Oxford -- PPE or Economics with Management

[shockthemonkey]

This is the question one of my charges is struggling with.

We all know how hard PPE at Oxford is -- but its acceptance rate at 15% appears better than for Economics and Management at the same uni, with just 7% of applicants accepted.

Whilst he's looking closely at course content, and discovering more about the other four choices he'd be going for in either scenario (PPE or Econ with Mgt), does anyone have any thoughts about the programme choice?

I have no reservations about his academic level nor his commitment to doing what it takes to give him the very best chances. I just know, though, that he'll ask me whether one is "easier" to get in for than the other.

Before looking at the acceptance rates, I would always have said PPE is harder. Even looking at the 15% vs 7% I still think this may be the case -- Econ and Mgt may be attracting more "borderline" candidates than PPE because I cannot imagine schools in the UK encouraging anyone other than their very brightest to go for PPE.

Does anyone have any experiences to share? Thanks!

Just a quick update for anyone who has been following this thread and is interested in ds's Durham/Warwick PPE decisions: Durham has just confirmed his place - much relief all round!

Just a quick update for anyone who has been following this thread and is interested in ds's Durham/Warwick PPE decisions: Durham has just confirmed his place - much relief all round!

Well done to your DS, halvedfees

Durham looks to be a great university, I hope DD (also an Oxbridge reject and IB student) takes up her place there.

My sister is doing a PhD at Durham, she is really enjoying it and loves the place. I'm visiting her at the end of the month which will be interesting, I've never been to Durham before.
Congrats to you and your son halvedfees

Great news, halved. I was lurking this morning and did a search on you for an update ;). So very pleased for your family.

oops _ am on holiday in France atm and due to the dodgy internet I seem to have posted 9 times. Sorry all

Randomfriend - any reason your DD is reluctant to take up her place at Durham?

Halvedfees, she didn't do very well in her HL Music - she got just a 5 overall. (I had assumed she would be getting a 7!) It turns out the teaching was really bad and disorganised. I think that has knocked her confidence a bit and she worries that she will be behind the A-level students on the technical stuff. I would expect that she could catch up but she has spent the day finding out whether there are places for history in adjustment.

Thanks for all your kind words everyone - let's hope he doesn't get changed college - he was happy with Van Mildert

°Random° depends where the History is - as somebodt said on another thread clearing or adjustment can mean the dregs of accomodation. I'm sure if Durham were worried that she wouldn't be able to cope then they wouldn't have offered. I think stick to the original plan would be my advice to her - or take a gap year and rethink/reapply at leisure

It was interesting to come across this thread.

I have just done a PPE degree from Warwick, and am now at Cambridge for my MPhil.

Think the modest Maths requirement at Warwick was only because PPE students can drop Economics after year 1. An A in A-level Maths is indeed sufficiently training, but most of these people struggle to do well vs their peers with Further Maths.

Just to point out, my experience of PPE students vs. others has been that they indeed do stand out often as the best.