Celebrating Success: Anna Xue

This is the final article in our 2019 news series celebrating high performing Pembroke undergraduate students and recent alumni in their examinations.

Anna Xue (History and Politics, 2018) recently finished her first year at Pembroke with a first class mark. We caught up with Anna to congratulate her on her success, discuss the highlights of studying History and Politics, and talk about her contribution to Pembroke’s Access and Outreach activities.

 “My first year studying History and Politics has been a varied and stimulating experience. I explored many interesting topics, from the relationship between anthropology and history, to the rise of populism in advanced democracies. Although the process of producing weekly essays can be hard work, it is ultimately rewarding. I enjoyed the opportunity to read widely around a topic, to think for myself and to discuss my arguments with supportive and encouraging tutors in weekly tutorials.

This year I took advantage of the many volunteering opportunities offered by Oxford, including volunteering at a café for the homeless in the city. Coming from a state school, I am keen to support Pembroke’s efforts to improve access to the college and university. This summer I worked as an undergraduate mentor at Pembroke’s Oxnet summer school, giving sixth form students advice about essay writing and applying to university.

The biggest advice I’d give to a potential applicant is to read widely and explore topics that may not be part of your curriculum. There are many ways of showing your deeper interest in the subject, for example by attending a summer school, listening to a lecture or entering an essay competition. I would definitely recommend the History and Politics course for anyone interested in understanding important issues of the past and the contemporary world.”