Why did you want to do PPE?
I was always good at maths and essay writing, so this seemed like the perfect way to combine my strengths! I am also more of a generalist then a specialist when it comes to my academic work, so the versatility of the course was a big bonus.
In terms of the individual disciplines, Economics A-level was my favourite, and I was certain that I wanted to take it beyond sixth form. Oxford did not offer a pure economics degree, so I had to choose between E&M (Economics and Management) and PPE. I tried reading a couple of management books, but could not make it past the first chapter before getting bored, so I knew E&M was not for me.
On the other hand, I found philosophy incredibly interesting, especially philosophy of science.
I had been debating Brexit at lunchtime with my friends since the coverage started in Year 10, and I was an active member in the regional team of my political party. Therefore, PPE seemed like the obvious choice.
Contrary to the stereotype, I do not actually fancy myself as a prime minister! Of course, lots of people doing PPE will want to go into politics, but equally, there are many who want to go into a huge variety of other sectors including finance, economic policy, law, or stay in academia. The breadth of the PPE course means that lots of career paths will stay open to PPE graduates – personally, I would like to work in international development.
Why Oxford?
I never wanted to apply to Oxford when I was younger (which was surprising, as I was a big Harry Potter fan!). In Year 10, I went on a trip to Oxford that completely changed my mind. The trip was just a tour around the city and a visit to some museums, but I thought that Oxford was one of the most beautiful places I had ever visited. The college system was described by the tour guide as an extension of the house system that we had at school, which was my favourite part of school life, so I thought that the social atmosphere might be something I would quite enjoy too. Of course, as with every Oxford applicant, the reputation of the university was also a pull factor!