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

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Reply 500
Avatar for kingeddie
kingeddie
Thanks for the advice

My school does not cash in the grades until the end of the A2 year but it is school policy to include the grades in the references so there is no way round it. I'm pretty sure that my teacher will predict me an A and write in the reference his surprise at my AS grade, but the B will still be there.

I was under the impression that I had to put it down on the Oxford application form anyway? I'm taking economics next year so presumably they need to know i'm taking it?

My main problem is that if i apply to PPE, my personal statement will be geared towards that but I only really want to take PPE at Oxford and so I will apply for a different subject at other unis. This means that the other unis will see themselves as an after-thought and i will have less chance in those universities. Therefore, applying for PPE with no real chance may jeopardise my overall university application.
Reply 501
Avatar for Aj_deity
Aj_deity
4
Well, what subjects are you looking at doing at other universities? If you're looking to do just one or two of the PPE subjects, then you should write the personal statement geared towards just those and then put a bit more about whatever you haven't covered on the supplementary box you get on the Oxford Application form. As most people drop P, P or E after their second year at Oxford anyway, they're quite used to having people who aren't equally as interested in all three disciplines- although you have to show you're outstanding in at least two and competent at the third for them to consider accepting you.

That's a shame about your school policy... out of interest, did you just get mediocre grades on all three Economics modules or have you got one or two outstanding ones? If you could get your referee to mention that he was surprised by your overall grade but that you got close to full marks on X module, it would probably make things look somewhat better. It's still not ideal, but you've just got to work with what you've got. All is not yet lost.
Reply 502
Avatar for kingeddie
kingeddie
Well I had wanted to do economics at other universities but applying with a B will provide me with difficulties getting into any Russell group uni. I will probably end up applying for politics at others.

I took three modules (68/90, 54/90 and 108/120). Not really any strong A's so its not at all ideal.
Reply 503
Avatar for Chruchill
Chruchill
Why do you want to do PPE at only Oxford? I'm pretty sure it's available at a number of other universities such as York, Warwick, Manchester and Durham. Or if you want to study just Economics why not apply for it at Cambridge instead? It might make your life a lot easier. Getting a B in AS Economics doesn't have to mean the end of doing PPE. :smile:
Reply 504
Avatar for LoveEng
LoveEng
kingeddie
Well I had wanted to do economics at other universities but applying with a B will provide me with difficulties getting into any Russell group uni. I will probably end up applying for politics at others.

I took three modules (68/90, 54/90 and 108/120). Not really any strong A's so its not at all ideal.


I'd say just go for it. Applying with a B might not be ideal, but you can impress them in the interview or the test. Just show them that you can do it better. Not everybody who got in applied with perfect grades- also, ideal grades are not the main criteria to let somebody in, so don't worry too much and just apply :wink:

Good luck! (I'm also going to apply this year)

LoveEng
Reply 505
Avatar for kingeddie
kingeddie
I think that while it has to be a subject you enjoy, you must also look at the employment prospects. Speaking to some employers I know, they seem to suggest that straight subject degrees are the best but they make exceptions for mixed degrees at Oxbridge. Whether or not this is true i dont know.

Yeh I think i'll just look to nail the test...does anyone know of a book or something which can help me prepare for it?
Accrording to someone in the Christ Church thread, they're not using the test in admissions this year, it's just a trial to see how it correlates with results and interview performance and will only be seen by a small number of statisticians.
Reply 507
Avatar for LoveEng
LoveEng
Yes, because they also don't look at the test results before they invite you.
I also think that the results of that test will not play an significant role.

Anyway- there is no other written test required for PPE this year than this pre-interview test, right?
Did I get it right?

LoveEng
LoveEng
Yes, because they also don't look at the test results before they invite you.
I also think that the results of that test will not play an significant role.

Anyway- there is no other written test required for PPE this year than this pre-interview test, right?
Did I get it right?

LoveEng


Yes. and Yes.
Reply 509
Avatar for LoveEng
LoveEng
miltonkeynes
Yes. and Yes.


Thanks:p:
I see, you're also applying this year. How do you prepare for the interview?
Do you know any good introductory book for game theory by any chance? Have asked that before here...

LoveEng
LoveEng
Thanks:p:
I see, you're also applying this year. How do you prepare for the interview?
Do you know any good introductory book for game theory by any chance? Have asked that before here...

LoveEng


I am not going to learn Game Theory! I have decided to read Mill, Marx and Machiavelli (alliteration!) and that will be that. I am a extremely well spoken and my grades are superb, I think I stand a great chance.

