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

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i applied for nat sci physical last year (alas i didn't get in) but i will give you my advice anyway....

i would drop the further maths if you are struggling with it.... its more important that you guarantee yourself As in all the others than say drop to a B in one and get a B in FM AS... if you get me... also FM won't affect your offer and you won't need that much mathematical knowledge for the bio route anyway (i think)....
also physics is awesome and i think that you will gain more from continuing it to A2 than just doing AS FM if you get me???

hope that makes sense... anyway a lot of it is just on the interview (which i failed horrifically at!!)

good luck though... xx
Reply 3901
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Slumpy
16
Why're you doing 4 A2s in lower sixth?
Reply 3902
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emilY?
1
Virgil
Sorry, Im in lower sixth Im only applying, I am more of biological scientist and chemist than physicist.

Basically I currently do A2 chem, bio, physics, maths and AS in further maths. But am regretting choosing doing 4 A-levels and an AS because the work combined is too much and I am struggling to cope.

I am thinking of dropping either the further maths modules (as it is too difficult for me), or dropping physics to AS level, which one would you advise?

I have asked my teachers and he agrees that my maths isnt up to scratch and im predicted A in the A2 normal maths but only B in further maths. So he thinks I should not take the FM modules. Is this a bad idea, thought cambridge likes further maths as it distinguishes more between candidates? (dropping FM will not give me any more study periods as we are squeezing the FM topics into my normal maths lessons)

So the only other option is dropping physics to AS, this will definitely give me more study periods to do my work. I enjoy physics and I am predicted A grade and I find it easier than maths but it is not really as relevant to biological as it is to physical science.

At the end of the day I know that I can do better in physics than I can at FM, in that I am more confident at getting an A grade in physics. But by dropping the AS in FM and just doing normal maths am I making a mistake?

Thank you for any advise.



Hey,

You can get into Natural Sciences (Bio) without any maths, let alone further. As long as you have a minimum of 3 (although realistically 4) AS levels, and 3+A2s your subject combo is fine. In fact I'm a current BioNatSci and my A2s were Phys,Chem,Bio and Maths. I never studied Further Maths... and due to being utterly maths-phobic I think that was a good idea :p:

If you enjoy physics, stick with it over FM :smile:
Reply 3903
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Virgil
because my school offered it to me and me being the fool that I am gracefully accepted
Reply 3904
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Slumpy
16
Well, why not drop FM for now, and just do it in upper sixth, and do uni apps then?
Slumpy
Why're you doing 4 A2s in lower sixth?


We had to do 4 AS levels and one A level in lower sixth...

Those who wished could even do 5 AS levels and one A level excluding General Studies and Critical Thinking
Reply 3906
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Slumpy
16
xinolisss
We had to do 4 AS levels and one A level in lower sixth...

Those who wished could even do 5 AS levels and one A level excluding General Studies and Critical Thinking


Yeah, 5 highers was somewhat standard at my school, but doing A2s in lower sixth seems a bit unnecesarry.
Reply 3907
Avatar for Virgil
Virgil
which one would better serve me for cambridge? I think it would be FM because it distinguishes between applicants and would show I can do the hard stuff (that is if I worked my ass of to get an A) WHereas physics is less necessary? HELP ME I can't choose
Slumpy
Yeah, 5 highers was somewhat standard at my school, but doing A2s in lower sixth seems a bit unnecesarry.


Well no if you consider it to be the Spanish A level for convalidation purposes... :p:
Reply 3909
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Slumpy
16
I don't think for bio natsci FM is needed, and if you did physics, it would allow you to switch to phys natsci later( I know people who've done that, or possibly vice versa..).
But really, email an admissions tutor, why would we know which they'd prefer?
Reply 3910
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Saz_b
Hi! I am thinking of applying for PPE 2010, and this thread really has been so useful. I have a couple of general questions, ones which I suppose there is no definite answer to but I guess I just wanted some opinions from people studying the course.
I don't actually study Politics, Philosophy or Economics for AS level even though my school does in fact offer all of them, although I do have the Maths and History they reccommend, as well as Further Maths, Chemistry and Physics. Is this going to be a disadvantage both in applying or actually studying the course? I have heard that generally maths is more useful than economics for actual preparation, but I guess I am worried that not picking any of them could send the message that I am not that interested. I have done things like Model United Nations and am reading relevant books etc.
Saz_b
Hi! I am thinking of applying for PPE 2010, and this thread really has been so useful. I have a couple of general questions, ones which I suppose there is no definite answer to but I guess I just wanted some opinions from people studying the course.
I don't actually study Politics, Philosophy or Economics for AS level even though my school does in fact offer all of them, although I do have the Maths and History they reccommend, as well as Further Maths, Chemistry and Physics. Is this going to be a disadvantage both in applying or actually studying the course? I have heard that generally maths is more useful than economics for actual preparation, but I guess I am worried that not picking any of them could send the message that I am not that interested. I have done things like Model United Nations and am reading relevant books etc.

