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

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Reply 600
Avatar for LoveEng
LoveEng
Hi everyone

I have a quick question concerning the required reference:

My teacher has written a reference, but I'm worried that it is too short...it's only about 25 lines long!

Should I ask her to write a little more?

LoveEng
LoveEng
Hi everyone

I have a quick question concerning the required reference:

My teacher has written a reference, but I'm worried that it is too short...it's only about 25 lines long!

Should I ask her to write a little more?

LoveEng


If it says all that it needs to then it should suffice. Mine isn't much longer.

I think the tutors would much rather have something that's consice rather than something that's concise + 20 lines of waffle.
My reference is about 2 paragraphs max. Most stuff is covered elsewhere in my form.
made_of_fail

I intend to do quite a bit of preparation for this in the half-term. It's not like you can't improve your performance on tests like these.


:ottid:
Reply 604
Avatar for EmDii
EmDii
made_of_fail

I intend to do quite a bit of preparation for this in the half-term. It's not like you can't improve your performance on tests like these.


How are you intending to prepare? We don't have that kind of multiple-choice tests here in Finland, so I'd be thankful for any advice on practice materials etc.
Reply 605
Avatar for mbrakel
mbrakel
>> peaches
My reference is about 2 paragraphs max. Most stuff is covered elsewhere in my form.


Sorry to abuse the PPE forum by asking another question about the reference, BUT :wink: : I am a Dutch school student wanting to apply for PPE in 2008 and I'm wondering how many references are common? UCAS has space for one and so does the OAF. Should I include two? Or is the OAF one only in case you want to add an Oxford tailored reference?
Reply 606
Avatar for mbrakel
mbrakel
EmDii
How are you intending to prepare? We don't have that kind of multiple-choice tests here in Finland, so I'd be thankful for any advice on practice materials etc.


I quess there is not much preparing you can do. It is an aptitude test after all, not focussing on book knowledge.

I'm having a hard time registering aswell, since the British Council (the only open centre in the Netherlands) keeps referring me to my school and vica versa. Plus, cambridge assessment does not allow overseas schools to register as a closed centre (they say they do allow it, but they keep demanding a non-existent "centre number"). I quess it's because it's the first time they organize the test in this way?
Reply 607
Avatar for asbu
asbu
This application is bothering me. School wants me to decide on an Oxford college because the form needs it (see website). I can't decide by tomorrow (28 sep) so I think it only means that they wont be guaranteed to receive the test forms by half term. As far as i can see i can still wait at least one week (deadline 11 oct) but i'll phone cambridge assessment tomorrow.. Any views?
Reply 608
Avatar for Cirsium
Cirsium
19
Well the obvious one is why haven't you picked a college yet? Presumably you're not going to visit now, so get the prospectus out and start thinking! :smile:
Reply 609
Avatar for LoveEng
LoveEng
I was asking that as well - I'm also a little confused about that...
Well...my UCAS reference was completed by my head of year on just general information in how I perform in my subjects, what role I have in school life, my predicted grades etc. On my OAF reference (which I haven't actually heard) they have basically written how I am a suitable student for PPE at Oxford. I'm not really sure if they have put anything else down, as we're not allowed to read it but it's definetely not the same one as for UCAS.
Ave all

I'm an international student, applying for PPE 2008. For good or for bad I chose NOT to give any college of preference in my OAF, but reading the forum since, I begin to have some doubts:

1. I would not be able to pay for my undergrad education unless I received financial assistance of some kind. I checked with the International Office, and the only one that applies to me is the Oxford Student Scholarship, which (they tell me) is darn hard to get. Further, only a few colleges apparently give the OSS.

If I'm alloted a college that does NOT provide for the OSS I ruin my own chances, right?

2. In this regard I checked the profiles of a few of them. Previous posters on this forum were speaking v. highly about Balliol, and they've got a scheme wherein they remit the college fees for 3 overseas students. Should I apply to Balliol, then?

3. Balliol, however, is supposedly the *best* college for PPE, and applications are consequently very *competitive*. The thing about international interviews (I'm getting one) is that only one set of people can interview you, so I won't have the option of being interviewed by a second college. Does the pooling system (where you're alloted a second college if they find you're good enough) work for overseas chaps too?

4. Which are the other colleges that offer some sort of financial aid to people in my position? Apparently the richer ones should be better in this respect than the poorer; problem is, I dont know which are the richer ones. Could someone help, please?

5. Keeping in my the financial considerations, do you recommend I give an open application at all? Can I change it now? If yes, should I apply to something like Balliol, hoping that if they don't take me some other college will?



Thanks for reading this far. Had to get these questions out; searched a lot but found nothing too solid.

Cheers!

:smile:
From Wikipedia:

The only one of the Harry Potter trio to intend to study at university, [Emma] Watson has entertained thoughts of applying to read Philosophy at Cambridge or PPE at Oxford.
>> peaches
From Wikipedia:


Please send her to Cambridge.
We dont want her at Oxford.
I know.
Supposedly she went to the Cambridge open day though.
Why is it that Trinitarians hardly ever post about their college here? I've tried searching "trinity" and "ppe" in any number of combinations, but nothing turns up.

So here's the question. Honestly speaking, how's Trinity for PPE? I know the best are Balliol and St.Johns and Merton...but is Trinity way down?

I'll tell you what sort of college I'd like:
1. good-looking (lovely buildings and grounds)
2. cheap
3. good at academics
4. not too sporty
5. interested in stuff like music
6. not too political
7. not too rah
8. nice and friendly

somewhat detailed, i know :smile:

but anyway- is Trinity for me?
Just wondering if any current or prospecitve PPEists had similar A-levels to mine and if they will be considered a good combination

A2s of History (which the website says is good) then Geography and politics.
AS of sociology which i am worried about as everybody seems to disregard it and also an AS of maths which im doing in y13.
Maths to A2 would probably be better. Some Colleges, I think, are pretty insistent on it.

DtS
Isaiah_Berlin
I have Politics, Maths, English Lit., French and History all to A2 and am currently taking Further Maths to AS during my gap year- FP1-3.


thats a good combination (similar to mine except i had biology instead of french), but it depends alot on what grades you acheived in your A2's + your GCSE grades and other stuff like what your doing in your gap year tbh............
Isaiah_Berlin
Yeah, that's right.

Moreover, given that everybody and his dog gets AAA these days, I would expect A Level grades/predictions to be one of the lesser weighted criterion.


yeah most candidates (i.e. 99%) will have AAA as there prediction/obtained grades, depends what did you get at GCSE and what are you doing in your gap year then??

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