statement’s audience. Unfortunately, this can vary from tutor to tutor and college to college. Some tutors are likely to use the statement as a jumping off point for the interview. They will scan it quickly, a minute before your interview begins, and ask you one or two questions regarding your opinions in the statement as a diving board for other pre-prepared questions they have. Other tutors will take the statement much more seriously and may well as you in-depth questions regarding the literature you have mentioned and your opinions of it. It is always best to be prepared for the latter; know your literature. If it turns out to be the former, then no harm was done. However, if you are unprepared for the latter, it can be the difference between Oxbridge failure and success.
Whilst it is true that personal statements aren’t the most important component of the Oxbridge application in and of themselves, they can determine the outcome of the most important component; the interview.
If your personal statement is weak, or you don’t understand content in it, the outcome of your interview may be severely affected.
One last recommendation; having proof-read your statement several times, it may well become a blur. In addition, we often miss mistakes in work we’ve written ourselves. Whether it’s a friend, teacher or professional it is important to run through it with someone else. Look to check the structure, the flow, the analysis, the evaluation, spelling errors, grammar errors and most importantly how it conveys your passion and intellect through your use of literature.
Let us know if you have any questions about this article or anything related to Philosophy at Oxbridge at all.
This article was written by Kes (Oxford - PPE).
If you find this content useful, please visit Kes' profile for further information on applying to Oxbridge. Alternatively, book support now with Kes, using the form below.
Author: Kes - Oxford
BA Philosophy, Politics & Economics
In my mentoring, I like to focus on building critical thinking and communication skills, which are fundamental to both PPE. In my experience, the best way to build these skills is through understanding argument structure and then applying it to different scenarios.
