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

Original post by loopy786

Will predictions of D3 (History Pre-U), A* (French) and B (Maths.) hinder me greatly (grades in sig.) having had extenuating circumstances for my underachievement?

I'm doing pretty well in TSA practice so will that help me stop drowning in the pool of applicants? I know it's unlikely with <50% getting interviewed but I'm giving it a shot anyway. :s

I'm not sure what the university's (and colleges') policy is on people who are not presenting three A-levels but instead two and another qualification (in this case, the Pre-U). You would perhaps be best e-mailing the admissions tutors at the colleges you're interested in. Extenuating circumstances are considered, however, although I'm unsure whether they factor greatly should you eventually miss your standard offer. Also, different colleges place different weighting on your TSA scores, but an impressive result would help you avoid deselection. In my experience, they look for opportunities to invite people for interview who scored less well in their TSA rather than excuses to not invite people up who've done well in the TSA but otherwise put forward a slightly weaker application.

Original post by ohchristiandailly

Be prepared to just talk about Philosophy if you get to interview. I got to interviews several years ago and in a briefing the night before we were told that we would be asked if we wanted to talk about a specific topic that we knew about in our philosophy interviews. When it came to it, I said I would like to talk about political philosophy, and my interviewer replied that wasn't the kind of thing he wanted to talk about. That really threw me.

Just to add to this - I don't think the 'briefing' beforehand is common for interviews. Far more usually, you'll have no idea what you'll be interviewed on in advance. You don't need to know much - if anything - about philosophy, either. It's about how you think, rather than whether you've read Hume's Enquiries. (Although, if you get the chance to, it's still well worth doing and might give you something more to bring to bear on arguments you're presented with at your interview.)

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 6843

Original post by Bax-man

I'm not sure what the university's (and colleges') policy is on people who are not presenting three A-levels but instead two and another qualification (in this case, the Pre-U). You would perhaps be best e-mailing the admissions tutors at the colleges you're interested in. Extenuating circumstances are considered, however, although I'm unsure whether they factor greatly should you eventually miss your standard offer. Also, different colleges place different weighting on your TSA scores, but an impressive result would help you avoid deselection. In my experience, they look for opportunities to invite people for interview who scored less well in their TSA rather than excuses to not invite people up who've done well in the TSA but otherwise put forward a slightly weaker application.

Okay, I've done as you have suggested and emailed the college I'm hoping to apply to. I am aiming for higher grades than my predicted grades, it will be hard for me to not get an A in A level Maths., I genuinely just mucked up this year thanks to other factors but I'm doing well in TSA practices. :? My circumstances are now over because after my grades, my parents realised how big an issue it was so we FINALLY sorted it out (a year too late in my opinion). So do you mean that people who didn't do so well will be rescued by good grades etc., perhaps? And that people who've done fantastically in everything but AS grades and one prediction probably won't be rescued as easily by TSA score? :frown:

bummer How do I get colleges to tell me what their emphasis on TSA is?

Thanks for all your help, by the way. :smile:

Reply 6844

Original post by loopy786

Will predictions of D3 (History Pre-U), A* (French) and B (Maths.) hinder me greatly (grades in sig.) having had extenuating circumstances for my underachievement?

I'm doing pretty well in TSA practice so will that help me stop drowning in the pool of applicants? I know it's unlikely with <50% getting interviewed but I'm giving it a shot anyway. :s

I'm not sure about the mixed qualifications, but the extenuating circumstances will be taken into account. I got a B at Maths A-Level because of extenuating circumstances, and was given a place.

Reply 6845

Original post by dancinginrainbows

I'm not sure about the mixed qualifications, but the extenuating circumstances will be taken into account. I got a B at Maths A-Level because of extenuating circumstances, and was given a place.

Oh okay, that is rather reassuring. I am just worried that because of bad performance at AS I will be automatically discounted, even if I do well in the TSA. Also, well done on getting a place. :biggrin:

Reply 6846

username537823

14

Original post by loopy786

Will predictions of D3 (History Pre-U), A* (French) and B (Maths.) hinder me greatly (grades in sig.) having had extenuating circumstances for my underachievement?

I'm doing pretty well in TSA practice so will that help me stop drowning in the pool of applicants? I know it's unlikely with <50% getting interviewed but I'm giving it a shot anyway. :s

well what scores are you getting in your TSA's (be honest) and I will give you a fair reflection of whether or not they will interview u!

Reply 6847

Original post by loopy786

Oh okay, that is rather reassuring. I am just worried that because of bad performance at AS I will be automatically discounted, even if I do well in the TSA. Also, well done on getting a place. :biggrin:

Nah, you won't be automatically discounted, they'll be looking at all the different parts of your application. Just make sure the extenuating circumstances are detailed in your reference :smile:

Cheers.

