Grace - History

Name: Grace Lloyd
Subject: History
Year: 1st

What does your working week entail?

My first term studying History at Christ's has been really enjoyable. The average week entails a weekly essay, one supervision and lectures. Once a week you are given an essay title relating to your chosen module. It is then up to you to go and read about the topic using books from your reading list. The books can be found in the college or faculty libraries so there is no worry about buying loads of books – though it is perhaps worthwhile buying the core books that you use more than once. You get a week to do the essay and then it is discussed during your hourly supervision with your supervisor. I have managed to hand in all my work in on time and so the workload is manageable. It is also interesting to carry out your own reading and then formulate an essay on a different topic each week. It means you learn a variety of topics about a certain period. During the week there are also lectures held in the History Faculty. You are advised to attend lectures for all your three chosen modules for the year. Each lecture is an hour. Although optional, it is useful to attend lectures to gain a broad understanding of the period you are or will be studying, especially if you have never looked at it before.

How easy was the transition from A-level to the first year of your degree?

Studying at degree level was always going to be more difficult than A Level but it is manageable. Everyone is in the same position and your Director of Studies and module supervisor help you to make the transition. I was really nervous about handing in my first essay, but each week you improve. I wasn't expected to know straight away how to write a perfect Cambridge essay. It takes time and it is about practice, which you get each week.
History is a great degree to study at Cambridge, especially at Christ's, and I am so glad I applied.

What sort of things did you talk about in your interview?

My History interview was not as bad as I thought it would be. My interviewers were friendly and pleasant. Obviously, I was asked history related questions. They were not necessarily to test my factual historical knowledge, but were questions where I had to think longer about the answer. My submitted essays were also discussed. For my second interview I was given an historical source to look at for a certain period of time. I was then interviewed on it and was asked questions regarding the source. Factual knowledge on the source topic was not needed.