Somerville PPE

This claim may be unfounded, but I remember reading somewhere that Somerville College is not particularly good for PPE. Does anyone know if this is so? (and why?)

The college looks like so much fun though... :frown:

Reply 1

Rofl

8

(From an ignorant perspective) - I don't think Somerville are actually good for anything! :wink:

Reply 2

zoraster

where is F.Poste, by the way?

Reply 3

RxB

1

She's gone.

If memory serves, Somerville consistently gets the worst results in PPE. I don't know why that is.

Reply 4

Lentement

OP

RxB

If memory serves, Somerville consistently gets the worst results in PPE. I don't know why that is.

Yes, I also heard that some time ago. :confused:

RxB (or any other PPEists) tell me: do you think teaching plays an important role in the overall performance of a subject within a college? or do you think it has to do more with the sort of students who end up at the college (not that I want to suggest it is an either/or situation).

To put it more directly: what do you think is the single most important factor in determining how well a college performs in say, PPE...

I guess traditional colleges are able to attract higher calibre students (on average)

Apropos, St Anne's are meant to be quite good, despite not being able to draw on that many students (they have one of the lowest 'application per place' ratios for PPE). Do you think that their performance comes down purely to good teaching and hard work? What other colleges are famous for "added value" teaching?

Cheers

Reply 5

RxB

1

I disagree that traditional colleges are able to attract higher calibre applicants. Some people will get a First wherever they go, and they're not necessarily more inclined to apply to old-skool colleges - I deliberately avoided ChCh and Magdalen and New and the like because I didn't like the idea of being in a big college, not because I thought there'd be a lot of pressure.

I think the major factor in how well a college does in PPE is how much work the students actually do. St. Anne's does very well because the students work extremely hard - probably because the tutors make them. Balliol, on the other hand, has hard-working students because the reputation of the course there attracts people who are more likely to work hard anyway.

Reply 6

Clodagh

RxB

She's gone.

If memory serves, Somerville consistently gets the worst results in PPE. I don't know why that is.

Where did she go? :frown:

Reply 7

RxB

1

Clodagh

Where did she go? :frown:

here

Reply 8

kalen

8

Is Somerville really that bad? I was considering it as one of my college choices for my DPhil (am thinking about switching college) as the psychology fellow there has got similar interests to mine...What can you guys tell me about the environment, academic rep etc?

Reply 9

RxB

1

I'm sure it's fine for most things...

Reply 10

tanncmi

PPE at somerville is fine, it's not merton but then..

it has though a great library with most of the big important books. and besides, if you're a lazy dunce, being at baliol / merton etc. won't get you a first anyway.

Reply 11

fleur-de-lis

1

kalen

Is Somerville really that bad? I was considering it as one of my college choices for my DPhil (am thinking about switching college) as the psychology fellow there has got similar interests to mine...What can you guys tell me about the environment, academic rep etc?

Hey Kalen, it is not necessary to jump to another college just because the person you would like to be your supervisor is a Fellow there. But to answer your question- postgrads at Somerville says that the facilities are quite good and it seems to good for medical related subjects.

Reply 12

kalen

8

fleur-de-lis

Hey Kalen, it is not necessary to jump to another college just because the person you would like to be your supervisor is a Fellow there. But to answer your question- postgrads at Somerville says that the facilities are quite good and it seems to good for medical related subjects.

Yep, I know...but that's not the main reason why I want to switch college. I've heard a lot from people who've done it and regard it as a great way to experience Oxford in a wider way too...Plus tons of other reasons. Hey, don't get me wrong, I like Wolfson too :smile:

Reply 13

UglyDuckling

3

anyone here from somerville ?

Reply 14

sixthirtythree

tanncmi

and besides, if you're a lazy dunce, being at baliol / merton etc. won't get you a first anyway.

Actually, I doubt they'd let 'lazy dunces' stay that way (they don't really let them in, in the first place).

I was threatened with academic probation in 3rd week (how impressive is that! :biggrin:

). This scared me a bit, so I picked things up. No more lazy dunce!

Reply 15

dancingqueen

11

Megsy

Actually, I doubt they'd let 'lazy dunces' stay that way (they don't really let them in, in the first place).

I was threatened with academic probation in 3rd week (how impressive is that! :biggrin:

). This scared me a bit, so I picked things up. No more lazy dunce!

Eeek, that sounds scary, what did you do?

Somerville PPE

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