Reply 6848

Original post by sreddy17

well what scores are you getting in your TSA's (be honest) and I will give you a fair reflection of whether or not they will interview u!

46, 46 and 49 so far (honestly), although I don't know which papers except for one of them because the school gave me some.

Reply 6849

Original post by dancinginrainbows

Nah, you won't be automatically discounted, they'll be looking at all the different parts of your application. Just make sure the extenuating circumstances are detailed in your reference :smile:

Cheers.

Okay, my tutor doesn't fill me with the utmost confidence to be honest, so I hope she gets it right on my reference. They've also told me to write it on my PS (Oxford admissions) so I'll do that too (even though I feel like it's a waste of space) but I've done so much that my form tutor is struggling to fit everything, even things just relevant to PPE, in my reference.

Reply 6850

Original post by loopy786

Okay, my tutor doesn't fill me with the utmost confidence to be honest, so I hope she gets it right on my reference. They've also told me to write it on my PS (Oxford admissions) so I'll do that too (even though I feel like it's a waste of space) but I've done so much that my form tutor is struggling to fit everything, even things just relevant to PPE, in my reference.

I was told as an absolute rule not to mention any negatives in my personal statement. You're really trying to make yourself look as good as possible in your statement, so negative stuff has no place in it, and also the university is much more likely to take it seriously if your tutor writes about it. So I suggest you only mention the extenuating circumstances in the PS if you can put a very positive spin on them - e.g. I said very briefly that it had made me more motivated and organised - but make sure your tutor puts it in your reference.

Reply 6851

Original post by dancinginrainbows

I was told as an absolute rule not to mention any negatives in my personal statement. You're really trying to make yourself look as good as possible in your statement, so negative stuff has no place in it, and also the university is much more likely to take it seriously if your tutor writes about it. So I suggest you only mention the extenuating circumstances in the PS if you can put a very positive spin on them - e.g. I said very briefly that it had made me more motivated and organised - but make sure your tutor puts it in your reference.

Interesting considering the admissions department at Oxford told me to mention it :frown:

I was going to mention briefly how it had really changed my outlook and motivated me to work harder etc. and how I had to change time management to deal with such a complex issue; it has had both ****ty and good outcomes for me but I'm going to write one version with and one without and then decide. I've already not got much space on my PS. :frown:

Reply 6852

Original post by loopy786

Interesting considering the admissions department at Oxford told me to mention it :frown:

I was going to mention briefly how it had really changed my outlook and motivated me to work harder etc. and how I had to change time management to deal with such a complex issue; it has had both ****ty and good outcomes for me but I'm going to write one version with and one without and then decide. I've already not got much space on my PS. :frown:

Hmm. Mentioning it briefly in a positive way looks like the best option, then. But most importantly make sure your tutor does mention it too.

Reply 6853

SamF1992

1

Original post by loopy786

Okay, my tutor doesn't fill me with the utmost confidence to be honest, so I hope she gets it right on my reference. They've also told me to write it on my PS (Oxford admissions) so I'll do that too (even though I feel like it's a waste of space) but I've done so much that my form tutor is struggling to fit everything, even things just relevant to PPE, in my reference.

Agree with the poster above, negative circumstances are not for you to mention, they're for who ever is doing your reference. The negative circumstances should be the most important thing mentioned in the reference.

Reply 6854

SamF1992

1

Original post by loopy786

Interesting considering the admissions department at Oxford told me to mention it :frown:

I was going to mention briefly how it had really changed my outlook and motivated me to work harder etc. and how I had to change time management to deal with such a complex issue; it has had both ****ty and good outcomes for me but I'm going to write one version with and one without and then decide. I've already not got much space on my PS. :frown:

In that case then, ignore my post above. But still make sure they're mentioned in your reference. :smile:

Reply 6855

Original post by SamF1992

In that case then, ignore my post above. But still make sure they're mentioned in your reference. :smile:

Okay, thanks though. :smile:

I'm just a little apprehensive because I am annoyed that I am sitting here with things that stopped me, because had none of this happened, I would not have had any worries. Oh well, I guess everything happens somewhat for a reason (even if it's debatable).

Reply 6856

Original post by loopy786

Okay, thanks though. :smile:

I'm just a little apprehensive because I am annoyed that I am sitting here with things that stopped me, because had none of this happened, I would not have had any worries. Oh well, I guess everything happens somewhat for a reason (even if it's debatable).

Put simply: I wouldn't worry about it. As I said before, they take these things into account.

Reply 6857

suicidaloverbusiness

Hi guys. I posted a while ago in the 'Are my grades good enough for Oxford?' thread during the start of my AS year. But, it might be more appropriate to post it here.
Here's a brief glance of it:

"I'm considering PPE at Oxford but i'm afraid my academic background does not quite hold as much rigour as they'd like.

