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

And another guy who had a passion for the chaos theory and made sure he spoke about it in his interview, consequently both received an offer from oxbridge.

My main problem is that most of them are gone. And have been since I got back. Apparently the whole world wants to do International Relations. I'm having to get my friend to gut the Magdalen library.

so whats meant to be in Natsci interview, is it not possible to direct it to your interests?

I'm starting to have second thoughts about pursuing PPE, so I was wondering if you guys had any advice!

My dilemma began when I got my mock Economics GCSE back, which was only just an A. I've been very variable with it, ranging from best in the year to sub-par. I don't think it was my knowledge that was the problem, primarily exam technique, but it makes me stop and think when I consider how well I did in my sciences.

To be honest, I feel I have a greater natural interest in the social sciences such as history and world issues, but in many ways following science for medicine seems.. slightly less risky?

Should I ignore this result and simply have faith in my abilities to work hard and get the grades (after all, I'm fairly strong in English and History), or think pragmatically and opt for medicine?

This is obviously fairly relevant to my choices now as I'm thinking of A-Levels. Would I be right to swap English, History, Maths and German for English, History, Biology and Chemistry?

Any ideas?

Okay, m'eclairer, I'll start off by saying I did exactly the same AS's you want to do, and dropped History at A Level because I figured that most offers tend to be for three grades, so why give myself the extra work (not very Oxford I know, but I was AWFULLY fond of my 24 frees a week ).

I applied to Merton (dicey, yes) and was pooled and got into Oriel with an offer of three A's despite not having done maths and the extent of my maths skills being basic differentiation. I really really really hated logic, but in all honesty, there appear to be just as many people who have done maths who also didn't like it. It is rather more mathy than any of your AS's, but if you're predicted an A* at GCSE, I can't foresee there being any major problem. If you're going to hate doing AS Maths, don't do it, simple as.

On the subject of Government and Politics, my three A Levels were Economics, Eng Lit, and Politics, and I got offers from Oxford, Durham, Bath, Exeter, and York, so I wouldn't say that any of them put at a particular disadvantage. None of them, even Politics, are THAT wishy washy, and as it's related to what you want to do, and especially if you get predicted an A, it can only be a good thing (IMO at least).

Hope that helped, but most of all I'd say DON'T WORRY. It's not a foregone conclusion that you'll get in (or not) no matter which A Levels you do, and if you enjoy what you're doing, you'll find it a LOT easier to come over well at interview, which is the real clincher. So good luck!

Ah thank you! +1 Rep
How are you finding the course?

If you want to be at Oxford then you need passion for your subject so don't choose something you're not that interested in because you think you're better at it. And think of this, would you want to spend the next 5+ years of your life doing a subject you don't have an interest in? Of course if you enoy the sciences as well as being good at them then you're set.

Thanks for the advice. It needs a bit of consideration!

I'd like to point out that History is not a "social science"

Aha, my plan was thwarted! I just thought if Talexe liked Politics, and seeing that he's doing history, History and Politics sounded perfect. I'm terribly sorry to demean your subject in such a way. I, being a member of the Social Sciences Division, do realise what these social slurs can do to one .

My PPE study came about by my teacher asking in a way that makes you know that if you say yes then he's going to give you some kind of prize "so are you thinking of studying economics at university?" "um, yes?" "great, you can go to the IEA conference and listen to Jean Claude Trichet and other such people". It was a nice day out at least .

I dropped economics, such was my dislike. I even got a congratulations e-mail from my econ tutor for scraping a 2:2 in Prelims, because he so clearly thought I was going to fail. Woo me!

Nope, thank the LORD. Us PPEists have two/three weeks of finals in third year and that's it. Nothing else. Comforting, but also oddly terrifying.