PPE at Oxford vs. Uchicago

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hey guys, looking for some advice.</p>

<p>I was made a conditional offer to study PPE at Oxford at St. Peter's College contingent on a 40 overall in IB with a 7 in math. Considering my current mock scores I feel quite confident I will make at least this offer.</p>

<p>I have been waitlisted at U Chicago, so there might not even be a choice.</p>

<p>Anyway, looking for some suggestions as to which school I should choose. With Oxford I have been offered a deferred admission, but this is made up by the fact that I have an excellent internship opportunity and that PPE is a 3 year program.</p>

<p>I'm kinda concerned that PPE will limit my ability to study science. I'm not particularly worried about the math (something I love) because specializing in econ and quant philosophy is more than enough to capture my mind.</p>

<p>Oxford is also quite a bit cheaper (and closer to home) than Chicago, but neither of these, things as they are, will be decisive.</p>

<p>I would certainly consider myself the "Chicago" type person, and my essays conveyed that spirit. I managed to get waitlisted with a 3.5 GPA, 1500 CR+M, and no real hook, and I'm convinced my essays are what kept me at least in limbo!</p>

<p>I did visit Oxford and I absolutely loved the place. I felt it was a perfect place to spend my time at university, and the college I'm at is right in the center of the city. Factors important to me include quality of instruction, alum network, quality of life, and general intellectual climate (something both seem to have).</p>

<p>Prestige does, at some level, matter to me, but I think between Oxford and Chicago it's splitting hairs. I currently live in Asia, where I've found Oxford has a name paralleled only by Harvard and Stanford, but I don't think prestige will have any salience in the long-run.</p>

<p>Again this is to a large extent counting my chickens before they hatch, but let me know your opinions. Thanks!</p>

2

<p>

Correct. It is unlikely. Get excited about Oxford, a university I personally would choose over Chicago in a heartbeat.</p>

3

<p>It’s hard to beat Oxford’s tutorial system. Go with Oxford and be happy.</p>

4

<p>As an international student, i will go with uchicago, cuz it’s more likely to find a job in US than in UK.</p>

<p>“ I currently live in Asia, where I’ve found Oxford has a name paralleled only by Harvard and Stanford, but I don’t think prestige will have any salience in the long-run.”
Even though uchicago is not so prestigious as oxford, harvard and stanford in the region where you live, armed with post-graduate experience, you will be outstanding.</p>

<p>Furthermore, you have defined yourself as a chicago-style person.</p>

5

<p>If you are interested in a broader curriculum that includes introductory science classes, you should choose Chicago. Having said that, IB HL biology, physics or chemistry probably cover most of if not more than what you will have in a core freshman science class for non-science majors in the US.</p>

<p>Apart from the broader curriculum, Chicago is also stronger than Oxford in economics properly. So, if you want to major in economics, Chicago is a better choice.</p>

6

<p>Hey guys.</p>

<p>Just want to clarify, I really don’t think I’m going to get into Chicago, but I do want to be prepared to make a decision does the opportunity open.</p>

<p>Would job prospects really be so different in Chicago than Oxford? I realize that American universities are far more active about maintaining strong alumni connections and networks, but I’ve heard that especially Oxford (in the USA) has a fairly strong network, especially after the Rhodes program began.</p>

<p>Frankly, in terms of what I’m looking to study, when I read the PPE program I’m soo excited but I am when reading the Chicago website as well. I think PPE is an ideal program for me but having taken IB CompSci and Physics HL I certainly don’t want to give up scientific literacy (and trust me, as wonderful as the IB program is, someone having graduate a science, per se, isn’t necessarily “literate”). </p>

<p>For a future Economics degree would the Chicago faculty really have salience?</p>

7

<p>The choice is pretty close- I know several students who chose Chicago over Oxford in the US- but the reality is that the probability of getting in is very, very low because UC waitlisted thousands of applicants. I’d definitely get excited about Oxford and plan on going there.</p>

8

<p>Oxford has a better world reputation in almost every field and its way more fun</p>

9

<p>I’m almost shocked that you were only waitlisted at Chicago and in at Oxford. For almost all cases, it’s the other way around. I know quite a number of people who got into Harvard but not Oxford. (But the again, I know who had the reverse case.) </p>

<p>Anyways, go to Oxford and enjoy your stay there. It is a significantly superior university than Chicago is. People (including most employers) will look up to you more coming out of Oxford than of Chicago.</p>