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• PPE Oxford Personal Statement Example

Below you can read a great personal statement for the Oxford course in PPE. The candidate successfully applied and was invited to interview at Oxford .

PPE Oxford Personal Statement

As I wandered the halls of Westminster, clutched my dictionary while watching Question Time, and poured over economic reports trying to grasp the principles within, I realised that I wasn’t indulging mere childhood curiosity – I was allowing my destiny to find me. 

My thirst to understand the machinery of society was unquenchable, leading me to explore the intersections of politics , philosophy , and economics from my early days. I peppered my grandfather with wide-eyed questions on the impacts of policies as he recounted stories of spearheading union protests. 

I ploughed through dense biographies of iconic leaders and treatises on rights by enlightenment thinkers, enthralled by their ability to reshape reality as my multi-coloured highlighters etched Rousseau’s Social Contract and my fingers folded page corners of Friedman’s Capitalism and Freedom, I knew I was forging the first wrinkles into my brain that would one day house a masterful command of PPE.

This led me to choose A-level subjects – History , Economics, and English Literature – that would provide relevant conceptual foundations and prepare me for the rigorous PPE course. Achieving predicted grades of A*AA has equipped me with sharp analytical abilities, critical thinking skills, and articulate communication proficiency to succeed at Oxford .

My passion for politics was sparked by my grandfather’s involvement in trade union campaigns that opened my eyes to labour rights issues. As an inquisitive child, I peppered him with questions about policy impacts that he patiently answered, nurturing my intellectual curiosity. 

This led me to proactively expand my knowledge by watching documentaries on sociopolitical movements, reading biographies of leaders like Nelson Mandela and Aung San Suu Kyi fighting oppression, and following writers like Thomas Paine advocating radical reforms. I was fascinated by the power of political philosophy in inspiring real-world transformation.

An opportunity to intern with an MP at the Houses of Parliament allowed me unique insider perspectives on British politics. I closely observed the law-making process, party dynamics, and constituency responsibilities which reinforced deeper theoretical lessons from academic study. Attending parliamentary debates sharpened my critical thinking abilities as I analysed the argumentative techniques employed. Interacting with MPs from multiple parties also enlightened me on the varying ideological approaches which influence policy decisions. This first-hand experience solidified my passion for the multifaceted world of politics.

My interest in justice led me to participate extensively in school debates where I relished intellectual sparring, rhetorical skill development, and the construction of rational arguments. As president of the debating society in Year 13, I helped mentor junior students on persuasive speaking and logical reasoning to guide the school to county finals wins. In national Model United Nations events, building strong positions on complex global issues based on geopolitical constraints further honed my critical analysis and problem-solving abilities that will aid in my PPE study.

PPE’s interdisciplinary nature offers the perfect platform to advance my multipronged interests. Oxford’s tutorial approach will stretch my thinking capacities through rigorous engagement with eminent experts at the frontiers of their fields. The vibrant, diverse student communities I interacted with on-campus visits also strongly appealed to me; just the sort of collegial yet competitively stimulating PPE environment I seek to fulfil my potential as I chart my path in public service. I am confident my proactive passion for politics, honed philosophical perspectives, strong economics foundations, communication and leadership skills, and fierce work ethic make me well prepared to thrive on this prestigious course.

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May: Building your Summer reading list for PPE

In order to impress at your Oxbridge interview, you should try and pick several books based on different topics to show your breadth of interest, as well as your passion for the subject. For example, you could choose a book on Game Theory, another on Globalisation and a third on Development Economics. (These are just examples- choose what you’re interested, but try and choose books on a range of topics.) When choosing your books, don’t go for the obvious ones such as Freakonomics – if a book can be understood by the general public, it won’t really demonstrate your ability to grapple with complex ideas, so try and pick something a little tougher, or from the suggested Oxbridge reading list from your degree.

Making the most of your reading

In preparing for an Oxbridge interview, the problem that most students make is to make notes on the books they’ve read as a summary of the contents. You need to be aware of the fact that the Oxbridge interviewers aren’t interested in a synopsis of the book. What they will want from you is to see that you are able to engage with new ideas and develop them and question the content of the books you read.

