Hello,
I am an American student currently in his junior year (grade 11). I am considering applying to Oxford’s PPE course. I have read through the entry requirements for international applicants and have a few questions about them as well as the whole admissions process. It is very different than admissions in the US!
First off, I read that at least a 32 on the ACT is required if you even want to apply. Fortunately, I have exactly a 32. I may retake the ACT, but I’m not sure at this point. Does your ACT score matter beyond the base requirement? Do they not care about your score as long as it’s a 32 or above? Or do higher scores look better? If so how much? How disadvantaged will I be having the minimum score?
My second set of questions is similar to the first, it regards AP scores. It says that three scores of 5 are required in appropriate subjects. What are considered appropriate subjects? Do more scores look better? If so, how much? I took European History and Psychology last year and scored 5’s on both. I’m sure Euro is considered an appropriate subject, but is Psychology? I am taking Human Geography, Statistics, and Language and Composition this year, and I am capable of getting 5’s on all of them. Which are considered “appropriate”?
Finally, how heavily weighted is the personal statement? High school transcript? I think I understand how the TSA and the interview work, but any extra info is welcome. Thanks!
lol, hello @RoundGenius 
Generally, once you are past the gate, there is not much percentage in having a higher ACT score. For APs, you need 5’s on “A” APs (the list is [here](https://www.ucas.com/ucas/undergraduate/getting-started/entry-requirements/tariff/tariff-tables/966)). This is one place where I have seen them monkey around a bit, but assume that psych, stats and human geo aren’t going to count for much. Euro, Lang and Lit give you 3, but it’s kind of a thin three, most particularly b/c you have no math. Any chance you could do Calc? If not, what about the Math II subject test? You can drop the econ after year one, but econ is very mathy, and the vast majority of PPEists have math in their kit bag.
The TSA is crucial for the cut for interviews, and I have heard of it being used as a tie-breaker between post-interview candidates who are otherwise comparable.
Opinions on the PS vary- some claim that their tutors have told them that they don’t even read them, but I know admissions tutors in a couple colleges who swear that they do. The view is that a bad one kills you, a solid one keeps you going, and a good one can tip the balance for getting to interview. Most of the post-interview PPEists that I have talked to say that their PS came up (at least briefly) at interivew Be aware that the tutors reading your PS will know that you are an American, and will be alert for ‘wooly’ American-style writing. The goal of the PS is to demonstrate that you have a strong interest in the subject, a decent understanding of what the subject(s) are about, and that you are well suited to it.
From an Oxford doc:
and
(or philosophy or econ!)
and
Typically, applicants will talk about experiences that they have had that have led to their interest in the course and how that interest expresses itself outside the classroom. For PPE it is common (though not required!) to reference non-academic books that you have read out of interest.
If you don’t already read the Economist, start now and make a serious effort to read most of it every week (not just the politics and econ sections!). If you aren’t already reading it you will very much enjoy the coverage of the US election!
Don’t worry about HS transcript unless there is something really hairy on it (like suspensions for bad behaviour or actually failed classes!).
Hope that helps!
Actually, the application for Oxford or Cambridge is exactly the same as for all UK applications done through UCAS, and imo is mercifully simple compared to the US. The only ‘special’ requirement for Oxford or Cambridge is that there may be aptitude or knowledge testing for which separate registration is required, and some subjects require you to submit graded work that you have already done- but those are spelled out clearly on the subject pages.
There is also a huge amount of information available online, including the “Americans applying to Oxford” thread over at the student room, a UK site that is similar to CC that truly is mostly student run. Imo, anybody capable of handling going to Oxford or Cambridge should be able to navigate the system- most particularly b/c both schools leave you to figure out a lot more complicated stuff than the application once you are admitted! UK unis expect you to be much more independent, resourceful and, well, adult, than most US colleges, right from the beginning.
That said an admissions consultancy that uses Oxbridge students/grads (spires is a nimble startup trying to reach students who don’t want to sign up for the comprehensive packages pushed by it’s much larger competitor, oxbridgeadmissions; there are other firms out there doing the same thing) does offer something that a US student might find helpful: interview practice and a read of the personal statement. As long as the person has applied to *exactly the course you are applying to, having somebody do a mock interview with you can help reduce your anxiety about the process, and having somebody read a draft of your PS can help you make sure that you are writing the type of content-driven essay required. However- and it is a very very big however: their experiences are individual and that matters for Oxbridge. So, if you decide to pay for help from a service like this be aware that you are buying one persons opinion and one persons experience. Your experience is likely to be at least somewhat different.
*they will sell things a la carte, they just prefer to sell you a package
Thanks @collegemom3717
Do you know of any other high caliber/very selective UK schools that have good political science programs?
