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

Think is good, as is Russell's Problems of Philosophy.

Thanks, I'll get that too. Not sure what else I can do to help my philosophy knowledge but I assume that all the applicants wont be equally good across the three subjects!

Reply 6561

dancinginrainbows

2

Original post by Mouth

Thanks, I'll get that too. Not sure what else I can do to help my philosophy knowledge but I assume that all the applicants wont be equally good across the three subjects!

Is there any area of philosophy you think you might be particularly interested in? I might be able to help with book recommendations.

Don't worry about it too much though - I have no knowledge of economics whatsoever and I somehow made it past the interview.

Reply 6562

Iver

Hello,

Thinking of applying for PPE this autumn to Oxford.
Well, thinking is probably not the right word - I'm obsessed with it.

Grades for GCSE (Well, I did an equivalent in my home country with 19+ subjects(don't think there is any point in listing all of them but we did virtually everything - from English to Astronomy [I'm from Ukraine]).
AS scores:
Math (already passed just two exams in Math C1 100 UMC, C2 - 97).

I'm also doing Economics, Politics and Sociology. All are predicted A/A*
Oh yep, and I'm doing statistics also (firstly I thought about Further Math, but don't think it's relevant).

In summer I'll do an internship in politics and also complete my EPQ (topic is something like "Does the marketization of education benefit the society?").

What are the realistic chances? I've been to LSE today and I'm quite scared because of their statistics of acceptance...

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 6563

mobyfan101

Hi there! *waves* I don't do PPE, but I do Law (so some similarities).

Entry requirements for PPE: http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate_courses/courses/philosophy_politics_and_economics/philosophy_politic_1.html

Had a glance at it myself and what I'd assume from this is that you stand as good a chance as anybody; you seem qualified enough to stand a chance. What I'd say is to try not to fret too much about your Oxford application. Focusing JUST exclusively on Oxford won't do you any favours in applying - it'll just get you very stressed. Much better to try as hard as you can (as I'm sure you will) but to remain realistic that, to some extent, it is a real numbers game and that there are some other very excellent universities out there. :smile:

Good luck! :hugs:

Edit: plus, LSE is extremely competitive and (rumour has it) they look at GCSEs very intensively. I wouldn't worry too much about how this reflects on your chances at other universities, as LSE are a bit of a law unto themselves apparently.

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 6564

Bax-man

2

Original post by Iver

Hello,

Thinking of applying for PPE this autumn to Oxford.
Well, thinking is probably not the right word - I'm obsessed with it.

Grades for GCSE (Well, I did an equivalent in my home country with 19+ subjects(don't think there is any point in listing all of them but we did virtually everything - from English to Astronomy [I'm from Ukraine]).
AS scores:
Math (already passed just two exams in Math C1 100 UMC, C2 - 97).

I'm also doing Economics, Politics and Sociology. All are predicted A/A*
Oh yep, and I'm doing statistics also (firstly I thought about Further Math, but don't think it's relevant).

In summer I'll do an internship in politics and also complete my EPQ (topic is something like "Does the marketization of education benefit the society?").

What are the realistic chances? I've been to LSE today and I'm quite scared because of their statistics of acceptance...

For PPE it is important to do well on the Thinking Skills Assessment, which is one of the main factors which colleges consider when deciding who to invite for interviews. From there, interview performance is crucial.

Whilst it might be initially impressive if you've got half a dozen A-levels at A* or internships with investment banks or management consultancies, they have little if any bearing on application success - decisions on admission ultimately come down to what I've described above.

Reply 6565

overlyambitious

I am passionate to study PPE at Oxford however I am not sure if my AS subject choices are suffice;
Maths
Further Mathematics
Economics
Classical Civilisation
Global Perspective Research

Does classical civilisation count as an essay written subject? Would politics be a better subject choice than classical civilisation or should I change further mathematics to politics or are my current options okay? Moreover, I plan to apply for Oxford, Durham, UCL and LSE. Is it necessary that I play an instrument and I am currently taking 11 GCSE subjects and additional mathematics. What grades will I need to acheive in order to stand a chance? Moreover, what type of extra-curricular activities and work experience would you recommend? Thank you in advance :smile:

Reply 6566

tooambitious

16

Original post by overlyambitious

I am passionate to study PPE at Oxford however I am not sure if my AS subject choices are suffice;
Maths
Further Mathematics
Economics
Classical Civilisation
Global Perspective Research