Rather than making detailed notes of the book’s contents, make a few bullet points on each chapter just to boost your memory closer to the interview. This will save you time in the crucial few weeks before the interview. Your focus should be on pulling on particularly interesting points from the book that you can use for points of discussion and/or development. It could be something that relates to an article you’ve read and equally, it could be a point that you disagree with. For example, if you’re reading a book on the credit crunch that argues that the credit crunch would have occurred regardless of banking regulation preventing self-certifying mortgages, you can use that as a point for discussion based on other articles/books you have read or you can use it to demonstrate your ability to think independently and argue the merits or shortcomings of a point by arguing that perhaps a change in regulation early enough could have made the difference.

Make note of these points and keep them with your book so that closer to the time of the interview you can jog your memory – of both the overall gist of the book as well as the interesting points worthy of discussion and development. This will save you valuable time and ensure that you can show your ability to engage with new ideas as well as to be able to think independently.

Political Sciences Reading List

Economics personal statement

Resham graduated in Economics from Emmanuel College, Cambridge in 2010. She is now working for an MP, but luckily for us still finds time to pen her PPE (Politics, Philosophy and Economics) blog each month, giving you top tips for applying to these subjects.

All views and ideas represented in this blog post are exclusive to Resham, and do not represent those of any other third party.

Related Content

Miss kotecha’s economics blog – was this the budget for the “aspiration nation”, topics in the world of science – cell biology an oxbridge interview question, why is thinking about your subject important.

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Your Oxford PPE Programme supports you in creating a strong personal statement, maximising your TSA score, and standing out in your interview. Every component of the programme was made to improve your prospects and ensure you a place at Oxford. We are the only Oxbridge prep school in the world with a genuinely distinctive curriculum.

What we do works.

Your Oxford PPE Programme gives you support through a wide selection of mediums – all created specifically to increase your chances of acceptance.

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Application Support

Firstly we will help you make the right decision regarding course and University choice.

Whether this is through a meeting with our Academic Director or by arranging sessions with tutors from Oxford and/or Cambridge in your considered subject areas. We will help you come to an informed conclusion on one of the most important decisions you will ever make.

You will receive a full introduction to your Programme by your Programme Team, along with your tutor, Form Mentor and our Academic Director. Throughout your time with us, they will be here to help.

One-To-One Tutoring

As part of your programme, you will be working with an expert Oxford PPE tutor who was in the Top 10% of their class.

These one-to-one sessions are your opportunity to take charge of your learning with guidance from your tutor, who will ensure that each session is valuable and has helped you improve your skills and knowledge.

Honed in one-to-one support with your expert PPE Oxford tutor – all with homework and reports.

Comprehensive Materials

As a UniAdmissions Student, you will have immediate access to a large collection of relevant books from UniAdmissions’ library of over 100 published titles. 

You will also have access to the UniAdmissions Academy, our advanced TSA practice resources and the UniAdmissions PPE Reading List – all exclusive to our enrolled students. 

Finely-tuned PPE resources in a range of mediums to help you practice and learn for your application.

Intensive Courses

Our series of full-day intensive courses cover the whole spectrum of your PPE support, including your Personal Statement, TSA and interview

These sessions are highly interactive and allow you to ask your important questions to your course expert tutor both in group sessions and individually.

Highly effective one-day courses that cover key components of your application, including the TSA and interview.

Enrichment Seminars

With so much going on in the world of PPE, it’s important to maintain a broad understanding of subjects outside your syllabus. Wider reading is essential for an offer from Oxford, which is where our Enrichment Seminars will help. 

Each session will introduce you to a new topic and will allow you to develop a deeper understanding of the subject, which will help you stand out to the Oxford admissions team. 

Develop a deeper understanding of your subject and go beyond your curriculum, as you would at Oxford.

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Every student will receive supplementary assistance from their designated Form Mentor.

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Students applying more than 12 months ahead of time will have access to our Head Start seminars, which are geared toward students who are in the early stages of the application process. These seminars provide a solid foundation for your future education and allow you to fully benefit from your UniAdmissions Programme.

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You will get 12 additional hours of individual support through the Head Start Programme. This extra support is purpose-built to develop essential skills to give you an early advantage over other Oxbridge applicants through a comprehensive research-based learning experience. You’ll gain skills and a deeper subject knowledge that will hugely bolster your upcoming application.

