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

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wittgenstein
hey! in response to the reading list query, may I know if first years are usually expected to work on essays before going down to Oxford for michaelmas term?


not usually
Phew, that's great to know. Thanks! For a moment I was kind of worried about having to prepare essays even before term starts. Hope I'll be there come October! :smile:
I applied , and got an offer, for Bio Nat Sci. I did a Bio and Chemistry interview. Before the interview they asked what first year options I'm likely to take and I picked Biological/chemistry ones. However, I'm doing FM and physics at A level, and I'd like to do Physics as a first year option. C'est possible ?

And also, IF, I wish to change to Chem Eng after the first year, could I do that ?
Hey Mrs. Carrothead, you're from Shropshire? Which Secondary did you go too [=?
Also, which are the five best universities for a PPE? :biggrin:
Fiat Punto
I applied , and got an offer, for Bio Nat Sci. I did a Bio and Chemistry interview. Before the interview they asked what first year options I'm likely to take and I picked Biological/chemistry ones. However, I'm doing FM and physics at A level, and I'd like to do Physics as a first year option. C'est possible ?

And also, IF, I wish to change to Chem Eng after the first year, could I do that ?


From what I've read its very college dependant. However, most DoSs apparently don't mind you doing a bio, chem and physics. Not being there yet I wouldn't take what I say as gospel though. Also, which maths would you take if you did this?

I think it is usually fine to change to Chem Eng for part IB, as there are 2 routes, either via natsci or engineering.

phil.
You see, on the UCAS form I didn't say I may change to Chem Eng, that's why I asked. I think I'll take Maths B. I like my maths :tongue:, since I'm doing FM and Physics, but I do fear being overawed by the maths geeks!
wittgenstein
Phew, that's great to know. Thanks! For a moment I was kind of worried about having to prepare essays even before term starts. Hope I'll be there come October! :smile:


You may well get set an essay before you arrive, but it won't be due in until 1st week, or the end of 0th week at the earliest, and your tutor will send you the reading material for it.
dorian gray
Hey Mrs. Carrothead, you're from Shropshire? Which Secondary did you go too [=?
Also, which are the five best universities for a PPE? :biggrin:


Grammar School in Newport (nearish to Telford). Left after Year 11 though and went to boarding school, I was bored and by this time had alienated my teachers several times over...

I'm not sure which unis are best for PPE now. I don't actually even know which unis do it *goes to check UCAS* Oxford, Durham, York, Warwick, Manchester in that order I'd say. Course code is L0V0 I believe, so you can always check for yourself.
Mrs Carrothead
Grammar School in Newport (nearish to Telford). Left after Year 11 though and went to boarding school, I was bored and by this time had alienated my teachers several times over...

I'm not sure which unis are best for PPE now. I don't actually even know which unis do it *goes to check UCAS* Oxford, Durham, York, Warwick, Manchester in that order I'd say. Course code is L0V0 I believe, so you can always check for yourself.


Thank you! +Rep

Was that AGS by any chance?
dorian gray
Thank you! +Rep

Was that Adams' Grammar by any chance?


No no, Newport Girls High. You?
Fiat Punto
You see, on the UCAS form I didn't say I may change to Chem Eng, that's why I asked. I think I'll take Maths B. I like my maths :tongue:, since I'm doing FM and Physics, but I do fear being overawed by the maths geeks!


Don't worry, when you get here, you'll be surprised by how many natscis fear/loathe maths. You'd think that Cambridge natscis might be fantastic at maths but in general you'd be wrong...

And switching to chem eng is fine, two people in my year did it.
Reply 3711
Avatar for lol_wut
lol_wut

I'm not sure which unis are best for PPE now. I don't actually even know which unis do it *goes to check UCAS* Oxford, Durham, York, Warwick, Manchester in that order I'd say.

i dont really like ranking universities, but it should probably be oxford, warwick/durham, york, Manchester based on prestige/competitiveness.
dorian gray
Ah I'm headed for AG next year :biggrin: They sent two for PPE at Oxford, should be fun! Don't AG & NGP liase at times?


Yeah, I did debating there for a while. Out of our debaters, I think 7 in our year are at Oxford, 2 doing PPE, 1 doing engineering, 1 Biochem, 1 Languages, 1 History, and 1 Theology. Where are you atm then?
Hey guys, im in year 12 right now and was just wondering what books would be good to read for my personal statement?
At the moment I'm reading http://www.amazon.co.uk/Naked-Economics-Undressing-Dismal-Science/dp/0393324869/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1237410758&sr=8-1
And a book on Marx...are there any highly recommended books for politics?
I've got an idea that I'll develop quite a deep knowledge of the Turkish Democratic System and Political History cos i used to live there and it wouldn't be that difficult =)
That would show that I really am interested in politics; and not just mainstream current affairs of this country.
What do u think?
Hello PPEists, how would you advise an applicant to answer the question of 'why do you want to study this subject' at interview? What did any of you say, what do you think helped you to be successful?
Thanks :smile:
Merk that Sike of a Mike
Hey guys, im in year 12 right now and was just wondering what books would be good to read for my personal statement?
At the moment I'm reading http://www.amazon.co.uk/Naked-Economics-Undressing-Dismal-Science/dp/0393324869/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1237410758&sr=8-1
And a book on Marx...are there any highly recommended books for politics?
I've got an idea that I'll develop quite a deep knowledge of the Turkish Democratic System and Political History cos i used to live there and it wouldn't be that difficult =)
That would show that I really am interested in politics; and not just mainstream current affairs of this country.
What do u think?


Regarding Marx, primary texts are always best, and I find "The Communist Manifesto" and "The German Ideology" to be the most accessible to read.
Merk that Sike of a Mike
Hey guys, im in year 12 right now and was just wondering what books would be good to read for my personal statement?
At the moment I'm reading http://www.amazon.co.uk/Naked-Economics-Undressing-Dismal-Science/dp/0393324869/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1237410758&sr=8-1
And a book on Marx...are there any highly recommended books for politics?
I've got an idea that I'll develop quite a deep knowledge of the Turkish Democratic System and Political History cos i used to live there and it wouldn't be that difficult =)
That would show that I really am interested in politics; and not just mainstream current affairs of this country.
What do u think?


The admissions tutors would probably ask you why, if you are so interested in Turkish politics, you applied for a degree in which Turkish Politics is only studied in one optional finals course (as far as I know). The chances are that the tutors who interview you will know very little to nothing about Turkish Politics, so using all of your time learning about it is a bit silly. These books will give you a fairly good introduction to the main areas of politics studied in the first year:

British Politics:
The State We're In by Hutton
British Politics: Continuities and Change by Kavagnah
Developments in British Politics by Dunleavy

American Politics:
American Politics and Society by McKay
Primary Colors Anonymous
Politics in the USA by Vile

French Politics:
The Government and Politics of France by Knapp & Wright

Political Theory:
Marx's Manifesto
Mill's On Liberty
Political Theory: An Introduction by Heywood
The Origins of Totalitarianism by Arendt
The Nature of Fascism by Griffin
Also "An introduction to Political Philosophy" by Jonathon Wolff
thanks everyone!
especially rustless bowl that's a really gr8 list thx a lot =D
Reply 3719
Avatar for lol_wut
lol_wut
read wolff's introduction to pol philosophy first and/or adam swift's book. then, if you want to read some primary texts, go for on liberty as it's proably the easiest to understand. can't say anything about marx because i've never studied him.

reading the textbooks listed by rustlessbowl (i can recommend kay and kavagnagh) will help you, but it isn't necessary. i knew **** all about us politics and very little about british politics at interview.

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