Does classical civilisation count as an essay written subject? Would politics be a better subject choice than classical civilisation or should I change further mathematics to politics or are my current options okay? Moreover, I plan to apply for Oxford, Durham, UCL and LSE. Is it necessary that I play an instrument and I am currently taking 11 GCSE subjects and additional mathematics. What grades will I need to acheive in order to stand a chance? Moreover, what type of extra-curricular activities and work experience would you
recommend? Thank you in advance :smile:

Hehe at our similar usernames :tongue:

Your choices seem fine, I think history is listed as used but it's definitely not a requirement, extra curriculars are unimportant except reading I suppose, the best grades you can, there's no minimum :smile:

Reply 6567

Budgie

12

Original post by overlyambitious

I am passionate to study PPE at Oxford however I am not sure if my AS subject choices are suffice;
Maths
Further Mathematics
Economics
Classical Civilisation
Global Perspective Research

Does classical civilisation count as an essay written subject? Would politics be a better subject choice than classical civilisation or should I change further mathematics to politics or are my current options okay? Moreover, I plan to apply for Oxford, Durham, UCL and LSE. Is it necessary that I play an instrument and I am currently taking 11 GCSE subjects and additional mathematics. What grades will I need to acheive in order to stand a chance? Moreover, what type of extra-curricular activities and work experience would you recommend? Thank you in advance :smile:

I don't know much Classical Civ (although it is listed in Trinity College Cambridge's A-list which is a good sign), but if you replaced either of the last two with History then you would have a very good line up. Oxford lists History and Maths as useful but not required. Further Maths is good not necessarily for its content (although it will be if you specialise in theoretical economics), but as a signal that you will have mastery of more basic material.

Playing an instrument and extra-curricular activities are irrelevant. The only way in which they could come into play is if they (a) signal motivation or ability (debating, for example, could conceivably do this in a tutor's mind) or (b) signal time-management ability. But apart from as a signal they are useless; academic ability and motivation are the sole admission requirements.

Reply 6568

beckylewis

5

wow, sorry this is not related to your topic, but I did accounting at AS level and i was told its realy respected lol, obviously not as its ranked one of the lowest according to that link ^^ :/ it was actualy quite hard.

Reply 6569

LETSJaM

16

Original post by overlyambitious

I am passionate to study PPE at Oxford however I am not sure if my AS subject choices are suffice;
Maths
Further Mathematics
Economics
Classical Civilisation
Global Perspective Research

Does classical civilisation count as an essay written subject? Would politics be a better subject choice than classical civilisation or should I change further mathematics to politics or are my current options okay? Moreover, I plan to apply for Oxford, Durham, UCL and LSE. Is it necessary that I play an instrument and I am currently taking 11 GCSE subjects and additional mathematics. What grades will I need to acheive in order to stand a chance? Moreover, what type of extra-curricular activities and work experience would you recommend? Thank you in advance :smile:

Maybe switch GPR or Class Civ to History as that is what is recommended.

Grades need to be: A*A*A(*) or A*A(*)A depending on the kind of school you're at.

Work experience: A couple of weeks shadowing someone in local government. Contact you're local MP (even if you dislike them) and ask to shadow them.
Try and get 1 - 2 weeks at a think tank/ or pressure group.

GOOD LUCK! :thumbsup:

<3 x

Reply 6570

Poppyxx

11

Original post by LETSJaM

Maybe switch GPR or Class Civ to History as that is what is recommended.

Grades need to be: A*A*A(*) or A*A(*)A depending on the kind of school you're at.

why? You need AAA...

Work experience: A couple of weeks shadowing someone in local government. Contact you're local MP (even if you dislike them) and ask to shadow them.
Try and get 1 - 2 weeks at a think tank/ or pressure group.

no you don't. From my experience of politics tutors at Oxford, they'd roll their eyes at work experience of this sort. Lots of think tanks / pressure groups are reluctant to have a undergrad student, let alone a 6th former, do any meaningful (i.e. more than observing / photocopying) work experience

GOOD LUCK! :thumbsup:

<3 x

OP - leave GPR out of the equation. At my school it really was just a 5th add on subject, great thing to do but I'm not sure how universities are taking it nowadays i.e. what they are expecting you to get, or are they treating it like general studies (unfair in my opinion) and leaving it out of offers.

I think Class Civ is a good substitute for History, so I think you have a nice balance there.

Reply 6571

LETSJaM

16

Original post by Poppyxx

OP - leave GPR out of the equation. At my school it really was just a 5th add on subject, great thing to do but I'm not sure how universities are taking it nowadays i.e. what they are expecting you to get, or are they treating it like general studies (unfair in my opinion) and leaving it out of offers.

I think Class Civ is a good substitute for History, so I think you have a nice balance there.