Students on our Head Start Programmes will get additional hours of one-to-one tutoring time along with their Head Start seminars.

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All the Oxford PPE Programme features.

Want to know what you'll get with your Programme? Here's exactly what will be included.

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Support & Feedback

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24/7 Access For Tutor Support

Full Written Feedback After Each Session

Post-Session Homework

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Introductory Onboarding Session

Your Personalised Portal

Assigned Form Mentor

• Unlimited 1-1 Mentoring Sessions

Student Enrichment

• Weekly Enrichment Seminars

Exam Success Online Course

Recommended Reading List

Work Experience Support

The Ultimate Guide To Exam Success

Weekly Group Workshops

TSA Practice Questions & Fully Worked Solutions

Personal Statement Writing

Dedicated Personal Programme Manager

Personal Statement Marking

TSA Essay Marking

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This is the stage that all of your work leads to, but it is not an easy feat. Find out all of the support that you can get to reach this goal within a Premium Programme. 

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Our mission at UniAdmissions is to get every single one of the students we work with each year onto their chosen course at Oxford or Cambridge. Every student applying to study on our Programme goes through an initial assessment with our Admissions team. This is a 30-minute consultation (free of charge) where our team assesses your viability.

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Got some questions about the Oxford PPE Premium Programme? You might just find the answer here. If not, you can always reach out to us and we’ll be happy to help!

How many one-to-one tutoring sessions are included?

The Oxford PPE Programme gives you access to 30 sessions with an expert tutor. The Head Start PPE Programme gives you 42 expert sessions.

The complete syllabus covers approximately 180 hours of study. You will be guided through the Programme by your Programme guide, and will always have your dedicated Programme Team on hand to support you.

Does Cambridge offer a PPE course?

No, Cambridge does not offer a PPE course like what Oxford offers, so if you’re interested in the course, you have just one course available between the two. 

The Cambridge equivalent would be their HSPS course . 

I'm not as interested in one aspect of the course, should I still apply?

You only study Philosophy, Politics and Economics in your first year – you do not have to continue all three for the duration of your degree. 

You never know, you might end up enjoying the subject you are least interested in!

What books are included in The Ultimate TSA Collection?

With The Ultimate TSA Collection, you get our Ultimate TSA Guide ,  TSA Practice Papers Volume 1 ,  TSA Practice Papers Volume 2 ,  TSA Worked Solutions Volume 1 , and  TSA Worked Solutions Volume 2  in one book! 

Do I have to answer Section 2 of the TSA?

Yes! If you are applying to PPE you will be required to sit Section 2 (the essay question) of the TSA. 

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How To Prepare

See below for reading suggestions, advice on preparing for the TSA, and guidance on writing a PPE personal statement. For advice on which subjects to take at A-Level or equivalent, refer to the admissions requirements table  and the course webpage  (admissions requirements tab) on the University website. 

Introductory Reading

Applicants are not expected to have studied any philosophy, politics, or economics at school, but should be interested in the three subjects and be prepared to put their minds to problems of philosophy, politics, and economics presented to them. We recommend that applicants read widely around the three subjects to help prepare for applying. PPE tutors will look for commitment and motivation to the course, as well as evidence of academic potential. They will want to know that a student has really engaged with the three subjects and has a passion for studying them. We also recommend that applicants obtain a reasonable grasp of the workings of the social and political world in which we live. Reading a good quality daily newspaper is crucial to a successful application, along with watching and listening to news and current affairs programmes. Below are some useful introductory texts for the three PPE disciplines.

• Thomas Nagel, What does it all mean?
• Jennifer Nagel, Knowledge: A Very Short Introduction  
• Further reading suggestions are in the undergraduate FAQs section of the Philosophy Faculty website.
• Jonathan Wolff, An Introduction to Political Philosophy  
• Various authors, Developments in British (French, German, East European etc.) Politics
• Adrian Leftwich, What is Politics?
• Paul Krugman’s books
• Tim Harford's books
• Further suggestions are on the PPE course page  (reading suggestions tab) of the Economics Department website. 

