Politics (inc PPE) – LSE vs. UCL, Bristol and York

Now unfortunately, I’ve had to rule the UCL out, because I’m pretty sure you can’t do their European Social and Political Studies without having studied a language at A-level first, which was pretty gutting.

Dutch, Italian, Russian and the Scandinavian languages are available with no prior knowledge. The only requirement is a proven ability to learn one language and enthusiasm to start another.

York is generally regarded as the best place for PPE outside of Oxford. Also I think you underestimate the might of LSE in terms of influence and achievement. It's easily on a level with Oxbridge for politics.

Oxford – PPE
Warwick - Economics, Politics and International Studies
Durham - General Engineering (don’t ask, Engineering is my second love, so I’m keeping at least 1 as that)
Durham - Philosophy, Politics and Economics
LSE -Government and Economics

How are you going to write your PS? you will not get into engineering with a PS mostly talking about Politics, Philosophy and Economics. They are just so different and unrelated...

From my earliest memories, I've tried relentlessly to further my knowledge of the enigmatic world in which we live. 'Knowledge is power' I would reflect, but certain knowledge gives only certain power, and for me personally, it has been the ability to help my fellow human in their struggle to enjoy life to the fullest that I have aspired to master. With such a grand ethos some speculated this was a quixotic viewpoint, but I did not let this dull my enthusiasm. Initially, I took a deep interest in exploring maths and science and jumped at opportunities to study these further, achieving extra qualifications, sometimes several years earlier than the typical candidate. I was fascinated by our everyday reliance on complex ideas and technology, and realised that it was the practical application of this knowledge that could improve the quality of human life ineffably.

Later, I became inspired and captivated by political novels, such as 'Catch 22' and 'Brave New World'; modern classics that I felt contained an almost dialectic aura, elucidating their own concerns for the well being of mankind. I realised such moralities were akin to my original aspiration I had harboured for so long. I expanded my literary exploration into classic works (Plato's 'The Republic' and Aristotle's 'Politics') developments on these (Rousseau's 'The Social Contract' and Hobbe's 'Leviathan') alongside contemporary views (David Miller's 'Political Philosophy') to add more depth and history to my understanding of politics, interlacing with the dynamic modern controversies I tracked in my own time and discussed at a debate club. I marvelled at how everyday emotions, such as love and fear, came to manifest, not an array of scholarly subjects - like books on a shelf - but rather a single body of reasoning that governs the entirety of our everyday lives -the lives I endeavoured to improve. My realisation of the similarities between the real-world results of what at first seemed diverse interests, encouraged me to maintain my scientific background, studying further maths and a physics AEA in my spare time.

Having grown up in an area of mixed social backgrounds, I have seen firsthand the inequality of life, and developed a strong feeling of duty to assist those less fortunate than myself and readily act upon it, such as voluntary work at a day care centre and developing fundraising techniques for a charity consortium, both yielding beneficial results. I also look after and aid the development of my autistic brother, helping him to live with Asperger's Syndrome.

I take pride in getting involved in my local community and have used my skills to promote events from student rallies, to school election campaigns to charity rock gigs. While serving as a Prefect and a member of the school council I used my inter-personal skills to improve the welfare of pupils, successfully campaigning for the re-emergence of Summer Uniform. I relish new and exhilarating experiences, am working towards my Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award and currently designing and constructing a switching audio amp. I have certificates in a variety of personal interests, including food technology, ICT, manufacturing techniques, geographical expeditions, the mathematics challenge and stock market trading. I take interest in film, music and other media. Reflecting my determination, I am the current record holder of the 'Bleep' Fitness Test at my high school and enjoy sport, particularly badminton.

I was proud to become a Member of the National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth and have demonstrated my ability to reach ambitious goals - often using improvisation and creativity to facilitate success. I sincerely believe that university will offer the incredible environment I can only dream of, combining the finest education and a cosmopolitan social atmosphere, to not only further my knowledge; contribute to the university and my subject; but ultimately progress my development as a human being.

On the plus side though, Warwick said that I would be more than welcome on their 'General Engineering with Developmental Politics and Economics', (I think aka 'Engineering with Appropriate Technology'), so I think I'm going to change the engineering one to that!

I think you really should change Durham General Engineering to this course

Hey I was just wondering "reverieuk". what offers did you actually get and have you decided where your going. By the way I thought your personal stement was brilliant.

Grant

I am appling to:

LSE - Philosophy, Logic and Scientific Method
Bristol - Philosophy and Politics
UCL - Philosophy

I visited UCL and LSE today and I preffered UCL on many levels. Bristol also looks very good.