HELP!!! Balliol PPE

Ok, so I'm only applying next year (for 2007 entry) but everything everyone is saying about oxbridge entrance is really freaking me out! I want to study PPE, and since Balliol is the best I've thought about applying their although I know it is harder to get into where PPE is involved! Basically I would really appreciate any advice on my what will make me stand out, I'm taking the following A levels;
Maths
English
History
Government and Politics
Economics
and I have predicted A's in all of them. But I'm worried about the extra curriculars (and as you have to do them for a while before application I need to think about them now). Also about what to put in my personal statement and how to prepare for interview. Advice from anyone would be helpful especially those accepted to Balliol PPE (How did you do it?)
Help!!!!

Reply 1

samlangfield

3

Not to be picky but sort your grammar out first...

Reply 2

mellow-yellow

1

samlangfield

Not to be picky but sort your grammar out first...

Although I know what you mean, that isn't v. helpful or constructive :biggrin:

And btw, I know a couple of people who have got top degrees from Oxford and still have bad grammar.

Reply 3

Drogue

19

What would make you stand out for Balliol PPE? More As than you can shake a stick at, high level debating, very strong interviews, having read a lot around the subject, etc. Probably more to make you stand out actually. Balliol PPE is sillily oversubscribed, to the extent that some who apply there are automatically allocated to a different college, as they can't interview the sheer numbers.

Reply 4

Crazy Mongoose

12

Extra ciricular is not that important, it merley shows you can manage your time well. I would still suggest picking up some, though, if only for the fact it will improve you as a person; consider Millenium Voluntering, Duke of Edinburgh, or even simple charity work :cool:

. Also consider debating, or any kind of public speaking- i found that having spoken publicly before helped me when it came to interview, as it gets you used to formally defending your views before an audiance. Otherwise, however, just hype up your academic achievements.

As regards personal statements, the format i used was;

1.Why i wanted to study the subject
2.Relevant skills and background reading (in my one this was all about my reading!), as well as work experiance (if relevant)
3.Stuff about my subjects (my head of 6th form made me put it in :mad:

)
4.Activites in school
5.Activities outside of school
6.Conclusion (very important and, i find, often neglected; a sentance reafirming why you want to study x)

Reply 5

tenjon

8

Debating, without a shadow of a doubt.

Do some national competitions. Don't worry if you start off really badly - you improve amazingly quickly, and nothing prepares you better for thinking on your feet/eloquence/awareness/self-confidence etc. which is all exactly what you need for interviews.

Plus, if you go for Balliol, you will be interviewed alongside some national debating champions!

But don't really worry about extra-curriculars - you sound almost American!!! Those A-levels are terrific choices for PPE :cool:

good luck

Reply 6

galacticdctator

OP

2

Well as regards the grammar thing- I wrote that post really quickly- My grammers normally quite good, honest! Anyway, thanks for the feedback! Debating? Debating is a big thing at my school school so I guess I could give it a try!
Any more advice?
xx

Reply 7

sjuthani

6

Beyond what's already been said- really really care about the subject. That's what they want. If you do that, you'll see all sorts of opportunities opening up for you, that only you (rather than us) would know about.

But I can't deny that debating helped me....

Reply 8

samlangfield

3

galacticdctator

Well as regards the grammar thing- I wrote that post really quickly- My grammers normally quite good, honest! Anyway, thanks for the feedback! Debating? Debating is a big thing at my school school so I guess I could give it a try!
Any more advice?
xx

Well I hope you wrote that quickly too, otherwise you've sort of contradicted yourself...

I'd concur with the fact that your A level choices are good. Why does the college have to be Balliol?

--------------

mellow-yellow

And btw, I know a couple of people who have got top degrees from Oxford and still have bad grammar.

Yep, they're called scientists.

Reply 9

thorondor

7

galacticdctator

Ok, so I'm only applying next year (for 2007 entry) but everything everyone is saying about oxbridge entrance is really freaking me out! I want to study PPE, and since Balliol is the best I've thought about applying their although I know it is harder to get into where PPE is involved! Basically I would really appreciate any advice on my what will make me stand out, I'm taking the following A levels;
Maths
English
History
Government and Politics
Economics
and I have predicted A's in all of them. But I'm worried about the extra curriculars (and as you have to do them for a while before application I need to think about them now). Also about what to put in my personal statement and how to prepare for interview. Advice from anyone would be helpful especially those accepted to Balliol PPE (How did you do it?)
Help!!!!

You are worrying over nothing. Tutors take very little notice of your personal statement on the whole, it is the interview that matters most since you've already got the predicted grades you need. When i was down at Hertford for interview they said they may glance at your statement. Other unis have gone as far as to say if it's not linked to the subject, there's no point putting it in your personal statement. But it can't be a bad thing to do it, everyone does. It shows another side of you. And i had almost no extra curricular activities last year, but you'll be surprised how far you can stretch things without every telling a lie. You don't have to have been doing it for ages, you could have started it the week before and there is nothing wrong with putting it down. I even mentioned stuff i did in year 7, by saying during my time at my school i had represented the school at rugby and cricket, which i did, but only in year 7. You can be creative without telling anything other than the truth.

Reply 10

pedy1986

13

galacticdctator

Well as regards the grammar thing- I wrote that post really quickly- My grammers normally quite good, honest! Anyway, thanks for the feedback! Debating? Debating is a big thing at my school school so I guess I could give it a try!
Any more advice?
xx

Latymer...very good debating school. I imagine you'd get really good coaching for debating aswell! There's a fair few debaters I know who got into Balliol PPE, all of which were the top-top schools level debaters at the time.

Reply 11

ProzacNation

samlangfield

I'd concurr

Well, if we're going to get pedantic about it, you might want to sort out your spelling...

As to the original post, and what someone has said regarding personal statements - ignore that!! Personal statements are extremely important. I know of more than one college who grade their applicants on GCSEs, AS/A Levels, written work and quality of personal statement, out of 10. The top applicants based on those factors alone will automatically be considered for offers, with the interview either clinching or destroying their chances. All of those areas have to be very strong, with the interview as the icing on the cake. Don't be put off by high numbers: so far you have a fantastic choice of subjects and good grades for PPE at Balliol, so you have just as much chance as the next person. Just get cracking on the extra-curriculars.

Reply 12

MatthewH

3

Read a couple of newspapers everyday, plus the New Statesman, Economist, whatever. Think about the issues. All the good debaters do it as a matter of course, and if you don't enjoy it then PPE probably isnt for you.

Reply 13

Traum

samlangfield

Yep, they're called scientists.

cruel, but true...

My grammar is terrible but i'm (hopfully, fingers crossed...) going to do e+m... :biggrin:

as regards to the EC... for PPE i'd think getting involved with Local politics wud be good (youth MP or somethinglikethat)...and getting work experience at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (v prestigious, only take 10 ppl/year... and you have to go through loads of tests/interviews etc... almost as difficult as getting into oxford :wink:

)

HELP!!! Balliol PPE

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