Admissions Test

The TSA is a test of verbal, spatial and numerical reasoning, and also asks you to write an essay in order to demonstrate that you can construct a cogent and clear argument. Whilst no particular knowledge assumed, it is a good idea to familiarise yourself with the format of the test and try to do some practice. Further information about how to prepare for the test is in the TSA section of the University website. 

Personal Statement

Personal statements should show evidence of interest in PPE but not necessarily knowledge of the three subjects. PPE applicants are not required to have studied politics, economics or philosophy at school, and so we do not expect you to know about these subjects before applying. We would like to see interest in one or two of the three subjects and evidence of engagement with those, e.g. through extra-curricular reading. If it appears from your personal statement that you are applying for different but related courses elsewhere, this would not disadvantage your application. We are also pleased to see evidence of hard work, time management and persistence in learning (in any area). The personal statement is just one part of the overall picture, and for PPE applicants is of lower importance in shortlisting decisions compared to your TSA result, your qualifications, and the academic reference.

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Philosophy, Politics and Economics Personal Statement

Our Oxford tutors can assist you in writing a high-quality Oxford PPE personal statement using award-winning techniques.

Oxford PPE Personal Statement

Within 48 hours, you will receive feedback on your Oxford PPE personal statement.

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Personal statements for every course

Our Oxbridge tutors have firsthand experience and a thorough understanding of writing personal statements for a variety of programmes, including Oxford PPE. They can help you create a strong and successful Oxford PPE personal statement by ensuring that key elements are included and that you write in the appropriate tone.

In a nutshell...

• Personal Statement analysis within 48 hours
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How it Works...

Why do people fail to get into the Oxford PPE course? The number one reason is that their personal statement is unsatisfactory. Knowing what to include in your Oxford PPE personal statement and how to impress the admissions tutors can be difficult. Watch this video to find out how we can assist you.

How Oxbridge Mind’s Personal Statement Check works

Many applicants are denied a place on the Oxford PPE course because their personal statement isn't up to scratch.

Personal Statement Editing in 60 Seconds

Would you watch rather than read? ? Watch the video ☝️

How we can help

Response in 48 hours.

Submit us your personal statement for Oxford PPE in any draught stage—first, fifth, or final. You can also specify whether you want us to concentrate on a particular aspect of your Oxford PPE personal statement, such as word count or relevant work experiences.

Our Oxford PPE tutors will take the time to read your personal statement for PPE at Oxford and offer their analysis of what you did well and where you could optimise.

After reading our feedback, you will gain confidence and be more motivated to improve your personal statement for Oxford PPE. We encourage you to send another draft at this stage if you wish.

After implementing changes, you can now upload your Oxford PPE personal statement to UCAS. Isn't that a relief?

Our Oxbridge PPE tutors will carefully review your Oxford PPE personal statement to ensure that it meets our high standards.

Complete with an analysis summary

We will provide you with a line-by-line analysis of your Oxford PPE personal statement, as well as feedback on how you performed in each of the key areas on which the Oxford PPE admissions team will be focusing.

Write, revise and repeat

Consider the modifications we proposed for your Oxford PPE personal statement after reading our feedback. You are welcome to contact us at any time for additional advice or to request another Oxford PPE personal statement review!

1-1 sessions with Zoom Tutoring

• Discuss & Rewrite LIVE

To make the most of the time you have together, your Oxbridge PPE tutor will evaluate your Oxford PPE personal statement and provide some preliminary feedback before your one-on-one meeting.

You can talk about your Oxford PPE personal statement with your tutor in real-time and get continuous feedback.

After the meeting, you can rewrite your Oxford PPE personal statement in your free time and contact your tutor if you have any further questions.

Let’s work through an example

Reducing word count.

Your tutor can assist you in reducing the number of words you use and refining the content to the key points that have the most impact.

Work Experience

Your Oxbridge tutor can support you in connecting your work experience to your interest and passion for PPE.

Spelling and Grammar

We will thoroughly review your PPE PS spelling, grammar, tone, and paragraph structure.

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We will support you in connecting books and talks you've heard to specific modules in the Oxford PPE Course.

Motivation for PPE

In the Oxbridge learning environment, you'll learn how to best articulate your reasons for studying PPE.

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Your PPE tutor will tweak your sentence structure, tone of voice, and balance of different subtopics.

