Hi, I’m Thomas, though everyone here calls me Tom for some reason. I’ve just finished my second year of PPE and don’t worry, I’m not on the road to becoming a politician.
I first got started on my path to Corpus through an outreach programme organised by my local council back home in the east of Scotland. I’d never thought of applying to Oxford before and it wasn’t really something that I had known a lot of people to do. But coming down on the programme and doing a week of tutorials, I knew it was the place for me. It struck me that what mattered here was a passion for your subject and discussing ideas with people. Your current ability levels and background matter very little, and there are no hugely specific requirements to get in, in terms of grades or extracirriculars (Oxford is very good at assessing your achievements contextually). So, if you’re someone who really enjoys PPE (or any one or two of the three in combination) then you’ve got nothing to fear. I actually found the applications process a challenging but fun experience, and anyone with enough passion and interest can get in.
Oxford, and Corpus in particular, are very welcoming environments. Despite what I expected, there is a high degree of diversity in backgrounds here, and once you’re at Corpus, you’re a member of the community. Having a reputation for being a “small and friendly” college, fitting in at Corpus is easy and there are plenty of social events and in-college societies which operate year-round. In first year everyone lives together in a massive accommodation block called Oldham, which I found really helped everyone get to know each other and integrate.
First year PPE gives you a broad overview of the three subjects and helps you develop strong analytical and logical skills which I have found useful in all aspects of my life. On top of this, the content for first year is very interesting and you will come away feeling more informed than ever. If you happen to like one or two of the subjects in first year more than the others, don’t worry! In second year you get to specialise, picking your modules to do two of the subjects in combination (PP or PE) or all three again. I’ve chosen to specialise in Politics and Philosophy and have just recently completed modules on Heidegger and politics in Russia and the former Soviet Union which I particularly enjoyed. Oxford has a reputation for being an intense working environment, and once you are here you will have a lot on. This is, however, manageable and you’ll find the flow of work enjoyable as you realise how much you are learning about your subject. The tutors are all very friendly and supportive, and the emphasis is on personal growth rather than intra-subject competition.
Don’t worry though, your life won’t just be work! In first year I joined various sports societies and went to all the amazing social events that college and the university puts on (including “bops”, themed parties in our very own beer cellar). Right now, I am president of the uni kickboxing society and am organising competitions while doing my degree and having a social life. The stereotype of the Oxford student that never leaves their room is not true.
Overall, I’ve found my time so far at Corpus and Oxford enriching, and I’m sure you will too. If you’re interested in PPE, you’ve got nothing to lose in applying. I hope to see you here one day!
Resources
Resources categorised by subject and by Key Stage, as well as materials for applying to Oxford and finding out more about Corpus, can be found here.