GuidanceNotesonEconomics
UniversityApplications
Adviceandinformationonbuildingastrongplatformfor
applicationstotheUKandoverseasuniversities
GeoffRileyFRSA
Co-Founderoftutor2u
Spring2016Edition
Page2
Formoreadvice,guidanceandsupportforallALevelEconomics
students,makefulluseofthetutor2uEconomicsresourcesandevents:
Economicsrevisionmaterial
Economicsrevisionguides
Economicsrevisionvideos
Economicsrevisionworkshops
…andfordailyresourcesandsupport,followthetutor2uEconomics
teamonTwitter
GeoffRiley
tutor2uEconomics
Applying for Economics Courses at University – 2016 Guide
www.tutor2u.net/economics
Section1:UCAS–BuildingBlockstoChoosingaDegree
Page3
Dataonuniversitycoursesincludingstudentfeedbackcanbeaccessedhere:http://unistats.direct.gov.uk/
SelectionofEconomicsFaculties:Clickonthelinkstoaccesstheeconomicsfacultywebsites
Bath
www.bath.ac.uk/economics/study/ug/
Birmingham
www.economics.bham.ac.uk/index.shtml
Bristol www.bristol.ac.uk/efm/courses/undergraduate/
Cambridge
www.econ.cam.ac.uk/andwww.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/economics
Durham
www.dur.ac.uk/economics.finance/
Edinburgh
www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/economics/
Exeter www.sobe.ex.ac.uk/undergraduate/
Lancaster
www.lums.lancs.ac.uk/departments/economics/
Leeds
http://lubswww.leeds.ac.uk/undergraduate/index.php?id=55
Leicester:
www2.le.ac.uk/departments/economics
Liverpool
www.liv.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/economics-bsc-hons/overview/
LondonSchoolofEconomics
http://econ.lse.ac.uk/andhttp://econ.lse.ac.uk/study/ugpr.html
Manchester
www.socialsciences.manchester.ac.uk/disciplines/economics/
Newcastle
www.ncl.ac.uk/undergraduate/degrees/l100/#courseoverview
Nottingham
www.nottingham.ac.uk/economics/index.aspx
Oxford www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate_courses/index.html
Queen’sUniversity(Belfast)
www.qub.ac.uk/home/StudyatQueens/UndergraduateStudents/
RoyalHolloway(London) www.rhul.ac.uk/economics/prospectivestudents/home.aspx
Sheffield
www.shef.ac.uk/economics
SOAS
www.soas.ac.uk/economics/
Southampton
www.southampton.ac.uk/economics
StAndrews
www.st-andrews.ac.uk/economics/
Surrey www.surrey.ac.uk/economics/
Sussex www.sussex.ac.uk/economics/
UCL
www.ucl.ac.uk/economics/undergraduate/prospective
Warwick
www.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/Economics/
York
www.york.ac.uk/depts/econ/
SelectionofOverseasUniversities/Faculties
Columbia(NewYork)
http://econ.columbia.edu/
Harvard(Economics)
http://economics.harvard.edu/
Princeton(Economics)
www.econ.princeton.edu/
Stanford(Economics)
https://economics.stanford.edu/undergraduate
TrinityCollegeDublin(Ireland)
www.tcd.ie/Economics/
Wharton(Economics)
www.wharton.upenn.edu/
Yale(Economics) www.econ.yale.edu/
Applying for Economics Courses at University – 2016 Guide
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Page4
MoreUsefulLinks
•
•
•
•
GuardianUniversityGuide(2016)www.guardian.co.uk/education/universityguide
OpenDays:www.opendays.com/
ThinkingSkillsAssessment:www.admissionstests.cambridgeassessment.org.uk/adt/
TimesUniversityGuide(2014)–www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/gug/
ChoosingDeferredEntry(GapYear)
•
•
•
Ifyouareconsideringdeferredentry(i.e.2017)youMUSTcontacttheuniversitytochecktheyaccept
deferredapplicationsBEFOREsubmittingyourapplication–clearlythevastmajoritydo!
YoumightbeastrongercandidatewithyourfinalA2/Pre-Uresultsknownsinceuniversitiesareoften
reluctantto‘block’toomanyplaceswithdeferredoffers.