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Instead of simply providing general advice, we will go over your writing and provide tailored analysis.

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Although staying within the 4,000 characters limit can be difficult, we will assist you in writing more concisely.

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Our tutors have all written successful personal statements for the Oxford PPE course and follow our tried-and-true methods.

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We'll make certain that you don't submit a PPE personal statement with poor grammar, as Oxford would reject it.

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Your Oxford PPE personal statement will be proofread by a team of tutors who are familiar with what Oxford is looking for.

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Your personal statement will be evaluated by an experienced Oxbridge tutor, and all of our packages include content, structure, and grammar analysis. Whatever plan you choose, you can be certain that you will receive your Oxford PPE personal statement within 48 hours, or your money will be refunded.

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A Guide to Effective Oxford PPE Personal Statement Examples

Table of Contents

Writing a personal statement for Oxford University’s Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) program is an important task.

Your Oxford PPE personal statement examples should be to the course you are applying to. It should be giving insight into your motivations and interest in the subject. It should also demonstrate that you have the necessary skills to pursue this demanding academic program.

This blog post will provide tips on writing a compelling personal statement and examples of successful PPE student statements from previous applicants.

We hope these resources help you craft an impressive personal statement that will make your application stand out from the rest!

What Is an Oxford PPE Personal Statement?

An Oxford PPE personal statement is a written document that serves as part of the admissions process . It is into the University’s Philosophy, Politics, and Economics program. Your statement should provide proof of your interest in and commitment to the course.

Demonstrate any relevant experience or skills you may have acquired, and explain why you are the person for the program.

Tips for Writing an Effective Oxford PPE Personal Statement

1. research.

Before writing your personal statement, it is vital to research the course and understand what makes it unique from other political science degrees. Investigate any current topics related to the subject area, review past readings and assignments. Gain further insight into how this degree could help advance your academic career.

2. Show Your Enthusiasm

Let the admissions officers know that you are excited about pursuing this degree. State why you believe it is the right fit for your academic interests. Explain what makes this course unique to you and demonstrate how your goals could be achieved by completing it.

3. Be Concise

Keep your statement concise, clear, and direct. You want to communicate your interest in the subject matter effectively without wasting the reader’s time with unnecessary details or flowery language.

4. Proofread Carefully

After writing your personal statement, go over it with a fine-toothed comb. Look for any mistakes or typos which may have been overlooked during the writing process. This is especially important because even minor errors can lead to significant misunderstandings in the admissions’ office.

Successful Oxford PPE Personal Statement Examples

I am applying to the PPE program because it will allow me to study philosophy, politics, and economics in a stimulating environment. The combination of these three disciplines excites me, as it offers a unique approach to understanding complex issues from theoretical and practical perspectives. My previous studies have honed my analytical skills, allowing me to think critically about current affairs and their implications on society at large. With my enthusiasm for this research field and solid academic foundation, I am confident that I will succeed in the PPE program.

Throughout my academic and professional career; I have been committed to exploring the impact of politics on society. I have my experience organizing a political discussion forum to researching the links between economic development and inequality. This makes me passionate about understanding how policy decisions shape our lives. Oxford’s PPE program is the perfect place to continue this exploration as it offers an unparalleled combination of philosophy, politics, and economics courses. This will give me with the knowledge to pursue a career in public service or international affairs. With my strong interest in this field of study and to understanding its implications, I can make an invaluable contribution to the program.

Writing an effective oxford PPE personal statement requires thoughtful research, a clear understanding of the course content. And also an ability to communicate your enthusiasm for the subject matter. By following these tips and using examples from successful applicants, you can ensure that your application stands out from the crowd. It demonstrates why you are an ideal candidate for this program .

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

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Politics, philosophy & economics (ppe) personal statement example 3.

In this day and age virtually every aspect of our lives may be considered political. My passion to study Politics stems from this tenet and a belief that a comprehension of Politics is integral to understanding the current state of humanity.

However, I believe that to approach Politics without appreciating the ethical motivations and implications of political decisions, as well as the economic context of political events, would be futile. My study of Mathematics will be advantageous in learning the quantitative aspects of Economics.

