Gina and Oxford PPE

[Possiblynotever]

My DD is in year 12. She is currently thinking about a History degree and her State school is (heavily) pushing her towards Oxbridge and a double honours. She is giving her best and her results are very good, so she probably will have the marks (although this is no guarantee). She chose a Maths A level and she is finding it hard - she reached an A but with a lot of sweating which in my mind is quite normal. She has decided not to do anything at Uni requiring further maths. Apparently, some of her classmates are amazing, especially those who want to apply for PPE at Oxford, which seems to be the achievement of all achievements. Those who get in are the best of the best, at least in my DD mind. Now, Gina Colandangelo gained an Oxford PPE which means she must have been bloody talented. The only thing she will ever be remembered for was snugging the Health Minister in his office.
What a waste. Why? AIBU in thinking that there is still a cohort of women who work bloody hard to get into the most difficult jobs and then just sit on their achievements? And why do they do this?

Surely she has a lot of money, or maybe not. But this is not a sign of success, at least not to me.
Her working choices seem to me highly unsuccessful.

@Bryonyshcmyony

What you’ve got to ask yourself is, would said child come out with such top grades had they attended the local state comp? The answer to that is highly likely not!

Why do you have to ask yourself that? I never give it a second thought.

If you assumed that those attending private schools, then Oxbridge, weren’t privileged….

Perhaps you didn’t assume that.

@tempester28

Sadly I say I wouldn't bother with a History degree.

Why not? I would not bother either, bit my DD is adamant that it is a great choice full of content that will open great possibilities.

That’s what I mean LittleBear. I’ve never heard of it being a more prestigious degree or that those who read it are the most talented students as the op says.

@Possiblynotever

Surely she has a lot of money, or maybe not. But this is not a sign of success, at least not to me. Her working choices seem to me highly unsuccessful.

Bloody hell OP. Give up now, eh?

@GnomeOrMistAndIceGuy

I'm quite impressed you have managed to combine a stealth boast with a bitch/gossip about someone in the news AND a query about her mothering choices. THIS in spades

I do not see how I am querying her mothering choices. Honestly

@TableFlowerss

To add- My innately intelligent DC has been predicted A*s at GCSE. Never in a million years could I have achieved this, not her dad!

It just comes naturally to DC. They work hard but don’t go over and above and I’m as much help as a chocolate fire guard. These are the children, from working class backgrounds, that should be given opportunities to go to the top unis. They’ve had no privilege, they are just naturally bright.

To add- DC has no interests in politics so highly unlikely they’d apply, but the point remains, these children are the truly academic ones.

Why on earth wouldn't they apply to top unis?

@LittleBearPad

What you’ve got to ask yourself is, would said child come out with such top grades had they attended the local state comp? The answer to that is highly likely not!

That ascribes all academic success purely to a school which isn’t reasonable.

I agree, but neither is assuming that those that get top grades from private schools abd go on to Oxbridge is because they’re more intelligent….and not because they’ve had privilege….

@DingleyDel

That’s what I mean LittleBear. I’ve never heard of it being a more prestigious degree or that those who read it are the most talented students as the op says.

Well, that is what my DD says. Her highly politically charged friends seem to think that they will be able to enter politics and change the world only by gaining a PPE degree. I agree with you, you should be able to become a top politician without a PPE

So what career choices should she have made OP, that you would have considered good enough?

I'm sorry but anyone who gets 3 or 4 A stars at A level is academically intelligent, whatever school they went to.

**If she is outstandingly clever, then she should redouble her efforts at A-level, read around her intended subject and apply for Oxbridge. Make use, firstly, of the summer schools etc they lay on to widen participation.

It is complete and utter bollocks that the game is loaded in favour of the public school applicants in any ways other than the obvious things (they’re confident, they’re coached, they apply in large numbers).

Any youngster from an ordinary background who can get an interview is in with as good a chance as the next applicant. They are absolutely desperate for more state school, minority and working class applicants. The interviewing tutors are quite capable of spotting outstanding academic potential and that is all they’re interested in.

You do your DD no favours by assuming she doesn’t have that opportunity. She does.**

Yes it’s food for thought certainly and the top uni’s do seem much more inclusive of children from state schools these days, which is great.

@Bryonyshcmyony They didn’t all need to get A* in the past. Sometimes a phone call from the headmaster to the university was enough.

@Artesia

So what career choices should she have made OP, that you would have considered good enough?

Become a Minister herself?

This is such a patronising thread. As others have said it is not only a stealth boast that your daughter may get into Oxford but saying that Gina has thrown that education away by working as a consultant.

Morals aside she seems to have had a successful career so not too sure what your concern is? Is it that she should have used her education to become a government minister too? Maybe she didn’t want to be one (even with her magical PPE degree)

Why on earth wouldn't they apply to top unis

Perhaps they will when the time comes. They aren’t even sure they want to go uni 🙈🙄

Hopefully they’ll chance their mind as it would be an absolute waste if they don’t!

@Bryonyshcmyony Bright working class children don't necessarily apply to top unis because they may not have a family background where education is valued; they may lack confidence; they may not have the same range of extra-curricular experience to include in their personal statements; they may not have teachers who champion them or encourage them in their ambitions; they may not have the money to get to an open day; they may not have anyone sit down to talk to them about university options; their families may not be able to afford the obligatory financial contribution expected of families which is so little discussed (around £5000 a year).

change

@CoRhona

Her academic results were great achievements.

Although as she was married to one person whose company she was Comms director of, and having a fling with the person who arranged for her to be paid in a senior position, it detracts from what jobs she could have got if she'd done it by herself.

This. If she's as smart and brilliant as you seem to imply - why does she feel the need to date the boss? Why not set up her own company? Instead she appears to rely on her connections and looks

Become a Minister herself?

Why? Advisors are very well remunerated and wield plenty of power and influence. Not everyone wants the soap box.

Theresa May was a Geographer - Oxford of course - but Geography is pretty lowly as Oxford degrees go. I can say that with some authority as the proud holder of a first in Oxford colouring in.
Do you know how many politicians didn’t read PPE at Oxford OP?! Clearly not.

proud holder of a first in Oxford colouring in

Maybe she's not interested in being a minister. Maybe she enjoys a strategy role rather than front line work. Maybe she wants a mixed work portfolio, taking on a range of appointments rather than focussing on one role. Maybe she wants to limit work time to spend more time with her kids. All perfectly valid choices, which her educational success has made possible.

[quote dotdotdotdash]@Bryonyshcmyony Bright working class children don't necessarily apply to top unis because they may not have a family background where education is valued; they may lack confidence; they may not have the same range of extra-curricular experience to include in their personal statements; they may not have teachers who champion them or encourage them in their ambitions; they may not have the money to get to an open day; they may not have anyone sit down to talk to them about university options; their families may not be able to afford the obligatory financial contribution expected of families which is so little discussed (around £5000 a year).[/quote]
Yes I totally understand this. I note the PP says her children don't even want to go to uni despite getting A* at GCSE. Presumably that's cultural as every child at dds prjavte school with a string of 9s (is that what you mean PP?) would be looking to go to uni.

No one calls it ‘double honours’ 🙄🙄