WhetheryougoforadeferredorpostA2application,youshouldhaveclearplansonwhatyouaregoingto
doandhowyouwillbekeepingupyouracademicskills.Mostuniversitieswillexpecttoseesomething
concreteandpositiveaboutGapyearplansonyourpersonalstatement.
SelectionMethodsusedbyUniversities:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
UCASform
AdditionalQuestionnaire(Cambridge)
AdditionalorreplacementPersonalStatement(e.g.Durham)
Aptitudetests(e.g.BMAT,HAT,PAT,MSAT,ELAT–scheduledforearlyNovember2015)
Interview–manyOxbridgestudentsareallocatedtoadifferentcollegetotheoriginalapplication
SomeoftheKeySelectionCriteria
•
•
•
•
•
GCSErecordincludingthenumberofgradeA*sandAs
ASresultsandmodulemarksfromindividualunits
PredictedgradesforA2&Pre-U
Schoolreference/includingindividualteacherreferencesforUSuniversities
Personalstatement(includinganextrastatementforsomeuniversitiese.g.atDurham)
ConditionalOffers
•
•
•
Usuallybasedon3Alevel/pre-Usubjects
OccasionallybasedonUCASTariff:http://ucas.com/students/ucas_tariff/
Mightrequireparticulargradesinspecifiedsubjectsi.e.BBBisnotequivalenttoABC
UCASOffers-YourResponse
•
•
•
•
•
Youcanacceptupto2offers
Firm:Theoneyouarecommittedtogoingtoifyoumakethegrades
Insurance:Theback-upincaseyoudon’tmakethegradesforthefirmchoice(thisshouldideallyhavea
lowergraderequirementbutthisisnotalwayspossible)
Decline:Offersyoudon’twanttoaccept
Youcannotselectbetweenfirm&insurance–youcommittogoingtothefirmoneifyoumakethegrades!
Applying for Economics Courses at University – 2016 Guide
www.tutor2u.net/economics
Section2:StudyingEconomics–CoursesandConditionalOffers
Page5
•
•
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Contacttheuniversitydepartmentconcernedforpreciseinformationbeforeapplying
Furtherdetailsarelikelytobegivenoutattheofficialuniversity/facultyopendays
ManyuniversitiesprefertraditionalAlevelssuchasFurtherMaths,Physics,HistoryandChemistry
Forcompetitivecourses,singlehonourseconomicswillrequireatleastoneA*atA2–probablyMaths.Youare
stronglyadvisedtotakeFurtherMathsforCambridge,UCL,Warwick,LSEandOxfordEcon&Management
o
Bath:Typicaloffer:A*AAMathematicsandEconomicsA2isrequiredatgradeAorabove–2016offerA*AA
excludingbothbusinessandeconomics(oneortheother),withanAinMaths
o
Birmingham:Typicaloffer:AAA,GCSEMathematicsgradeAifnotofferedatASorA2level;AABforBusiness
Management,AABforPoliticsandEconomics
o
Bristol:Typicaloffer:A*AAincludingAAAAinC1,C2,C3andC4(includingMathsandEconomics)
o
EconandFinanceAAAoffer(AAinMathsC3/C4),EconwithStudyinContinentalEurope(4years)
AAA.EconandPoliticsAAAincl:AinC3/C4Maths.EconandEconometrics:AAAwithAAinC3&C4
o
BristolismorelikelytomakeyouanofferifyouarestudyingFurtherMathematicswithinthecontext
offourrecognizedA-levelsubjects.Somepuremathematics(mainlycalculus)isneededforecon
theorywhichiscompulsoryinthefirstyear(1/6thofthefirstyearcourse).