Moreover the intellectual clarity of Mathematics and Physics has equipped me with a logical rigour useful in Philosophy. Through History I have developed a greater understanding of Politics through analysis of Gladstone and Disraeli and of Russia's transition from autocracy to communism.

The course has altered my perceptions of the extent to which politicians must approach situations pragmatically, not simply ideologically, in order to achieve their goals.

I have explored this theme in my additional reading; in 'Thatcher and Thatcherism' Eric J Evans challenged many of my pre-conceptions about Margaret Thatcher, her ideology and the extent to which, like similarly ideologically driven politicians such as Lenin, she was forced to make concessions for wider political gain.

Economics fascinates me and I have enjoyed reading Edmund Conway's '50 Economics Ideas You Really Need to Know' to gain a basic understanding. Reading 'Micromotives and Macrobehaviour', I was intrigued by the use of Econometrics in modelling human behaviour.

It forced me to question my belief that desirable social outcomes, such as racial integration, can be achieved without government intervention.

My confidence in laissez-faire was again brought into question by reading 'False Dawn' by John Gray, as I found his condemnation of the propensity of free markets to exacerbate social ills compelling.

Notwithstanding this, I found merit in many arguments in favour of markets put forward by Friedman in 'Capitalism and Freedom', notably his claim that economic and political freedoms are inextricably linked; this reaffirmed the importance of studying Politics alongside Economics. I have read several introductory texts regarding Philosophy and recently attended a Philosophy conference at York University.

Reading 'Religion for Atheists' by Alain de Botton, I considered the author's analysis of humanity's emotional needs very valuable, yet was frustrated by the impracticality of many of his recommendations, for example to reduce the emphasis on vocational education.

This has confirmed my desire to study Philosophy alongside the practical disciplines of Politics and Economics. The History: Race and Protest course at the Oxford University UNIQ summer school, accompanied by Stephen Tuck's 'We Ain't What We Ought to Be,' fundamentally altered my perception of racial inequality, by presenting a far harsher portrayal of the struggle for civil rights than the often diluted version present in much of the media.

I have also examined inequality from a philosophical angle, through reading Rousseau's 'Second Discourse'.

Whilst I agreed with his arguments regarding the origins of political inequality, I found myself opposed to his claims regarding the state of nature, particularly that humans would naturally live alone, a claim which appears contrary to modern knowledge of early human society. Next year I look forward to expanding my knowledge of PPE, but also to fully immersing myself in the extra-curricular aspects of university.

I enjoy playing Rugby and Hockey, run Chess Club, am a member of a Boys' Vocal Group and the Sixth Form Debating society; served on the latter for two years as its youngest member.

Having always enjoyed debating ideological issues as well as current affairs I also organised a talk regarding the importance of the separation of church and state delivered by Michael Meadowcroft.

Profile info

This personal statement was written by finnplees for application in 2014.

finnplees's university choices The University of Durham University of Leeds The University of Hull Oxford University The University of York

Green : offer made Red : no offer made

finnplees's Comments

I felt this was a moderately good personal statement. It got me 5 offers, including ones from Oxford (where I am currently a student) and Durham.

This personal statement is unrated

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Showing your mathematical motivations

'Maths is like Marmite: you either like it or you don’t': an opening line from one student's maths personal statement, which, while not really revealing anything concrete about that applicant's motivation, does help to illustrate how tricky it can be explaining what exactly you enjoy about the subject.

With a subject like maths at university, motivation is 90% of the battle – so anything that demonstrates your motivation and enthusiasm for the subject will go down well. Here are a few tips from admissions tutors to help with your maths personal statement:

• 'We love to see anything that shows the depth or breadth of your interest in maths, and especially your interests in the subject beyond the A level (or equivalent) syllabus – like any maths books you’ve read, maths clubs you’re part of, or especially any maths challenges you’ve been involved in'.
• The University of Bristol looks for applicants who can show participation and success in mathematical competitions: 'there are many of these competitions, whether local, national, or international, and the more recent your participation and the greater the success you attained, the more weight it carries.'
• 'We like to see a bit of spark and originality. For example, what first inspired your interest in maths, or better still, what currently inspires it?'
• 'Give us a sense of which aspects of maths you especially like and why. Is it algebra, calculus, statistics, or something else?'

