Interview with an Oxford PPE Student
Can you briefly summarise PPE in a couple of sentences?
The first word which comes to mind is definitely interdisciplinary! In line with this, it’s a very varied degree. You can go from completing mathematical problem sheets, to writing essays, to learning logical languages in a week. It’s also a flexible degree - there are a number of ways you can tailor your course. For example, for your finals candidates have the option to drop one discipline and specialise entirely on the other two subjects; and there are a wide range of options to choose from when picking your modules. Personally, I have dropped Philosophy and now focus solely on Politics and Economics. My favourite optional module has definitely been Feminist Theory - I have loved reconsidering traditional political philosophy and their applications in modern society.
What job opportunities and potential careers does PPE open up?
There are a huge range of job opportunities opened up by studying PPE! People tend to focus more on the politics and economics side of things, such as finance, corporate jobs, working with think tanks, social policy, or the civil service. But philosophy is equally useful, especially when thinking about working in social policy, or undertaking charity/NGO work.
The degree provides such a range of skills there are definitely too many potential careers to list! Most jobs link to one or more of PPE, and so the degree leaves you well equipped to pursue a range of careers or post graduate courses. And of course, there have (fortunately or unfortunately) been a plethora of Prime Ministers who studied PPE at Oxford!
What was the application process like?
It began in the same way as my other universities, by submitting a Personal Statement. I then signed up to take the Thinking Skills Assessment, an assessment which consists of a combination of critical thinking and problem solving questions as well as a writing task. I then waited for an invitation to interview at Oxford, and sat for 6 interviews as I was pooled to another college.
I found taking the TSA manageable- it felt familiar as I had previous experience preparing for standardised tests. However, the period of time between receiving my offer to interview and going up to Oxford was extremely nerve-wracking! It’s very easy to get caught up in the stress of preparation, and forget to take time to relax.
How did you prepare for it?
I first had to think about writing my Personal Statement, which I found tricky as I applied for Economics at all of my non-Oxford universities (and PPE at Oxford). This meant I had to write a general Personal Statement, while still demonstrating my interest in Politics and Philosophy. I approached this by researching areas of overlap between all the courses, as well as focusing on how Economics intersects with Politics and Philosophy.
Preparation for the Thinking Skills assessment mainly involved going through quite a few practice tests, and getting familiar with the format and timings of the assessment. This was especially necessary for the essay portion, as it required a different approach from my typical A-Level essays.
The final area of preparation came when I was invited to interview. For this stage, I asked anyone and everyone I thought could be marginally helpful for a mock interview, providing them with a question bank from which to test me. This involved asking teachers, Oxford students, and anyone I knew with an interest in Politics, Philosophy or Economics. I also reviewed my Personal Statement to ensure that I was fully prepared for any questions that might be asked about it in an interview.
What areas of your course did you most enjoy?
I definitely enjoyed comparing each branch of my degree. This became especially interesting when I spotted areas which overlapped between Politics, Philosophy and Economics. This really enabled me to identify how each subject approached topics differently, utilising different frameworks.
I also appreciated how PPE allowed me to use my options to extend my study - for example, I covered Feminist Theory for a week in my second year and then had the chance to take it for a whole term in third year. It was helpful to be able to have a taste of many subjects in my first year to gauge my interest and then have the option of further study.
How about your life at Oxford more generally – what societies and other opportunities did you get involved with?
There are so many ways to get involved with societies in Oxford, and I enjoyed attending as many events as possible! In terms of committee involvement, I worked with Oxford Women in Business - a supportive community of women, who also hosted great events with companies. As a Sponsorship Representative, I had the chance to meet with these companies, which really opened my eyes to the range of job opportunities available in the corporate world. I was also on the committee of Oxford Junior Lawyers Against Poverty, which was a great way to get involved with a legal organisation as a non-lawyer. One of the highlights here was definitely participating in a book drive, as I got to meet a huge number of people passionate about our cause.
What were the biggest challenges you faced while at university? How did you overcome them?
The biggest hurdle I faced was developing a way of working independently which suited me. It is such a change to arrive at university and have the chance to manage your time and study independently, after having a hugely structured school environment. It can be incredibly helpful- as you can choose to use only the techniques which help you. But it can be equally daunting and tough to figure out the methods you prefer. My advice would be to think back to school, and consider what worked and what didn’t. I would also recommend talking to the people around you, asking tutors and students for their tips. Above all, use your first year to try out lots of different methods! This helps a lot in second and third year, especially as you try new modules which may require new study methods.
What advice would you give someone who is thinking about applying to Oxford, or to your course specifically?
The biggest piece of advice I could give someone thinking about applying to Oxford is to develop a healthy level of confidence and self belief. Being able to picture yourself at an institution like Oxford is a huge step in applying, as it’s important to not limit yourself simply due to a lack of conviction. My advice would be to never reject or dismiss yourself- keep reminding yourself of your strengths as you go through the application process. Developing this self confidence will help you manage the stressful aspects of applying and will benefit you even if you don’t end up attending Oxford.
In terms of PPE-specific advice, I would say to keep in mind how broad of a course it is, and see this as exciting instead of daunting. Tutors will not expect such a broad range of interests at the application stage so focus on what you’re truly interested in when preparing your application (instead of trying to cover everything!).
What is the one thing you wish you knew when you were applying to universities?
It would have been really reassuring to know different universities have different timelines for making offers! For universities other than Oxford I found the timelines for offers quite vague, and it was nerve-wracking seeing other people receive offers while waiting for my responses.