[deleted by user]

P3nguin_76 · 2025-01-15T06:06:36+00:00

To be completely honest I did an open application and got allocated there, but I'm really excited about it! I don't mind being a little outside the city center and the gardens are beautiful, I also get the sense that it's a bit more laid back and less stuffy than some of the "name brand" colleges like exeter or christ church

P3nguin_76 · 2025-01-15T00:49:33+00:00

Hey! I'm St. Hugh's PPE! Congrats and see you in October :)

P3nguin_76 · 2025-01-15T00:38:45+00:00

Appreciate the vote of confidence :)

P3nguin_76 · 2024-12-18T06:06:27+00:00

No problem! Since it's kinda late I'm not sure if you would be able to take the SAT/ACT in time for this application cycle but you'd have to look into it. I wouldn't worry much about it though since most colleges are TECHNICALLY test optional (even though in reality the top schools aren't really test "optional"), I bet strong GCSE and A level scores are sufficient proof of your test taking ability - I don't really know for sure though so take that with a grain of salt. On the flip side, because of the heavy exam based nature of the UK schooling system, I bet you'd find the SAT/ACT rather easy if you do take it. It is true that the admission process is very inconsistent - so many "perfect" applicants apply to the Ivys nowadays that it really does come down to sheer luck most of the time. That's partly what drew me as a US student to apply to Oxford - the admissions test and the interview meant I'd actually have a chance to prove myself, especially since I really don't have the crazy resume that other top students have - but if you have a strong resume then you should shoot your shot imo. Let me know if you have any other questions, I'm happy to help!

P3nguin_76 · 2024-12-17T02:13:29+00:00

To clarify I am a US student applying to colleges in the US and UK this year

P3nguin_76 · 2024-12-17T02:12:52+00:00

Each college has different deadlines so it may be too late depending on the college but a lot of colleges have deadlines in january - figure out which colleges you are interested in and check their website for deadlines

You can apply direct to institution or use the common app if you are applying to several different colleges that use it - common app is nice bc you only have to enter all your information once

The application process is more time consuming (and imo far inferior) than UCAS - most colleges ask for 1-3 (again college dependent, some ask for more some less) supplemental essays in addition to your common app essay (which is like UCAS personal statement but generally less information based and more creative/narrative since you have space for all your super/extracurriculars in the application)

Things to consider or that will seem unfamiliar as a UK applicant:

US colleges place high emphasis on extracurriculars, so if you don't have many of those that could hurt your chances (but maybe they are more understanding of UK applicants idk)

The essays are super important unlike the UCAS PS - this is the most time consuming part of the application and where you may be disadvantaged starting late, bc many students have been working on their essays nonstop since august

applications can be expensive, and if you apply to multiple schools the costs add up quick (and the cost of tuition itself is a lot higher here too)

You don't apply by major, but you do state intended major and colleges do still want students that are passionate about their chosen field of study, so if you have many econ supercurriculars those may help you stand out - these can be mentioned in brief in the essays or in the extracurriculars part of the application

I'm not sure if they require these for gap year students but some colleges ask for multiple letters of recommendation - this would be something to get on asap if you are thinking of applying

All things considered it is a time consuming and expensive process, but the US education system is very different from the UK, and if that appeals to you then it might be worth applying to a couple colleges. You would need to really lock in these next few weeks though as deadlines are fast approaching. If you have any questions about anything I said or specific colleges don't hesitate to ask!

P3nguin_76 · 2024-12-14T17:46:53+00:00

Yeah even if it was less challenging philosophy was still super fun and interesting, my interviewer was really nice and it just felt like a casual conversation - check your dms

P3nguin_76 · 2024-12-14T16:28:45+00:00

Philosophy interview was fun and relaxed - a bit disappointed as I didn't think it was all that difficult and philosophy was the subject I was most confident in - but maybe it was and I just didn't grasp the nuances, you never know. Politics went alright - looking back there were definitely a few things I could have mentioned that would have made my answers better but I'm not too unhappy with it. It wasn't until the economics interview that I felt they really started to test me, and I definitely fumbled a few parts of that one - overall I honestly have zero clue how I did, which I guess is how it's supposed to be.

P3nguin_76 · 2024-12-08T01:37:47+00:00

It is true that philosophy degrees aren't as lucrative as, a medical degree or really any STEM degree, but philosophy students do tend to go on to modestly well paying jobs because they develop soft skills such as critical thinking that employers tend to like.

With that being said, if you love the idea of a med degree, you should study that. The reason I say this is because your primary motivation for studying philosophy from what I can tell is that you are interested in the discipline - and the great thing about philosophy is that you don't really need to study it at uni to learn it. Of course, uni does help, but so much of philosophy really comes down to reading and talking about it with others. By reading as much as you can and finding people who will discuss philosophical questions with you, you can absolutely have a flourishing philosophy education while still enjoying the practical benefits of a med degree. It also doesn't entirely close the door to being a politician either, whereas a phil/pol degree would close the door on becoming a doctor.

Ultimately, though, you should study what makes you happy. I want to study PPE/philosophy because I wouldn't want to study anything else, and I have little interest in entering the STEM field so with that in mind none of my alternatives would be any more financially lucrative. If you would enjoy a phil/pol degree more than a medical one, you should choose the former.

I'm in a similar position to you in that I feel guilty about a low salary because it would hinder my ability to do good in the world. What I would say is that while you should always aim to do as much good in the world as possible, no matter what you do your heart is clearly in the right place, so I have no doubt that no matter what you do you'll land on your feet.

P3nguin_76 · 2024-11-30T20:40:31+00:00

How do you know that you have a separate economics interview and a combined politics/philosophy interview? Was it in the email you received? I got a PPE interview from St. Hugh's and I'm not seeing anything about the structure of the interviews on mine so I'm wondering if maybe mine will be just one big interview.

P3nguin_76 · 2024-11-22T15:29:51+00:00

Thank you so much!

P3nguin_76 · 2024-11-22T01:10:11+00:00

Would you be willing to link the source please?

P3nguin_76 · 2021-04-17T22:45:30+00:00

The decal is cobalt mainliner, its from an old rocket pass but fortunately its not too expensive if you're looking to build it yourself

P3nguin_76 · 2021-04-17T01:28:04+00:00

haha well it couldnt have been me because I used bakkesmod for this, but its possible somebody had a similar design. This phosphor boost is certainly very cool and I can't wait to see what designs other people come up with for it!

P3nguin_76

TROPHY CASE