How polished your statement needs to be will vary from uni to uni because it’s your mathematical ability and potential that matters most – but as the London School of Economics’ says, 'an original and interesting personal statement which outlines your enthusiasm and motivation is expected.'

What else to include in your maths personal statement

• Your extra-curricular activities: tutors want to know about your sporting, cultural, or community involvement, or anything else you do outside your studies that demonstrates drive, commitment, enthusiasm, and your potential to excel.
• What you'll contribute: uni isn’t just about studying – universities are also communities, and it's great if you can show how you'll contribute to university life.
• Your personality: try to give tutors a sense of your personality through talking about any outside interests that offer an insight into who you are. Bristol is looking for students who 'stand out from the crowd' and are upbeat in their statements.

Try not to be too quirky, but do get your personality across if you can. And most of all, explain why you love maths.

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Personal Statement:Ppe 12 - The Student Room

Ppe personal statement.

Since I first became aware of the dissonance between individual desires and those of society, I have been interested in the socioeconomic mechanisms which operate the modern world and in doing so balance the needs of the individual with the needs of the nation state. The interaction of these often competing desires is critical to an understanding of welfare and suffering, and my fascination with philosophy, politics and economics is found therein.

My interest in politics developed with heated political debates at home, which originated in the different political climates in which my parents grew up. I nurtured this interest by leading the Debating Society, and through my participation in the Model House of Commons. Last year's European elections, however, sparked a fascination in political philosophy and the source of a state's power. To me, Europe's "democratic deficit," whilst certainly true, is no less so than the continued existence of the House of Lords or the relative ease with which one can become Prime Minister without an election. I found this quite astonishing considering David Cameron's recent stress on the "British value" of democracy.

The recovery of the UK economy from the financial crisis truly engrossed me, partly because few economists predicted such an event and partly because of the effects it had upon my then nascent online clothing store. It was incredibly uplifting to find empirical evidence of concepts such as elasticities taught in class. The theoretical foundations of the recovery, however, are enigmatic except for the paradoxical truth that the macro economy can grow with no noticeable benefit to the micro worker or firm. As Piketty found in "Capital in the Twenty-First Century," this paradox has held true for most of human history. The fact that rising inequality, demonstrably detrimental to society, was of no concern to governments before the First World War, is evidence of a fascinating conflict of interest, and the return of this apathy since the Washington consensus is worrying to me. Indeed, the problems described are eerily reminiscent of those described in "The Communist Manifesto."

The role of the state has since 1900 gradually encroached on what was hitherto considered the role of the individual; with the state acting increasingly for the good of its citizens, important questions about the morality of paternalism are raised. I was struck by how Mill's belief in "On Liberty" that individuals are the best judges of their own interest challenged the Marxist view that individualism was mere commodity fetishism, in agreement with Edmund Burke, arguably the founder of modern conservatism. The stark philosophical contrast between Marxism and liberalism illustrates to me the discipline's link with politics, in that both determine what kind of world we live in.

Ultimately, politicians are public servants, and I was unsurprised to experience their inner altruism during my work placement in the offices of [local MP] and [local Cllr]. Attending a surgery proved elucidating, seriously challenging the popular perception of politicians as self-serving and ineffectual. I also found this in conversations with politicians at a Rotary meeting during my German foreign exchange.

As a member of the Sixth Form Forum, I have taken an active role in student government and sought consistently to expand opportunities by organising a TEDx event in the local community, whilst developing my ability to work with deadlines and self-motivate. Beyond academics, I enjoy rugby, the piano and writing both for my personal blog and for The Columnist, and I am completing the Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award, having achieved Bronze.

The study of philosophy, politics and economics at university would offer me the extraordinary opportunity to further my understanding of the world and the complex issues which govern and indeed threaten it.

Universities Applied to:

• University of Oxford (PPE) - Offer (AAA) Insurance/ Firm
• University of Durham (PPE) - Offer (A*AA) Declined
• University of York (PPE) - Offer (A*AA or AAA w/ Maths) Declined
• London School of Economics (PPE) - Offer (A*AA)  Insurance /Firm
• University College London (PPE) - Offer (A*AA) Declined

Grades Achieved:

• Mathematics - A*
• History - A*
• Economics - A*
• Chemistry - A
• German (AS) - a

General Comments:

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