Your subject choices are fine. It says on Oxford's website that there are no set subject to take, although they do recommend maths, which you have.
Saz_b
Hi! I am thinking of applying for PPE 2010, and this thread really has been so useful. I have a couple of general questions, ones which I suppose there is no definite answer to but I guess I just wanted some opinions from people studying the course.
I don't actually study Politics, Philosophy or Economics for AS level even though my school does in fact offer all of them, although I do have the Maths and History they reccommend, as well as Further Maths, Chemistry and Physics. Is this going to be a disadvantage both in applying or actually studying the course? I have heard that generally maths is more useful than economics for actual preparation, but I guess I am worried that not picking any of them could send the message that I am not that interested. I have done things like Model United Nations and am reading relevant books etc.


Those'll be fine, History and Maths are better than any of the three subjects at a-level and if you want to get in you'll need to show interest outside of school work just the same as anybody, so not doing Politics, Philosophy and Economics won't harm your application.
What jobs could you get from this course?
Also, it says something about GCSES, doesn't Oxford always want A*s?
theseeker
What jobs could you get from this course?
Also, it says something about GCSES, doesn't Oxford always want A*s?


Just as an aside, they want A*s at GCSE if you have them, but it's not like not having straight A*s will result in rejection, because there are more factors than just GCSEs.
Reply 3915
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Teebs
16
theseeker
What jobs could you get from this course?
Also, it says something about GCSES, doesn't Oxford always want A*s?


http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=573746 for comprehensive grades discussion.

I *think* the average student at Oxfords has something like 6A*, so half have less, half have more.

Jobswise, pretty much anything outside science/engineering.
Virgil
which one would better serve me for cambridge? I think it would be FM because it distinguishes between applicants and would show I can do the hard stuff (that is if I worked my ass of to get an A) WHereas physics is less necessary? HELP ME I can't choose


If you're applying for bio NatSci they want to know you're a good biologist, not a good mathematician. Obviously being good at maths is helpful if not essential, but the main thrust of their selection criteria will be your ability to think logically in a biological context. Further maths would be useful, but then so would physics and they won't have preference of one over the other. Indeed, different people view FM in very different ways. Yes it is a very hard A level as it is building on ordinary A level knowledge but if you're good at mathematical reasoning (as I have seen from some of my friends) it's entirely possible to get near to 100% in FM. However, physics A level uses a slightly different type of more applied reasoning in general which I think would be seen as just as good as FM.

It also could depend on your college. I really don't have any evidence to base this on but I would imagine Trinity (a college renowned for maths) would like FM more than the college I applied to, Clare, who seemed to view even maths as non-essential for bio NatSci.

So yes, overall, if you prefer physics do that, plus A looks better than aa in my opinion. Good luck with your application :smile:.

phil.
Reply 3917
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lmfao
2
What do you guys think if i took Maths, History and Business Studies at A2? Would Business affect the chances quite highly??
From what I've read, I don't think Oxford admissions people would be particularly keen Business Studies as one of three A2 subjects. PPE is so competitive that you would be better off taking English or Economics or a science with Maths and History - depending on what your AS subjects are. You could always email one of the Oxford college admissions staff and ask - their email addresses are on the college websites I think.
Virgil
which one would better serve me for cambridge? I think it would be FM because it distinguishes between applicants and would show I can do the hard stuff (that is if I worked my ass of to get an A) WHereas physics is less necessary? HELP ME I can't choose


I'm not convinced that admissions tutors would be so keen on further maths for a bio natsci. However, if you think you can do well it would certainly serve you in good stead (and make physics easy...you could do both).

It would also make it much easier to do any of the physical options (i.e. physics or chemistry). As for Trinity's reputation, that's just because they have a lot of mathmos who are frighteningly awesome, I'm not sure it carries over to the mathematical abilities of those studying other subjects.

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