Hey all,
What AP classes do you think would be appropriate for an American student applying for Politics, Philosophy, and Economics at Oxford?
Currently, I have taken AP Macro/Micro (both 5), AP Human Geography (5), AP Seminar (5), AP Statistics (5), and World History (5). I also plan on taking AP US History, AP US Government, AP Comparative Government, AP Art History, AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature and Composition, AP Psychology, and AP Spanish Language.
Calculus would be highly advisable.
Agreed. European History might also be a good choice.
PPE is an amazing program. I have several former students who have taken that route at Oxford and they’ve all been terrific students and emerged even more impressive.
Seconding @Conformist1688 on calculus: 90% of accepted PPEists have math to at least CalcAB and a strong majority of math to Calc BC. Strongly urge you to find a way to get that- should help with entry and will help with the course once you get there. At the least, get the SATII Math 2 (700+),
Fyi, Oxford Econ people are pretty sniffy about AP econ - not that it’s bad that you have it, more that you would think that they would see that as a plus and they don’t seem to.
Seminar won’t count at all and (for purposes of adding up) Micro, Macro, Stats, Human Geo, Comp Gov, US Gov and Psych are all B APs. All the others are As. Fwiw, CompGov is really useful for the first year politics module (save your notes!). Agree with @marvin100 that Euro is helpful, but you have World & US.
Depending on which ones you take this spring, you could have enough for an unconditional offer (esp if you can get a math in).
Don’t forget to practice for the TSA- and make sure that you have a place to take it lined up.
THIS. Read read read above and beyond those tests/classes. Get a very strong foundation in the history/progression of all three disciplines.
…and if you aren’t reading The Economist, start now.
@Conformist1688 @collegemom3717 @marvin100 Sorry, I forgot to include AP Calculus. Right now, I haven’t decided whether to take AB or BC, regardless it will most likely be during my senior year. I’ll also consider taking AP Euro senior year or I may self-study it junior year.
Take BC.
@marvin100 Do you think it would be feasible for my school to offer the TSA exam when I’m ready to take it? The nearest exam center is approximately a two hour flight from where I live.
Your school can register to be a TSA test center. It is a pain, and it takes a time, which is why you want to start the conversation the spring before you want to take it- if you start in September you may not get the process done in time to meet the Oct 15 registration (and application!) deadline. Info on how to register is [url=<a href=“http://www.admissionstestingservice.org/administering-our-tests/become-a-test-centre/%5Dhere%5B/url”>http://www.admissionstestingservice.org/administering-our-tests/become-a-test-centre/]here[/url].
So I would apply in the fall of 2017 so should I have my school start the process of registering for the TSA this spring or next spring?
If you are applying for entry in 2018, the deadline for Oxford applications AND registration for the TSA will be October 15, 2017 by 6pm BST (1pm EST), and the exam will be around the 4th of November. No need to get them started before spring 2017.