What would give me an edge when applying to Oxbridge for History?

The advice commonly given for Oxbridge preparation, the dispelling of myths long since dispelled e.g. that the interview process is designed to punish or that only the AAA* rugby captain of a prominent boarding school can apply etc., is easily available at a few clicks from the Google homepage. Given the availability of such advice, sound as it is, it is quite hard to find any advice that is not vague, abstract and, ultimately, acknowledged by almost everyone applying. History is among the most popular humanities courses and given that the A-level or equivalent qualification (the curriculum of which is often largely the same) is taken by virtually everybody applying, the problem of standing out becomes particularly acute.
One thing that will actually make you stand out is to pursue extra-curricular reading in a structured and sensible way - not just 'reading around'. A great shock that first-year historians experience is the disjuncture between what they thought history comprised and what the academic study of history actually entails. It is far more likely that your interviewer will be writing something like an analysis of debt and credit in 18th century Lancashire or an investigation of gender in late 12th century hagiographies than writing an all-encompassing narrative history of the cold war or the crusades. You’re not expected necessarily to get as specific as the aforementioned when you’re reading in preparation, but some degree of specificity with your interests will be hugely beneficial. To give an example, if you’re studying theCold War at A-level, don’t just mention Orlando Figes or Peter Oxley in your personal statement. Maybe you found Soviet depictions of American capitalism particularly interesting – find historians who’ve discussed this further and expand from there – not just ‘they didn’t like it’, but ask questions: how did their understanding play out in diplomacy? In culture? Did they perceive a particular American quality to American capitalism and was there, in turn, a particular Russian (or Soviet!) quality to communism? How was the bill of rights and its relation to economic freedom perceived by Soviet legal theorists? How did this influence cultural and political representations? There will be articles and books answering these questions – check Jstor and then follow footnotes and bibliographies. This could go on indefinitely, but the important thing is to show not only an interest in history but a deep intellectual curiosity towards certain parts ofhistory, making you stand out against those who’ve just mentioned vaguely their interest in a period and place.