Oxford PPE (Philosophy, Politics and Economics) Students and Applicants
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Personally, I would drop politics and take maths, it would make your application stronger, politics is seen as a less prestigious subject and Oxford would certainly take this into account. Or take 5 AS levels if you really want to do politics. They will teach you everything you need to know in the degree, so you don't need to know everything about every area of it.
I don't think you need it, but it will be much better than politics. Do it to A2 too.
Don't need it, but it'll be useful, and it's a strong A level
Original post by lukejcr
Hi
I want to apply to take PPE at Oxford. Lots of people have said that maths is very important as the course is at AS level standard.
Do I need to take maths given that:
>I got A* at GCSE
>I am taking economics next year
>Done economics casework for an MP
Obviously there is no 'official requirement' but 90% of people have AS or equvilent maths who take PPE at oxford.
I have 11 A*s and will be taking Politics, Philosophy, Economics and History for AS.
I want to apply to take PPE at Oxford. Lots of people have said that maths is very important as the course is at AS level standard.
Do I need to take maths given that:
>I got A* at GCSE
>I am taking economics next year
>Done economics casework for an MP
Obviously there is no 'official requirement' but 90% of people have AS or equvilent maths who take PPE at oxford.
I have 11 A*s and will be taking Politics, Philosophy, Economics and History for AS.
I agree with the above - take Maths if you can.
It definitely isn't a requirement, but it makes your life SO much easier.
Rather than having to go to additional maths lectures to learn how to differentiate, integrate etc, you can spend more time on your actual work. Not just on the tools you need to do it, if you see what I mean.
All colleges teach Maths for Econ differently - we had a 2 hour maths class every week in Michaelmas (first term of first year), but it was taught assuming we had at least AS Level maths knowledge. For those who didn't, the Economics department do lectures to help people catch up. In my PPE cohort, we all had A2 Maths.
But your lecture timetable in first term is pretty full - so 2 more hours of lectures a week makes a big difference to how much time you have to work on your actual essays and tutorials.
Original post by lukejcr
Hi
I want to apply to take PPE at Oxford. Lots of people have said that maths is very important as the course is at AS level standard.
Do I need to take maths given that:
>I got A* at GCSE
>I am taking economics next year
>Done economics casework for an MP
Obviously there is no 'official requirement' but 90% of people have AS or equvilent maths who take PPE at oxford.
I have 11 A*s (Including Short course and OCR nationals) and will be taking Politics, Philosophy, Economics and History for AS.
I want to apply to take PPE at Oxford. Lots of people have said that maths is very important as the course is at AS level standard.
Do I need to take maths given that:
>I got A* at GCSE
>I am taking economics next year
>Done economics casework for an MP
Obviously there is no 'official requirement' but 90% of people have AS or equvilent maths who take PPE at oxford.
I have 11 A*s (Including Short course and OCR nationals) and will be taking Politics, Philosophy, Economics and History for AS.
Maths in place of politics would make your application a lot stronger.
The amount of people I've heard of doing the PPE subjects as a way of increasing chances of entry is incredible. Just pick maths, economics and history and a fourth subject and you'll be fine.
Bah! The closer to the interviews, the more stressed I become. I've always defined myself on my ability as a thinker and economist, but as the wretched moment approaches, I find myself increasingly worried. I've pinned so many hopes and ambitions upon being accepted that I'm honesty worried about how I'll handle it if I don't make. It's just a dream, you know? PPE is my love, it's what fascinates me - I honestly feel like I was born to do it. Not a mathematician, not a lawyer, not a doctor - a PPE graduate. To be rejected would be like being told a core part of myself wasn't good enough, that the thing I pride myself most on is not capable of doing what I believe I can do.
The lack of certainty is horrendous. There's always another challenge, always another worry. 9 A* grades and 1 A seemed fine, then you examine the competition and see the candidate with 14 A* grades. AAAAA at AS seemed fine, then you see the AAAAAA candidates. The personal statement reads like a dream, until you read the other personal statements and realise yours floats in a sea of mediocrity, with the ever-so-predictable Krugman, Stiglitz, Mill and Machiavelli taunting your lack of originality. The 45/50 on the TSA fills you with a sense of achievement, until you realise that is only about 78% when converted and you have been soundly thrashed by several other candidates.
And that's not even touching on the pressure of the interviews! Three half-hour interviews in which you have to impress a triumvirate of people you've never met before sufficiently to fulfil what is the single guiding ambition in life. There's no margin for error, you slip up - and that's it. The increasing realisation of my mediocrity is really wearing me down.
