<p>Hi, I just finished my freshman year in the US. I want to major in PPE (philosophy, politics, and economics) at Oxford. And I'm trying to pick my AP courses in order to be specific to my major. Also, I'm trying to decide which subject tests to take.</p>
<p>Here are the classes/subject tests I would be able to take:</p>
<p>AP Classes: </p>
<p>Science: chemistry, environmental science, psychology, biology, physics B, physics C
Math: calculus AB, calculus BC, statistics
English: literature and composition, language and composition
History: comparative government and politics
Language: Latin</p>
<p>I'm definitely thinking of taking comp gov, calculus, and statistics. But I really don't know what else. I really want to take more so that I can have more chance's to get three 5's on the exams.</p>
<p>Subject Tests:</p>
<p>English: literature
History: us history, world history
math: math level 1, math level 2
science: biology e/m, chemistry, physics
language (reading only): latin</p>
<p>I'm taking the math level 1 in the fall but I don't know if Oxford will accept it. I need to take 3, any ideas?</p>
<p>Thanks in advance for your responses.</p>
<p>I’d be curious about this too. Any Oxford or Cambridge folks out there who could provide insight?</p>
<p>2 points before I get to a few specifics:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>as you may know only scores of 5 / strong 700s will count</p></li>
<li><p>an important part of your application is why you want to study PPE and how the things you do out of school reflect your interest and ability. Think about why you are interested in studying PPE and consider whether any of the subjects that you could take tie in - subjects that are not obviously linked might be linked based on your own interests. </p></li>
</ul>
<p>With those points in mind, here are some thoughts on specific APs/SATIIs</p>
<p>AP Calc is strongly recommended- econ is very mathy. With it you don’t need the SATII (duplicates). </p>
<p>AP Comp Gov only counts as 1/2 an AP (see here: <a href=“http://www.ucas.com/how-it-all-works/explore-your-options/entry-requirements/tariff-tables/app”>http://www.ucas.com/how-it-all-works/explore-your-options/entry-requirements/tariff-tables/app</a>) but it fits and it is actually useful for the Politics module in 1st year. US Gov is not that hard if you have done Comp Gov- could you self-study for the AP?</p>
<p>AP Lit is good- PPEists write a <em>lot</em> of essays, and it is the only other AP on your list that is writing based. </p>
<p>AP Stats doesn’t get much respect (and is a 1/2 AP) but is generically useful. </p>
<p>World History is a good SATII for PPE- good background. Better would be the AP- if you take the course, can you self-study for the AP? </p>
<p>Eng Lit SATII would be a duplicate of the AP, so no need.</p>
<p>Hope that helps a bit.</p>
<p>ps, in the UK you don’t have a major, you do a subject (and if you go to Oxbridge and want to, you can say that you are “reading” your subject, as in “I’m reading Classics”), but in real life you are usually described as an -ist (as in, she’s a PPEist). Within the university you are known by your year, college and subject.</p>
<p>Thanks collegemom3717 for the advice. I’ll definitely self-study for US gov. Also your English suggestion was very helpful.</p>
<p>Latin is one of my best subjects. Would that be a PPE class? I don’t want to waste my time with an AP that would be considered inappropriate for my course of study. </p>
<p>Latin isn’t inappropriate- actually, I almost put it on the list, but I wanted to leave room for your own interests and strengths, and whatever narrative you are shaping about why you + PPE = good idea. (btw, allow room for that narrative to evolve over the next couple of years- you may be ahead of the posse in planning, which is no bad thing, but nobody should go from grades 9-11 without some growth and evolution!). If Latin is strong by all means do it- it is respected as a classical and disciplined subject. </p>