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

OP

St. Aldates Tavern, I'll be there from 11am

It's on on St. Aldates - see below for map location
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=OX1+...005,0.02&hl=en

I'll be there a while (drinking, I'll treat myself to a pub lunch, might bring a book - a lazy day!

So if you're worried about interviews, or othrwise want a chat about Oxford then come along. You'll know who I am, I have long curly hair - you really can't miss me!

Incase you haven't read the PPE guide, I'm a 3rd year, so I've been and done the interview process - so might be able to give you a few words of advice.

If you want to check if I'm still there then phone or text me:
07802482994

leave a message fi you intend to come along.

Regards

Tom

Reply 282

lljaneth

Tom Holder

St. Aldates Tavern, I'll be there from 11am

It's on on St. Aldates - see below for map location
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=OX1+...005,0.02&hl=en

I'll be there a while (drinking, I'll treat myself to a pub lunch, might bring a book - a lazy day!

So if you're worried about interviews, or othrwise want a chat about Oxford then come along. You'll know who I am, I have long curly hair - you really can't miss me!

Incase you haven't read the PPE guide, I'm a 3rd year, so I've been and done the interview process - so might be able to give you a few words of advice.

If you want to check if I'm still there then phone or text me:
07802482994

leave a message fi you intend to come along.

Regards

Tom

11am today or tomorrow?

OP

Monday

Meh, this is rather off-topic but HAPPY 21st BIRTHDAY TOM! :gthumb:

If you've not heard enough already, I'm sure all the potential applicants tremendously appreciate your effort in putting this thread together. :smile:

Reply 285

sjuthani

6

Indeedily, Happy Birthday man. Have a great day.

Reply 286

OP

So how do the recent PPE interviewees think the interview section of the guide was in retrospect? Any suggested changes or additions?

Reply 287

Maybe a warning, that St Johns do not talk about anything in your personal statement, and that you will most likely face some sort of puzzle in your interview at St Johns, and from what I've heard, other colleges also

Reply 288

lljaneth

same, a warning that preparation is ultimately useless and that your personal statement and questions about why you choose this college or why oxford are unlikely to come up. at St hilda's anyway.

Reply 289

It's good to hear it wasn't just st johns that you couldn't prepare for.

I would still recomend reading an introductory book for politics and for philosophy. But, read them just before the test ie. in the prior week.

Reply 290

tkane

1

Yeh I agree....absolutely nothing about PS..Why this college..why Oxford etc... I guess they're pushed for time to anaylse you on all 3 subjects within the 30mins so don't bother asking those type of questions unless your visibly nervous/stressed and they want to settle you down.

Reply 291

kizer

15

Trepur99

Maybe a warning, that St Johns do not talk about anything in your personal statement, and that you will most likely face some sort of puzzle in your interview at St Johns, and from what I've heard, other colleges also

Too emphatic. A lot of my philosophy interview, and much of my politics, was based around my PS at St John's - they change it from candidate to candidate

Reply 292

Fair enough, perhaps it was just this year that they chose to do it that way because every candidate's interviews were based around two prepared questions.
I suppose what I think should be considered is that you are as likely to get pure philosophy/political theory questions disconnected from your PS as questions about your PS.

Reply 293

asb_1

It wasn't just St Johns doing 2 pre-prepared questions to all candidates in more than one discipline... I was interviewed at Magdalen for PPE and they took the same approach in Pol and Phil.

Reply 294

OP

Some interviewers will not talk to you about personal statement things because they want to test you with new idea's. Others will want to make sure you really know what you said you knew and will ask you on your personal statement.

The guide appears to be somewhat on track

Reply 295

Yep, it certainly says it. Maybe underline it!?

Reply 296

kizer

15

Trepur99

Fair enough, perhaps it was just this year that they chose to do it that way because every candidate's interviews were based around two prepared questions.
I suppose what I think should be considered is that you are as likely to get pure philosophy/political theory questions disconnected from your PS as questions about your PS.

True. Thinking about it, one of the philosophy interviewers would be different from last year (retirement), so they would have a different style of interview. Still, it's definitely not a good thing going in to an interview fully expecting PS or theory questions to come up - apart from anything else, it may well be obvious you are expecting it, so they might throw you off.

What were the potential PPEists like this year at John's?

Reply 297

Well I played monopoly with 3 other PPEist, which was certainly interesting. Most turns took about 30mins trying to work out all sorts of joint ventures, and long term loan rates.
But, everyone was lovely, and seemed well versed in PPE, especially the european applicants- at least half were european

Reply 298

Grosseteste

1

tkane

Yeh I agree....absolutely nothing about PS..Why this college..why Oxford etc... I guess they're pushed for time to anaylse you on all 3 subjects within the 30mins so don't bother asking those type of questions unless your visibly nervous/stressed and they want to settle you down.

Well, first, interviewers aren't allowed to ask why you chose that College (if they did, they were being naughty). Secondly, and more generally, note thathow an interview is structured depends almost entirely on the particular interviewer; as Fellows & (especially) Lecturers often change from year to year (and different people might interview for different Joint Schools from year to year), it's very diffciult to predict what's going to happen.

Reply 299

OP