GCSEs

3 A*s (Maths, English Language and Business Studies)
9 As
0.5 Ds in P.E. (short course)
DiDA (Diploma in Digital Application) - Merit (equivalent to 4 As)...please do not slam this subject, I worked my socks off for this qualification. I hate it when people diminish it's value.

Current AS levels

Economics and Business Studies (the sixth form does not offer straight Economics)
Maths
Psychology
Applied ICT
RS (Philosophy and Ethics) - self studying as I already have an A (85 ums) in the first unit

Extenuating Circumstances

I am currently retaking year 12, given that I was sectioned last year for 9 months, shortly after sitting my January exams. I was discharged late October, thus started the academic year in November and have a formal diagnosis of the following as a consequence of my time as a formal patient:

Aspergers' Syndrome
Depression
OCD
Severe anxiety i.e. anxiety attacks which frequently become psychotic

The thing is, I have only been known to mental health services as of 31/01/11, so don't know how to go about proving mitigating circumstances throughout my GCSE years. Some teachers were alerted of self harm, suicidal ideation and other such maladaptive behaviour in years 10 and 11, but didn't really do much other than inform my parents. Needless to say, it was an abominable comprehensive. "

Here's the update.

Since the start of my AS levels there have been advances in my illnesses and inevitable setbacks. I never anticipated to have a smooth year anyway, it would have been foolish of me to have done so.

The main setback was a fairly serious relapse in easter, which resulted in a period of psychosis that lasted for over a month. I never fully recovered for my exams, but was at a point where I had the mental capacity to make the decision of whether to sit any at all, 9 days before the first exam.

By that time I hadn't learnt the entire summer syllabus for all my exams, so had to trade off some for others. I chose not to sit all of them because my mental health was still at a point where it could easily be tipped over the edge again.

In the end, I took 3 out of the 6 exams, forgoing the Maths exams. It was almost impossible to catch up with the C2 and D1 work I had missed. I also had to make the decision of not completing my AS ICT work because the amount remaining would need at least an extension of 4 weeks and I had 2 days until the final OCR deadline.

As a result, I now have 2.5 ASs: Psychology (A), Economics and Business (B) and half of my RS at an A. I will be sitting the final unit in January. Given the aforementioned, I will end up with 3 A2s and no extra AS. It's also worth noting that my B in Economics and Business was as a result of an incomplete paper due to timing issues attributed to the invigilator. I gained 90 ums in the other half.

My predictions are likely to be A*AA or possibly A*A*A. I think it's realistic that I can achieve A*A*A, but my Economics and Business teacher is reluctant to predict an A* because it's two grades above my achieved AS result.

In terms of ECs that are relevant, I went to the Sutton Trust Summer School at the University of Cambridge for Economics and the Academic Enrichment Summer School at the University of Birmingham. I led and managed a team (of 11) for the Eureka Challenge (related to Economics and Business), which came runners up from the total 30 teams that participated. This was hosted by the University of Birmingham's Business school.
I have a couple of other generic ones like...peer mentoring, school ambassador etc.

I also went to the open day on the 14th of September to gain an insight into my application chances. I had positive feedback from everyone I spoke to, other than one fairly pragmatic individual. This was Fiona Spensely, a senior tutor at LMH. She was more concerned at whether my mental health would suffer from the pressure at Oxford. But, if anything, I think i'm taking on more, academically, this year and feel at a much better place mental health wise. I don't think she realised that i'd come straight out of a psychiatric hospital and started my AS levels two months later than the average student. Plus, it was 9 months spent in a very different environment and adjusting was difficult in itself, let alone catching up on the work i'd missed.

I also spoke to the Economics admission's tutor at LMH and she said that as long as my circumstances were mentioned in my reference and I performed relatively better than the average student on the TSA, i'd be in with a good chance of achieving an interview.

What's your opinion on all this? Will I be wasting an application on them?

Please feel free to ask any further questions about any of the above. But, above all be honest on my chances please! Thank you and apologies for the lengthy post. :u:

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 6858

dbmag9

15

Original post by suicidaloverbusiness

Here's a brief glance. NAAAT.

So basically you have great GCSEs, couldn't do ASs the first time round for medical reasons, did great at them in a second year, have great predictions and are reasonably confident you will be able to cope with the stress of a demanding degree? Yes, pretty certain you should apply. My only concern would be making sure your health problems are phrased as clearly as possible (so as to reduce the risk of them being misinterpreted) in both your PS and reference from school. And seeing as I'm on the JCR welfare committee, I feel I ought to plug Merton as a college with outstanding welfare provision and a good understanding and attitude towards mental health issues.

Reply 6859

suicidaloverbusiness