o
1480applicationsin2015foraround190places
o
CityUniversity:Typicaloffer:Economics:AAB
o
Cambridge:A-levelMathsisessentialforthoseapplyingforentry.Vastmajorityofoffersforeconomicsat
CambridgerequireA2gradesofA*AA(mayrequireinFurtherMaths),Human,SocialandPoliticalSciences
A*AA
o
o
Cambridgeismovingtowardssubjectentryexamsfrom2017usingtheThinkingSkillsAssessment
tests.Foreconomicsthiswillinvolveatwo-hourpre-interviewwrittenassessment
o
TheirTripossystemisflexible–e.g.youmightstudyLaworManagementStudiesin3rdyear
Durham:TypicalL100Economicsoffer:A*AA.Or38IBpoints.EconomicsBA(Honours)andforBusiness
Economics;ForCombinedSocialSciences(Econ+Geography)typicalofferisA*AA,Business&
Management:AAM2orD3AB;A*AAforEconomicswithFrench;A*AAforPPE(2015)
o
YouwillneedanA*inMathsforEconomicsbutdon’tapplyforPPEifyouaredoingDoubleMathsas
theythinkthisshowstoonarrowafocus.Durham’sPPEadvisorwantsyoutotake4A2subjects
o
Ifyouaretaking3subjectstoA2,considerapplyingfortheCombinedSocialSciencesdegreethat
hasmoreplaces.YoucanstudythesamemodulesasthePPE!
o
Edinburgh:Typicaloffer:AAAorBBB:SingleHonoursEconomics:Maths:MathsASorA-leveldesirable.IB:
37pointsoverallandgrades666atHL.
o
Exeter:Typicaloffer:EconomicsA*AA.SelectorspreferapplicantstooffergradeAMathematics.Econand
Politicsoffer:AAB;BusinessandManagement:AAA;Econ&Finance:AAA,Econ&Econometrics,AAA
o
Lancaster:BScEconomics,typicalconditionalofferisAAB,conditionaloffermayacceptGeneralStudies.35
pointsoverallwith16pointsfromthebest3HigherLevelsubjects
o
Leeds:TypicalofferisAAAformostEconoptionsincludingManagement.YoumusthaveA/A*inGCSE
Maths;AABforEconandMaths.EconandGermanoffer:AAAEconandBusinessABB,Econ&PoliticsAAB
o
Leicester:Typicaloffer:BAEconomics:ABB
o
Liverpool:Economics–AAAforentryin2016.IB:36pointsincluding6inHigherLevelMathematics.
Applying for Economics Courses at University – 2016 Guide
www.tutor2u.net/economics
o
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LondonSchoolofEconomics:FurtherMathsisamustforEconomicsL100,notnecessarytohave
studiedevensingleMathstoapplyforEconomicsandGovernment.LSEputHUGEemphasisontheUCAS
statement.Recentoffers:GovernmentandEconAAA,EconomicsA*AAPhilosophy&Economics:AAA
o
Loughborough:AAB/ABB(GeneralStudies,CriticalThinkingandCommunicationandCulturearenot
normallyaccepted).IB–34pointsminimum.
o
Manchester:Typicaloffer:EconomicsAAB,DevelopmentEconomicsAAB;EconomicsandFinanceAAB,
ManagementAAB,HistorywithEconomics:ABBEconomicsandBusinessABBIB35points.
o
Newcastle:Typicaloffer:AAB:EconandBusinessABB,Econ&PoliticsAAB
o
Nottingham:
o
o
Economics:TypicalofferisA*AAandforthosetakingfourfullA2subjectsA*ABB
o
Economics&HispanicStudies(4years)A*AA;ManagementStudies:AAA
o
IndustrialeconomicsAABofferin2015
Oxford(EconomicsandManagement):
o
Typicaloffer:A*AAorD3.CandidatesrequiredtohaveMathematicstoA-level
o
Workexperience&"extendedprojects"irrelevant-theyreadtheUCASStatementverycarefully
o
TheOxfordTSAexamiscruciallyimportant.TheylookatyourpublicexamgradesandyourTSA
scoreandyourschoolreference,andbyusing"regressionanalysis"theyproducean"algorithm",
fromwhichtheygiveeachcandidateascore.Theyrankallcandidates.TSAisthemajorcomponent
o
Oxford(PPE):Typicaloffer:AAA(includingMaths)(MathsandHistoryseenashelpfulbutnotessential)
o
QueenMaryLondon:Typicaloffer:EconomicsL100:AAA
o
RoyalHolloway:Typicaloffer:Economics:AAB;EconomicswithPolitics:ABB
o
Sheffield:Typicaloffer:BSceconomics(L101)AABor35IBpoints
o
SchoolofOrientalandAfricanStudies(SOAS):BScEconomics,typicalofferisAAA
o
Southampton:Typicaloffer:AABincludingAlevelMathematics,4Alevelsubjects:AABBincludingMaths
o
StAndrew’s:TypicalofferforsinglehonoursEconomicsisAAAB
o
Surrey:Typicaloffer:AABUniversityofSurreyEconomics(withayearinindustry)
o
UCL:Economics:A*AAinthefirstsitting,toincludegradeA*inMathematics(andAinEconomicsiftaking
thissubject)TakingFurtherMathsatALevel(A2)neitheradvantagesnordisadvantagesstudents
o
Warwick:Typicaloffer:A*AAB–ForL100EconomicsorL112EconomicsandIndustrialOrganization'you
mustobtaingradeAinA2Maths.A*AAawhentaking3A2subjects.AAAoffergivenforPPEin2015.
