[Aeonstorm]

I might see if I can be third speaker for one of the lower teams, where there's less pressure to attend training. Then I can just have fun refining my demolishment skill :P

Do you think debating has helped your study? Debating for me (including training) takes up the whole Friday from 3:00pm straight after school to roughly 10:30pm when I get home, so its a pretty massive time investment. Even if I skip some of the training, I still need to convince my parents somehow that debating will be beneficial rather than simply taking time from study.

[TopHat]

I never had any training or coaching. It was just turn up on the day and see how it goes. So, I can't really comment. My equivalent of time management was rowing. I used to row for my school, but it was a massive time commitment, and I eventually gave it up by the end of Form 6.I. I regret it, but I think in the long-run it was probably necessary.

[Budgie]

(Original post by TopHat)
Oh, and the person who suggested doing debating earlier is absolutely right. There is not a single more important skill you could have for your PPE application than to be able to hold your own in a debate with someone, because that's effectively what the interviews are. You give your idea, and you're expected to be able to hold your ground when challenged, and explain why you're holding it.

There is some truth in this (you should be able to justify your views well), but I would caution people against clinging onto a view at all costs. Open-mindedness, and a willingness to refine your opinions, is definitely good (for obvious reasons).

[TopHat]

(Original post by Budgie)
There is some truth in this (you should be able to justify your views well), but I would caution people against clinging onto a view at all costs. Open-mindedness, and a willingness to refine your opinions, is definitely good (for obvious reasons).

Definitely - that's why I said "able to" rather just "always". :P In my interview for Economics, I started explaining something, realised in mid-explanation why what I was saying was total *******s, and then concluded with "...and I've just realised I'm completely and totally wrong. Sorry...". They actually looked more pleased at that than anything else I'd said.

[warndog]

It says on the website that the standard requirement is 39 points at IB. Does anyone know if the offers tend to be for about 39 points or are they often more.
Also, do Oxford ever require certain points at Higher Level subjects. For instance, 7,7,6 Higher Level. In addition, do they ever require a specific subject grade. For instance, a 7 in Maths? (I do maths higher level).
I would appreciate it if anyone who has received offers in the past or knows about them could please reply!
Thanks

[BigFudamental]

(Original post by warndog)
It says on the website that the standard requirement is 39 points at IB. Does anyone know if the offers tend to be for about 39 points or are they often more.
Also, do Oxford ever require certain points at Higher Level subjects. For instance, 7,7,6 Higher Level. In addition, do they ever require a specific subject grade. For instance, a 7 in Maths? (I do maths higher level).
I would appreciate it if anyone who has received offers in the past or knows about them could please reply!
Thanks

Offers vary. The typical offer might be 39 points but it varies a lot from college to college and from candidate to candidate. I've seen offers for 39 points with 6,6,6 HL and for 42 with 7,7,7 HL.

[Lukizatrus]

Yesterday I received a letter from Balliol concerning preparatory reading for the courses, in my case PPE.
Honestly speaking, I am starting to panic since I have no idea how to read all this before October (I am currently doing a voluntary social year).
Of course, you needn't read all of the books but still it's quite a bunch of books.

I guess other colleges will have sent out similar things, so, which of the books are you going to read? How are you going to prepare for the course?

[pinkpenguin]

(Original post by Lukizatrus)
Yesterday I received a letter from Balliol concerning preparatory reading for the courses, in my case PPE.
Honestly speaking, I am starting to panic since I have no idea how to read all this before October (I am currently doing a voluntary social year).
Of course, you needn't read all of the books but still it's quite a bunch of books.

I guess other colleges will have sent out similar things, so, which of the books are you going to read? How are you going to prepare for the course?

What's on it?

I did very little reading (if any at all?? ) We got given some maths problem sheets and I did those, but I don't think I read the reading list as I was working full time.

Seriously don't worry if you can't get through it all. It's only meant to help you out a little bit when you get here.

[dbmag9]

(Original post by Lukizatrus)
Yesterday I received a letter from Balliol concerning preparatory reading for the courses, in my case PPE.
Honestly speaking, I am starting to panic since I have no idea how to read all this before October (I am currently doing a voluntary social year).
Of course, you needn't read all of the books but still it's quite a bunch of books.

I guess other colleges will have sent out similar things, so, which of the books are you going to read? How are you going to prepare for the course?

