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IS GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS SEEN AS A 'TRADITIONAL' SUBJECT?

Just wondering...... you know- the like of LSE, oxbridge etc, do they like Government and Politics?

Reply 1

I'm at Oxford and I did it for A-Level. It's not really along the lines of maths and science etc., but it's a cut above anything that ends in -studies. Depends what you're studying eg: it;s useful if you're applying for well, Politics, PPE, History, along that line.

Reply 2

Rachel_manc

7

I've never heard of anyone disriputing politics a level as worthless or useless, of the people who i studied it with at school (20 of us), about 5 are at oxbridge, and almost everyone is at a top 20 university studying generally arts and social sciences, including law. it's a great a level...i loved it anyway!

Reply 3

Elles

17

the PPE-ists i know seem to have A2s more along the lines of Maths, FM, History, Chemistry, Economics, English etc. if that's the subject you're looking towards

i wouldn't say it's a "traditional" subject as such.. but if you enjoy it & want to take it, i doubt it's really "disrespected" anywhere! :p:

Reply 4

Clodagh

It's just like really really contemporary history! Political ideologies, and the growth of The Cons and Lab parties etc. (based on my syllabus) whilst in History we did the growth and decline of the Liberals (Lib Dems) back in the 1800's...the same stuff really, just 100 years later!

Reply 5

Elles

17

Clodagh

It's just like really really contemporary history! Political ideologies, and the growth of The Cons and Lab parties etc. (based on my syllabus) whilst in History we did the growth and decline of the Liberals (Lib Dems) back in the 1800's...the same stuff really, just 100 years later!

erm..fair enough. i didn't comment of the worthy-ness of the subject content - given that i know nothing about it! :p:

but with regards to being a 'traditional' subject - i just don't think it is..along with law, environmental science, media, business, communications etc. any subjects that aren't typically studied at GCSE just don't scream 'traditional' to me!

with PPE - the Oxford prospectus only specifies Maths & History as 'helpful'. but if you want to do Gov & Pol, like i said.. go for it. :smile:

Reply 6

kingslaw

14

I don't think its an undesirable A-level, but its not on a par with Sciences, Maths, History, English, etc. Many people with Politics A-level seemed to get into Oxbridge (not that I personally know any), and lots of people that I know (including myself) got into top 20 uni's for very competitive subjects with it. However, if the other subjects you are taking are along the lines of Media Studies, Business Studies or Film Studies, then it may not be a good idea.

And to boot, its not the most difficult A-level. The first year you basically just have to remember a lot of stuff, but the second year is more reliant on analysis and understanding argument. However, it was quite easy to predict the questions that were gonna come up. It's especially a good idea to take Politics if you take an interest in politics and history in general. I've been learning about socialism on my own accord since I was about 13/14, so as you can probably guess, when I had a whole exam on socialism/Marxism, I did not too shabilly :smile:

Reply 7

PurpleGecko

I'm at Oxford too, and I did gov and pol at A level. providing it is mixed in with other academic subjects such as history, english, maths, science, economics etc (depending on what you plan to study) it should be complimentary. However if you study it alongside sociology, film studies, drama, psychology, etc (i.e so called non-academic subjects) you will probably struggle at the best unis.

However, one of these newer subjects would be, in my opinion, fine as a fourth subject considering that even oxbridge offers are only from 3 subjects. That was the case for me with politics being my fourth subject, obviously if you are a potential PPE student then politics might come higher up the list!

Reply 8

LongGone

18

well I know two people who got PPE offers with Politics A Level- neither of them had history, and one of them didn't have maths.
It's certainly not thought of on the same level as things like media studies.

Reply 9

melbourne

OP

Well im doing Maths, Economics, AS Physics, AS Politics, Business Studies and possibly AS Latin- and i wanted to apply for PPE....?

Reply 10

RxB

1

Economics and Business? They may not be overwhelmed... I don't know anyone here doing that combination.

Reply 11

kellywood_5

17

melbourne

Well im doing Maths, Economics, AS Physics, AS Politics, Business Studies and possibly AS Latin- and i wanted to apply for PPE....?

Are you sure you want to do 5/6 AS-levels? That would be so much work! I'd recommend taking 5 at the most. I don't think you should do business studies unless you really want to as it has a reputation for being the easier version of economics. Perhaps maths, economics, physics, politics and possibly Latin would be better?

Reply 12

fishpaste

don't do business when you're doing economics, what a waste of time

Reply 13

Russell

1

It is fast becoming a traditional subject...if that is possible

Reply 14

Cellardore

11

i always thought Politics was a traditional subject.

In terms of how good the subject is as an A level, it depends what you want to do. It's a really good subject to study if you want to do a degree in Law or History, but wouldn't be very useful if you wanted to do something like medicine. And i would agree that Politics is like History, but contemporary history (if that makes sense) As when i did History at AS it was just like studying Politics but in the early 20th century.

I personally think it's a very interesting and rewarding subject that keeps you up to date with current affairs - it involves everything you do.

Reply 15

Cellardore

11

To be perfectly honest, i think Government and Politics should be introduced from Y7 as i think it's very important in this day and age.

Reply 16

*Hythlodaeus*

5

Cellardore

To be perfectly honest, i think Government and Politics should be introduced from Y7 as i think it's very important in this day and age.

I agree. Politics is an area that people are often extremely ignorant about. I become so frustrated trying to have a conversation with most of the people in my year about anything even remotely political.

I take G&P at A level and enjoy it immensly. It has been useful to me as I have applied to study Politics at degree, so I am biased :smile:

There is someone in my class who is applying to study medicine who takes politics. If you like the look of it, take it! Don't let people say to you that by taking one subject that is considered non traditional that you won't get into a top university.

Reply 17

Cellardore

11

*Hythlodaeus*

I agree. Politics is an area that people are often extremely ignorant about. I become so frustrated trying to have a conversation with most of the people in my year about anything even remotely political.

i agree.
I love that advert that talks about the UK elections 'I don't do politics :rolleyes:

' it just sums society up.

*Hythlodeus*

I take G&P at A level and enjoy it immensly. It has been useful to me as I have applied to study Politics at degree, so I am biased :smile:

Me too

what uni are you hoping to get into to?

Reply 18

*Hythlodaeus*

5

Got an offer for BSc Government at LSE. Cannot wait! Where are you going?

Reply 19

RayOfHope

I take Politics and find that it is a very interesting subject, despite some typical comments of it being boring etc. but I just would not study it at uni as I need something a bit more mathematical (Economics). I think the best thing about Politics ALevel is the fact that it does not have coursework in the syllabus!!! Out of interest is anybody here taking the American Comparitive module for A2?

IS GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS SEEN AS A 'TRADITIONAL' SUBJECT?

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