LSE IR, Durham PPE, St Andrews IR, Warwick PPE, Edinburgh IR
@elguapo1
Could you provide me more information as far as the atmosphere of each school, the selectivity, and the concentration of the programs (as in one might be better in political theory while another might specialize in international relations)? It would be much appreciated.
Help me then… do you want urban, campus , LAC feel, do you not care. Is finance an issue ?? You will need 3 x 5 AP’s in relevant Class A subjects + min 28 ACT for all of them except LSE who will want 5 x 5 AP’s and probably 30 ACT. The websites of the universities will make it clear what they want as a minimum…The kids that dont make Oxford PPE will probably end up at one of these other univ’s so the cohorts will be strong. Durham and Warwick I think you can do both PPE or IR, but because you began the thread with PPE that’s what I suggested. UCL I think start PPE in 2017 but you might not want to be a guinea pig in the first cohort, and anyway it is doubtful the course would be a patch on somewhere like St A’s who have a well established school of IR.
@elguapo1
My ACT is a 32, but my school doesn’t offer a ton of those preferred APs. I have 5’s on both European History and Psychology, and should have a 5 on Stats, a 4 or 5 on Language and Comp, and a 4 or 5 on Human Geography. As far as “feel” I would like somewhere that has lots of beautiful, old bnuildings, not modern.
FYI, post #3 was written response to a post that must have been taken down as too much of an advertisement- the poster said that s/he had found the admin process so daunting that he used a UK service for help.
If you get 5 on Lang and Comp and 5 on the others, that with your ACT at 32 I would stick my neck out and say you should be good. A five on a language french/spanish and you would be golden. It wouldn’t cut it with LSE but the others I think you will be OK. Not modern, that rules out Warwick and LSE although LSE is a reach for anyone although I think a tad overrated for undergrad. If you want hogwarts then its Durham or St A’s.
Durham although you apply to the university it is a collegiate system, the university being made up of colleges. You apply to the university and then apply to your 3 choices of colleges, but you might not get your first choice. If you want Hogwarts then its University College its actually a castle, but i think it might have freshman dorm which is abit more modern tacked on so be warned. Durham is full of Oxbridge rejects so academically rigorous. Some colleges are more modern Van Mildert’s entrance looks like a nuclear bunker but I am sure the kids dont mind, just being at Durham is enough. Durham has perhaps the ugliest student union building in Christendom but most socializing will be done in hall bars or the pubs around town of which there are many. The university has reputation for sport if you like that kind of thing, I think I read something like 90% of kids are involved in sport at some level or other, ranging from the serious athlete, to the bunch of mates who compete inter collegiately more for the bar afterwards. Durham itself is beautiful on a river in the NE of England. I would say 3 hrs by train from London. Cathedral is one of England’s most impressive but some colleges are extremely close so if you dont mind church bells at 8 on a Sunday morning you should be fine. Check out the website I think the colleges have videos which candidates can view.
St A’s is the third oldest English speaking university founded in 1413. As you would expect plenty of what your looking for in terms of architecture and robed quirky traditions. Unlike Durham rather than colleges the uni has halls of residence the most Hogwarty one being St Salvators (Sallies to the uninitiated). Like Durham you get to choose 3 halls of residence but are not guaranteed 1st choice. Beautiful seaside town about 1hr 20 mins by train or bus from Edinburgh, the town is small I suspect the university doubles the population and St A’s uni is quite small by UK standards around 8k undergrads and 3k postgrads. If I remember correctly St A’s is roughly 1 third Scottish, 1 third North American and 1 third rest ofUK/World. Has a reputation for Oxbridge rejects and because tuition is free to Scottish and EU students they get to pick the best of the bunch so entry standards and cohort is very high. Scottish universities are 4 year undergrad but you end up with a MA (Hons) which obviously will outwit the uninitiated in the US, Durham 3 years and will be BA/BSc but it will be cheaper obviously. St A’s has been recruiting in North America for years and so will have a stronger alumni network in the States. Again go to their website it will tell you all about it.
Both have very strong reputations in the UK, St A’s has the edge internationally but if you looking ahead at employers or grad school any US university or multi nat corp/law firm or govt agency worth their salt will know their academic reputations.
A shout out for Edinburgh it is a beautiful city, wonderful architecture one of my UK favourite cities, and the education is top drawer. If you want Hogwarts then JKRowling lives there, hows that for a stretch! Definitely visit all 3 if you can they are relatively close, Durham 2 hrs from Edinburgh and St A’s 1 hr 20 mins further still. Fly in Edinburgh use as a base and you can see all 3 in 3 days. Good luck!
small point, but St As only provides housing for the first year- after that you are on your own in the local rental market