I'm not dead set on PPE though, I have the rest of the summer to decide between a couple of courses at Oxford and a couple of courses at Cambridge.
Reply 511
Avatar for LoveEng
LoveEng
Wow:biggrin: At least you are really optimistic.
miltonkeynes
I am not going to learn Game Theory!


Certainly not: it's high level second-year stuff; you'd struggle to "learn it" in a month by yourself.

miltonkeynes
I have decided to read Mill, Marx and Machiavelli


I wouldn't recommend Marx - he's very low down on the readability scale and very high up on the confusability scale. Mill is good; I read Mill before interviews - he's a little obvious now, but quite easy to make insightful comments about, especially if you delve into his autobiography.

miltonkeynes
I am a extremely well spoken and my grades are superb, I think I stand a great chance.


Congratulations.
samlangfield


I wouldn't recommend Marx - he's very low down on the readability scale and very high up on the confusability scale. Mill is good; I read Mill before interviews - he's a little obvious now, but quite easy to make insightful comments about, especially if you delve into his autobiography.



I entirely trust your judgement on this and I have enjoyed Mill the most so far. I feel Marx is a good choice for me though because I studied the Russian Revolution in History for AS level and the whole cross referencing practical application example giving malarkey becomes much easier.

How many of the texts do you get examined on in your Prelims? Or does it not work like that. Also, have you heard about whether the new PPE test is going to be used to discriminate between candidates, or whether they are just using it to trial this year?
Reply 514
Avatar for Aj_deity
Aj_deity
4
This year, the results of the PPE test won't be released until after everybody is interviewed and selected, so that they can see if the high scores correlate with the people who eventually get in.

I also read Marx, Mill and Machiavelli (and Sartre and Nietzsche (yes of corse grate speling me...)) and none of them did me any harm- mostly because you can choose to read quite short books from each one! Picking up a pop economics book like Freakonomics might also be something to consider, as its very readable and gives you another thing to put on your PS and perhaps talk about at interview.

I like your confidence, but make sure it doesn't turn into overconfidence- there are people with great grades and lots to say for themselves who get rejected regardless. it's great that you're articulate, but what you say is far more important than the way you say it. Don't be afraid to stop and start and think about what you say, even if it feels like you're constantly pausing or rambling slightly or whatever; at the end of the day, they are looking at how your brain works, not how your mouth works.

That said, you certainly have as good a chance as any, so best of luck, enjoy reading your 3 Ms and I'll hopefully be seeing you at Freshers' Week next year!
Reply 515
Avatar for Hingie
Hingie
1
First of all, this is a fantastic thread, I have just read it from start to finish it one go. Thanks to everyone who's contributed :smile:

Naturally I'm applying to study PPE, but I'm not really sure which subject(s) to drop. I studied Maths A2, and Chemistry, Physics and English Literature AS (+ critical thinking). I got high As in all of them, so I can't really base it on grades. I'm definitely keeping English Lit as it's my only essay subject, and I'll probably continue and do a Further Maths A-level for economics. I'm not really sure whether there's any point in continuing with the extra work for chemistry and physics, considering an application for PPE. Possibilities are dropping both of them, and using the spare time to immerse myself in politics, philosophy and economics; or dropping both of them to take up an economics AS although I'm not sure how useful that would be, given some of the comments in here. I might also drop physics but keep chemistry simply because to keep my friend company (and of course I quite enjoy it): is there any advantage in taking four A-levels (if one is a natural science)? Or will that simply add an extra, burdensome A grade to any potential offer?

Thanks.
Sartre and Nietzsche
Reply 517
Avatar for Aj_deity
Aj_deity
4
JohannaMarie
Sartre and Nietzsche


Ahaha, it's probably a good thing they didn't let me in on my spelling ability! I did think my version of Nietzsche looked funny...
Reply 518
Avatar for Teebs
Teebs
16
I'll be doing economics this year and have to do the core modules of micro and macro economics in the next couple of terms. I was wondering if someone who's done the course could tell me whether these modules use the main 1st year textbooks (Varian's microeconomics and Mankiw's macroeconomics) at all.

I'm asking because I want to sell on the textbooks and obviously that would be a stupid thing to do if I then find that I need them for my work. Unfortunately I haven't been a given a reading list yet, so I can't use that to find out.
miltonkeynes
How many of the texts do you get examined on in your Prelims?


You answer one or two theory questions, many of which aren't explicitly textual (although you'd probably want to refer to thinkers anyway). I answered one textual question on Mill in my exam.

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