o
York:BScEconomics,typicalofferisAAB
LandEconomy(usuallyavailableatCambridge,UniversityofReading)
• Twoprimarydisciplinesarelawandeconomics.Studentswithinterestsineconomicgeography,
environmentaleconomics,theeconomicsofrealestateandinenvironmentalandpropertylawwillbe
attractedtoLandEconomy.www.landecon.cam.ac.uk/courses/undergradstudy/introduction.htm
• UniversityofCambridgeLandEconomyfacultyadmitsaround60undergraduatesperyear.Normalofferis
A*AAatAlevel.Thereisnorequirementforapplicantstohavetakenanyparticularsubjects.
Applying for Economics Courses at University – 2016 Guide
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Section3:AdviceonStrengtheningyourUniversityApplication
Page7
•
•
Formostadmissionstutors,theirmainfocusisyourintellectualandacademicpotential,commitment,
curiosityandpassionforyourchosensubjectdisciplinescomparedwiththeotherstudentapplicantsina
givenyear
Onetutorsaid:“welookforintellectualcuriosityandawide-rangingviewofthesubject,i.e.notjust
focusedontheUK.”Thisisgreatadvice!-Trytoshowawarenessoftherapidandimportantchanges
happeningintheworld!
FocusingonyourUCASpersonalstatement
YourUCASpersonalstatementshouldconveyagenuinecommitmenttoachosensubjectandmustdemonstrate
strong,hardsupportingevidenceofhavingexploredwellbeyondthesyllabus,withatrackrecordofindependent
study.Showthatyoucanexplorebeyondthebasictheory.
EnrichmentandExtensionActivitiesinyourSubjects
o
Independentreading
o
Readarticlesfromaqualitynewspaperormagazineeveryday
o
Developyourownpersonallearningnetworkusingblogsandtwitter
o
Setupyourownblogorstudentmagazineandinviteotherstudentstocollaborate
o
WatchTEDtalksandtalksfromtheRoyalSocietyofArtsandtheLondonSchoolofEconomics
o
Readuponcriticalthinking/thinkingskills–considerbuyingabookonthistopreparefortheTSAtests
o
Getinvolvedinschoolsocietiesandmakecontactwithspeakersaftertheirvisit–followthemonTwitteror
drawonsomeoftheirmostrecentarticlesandbooks–thisisagreatwaytoimmerseyourselfinasubject
o
EnteratleastoneexternalessaycompetitionssuchastheoneorganizedbytheRoyalEconomicSocietyor
byoneoftheOxbridgecollegesthatrunprizeessays–theseareanexcellentshowcaseforyourtalents
o
Getinvolvedwithsummerschoolsthatgiveyoufreshinsightsintosubjectsyouwanttotakefurther.Check
toseewhichUKandUSuniversitiesareorganizingsummerschoolsandapplyearly–theyfillupfast!
o
Challengetheconventionalwisdomintheclassroom–questionwhatisbeingtaught,haveconfidenceto
takeissuewithyourteachersandexploremanydifferentarguments–don’ttakeabackseat,don’tbe
passive–itwillhelpyouininterviewsandinuniversityseminarsanditwillimproveyourself-confidence
o
Exploreareasofthesubjectbeyondthesyllabussuchasgametheoryandbehaviouraleconomics
o
Network-exploreopportunitiesforworkexperienceswithdifferentorganizationsandpeople-themore
diversetheexperience–thebetter.Workingforalocalcharity,withanewspaperorbusinessstart-upis
morevaluablethanshadowingboringpeopleinaninvestmentbankingofficeorafirmofaccountants!