These are the real grades I've heard are needed. I didn't know whether the OP was private or state so I included the grades my private and state educated friends needed to get offers at Oxbridge.

NO! I would say History is a must! It's the subject (apart from maths) that all the top universities are looking for for PPE.

<3 x

Reply 6572

Poppyxx

11

Original post by LETSJaM

These are the real grades I've heard are needed. I didn't know whether the OP was private or state so I included the grades my private and state educated friends needed to get offers at Oxbridge.

NO! I would say History is a must! It's the subject (apart from maths) that all the top universities are looking for for PPE.

<3 x

and how long have you been a PPE tutor for?

I assume your omniscience with regard to PPE at Oxford can only come from being one.

I do PPE at Oxford. We do not all have History. Class Civ in effect is ancient History anyway, the skills learnt are the same. The grades of an offer are AAA regardless of what school you attended. Perhaps most people are predicted A*AA, but what you are predicted and what you need are not the same thing. Additionally there is no prejudice with regard to private and state school expectations; the only time this comes into play is if you are from a school with incredibly low results and a low percentage of pupils even considering higher education. There are a number of state schools that continually outperform independent schools. This is a fact tutors are aware of... Durham may say they look at your GCSE results in relation to your school's, but as far as I know Oxford do not do the same. An independent school candidate presenting AAA* as predictions is just as likely to get an interview as a state school candidate presenting AAA*, with everything else taken into consideration.

Once again a prime example of why the student room hinders as much as it helps. Too many people offering advice based on hearsay, rather than concrete fact.

You can always tell the good advice on here - it's prefaced with "in my experience" or "As a PPE student at Oxford I think ... but what I say is not fact" and the like.

Reply 6573

Budgie

12

Original post by LETSJaM

.

NO! I would say History is a must! It's the subject (apart from maths) that all the top universities are looking for for PPE.

This is simply not true; many PPEists don't have history, as has been pointed out.

The point of Oxford recommending History and Maths (but not requiring them) is that you use the maths in economics and history proves your essay writing skills , is an "A-list" subject, and covers some (extremely vaguely) similar territory. If another subject like class-civ or English Literature can fulfil those functions equally well then it's probably fine.

Original post by beckylewis

wow, sorry this is not related to your topic, but I did accounting at AS level and i was told its realy respected lol, obviously not as its ranked one of the lowest according to that link ^^ :/ it was actualy quite hard.

It's a big problem that not all students get the information they should about what subjects are respected.

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 6574

LETSJaM

16

Original post by Poppyxx

and how long have you been a PPE tutor for?

I assume your omniscience with regard to PPE at Oxford can only come from being one.

I do PPE at Oxford. We do not all have History. Class Civ in effect is ancient History anyway, the skills learnt are the same. The grades of an offer are AAA regardless of what school you attended. Perhaps most people are predicted A*AA, but what you are predicted and what you need are not the same thing. Additionally there is no prejudice with regard to private and state school expectations; the only time this comes into play is if you are from a school with incredibly low results and a low percentage of pupils even considering higher education. There are a number of state schools that continually outperform independent schools. This is a fact tutors are aware of... Durham may say they look at your GCSE results in relation to your school's, but as far as I know Oxford do not do the same. An independent school candidate presenting AAA* as predictions is just as likely to get an interview as a state school candidate presenting AAA*, with everything else taken into consideration.

Once again a prime example of why the student room hinders as much as it helps. Too many people offering advice based on hearsay, rather than concrete fact.

You can always tell the good advice on here - it's prefaced with "in my experience" or "As a PPE student at Oxford I think ... but what I say is not fact" and the like.

Sarcasm doesn't suit you.

<3 x

Reply 6575

confusedexcited

9

Original post by Poppyxx

. There are a number of state schools that continually outperform independent schools. This is a fact tutors are aware of... Durham may say they look at your GCSE results in relation to your school's, but as far as I know Oxford do not do the same. An independent school candidate presenting AAA* as predictions is just as likely to get an interview as a state school candidate presenting AAA*, with everything else taken into consideration.

Actually, Oxford do look at your GCSE in relation to your school. But that's not private vs. state, instead it's the proporition of A*s scored against other grades. It's a big part of the initial test, along with the HAT, or the PAT, or the cat-that-sat-on-the-mat, though i believe the emphasis is reduced once you make it to interview stage. Though I'm a jilted oxford atendee, I do know that. I'm sure everything else you said was totally true!

Reply 6576

Bevanite

Hey,
Sorry if I've posted this in the wrong forum!

