oxford senior status application

I am currently a History and Philsophy student at Warwick University interested in applying for PPE as a second undergraduate degree. After reviewing the modules that will be undertaken in the course at Oxford, I have realised some similarities in some modules I have covered here.

However, as 'senior status' applications enable successful applicants to skip the first year, and as Oxford allows students to drop one of the three subjects as part of its BA in second year (where I hope to drop philosophy), would my completed study of philosophy hinder my application?

I'm only worried it will because I've read elsewhere that unis are keen on taking on students who are completely new to the degree offered. In that case, would I be better off in applying for something more unrelated, such as Law?

Reply 1

JonVega

I would be interested knowing this as well

Reply 2

xyz1234567

I think an obvious question they would wonder is why do a second overlapping undergrad degree rather than either a Masters or an unrelated degree. What will you gain by doing PPE given your background and why do you want to do it?

And if Law, why do a law degree as a second BA rather than the conversion course?

Reply 3

JonVega

Original post by xyz1234567

I think an obvious question they would wonder is why do a second overlapping undergrad degree rather than either a Masters or an unrelated degree. What will you gain by doing PPE given your background and why do you want to do it?
And if Law, why do a law degree as a second BA rather than the conversion course?

Thank you, that's actually a great point!
If you were to apply for a second undergraduate degree like this, what do you think would be a good/acceptable justification/motivation for it?

Reply 4

xyz1234567

Well what is your actual motivation? What they are going to find most persuasive is a genuine reason, not something that you think sounds good.

It’s a very unusual (and expensive) path so something must have made you really want to do it.

Reply 5

JonVega

Original post by xyz1234567

Well what is your actual motivation? What they are going to find most persuasive is a genuine reason, not something that you think sounds good.
It’s a very unusual (and expensive) path so something must have made you really want to do it.

I think in my case it is mostly because I want to study the subject in much more depth (the second undergraduate would offer many more modules and more variety), which would open up more opportunities for me in both academia and job market.
Also, the university/department where I want to do the second undergraduate has much better reputation in research and connections to other universities/institutions and industry which would again open many doors.
Last but not least, which is related to the previous two, I think my target university (for the 2nd undergraduate) has a much higher quality of teaching because of its staff and also teaching style which resonates with me.

I was also thinking of applying to this university while studying my 1st undergraduate but such applications (applying to another uni while studying at another) are usually not considered from what I've read.

Reply 6

xyz1234567

But would all those aims (greater depth, more academic and career opportunities) not be met better with a Masters course rather than a second degree at the same level?

Reply 7

JonVega

Original post by xyz1234567

But would all those aims (greater depth, more academic and career opportunities) not be met better with a Masters course rather than a second degree at the same level?

Yes I think from that point of view you are right. However, I am not sure if my 1st undergraduate degree would prepare me sufficiently for a master degree at a university which is so much ahead of my current one. Just when I compare the amount of modules at my current uni and oxford in the same program, oxford has about 4x as much, which makes me think I might lack knowledge in some areas when studying the masters (in comparison to people who did also their undergrad at oxford)