The lack of certainty is horrendous. There's always another challenge, always another worry. 9 A* grades and 1 A seemed fine, then you examine the competition and see the candidate with 14 A* grades. AAAAA at AS seemed fine, then you see the AAAAAA candidates. The personal statement reads like a dream, until you read the other personal statements and realise yours floats in a sea of mediocrity, with the ever-so-predictable Krugman, Stiglitz, Mill and Machiavelli taunting your lack of originality. The 45/50 on the TSA fills you with a sense of achievement, until you realise that is only about 78% when converted and you have been soundly thrashed by several other candidates.
And that's not even touching on the pressure of the interviews! Three half-hour interviews in which you have to impress a triumvirate of people you've never met before sufficiently to fulfil what is the single guiding ambition in life. There's no margin for error, you slip up - and that's it. The increasing realisation of my mediocrity is really wearing me down.
Original post by TopHat
Bah! The closer to the interviews, the more stressed I become. I've always defined myself on my ability as a thinker and economist, but as the wretched moment approaches, I find myself increasingly worried. I've pinned so many hopes and ambitions upon being accepted that I'm honesty worried about how I'll handle it if I don't make. It's just a dream, you know? PPE is my love, it's what fascinates me - I honestly feel like I was born to do it. Not a mathematician, not a lawyer, not a doctor - a PPE graduate. To be rejected would be like being told a core part of myself wasn't good enough, that the thing I pride myself most on is not capable of doing what I believe I can do.
The lack of certainty is horrendous. There's always another challenge, always another worry. 9 A* grades and 1 A seemed fine, then you examine the competition and see the candidate with 14 A* grades. AAAAA at AS seemed fine, then you see the AAAAAA candidates. The personal statement reads like a dream, until you read the other personal statements and realise yours floats in a sea of mediocrity, with the ever-so-predictable Krugman, Stiglitz, Mill and Machiavelli taunting your lack of originality. The 45/50 on the TSA fills you with a sense of achievement, until you realise that is only about 78% when converted and you have been soundly thrashed by several other candidates.
And that's not even touching on the pressure of the interviews! Three half-hour interviews in which you have to impress a triumvirate of people you've never met before sufficiently to fulfil what is the single guiding ambition in life. There's no margin for error, you slip up - and that's it. The increasing realisation of my mediocrity is really wearing me down.
The lack of certainty is horrendous. There's always another challenge, always another worry. 9 A* grades and 1 A seemed fine, then you examine the competition and see the candidate with 14 A* grades. AAAAA at AS seemed fine, then you see the AAAAAA candidates. The personal statement reads like a dream, until you read the other personal statements and realise yours floats in a sea of mediocrity, with the ever-so-predictable Krugman, Stiglitz, Mill and Machiavelli taunting your lack of originality. The 45/50 on the TSA fills you with a sense of achievement, until you realise that is only about 78% when converted and you have been soundly thrashed by several other candidates.
And that's not even touching on the pressure of the interviews! Three half-hour interviews in which you have to impress a triumvirate of people you've never met before sufficiently to fulfil what is the single guiding ambition in life. There's no margin for error, you slip up - and that's it. The increasing realisation of my mediocrity is really wearing me down.
Well if you come across like this in interview, you can wave your chances goodbye.
Get a grip.
People like you are why I dislike socialising with all too many PPEists. Nearly as bad as the E&M IB obsessives.
All you can do is give it your best shot. If PPE really is your 'calling', then let fate do it's work.
The bigger deal you make it, the worse it'll be. In an all too short amount of time, these next few months will be trivial. Whether you get in or not.
Hi there,
I'm going to apply to Oxford PPE and was wondering what similar courses people are applying to/applied to, preferably in London. I'm unsure whether a PPE personal statement will work with Phil/Eco at UCL and Gov/Eco at LSE.
Thanks
I'm going to apply to Oxford PPE and was wondering what similar courses people are applying to/applied to, preferably in London. I'm unsure whether a PPE personal statement will work with Phil/Eco at UCL and Gov/Eco at LSE.
Thanks
I'm applying for Oxford PPE, and then Pol/Econ at:
-Bath
-Durham
-Southampton
-Aberdeen
(in order of preference)
-Bath
-Durham
-Southampton
-Aberdeen
(in order of preference)
I am also thinking of Phil/econ at UCL or gov/econ at LSE... I'm pretty sure a PPE ps can work for both, but I'm unsure whether to go for LSE or UCL... Any ideas?
made a thread since there wasnt one for ppe.
Im applying this year..
havent chosen a college yet tho.
Has anyone submitted their application already?
Im applying this year..
havent chosen a college yet tho.
Has anyone submitted their application already?