Don't worry about it; read a bit if you want but none of it is anything like essential.

[FuLLuPMepOrtION]

Hey, i have the required grades for PPE at Oxford (AAA) But i can imagine this being an extremely popular course, and was wondering whether i have any chance with AAAAAABBC at Gcse and AAA in Chemistry, Maths, and economics a level.


Thanks alot )))))))00

[G333]

Everyone has a chance!
I don't know how popular it is but i know that just under half of those who apply get an interview.
I would say that i wouldn't be able to judge just on your grades what your chances are like. But remember that the asking of AAA is the minimum they would accept. So at Oxford they will usually be expecting higher. But who knows you could know the subject realllllyyyy well and be amazingly enthusiastic and then they won't mind as much

[G333]

Also, with the PS, how do you it?!
I know it sounds silly, but i am intending to apply to other courses that do not have philosophy in them... so how much should i actually refer to the subject?

[tooambitious]

(Original post by G333)
Also, with the PS, how do you it?!
I know it sounds silly, but i am intending to apply to other courses that do not have philosophy in them... so how much should i actually refer to the subject?

standard advice is to go heavier on politics and econ andthen just name drop philosophy

[G333]

(Original post by tooambitious)
standard advice is to go heavier on politics and econ andthen just name drop philosophy

thanks!

[TopHat]

http://www.balliol.ox.ac.uk/undergra...s-reading-list

The Balliol PPE reading list, for those that want it.

[brstc]

I've heard that PPE in Oxford is vastly different in terms of course content compared to other universities (Warwick, Durham, ...), and that Mathematics (and logic questions to do with mathematics) is a crucial element to PPE.

Is this true, and also, what kind of academic background did you come from in terms of mathematics? (Mathematics at A Level, Further Maths at A Level, Mathematics at GCSE, ...)

Could any existing PPE students at Oxford tell me more about this?

Thanks in advance.

[Poppyxx]

First things first; Maths is not a required subject for PPE, which is something to be remembered.

The vast majority of PPEists have Maths beyond GCSE, i.e. AS at a minimum.

But there are definitely those who don't.

In the first term there are lectures for those who don't have Maths beyond GCSE, and you'd be heavily advised to attend them if that's the situation you are in. Some colleges also have Maths classes, others will incorporate Maths tuition into Micro classes. There are also some good textbooks out there. You just have to be willing to put more work in than those who have done AS Maths.

In my opinion the Maths involved in first year Economics (i.e. the minimum you'd have to do) is top end of AS, perhaps into A2. I don't think lack of AS Maths really affects Logic; the most able Mathematicians in my college were not the most able Logicians.

There may be some options later on in 2nd and 3rd year that your tutors may advise you not to take, e.g. Mathematical Methods. But that would be a conversation for you to have with them.

In short; you will be fine if you chose not to take AS Maths, even though you could have. If you struggled to get a B, even an A, at GCSE I think you'd find PPE very tough.

I've just remembered something else; For History and Economics applicants it is 'highly recommended' that they have Maths, for PPE applicants Maths is only 'useful'. Now this is quite interesting given that the Economics is identical in both courses. I'm sure there's some reason for the difference; it may just be that they expect PPE applicants to have Maths anyway, whereas they need to make it explicit for H&E.

[astro67]

(Original post by Poppyxx)

I've just remembered something else; For History and Economics applicants it is 'highly recommended' that they have Maths, for PPE applicants Maths is only 'useful'. Now this is quite interesting given that the Economics is identical in both courses. I'm sure there's some reason for the difference; it may just be that they expect PPE applicants to have Maths anyway, whereas they need to make it explicit for H&E.

A possible explanation for this is that you're stuck with Economics for three years in H&E whereas you can drop it altogether after prelims in PPE.

[Poppyxx]

(Original post by astro67)
A possible explanation for this is that you're stuck with Economics for three years in H&E whereas you can drop it altogether after prelims in PPE.

ah forgot about that

[brstc]

Thanks for the reply. I'm doing the equivalent of A-Level Maths at the moment so I'll be fine on that front.

I've also talked to one of the people who help with the university admissions at my school and he has said that Mathematics was the main thing that tripped people. He didn't really mention whether it was in the admissions test (TSA - I've taken a look at it but it seems to be mainly logic-based questions) or during the interview.

Do they test mathematical ability during the interview or also during the TSA?

Thanks in advance.