Applying for Oxford PPE next year - I won't bore you with the standard "are my GCSEs good enough?" rigmarole but having been to the "Oxbridge Roadshow" at Haydock Park today I've been knocked off my balance a bit with regards to PPE.

When I chose my AS Levels I was assured by the Oxbridge coordinator at college that Maths wouldn't be essential for a PPE application - so I'm doing History, English Lit, Classics, French and Econ at AS (with a view to dropping one/two next year). Having spoken to a PPE tutor today however, his opinion was that lack of even Maths AS would put me at a slight disadvantage. He also said that only around 1/10 PPE students don't have Maths to at least AS...I was wondering if anyone here is studying PPE without having done Maths at AS/A2 and could help shed some light on this situation for me.

I got 9 A* 4 A and 3 B at GCSE (A in Maths)...would this be sufficient in terms of displaying a decent level of numeracy?

Reply 6577

Poppyxx

11

PPE at Oxford requires no certain A Level subjects, History and Maths are 'helpful' (not even 'recommended').

So technically you are at no disadvantage; but the tutor is right in saying that the vast majority of candidates will offer at least AS Maths.

They will have an advantage over you in terms of being able to do most (if not all) of the maths that 1st year PPE requires, and hence tutors at interview will suppose this aspect of the course will pose no problems.

You just need to show you have the aptitude for PPE, and in that show that you are capable of understanding the mathematical concepts required.

Once you get to Oxford, if you don't have Maths past GCSE it just requires a couple more lectures and perhaps more time spent on your Economics till you reach the same level as others.

Every year candidates are admitted who don't have Maths past GCSE, which shows tutors can look past this.

So will it be a disadvantage? I don't know...

You'll be at the same disadvantage as someone offering no essay subjects (History, English etc) because from the Pol/Phil and even Econ viewpoint this is as much an issue as having no Maths.

It's not really a useful reply I know. I did A Level Maths but one of my fellow PPEists in my college didn't do AS, nor did another one I know of in the year above me. Economics is just one third of the course after all.

If my Philosophy tutor is to be believed, there is an annual debate as to whether AS Maths should be a required subject. An idea vociferously opposed by the Phil and Pol tutors who question why Economics should dominate in such a way...

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 6578

LETSJaM

16

Original post by Poppyxx

PPE at Oxford requires no certain A Level subjects, History and Maths are recommended.

So technically you are at no disadvantage; but the tutor is right in saying that the vast majority of candidates will offer at least AS Maths.

They will have an advantage over you in terms of being able to do most (if not all) of the maths that 1st year PPE requires, and hence tutors at interview will suppose this aspect of the course will pose no problems.

You just need to show you have the aptitude for PPE, and in that show that you are capable of understanding the mathematical concepts required.

Once you get to Oxford, if you don't have Maths past GCSE it just requires a couple more lectures and perhaps more time spent on your Economics till you reach the same level as others.

Every year candidates are admitted who don't have Maths past GCSE, which shows tutors can look past this.

So will it be a disadvantage? I don't know...

You'll be at the same disadvantage as someone offering no essay subjects (History, English etc) because from the Pol/Phil and even Econ viewpoint this is as much an issue as having no Maths.

It's not really a useful reply I know. I did A Level Maths but one of my fellow PPEists in my college didn't do AS, nor did another one I know of in the year above me. Economics is just one third of the course after all.

If my Philosophy tutor is to be believed, there is an annual debate as to whether AS Maths should be a required subject. An idea vociferously opposed by the Phil and Pol tutors who question why Economics should dominate in such a way...

This has made me feel much better about my chances. Being is a similar position to OP, ie no maths past gcse. :tongue:

<3 x

Reply 6579

AK0001

6

Original post by Bevanite

Hey,
Sorry if I've posted this in the wrong forum!

Applying for Oxford PPE next year - I won't bore you with the standard "are my GCSEs good enough?" rigmarole but having been to the "Oxbridge Roadshow" at Haydock Park today I've been knocked off my balance a bit with regards to PPE.

When I chose my AS Levels I was assured by the Oxbridge coordinator at college that Maths wouldn't be essential for a PPE application - so I'm doing History, English Lit, Classics, French and Econ at AS (with a view to dropping one/two next year). Having spoken to a PPE tutor today however, his opinion was that lack of even Maths AS would put me at a slight disadvantage. He also said that only around 1/10 PPE students don't have Maths to at least AS...I was wondering if anyone here is studying PPE without having done Maths at AS/A2 and could help shed some light on this situation for me.

I got 9 A* 4 A and 3 B at GCSE (A in Maths)...would this be sufficient in terms of displaying a decent level of numeracy?

All it means is that your economics interview will be easier lol.

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

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