I haven't yet... Not sure about my college choice either 
I'm having trouble with my PS - in that I don't know how much philosophy to put in, since Oxford is the only PPE course I'm applying to.
Also...
I'd go for LSE if the offers are similar, for two reasons.
1 - you get the University of London facilities etc
2 - LSE is the renowned place for economics, really... it's in the name =)
Also...
Original post by dc_lawrence
I am also thinking of Phil/econ at UCL or gov/econ at LSE... I'm pretty sure a PPE ps can work for both, but I'm unsure whether to go for LSE or UCL... Any ideas?
I'd go for LSE if the offers are similar, for two reasons.
1 - you get the University of London facilities etc
2 - LSE is the renowned place for economics, really... it's in the name =)
Original post by RibenaRockstar
I'm having trouble with my PS - in that I don't know how much philosophy to put in, since Oxford is the only PPE course I'm applying to.
Also...
I'd go for LSE if the offers are similar, for two reasons.
1 - you get the University of London facilities etc
2 - LSE is the renowned place for economics, really... it's in the name =)
Also...
I'd go for LSE if the offers are similar, for two reasons.
1 - you get the University of London facilities etc
2 - LSE is the renowned place for economics, really... it's in the name =)
One possible way around your dilemma would be to talk about political philosophy, if only briefly. In this way, you cover all three bases, without forcing non-Oxford admissions tutors to read a paragraph that, to them, will be irrelevant.
Original post by RibenaRockstar
I'm having trouble with my PS - in that I don't know how much philosophy to put in, since Oxford is the only PPE course I'm applying to.
Also...
I'd go for LSE if the offers are similar, for two reasons.
1 - you get the University of London facilities etc
2 - LSE is the renowned place for economics, really... it's in the name =)
Also...
I'd go for LSE if the offers are similar, for two reasons.
1 - you get the University of London facilities etc
2 - LSE is the renowned place for economics, really... it's in the name =)
I would definitely put philosophy in, other unis know you're applying there anyway because of the date they get your application. Plus, most universities like Oxford rejects even if they pretend not too.
You don't think LSE is too competitive? I'm tempted to UCL because I'm more likely to get an offer...
Original post by dc_lawrence
I would definitely put philosophy in, other unis know you're applying there anyway because of the date they get your application. Plus, most universities like Oxford rejects even if they pretend not too.
You don't think LSE is too competitive? I'm tempted to UCL because I'm more likely to get an offer...
You don't think LSE is too competitive? I'm tempted to UCL because I'm more likely to get an offer...
If you mention philosophy explicitly, isolated from the political and economic parts of the personal statement, then precisely that much space will be entirely redundant when it comes to demonstrating to universities other than Oxford that the candidate is suitable. On a personal statement, space is everything. Eliminating redundancy is key. Moreover, universities don't like or dislike Oxford "rejects" - they have no way of knowing for sure who's applied to Oxford, let alone who's been rejected. Even ignoring that fact, that has absolutely no bearing on whether another university will give the candidate an offer.
For clarity: I'm not saying don't mention philosophy at all. Demonstrating an interest is, of course, useful.
Original post by Bax-man
One possible way around your dilemma would be to talk about political philosophy, if only briefly. In this way, you cover all three bases, without forcing non-Oxford admissions tutors to read a paragraph that, to them, will be irrelevant.
I was going to do that, or at least jurisprudence and the Devlin/Hart debate, maybe Bertram Russell, since I've mentioned an interest in the UN, and he didn't think that international cooperation could fully be achieved without Big Wars
id do french, apparently businesses love linguists, not sure how true that is but thats what our language teachers keep telling us!
Original post by Bax-man
If you mention philosophy explicitly, isolated from the political and economic parts of the personal statement, then precisely that much space will be entirely redundant when it comes to demonstrating to universities other than Oxford that the candidate is suitable. On a personal statement, space is everything. Eliminating redundancy is key. Moreover, universities don't like or dislike Oxford "rejects" - they have no way of knowing for sure who's applied to Oxford, let alone who's been rejected. Even ignoring that fact, that has absolutely no bearing on whether another university will give the candidate an offer.
For clarity: I'm not saying don't mention philosophy at all. Demonstrating an interest is, of course, useful.
For clarity: I'm not saying don't mention philosophy at all. Demonstrating an interest is, of course, useful.
I've been advised to have three specific sections, for philosophy politics and economics. If you read through previous PSs for PPE they are mostly set out in that way. And unis do know. If you apply for any two of the PPE subjects before the 15th of october they know you're applying to Oxford for PPE. And yes they don't know if you will get in, but if they think you're good enough for them they'll give you an offer - they honestly don't care if you've spent a third of your space talking about philosophy. After all, it links in to politics and economics.
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