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

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Reply 3980
Avatar for maya1
maya1
I applies for nat sci everywhere (Cambridge, Durham, Birmingham, Newcastle). Didn't want to stay in london so didn't apply to UCL and didn't like the course/uni at Bath so only ended up applying to 4 places.
Supermerp
I'd assume that most people applying to do Natural Sciences at Cambridge apply for specific subjects at other universities. In all the cases (except one) where I know what people applied for, that's what happened (the exception applied everywhere for physics but also to Birmingham for something to do with physics and biology). There were fewer Natsci courses then but I'm fairly sure it would still be true now.


NatSci everywhere for me...twice.
I applied for physics everywhere else, almost applied for natsci but felt that I'd be at a disadvantage after first year compared to those who had done straight physics.
Reply 3983
Avatar for Kinsula
Kinsula
9
I was just wondering if I'd be able to do chemistry at Cambridge with the current A-Levels I'm doing. I'm currently in Year 12, and I'm taking Chemistry, Maths, History and Philosophy/Ethics.

I originally took a nice variety of subjects so I could keep my options open, but I've been reading about and it seems I've closed quite a few doors by not taking 3 sciences - apparently to do a science at somewhere like Cambridge it's best to have maths and two other sciences.

I'm hoping for all As, with /hopefully/ an A* in maths or chemistry. I kinda messed up my history exam a little bit by doing the wrong question and having to redo it in the time I had remaining, so I don't think I'll be able to get higher than an A in that (it was my strongest subject, unfortunately) and my philosophy/ethics went alright I suppose.

I've kinda developed a sudden interest in chemistry and I've realised that I wanna follow it as a career - but I also wanna be able to go to cambridge as my first choice, second to that being Durham.

So I was just wondering if there was a good chance of me getting in. Thanks in advance :smile:
Reply 3984
Avatar for Lrilol
Lrilol
1
Im prett confident that you just need Maths+Chemistry ;\
Reply 3985
Avatar for Kinsula
Kinsula
9
Hmm, thanks :smile:
I just hope I get the grades...
You realise you cant do chemistry at cambridge? you have to do natural sciences, then i guess just pick chemistry modules.. or do chemical engineering. Maths and a science will suffice, but i imagine put you at quite a disadvantage.
Reply 3987
Avatar for Kinsula
Kinsula
9
I know, that's what I meant :smile:
Natural science with chemistry, geology and material science
Kinsula
I know, that's what I meant :smile:
Natural science with chemistry, geology and material science



I think Durham usually want a third science subject to at least AS level. With your suggested choices above (particularly materials science), I think you would benefit from taking physics to at least AS level too. Could you take up physics next year perhaps?
Reply 3989
Avatar for Kinsula
Kinsula
9
Aethelred
I think Durham usually want a third science subject to at least AS level. With your suggested choices above (particularly materials science), I think you would benefit from taking physics to at least AS level too. Could you take up physics next year perhaps?

Yeah, that's been suggested to me. I would, but I'm a bit worried about the workload :/
Reply 3990
Avatar for gjizzle
gjizzle
I'm thinking of applying for PPE at oxford, and as of now am doing maths , politics, philosophy, and economics as AS. I have to drop one subject next year, as I think I would be better off concentrating on 3 subjects only.

I'm afraid I might have to drop philosophy, as I want to keep maths to complement economics. I know a lot of PPEists at Oxford didnt do one or more of the three subjects at school, but seeing as I did initially do Philosophy and then chose to drop it, do you think it will be looked down at?
e-mail admissions and ask?
I highly doubt it, they will understand thay you are expected to take only 3 subjects and for oxford maths>philosophy any day, though to be fair either combo with a good ps and strong exam can get you an interview and that is where it counts, in fact your as will give you plenty to talk about.
Reply 3993
Avatar for smilepea
smilepea
Anyone out there done materials (the 1st year option) without chemistry As/A2?
smilepea
Anyone out there done materials (the 1st year option) without chemistry As/A2?
I haven't, but I know someone who did. I don't think it was a problem at all.
Hi all,

I really, really want to do PPE at Oxford - always have - and am aware that you can discontinue with one of the three after the first year of study. This, for me, would definitely be economics as my main interest areas are politics & philosophy.

The problem that I'm having is with choosing my A-Levels.
I'm afraid that having all humanities is going to be a setback and have decided to choose either biology, physics or economics to study as well. The problem is (if I'm honest) I am only interested in physics out of the three (but I'm terrible at maths!) and my ex-boyfriend put me off economics telling me it was tedious as he dropped out of his economics degree at university.

I'm not sure whether it is advisable to accomodate my A-Levels to the PPE course because there is every chance I won't get in considering only 19.4% of people have had successful applications over the last 3 years.

So should I take economics at A-Level?
And if I take economics will that look good on its own without me having to take a science as well?

This is what it is looking like so far:

Religious Studies or History
Philosophy
Psychology
Biology or Physics
Government & Politics
English Lit & Lang
Economics

At a push I'd drop RS/History if people thought it would be better to continue with a science as 7 A-Levels would probably be very impractical.

Thanks in advance
if you're terrible at maths it'll be extremely difficult to get in - maths is a compulsory part of first year economics.
Ok. Do NOT do 7 ******* A levels. Or even 6 for that matter..
Some people on this site are simply ridiculous.

Who advised you on these A Level choices?
probably not
if you're terrible at maths it'll be extremely difficult to get in - maths is a compulsory part of first year economics.


This

I suck at maths, and if it wasn't for this might have contemplated applying for PPE. Many of the PPE interviews (from anecdotal evidence I will admit) have basic mathematical problems in them to test your maths ability.

Plus, even if you get in, do you really want to suffer a whole year of compulsory maths, assuming you can even pass it, before you have the option of dropping it?

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