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

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Hi all.

This is only my third post as I only joined today. My question is about the PPE course at Oxford. My aim is to get into politics and I was wondering if PPE would be the best course to take? Many people recommend it and it has allot of political alumni. Also what subjects should I take at A-Level? PPE does not have any required subjects like Medicine but what would be the best? My two strongest subjects are History and Science (predicted A* in GCSE.) My weakest is Maths which I struggle with and really have to work at (Predicted A.) So I think I would struggle with A-Level Maths.

Finally where is best to do A-Levels? School sixth form or a college? And is it possible to get into Oxford with either?

Thank You.
Reply 5881
Avatar for BJack
BJack
19
To be honest, it's most likely the case that politically-minded people want to do PPE, rather than that the PPE is particularly good at preparing people for political office. Certainly, most politicians didn't study PPE at Oxford. If you don't like maths (which is odd, given that you say you're good at science) you'd probably be better off looking at the history and politics course. As the Oxford website says, history and maths are both useful for PPE and if your maths is weak you {probably/very probably/almost definitely} won't get in.

It doesn't matter to Oxford whether you do your A levels at a sixth form college or a school sixth form. Just try to get into the best place you can near you.
(edited 13 years ago)
Reply 5882
Avatar for Rhys22
Rhys22
I am currently in year 11, and am at the time of choosing what A levels to take at College.

I would love to go on to study PPE at Oxford University, I am predicted all A's and A*'s at GCSE but would like some advice on what subjects would be best to take at A level.

At the moment I am thinking of taking:
Biology
Maths
History

And need to choose another two from:
English Language
Politics
Psychology

Or any other suggestions!

Any help would be greatly appreciated!
If you have Maths and History, they really don't care what the others are as long as they're academic enough. All of the ones you mention are therefore fine, so pick the ones you think you'd enjoy most as you'll have to spend two years doing them.
Personally I'd take Literature over Language but it's your call.
I'd say you take:

Maths
History
English Literature (Not Language)
Biology/Economics
Dededex
Personally I'd take Literature over Language but it's your call.

You are right, I thought the OP had written Literature. In general, Lang isn't regared as academic, so it wouldn't be an advisable choice. Lit or Lang&Lit would both be fine.
Is anyone not finding it weird that he isn't picking _politics_!?

'soft' subject or not... maths and history are 'hard' enough for you to take it...
Reply 5888
Avatar for Rhys22
Rhys22
Thanks for the advice, it does seem that Literature and Government & Politics would go well with the original three (matsh, history and Biology).
Reply 5889
Avatar for vicfirth
vicfirth
Hi guys!!
I just want to ask you, how you feel about the time given at the TSA. Do you have also problems with answering 50 questions in 90 minutes and how do you cope with this problem?
Greetings!!
Reply 5890
Avatar for lia134
lia134
Original post by vicfirth
Hi guys!!
I just want to ask you, how you feel about the time given at the TSA. Do you have also problems with answering 50 questions in 90 minutes and how do you cope with this problem?
Greetings!!


I do! now it's getting better, since the first time I tried to do a sample paper I felt that is was virtually impossible! but it's definitely a challenging task... I suppose it's also due to the fact that English is not my first language so I need a bit more time to assimilate the concepts. Anyway, I think the key is practising a lot, which is a bit difficult considering that there is not so much material available!
Reply 5891
Avatar for vicfirth
vicfirth
Original post by lia134
I do! now it's getting better, since the first time I tried to do a sample paper I felt that is was virtually impossible! but it's definitely a challenging task... I suppose it's also due to the fact that English is not my first language so I need a bit more time to assimilate the concepts. Anyway, I think the key is practising a lot, which is a bit difficult considering that there is not so much material available!


Their are actually a lot of papers to practice, but not the original ones of TSA-Cambridge.
http://www.cie.org.uk/qualifications/academic/uppersec/alevel/subject/?assdef_id=765
http://www.xtremepapers.net/CIE/index.php?dir=International%20A%20And%20AS%20Level/8436%20-%20Thinking%20Skills/
Reply 5892
Avatar for lia134
lia134
Original post by vicfirth

Thank you for the info!
How did you do in the exam?
Reply 5893
Avatar for vicfirth
vicfirth
Original post by lia134
Thank you for the info!
How did you do in the exam?


Hi! Sorry for the late reply. Well, I didn't do so well at the multiple-choice, but I think the essay was good. How was your test? To which college did you apply?
Reply 5894
Avatar for lia134
lia134
Original post by vicfirth
Hi! Sorry for the late reply. Well, I didn't do so well at the multiple-choice, but I think the essay was good. How was your test? To which college did you apply?

Same for me. I was in a hurry to finish the last questions in the multiple choice part so I choose randomly many of them but I think the essay went pretty well, we shall see what happens...
I'm applying to Christ Church, what about you?
Reply 5895
Avatar for vicfirth
vicfirth
Original post by lia134
Same for me. I was in a hurry to finish the last questions in the multiple choice part so I choose randomly many of them but I think the essay went pretty well, we shall see what happens...
I'm applying to Christ Church, what about you?


Well, I have applied to Pembroke College. Unfortunately, I didn't have the chance to visit it, since I'm not from the U.K., but it made a very friendly impression on the homepage and the phone conversation I had with them were really nice.

Do you want to practice for the interview via skype? We could have discussions about current affairs, topics of the three subjects etc. I think it's a good idea, as it enables you to practice to express your opinion orally in a concise way.
Pembroke is great!
Hello. I am interesting in studying PPE (Philosophy, Politics and Economics) at Oxford but I am not sure which subjects to study for A level. I definitely would like to do Politics and Economics but I am not sure about the remaining two. It would be out of Philosophy, Mathematics, Business Studies, and maybe English Language. Can I please have some advice on which would help me the best? Thank you.
Original post by madferit-lfc
Hello. I am interesting in studying PPE (Philosophy, Politics and Economics) at Oxford but I am not sure which subjects to study for A level. I definitely would like to do Politics and Economics but I am not sure about the remaining two. It would be out of Philosophy, Mathematics, Business Studies, and maybe English Language. Can I please have some advice on which would help me the best? Thank you.


Oxbridge lurrrrrve Maths.

Take Philosophy, Politics, Economics, Maths and Further Maths.

I know Oxford and Cambridge can vary wildly but try not to take Business Studies or English Language - they're seen as 'soft' subjects. (ie - a monkey could pass them. In the opinion of Trinity College at least. not my opinion btw)

Oh and you might want to look into doing some political volunteering, that kind of stuff.
Reply 5899
Avatar for EdmundB
EdmundB
Original post by madferit-lfc
Hello. I am interesting in studying PPE (Philosophy, Politics and Economics) at Oxford but I am not sure which subjects to study for A level. I definitely would like to do Politics and Economics but I am not sure about the remaining two. It would be out of Philosophy, Mathematics, Business Studies, and maybe English Language. Can I please have some advice on which would help me the best? Thank you.


Business Studies and English Language are seen as somewhat 'soft' subjects so you would really want to take only one of those as a fourth A level. Other than that, maths would be helpful but you should feel free to choose those which you really enjoy. Don't make the mistake of doing a subject you don't particularly like because it will help your application.

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