Oxford PPE (Philosophy, Politics and Economics) Students and Applicants

I'm applying to Balliol (stupid, probably, but I really loved the atmosphere, and there was a dude completely conked out under a tree looking as though he'd just abruptly fallen asleep because the book he'd been reading was the Most Boring Thing on Earth when I went to the Open Day - just seemed so perfect :P)
Anyway, that was irrelevant. What I wanted to ask was: Do you suggest not applying for PPE if you have an interest in the three subjects (and how they interact) but very little knowledge of them? I'm editing my personal statement at the moment and finding it *very* difficult to explain my interest in the subject in any intelligible way.

Reply 221

kizer

15

^^ Definitely it isn't a problem. Loads of people (me included) haven't studied any of the subjects before going up, it isn't a problem. At interviews, they'll probably test your logical thinking when it comes to economics, or see how you cope with economic concepts, with no prior knowledge required. You will have to discuss politics and philosophy, but not in a way that presupposes actual knowledge. With maths and history, your subjects are perfect.

Reply 222

lale89

andy_cole2

hey lale is taht 4k work ib EE by any chance...applying the same as you :p:

hertford for PPE :biggrin:

Yep! The research essay is my EE aka my application for sainthood. Are you going to send yours to Hertford?

Reply 223

a fine line

Oh okay! Thank you! Will probably come back here, it being so useful and all, to moan about not being able to find any decent work to send in.. but until then, that's great!

Reply 224

Fennicus

This thread is awesome, or very helpful at least! "inside-information" is what you can call helpful in an application process (in comparison to some of that official information they offer).

I was just rather concerned about the language requirements of Oxford, mostly about the interview: do you even stand a chance if you stagger in the interview or can't express yourself clearly/don't know a word or two/mess with the grammar/just speak some english with quite an accent?

I do understand that the interviewers aren't any monsters, but I'm unsure about my chances nonetheless. How good is the english of foreign students (EU zone in my case) studying PPE at Oxford in general?

rgrds S

Reply 225

sjuthani

6

Fennicus

I was just rather concerned about the language requirements of Oxford, mostly about the interview: do you even stand a chance if you stagger in the interview or can't express yourself clearly/don't know a word or two/mess with the grammar/just speak some english with quite an accent?

They don't really care where you're from, or how much of an accent you have if you can articulate yourself properly. That is more of a challenge than it seems, because of the heavy essay-writing part of the course, and because a subject like philosophy requires you to be very clear about what you mean; the slightest change in a sentence can turn its meaning on its head. Good grammar is very important.

Reply 226

CarneLevare

4

sjuthani

They don't really care where you're from, or how much of an accent you have if you can articulate yourself properly. That is more of a challenge than it seems, because of the heavy essay-writing part of the course, and because a subject like philosophy requires you to be very clear about what you mean; the slightest change in a sentence can turn its meaning on its head. Good grammar is very important.

Agreed - you can probably get by fine on the other 2, but philosophy, even more so than english itself, requires complete mastery of language. I'd think hard about it.

Reply 227

Roberto Tomato

Applied recently. :smile:

Reply 228

Trepur99

I've looked at the reading list for PPE, but I was wondering if anyone could suggest a specific introductory book to economics of no more than 300 pages! Perhaps something similar to the Wolff Introduction to politics.
thanks

Reply 229

sjuthani

6

WillSen

I've looked at the reading list for PPE, but I was wondering if anyone could suggest a specific introductory book to economics of no more than 300 pages! Perhaps something similar to the Wolff Introduction to politics.
thanks

I'd suggest something like "New Ideas from Dead Economists" by Todd Buchholz (sp?) or "Everlasting Lightbulbs" by John Kay.

Reply 230

Trepur99

thanks very much, I will almost certainly go for the first one there
any other suggestions?

