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

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Hi guys,

do you study Machiavelli at any time during the PPE degree - and if yes, does anyone have any lecture notes or other notes on him which they wouldn't mind e-mailing to me as I'm doing my Extended Essay on The Prince and so any such resources would be hugely useful?

Thanks and I would be extremely grateful!


Political Thought, Plato to Rousseau includes Machiavelli, that I'm aware of

The reading lists are on the Politics departments website
Andy the Anarchist
Political Thought, Plato to Rousseau includes Machiavelli, that I'm aware of

The reading lists are on the Politics departments website


Oh alright - thanks for this!
Reply 3742
Avatar for AdSumma
AdSumma
Would the tutors be more impressed if one was to have done either wider reading on texts outside the course, or within?

I guess i'm just worried that the stuff i might put on my personal statement is bordering on irrelevant
AdSumma
Would the tutors be more impressed if one was to have done either wider reading on texts outside the course, or within?

I guess i'm just worried that the stuff i might put on my personal statement is bordering on irrelevant


Probably outside - they'll find it more interesting
Hi, I was wondering whether I would be disadvantaged if I applied to Biological Natural Sciences with just Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Spanish (no Physics or Further Maths). I really like the look of the NatSci tripos so I thought I'd check before my options are definite.

Thanks
<3 biology!
Hi, I was wondering whether I would be disadvantaged if I applied to Biological Natural Sciences with just Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Spanish (no Physics or Further Maths). I really like the look of the NatSci tripos so I thought I'd check before my options are definite.

Thanks

I'm pretty sure you will be fine, though you wont be able to do the physics unit. Other than that the rest is just down to you :smile:. Good luck.

phil.
I'm in year 12 and planning on applying to do PPE at Oxford. Naturally, I'm reading books like Marx's German Ideology and Communist Manifesto, a bit of Nietzsche, Mill, and general political theory. I also plan to read a bit into Economics and economic theory, as well as 'classic' philosophy (Descartes, Plato, Wittgenstein, Kant, etc.)

However, I can't help but think that this is what the 'examiners' will have seen over and over again - and won't make me 'stand out' enough to get an offer. Is it enough, at interview stage, to just 'know your stuff' about the relevant topics and be able to articulate your thoughts on these, or are you expected to 'go that bit further' and be read in 'obscure' topics (Turkish politics, for example)?

If such is the case, is there any reading or topics that one would recommend to show the examiners you've gone that bit further?
Reply 3747
Avatar for lol_wut
lol_wut
you're planned reading is definitely enough. there's a good chance that you won't get much or any opportunity to talk about particular interests. the main thing they want is clear, well reasoned answers, not blather about someone's deep fascination with post-kantian continental philosophy, south-asian politics etc. read what you find interesting and read it carefully. you can get a lot of mileage out of a book like wolff's intro to political philosophy.
<3 biology!
Hi, I was wondering whether I would be disadvantaged if I applied to Biological Natural Sciences with just Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Spanish (no Physics or Further Maths). I really like the look of the NatSci tripos so I thought I'd check before my options are definite.

Thanks


That was my combination, except German instead of Spanish. (I did do FM AS, but I doubt that counted for very much...) At my college, the majority of bionatscis did not do physics, and about half did not do FM. Some people do not even have single maths but get in - that's what the elementary maths course is for!
Thank you both, you've really put my mind at ease! :biggrin:
Reply 3750
Avatar for Lisa_n
Lisa_n
Which college has the largest "students intake" for PPE? Is this going to influence the chances of getting into Oxford and study PPE?
Lisa_n
Which college has the largest "students intake" for PPE? Is this going to influence the chances of getting into Oxford and study PPE?

Which college you apply to has no effect on whether you get into Oxford.
Having recently been tutoring in PPE applications, I'm going to update the PPE test part soon (there are a few tricks to it)
RawJoh1
Which college you apply to has no effect on whether you get into Oxford.


That's not true despite what the Oxford website may say

The top colleges like St. John's or Merton have more applications per place than other colleges, and the transfer system of applicants is VERY imperfect (thus why most applicants get into their fist choice college, not another one).
Reply 3754
Avatar for Spider58
Spider58
Hey,

I applied to study PPE at Oxford this year, and I was rejected post-interview. I am really interested in reapplying. Regardless of all other factors, do Oxford discriminate against re-applicants; would my chances of success be 'automatically' lowered.

Also, what would you guys recommend gap-year wise?
London Prophet
I daresay, with the exception of the political theory italicised books, that nothing on that list will interest the examiner at interview - they've dealt with a hundred essays that quote from the above, and they probably want something a little different - I think the Turkish politics is a VERY good idea. It's AN interest, not the ONLY interest.


I've got quite a comprehensive list of books I want to read, but the thing is none of the libraries in my area have them so I'd have to buy them. Some of the books even on Amazon are really expensive, for example Wolff's Intro to Political Philosophy is £15.19!!
Do you know where or how I can get these cheaper or am I just gnna have to splash out?
Merk that Sike of a Mike
I've got quite a comprehensive list of books I want to read, but the thing is none of the libraries in my area have them so I'd have to buy them. Some of the books even on Amazon are really expensive, for example Wolff's Intro to Political Philosophy is £15.19!!
Do you know where or how I can get these cheaper or am I just gnna have to splash out?


You're in London and you can't find a library with the books you want in?
Spider58
Hey,

I applied to study PPE at Oxford this year, and I was rejected post-interview. I am really interested in reapplying. Regardless of all other factors, do Oxford discriminate against re-applicants; would my chances of success be 'automatically' lowered.

Also, what would you guys recommend gap-year wise?


Is there any reason that you think you might stand a better chance of getting in next year than you did this?
Reply 3758
Avatar for Spider58
Spider58
In complete honesty, I believe that over the course of the last few months, I have become a more knowledgeable and more astute person, and this would continue over the course of a gap year.

And, as well as building up extra-curricular activities, I believe I would become more independent and mature. Perhaps these qualities would come through over the course of the interviews?
Excalibur
That was my combination, except German instead of Spanish. (I did do FM AS, but I doubt that counted for very much...) At my college, the majority of bionatscis did not do physics, and about half did not do FM. Some people do not even have single maths but get in - that's what the elementary maths course is for!


Half the bios have done further maths? All the bios I know hate maths.

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