Reply 231

Anti-Manifesto

I'm sending in an Economics essay on the benefits of economic growth (1500w., marked 24/25 by my I.B. teacher, done as a homework assignment in March) and my options for a second piece are as follows: 1) Theory of Knowledge Essay ("Can a machine know?", 1500w., possibly not marked);
2) Extended Essay in History ("Compare and contrast the aims, successes and failures of the educational systems of Nazi Germany and Classical Sparta", 4000w., possibly not marked); 3) Theory of Knowledge presentation (which I will have to convert into an essay, "The right to freedom of speech in light of the imprisonment of David Irving, the British holocaust revisionist, and the public outrage concerning the sketches ridiculing the Prophet Muhammad, possibly not marked); 4) Something new on History or Theory of Knowledge.

Any advice would be extremely useful. Thanks in advance to anyone that bothers...

Reply 232

London Prophet

OP

17

1) Theory of Knowledge Essay ("Can a machine know?", 1500w., possibly not marked);

Get your teacher to mark it

Reply 233

Nutter

14

Tom Holder

1) Theory of Knowledge Essay ("Can a machine know?", 1500w., possibly not marked);

Get your teacher to mark it

Ideally marked, yes (they do openly state the work should be marked), but don't worry too much even if your work isn't marked. Just make sure your cover sheet is filled up correctly. One of my two submissions wasn't marked (and my teacher refused to mark it), but that didn't stop me from sending it in anyway.

Don't even ask when she refused to mark it. I never thought she'd tell me that.

But on hindsight, it may have been a blessing in disguise. I wonder what grade she would have given me, just from seeing her standards at school. :wink:

Reply 234

nik89

Whether or not its marked isn't too important i guess, but on the cover sheet your teacher needs to sign and you need the school stamp.....thats as good as marking it!

Reply 235

Anti-Manifesto

OK. Thanks for the advice guys. I really appreciate it. I thought the TOK Essay would be my best shot anyway, but I wanted to make sure. Thanks again...

Reply 236

ravinthambopaline

I have a quick question about the maths question on the PPE admissions test 2: the one about the party politics and stuff.

Are you suppsoed to assume that when the DBP move forty points to the left that they pick up half the votes of the PBP?

This is the only question that really stumped me so if someone could explain it that would be immensely helpful.

I haven't heard back from any universities yet (no confirmations even) - should i be worried? At what time do people start getting interviews?

Also is it me or does everyone applying to PPE has 11+ a*s at gcse, 5+a's at AS and 4+ predicted as at a2?

Reply 237

London Prophet

OP

17

ravinthambopaline

I have a quick question about the maths question on the PPE admissions test 2: the one about the party politics and stuff.

Link to this particular admissions test?

ravinthambopaline

I haven't heard back from any universities yet (no confirmations even) - should i be worried? At what time do people start getting interviews?

I'd be surprised if you got any non-oxbridge replies before christmas. Oxford don't reply for a little longer I don't think. I mean the dealine for oxbridge entries has only recently passed.

ravinthambopaline

Also is it me or does everyone applying to PPE has 11+ a*s at gcse, 5+a's at AS and 4+ predicted as at a2?

No. At a guess the average would be:
GCSE's - 5A*'s. 5A's and a B
AS Levels - AAAB
A-level predictions - AAA

Reply 238

CarneLevare

4

ravinthambopaline

I have a quick question about the maths question on the PPE admissions test 2: the one about the party politics and stuff.

Are you suppsoed to assume that when the DBP move forty points to the left that they pick up half the votes of the PBP?

This is the only question that really stumped me so if someone could explain it that would be immensely helpful.

I haven't heard back from any universities yet (no confirmations even) - should i be worried? At what time do people start getting interviews?

Also is it me or does everyone applying to PPE has 11+ a*s at gcse, 5+a's at AS and 4+ predicted as at a2?

The voting has already taken place at the time the questions are asked - Dissent is the only possible reason the distribution of seats might change. Such an assumption is unneccesary and misleading.

Hope that helps.

Reply 239

cuth

1

Would anyone be willing to take a look at my possible essays for submition?

They are: 1. "To what extent did the Soviets fail to anticipate the nature of the Afghan insurgency?" about 2000 words, IB course work

2. a 750 word economics essay on a news article about inflation in Iraq

and 3. possibly an in class test essay in economics, but my handwriting is atrocious.

Which of these are most appropriate?

could anyone look at the first two for me and tell me if they are suitable and not utter crap.

Oxford PPE (Philosophy, Politics and Economics) Students and Applicants

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