o
Travelandseektounderstandmoreaboutthesocial,economic,politicalandhistoricalbackgroundofthe
placesyouarevisiting.Readupaboutthem,perhapscontributingtoschool-basedmagazinesorother
studentpublications.Blogaboutyourexperiencesandyourviews!Chancefavourstheconnectedmind!
o
Attendoutsidelecturesandotherevents–lookforlecturesmadeavailabletothegeneralpublicatyour
localuniversitiesoracademicorganizations:InLondonforexampleIrecommend:
o
LSEPublicLectures:www2.lse.ac.uk/publicEvents/eventsHome.aspx(London)–videoavailable
o
RSAEvents:www.thersa.org/events/our-events(London)-alwayslivestreamed
o
RESEssaycompetition:2016-http://www.res.org.uk/view/essayEduTraining.html-recommended!
Applying for Economics Courses at University – 2016 Guide
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Section4:AdviceonWritingaPersonalStatement
Page8
Statementsareacrucialpieceofevidencealongsideprojected/actualgradesandtheschoolreference
Only a few universities interview applicants; in these cases the Personal Statement is a candidate’s only
chanceofdisplayingpotentialtotheadmissionstutor.
• Theymustbepersonalandtheymustconveygenuineenthusiasmforthesubject!
• Someuniversitiesallow(andlike)substituteoradditionalpersonalstatements:
o Durhamsubstitutestatementallowed
o CambridgeSAQadditionalstatementallowed
o UCL‘ArtsandSciencesBSc’additionalstatementrequired
Firstparagraph
• Whatsparkedyourinterest?-talkabouthowyoureachedyourdecisiontostudythissubject
• Howhasitbeensustained?-HastakingittoAlevelconfirmedyouwanttotakeitevenfurther?
• Bespecific-giveanexampleofsomethinginthecoursethat'sreallyfiredyourinterestandcuriosity
ParagraphTwo-YourAcademicandIntellectualCuriosity
• Books that you have read. Try to think about your independent reading. Give the title, the author, a brief
synopsisandexplainwhatitwasaboutthatbookthatyouliked/seemedrelevanttoyouandyourcourse.If
youcan,trytogettotheheartofwhatthebookwasabout,ortakeissuewithit
• Thejournalsormagazinesorblogsyou'vereadorfollow.Whydoyoulikethatparticularjournal,andwhich
articlesinparticularhaveinterestedyou?Howhaveyoucarriedthisinterestforward?
• Ifyourefertosomethingyouhaveread,saywhatyouthinkofit,achancetoshowcriticalthought
• The recent developments in your subject that has caught your eye. Have you studied developments in
behavioural economics? Or read different books on globalisation, the financial crisis or the future of the
Chineseeconomy?Findbooksthatyouwouldn’tnormallyseeontheshelvesofyourschoollibrary!
ParagraphThree-Relatedinterestinyoursubject(s)
• Whatitwasaboutthatworkexperienceorvoluntaryworkthat(specifically)interestedyou?
• Anyacademiccompetitionsyou'veentered.Whatdidyoulearnfromtheprocess?
• What extra courses, lectures, summer schools, and seminars have you attended? Who gave them? What
impressedyou?Whatdidyoutakefromthem?
Paragraph4-ExtraCurricular-thesubliminalmessages
• Thesportsyoudoandthelevelyouhavereachedeitherasanindividualand/orasateam
• Anyscholarshipsyouhave,andhowyouhavecontinuedtoexcelinthatarea
• Yourorchestras,choirs,bands,societiesandsaywhyyoulikethem
• Yourpositionsofresponsibilityoroccasionswhenyou'veledteams.Whatdidyoulearnfromit?
• Whattakesupyourfreetime,andwhydoyougiveitsomuchspaceinyourlife?
• Whyyouthinkthesequalitieswillmakeyouagoodundergraduate?
• Someareasofyourlifethatshowyoucanworkunderpressure,todeadlines
TheImportanceofEntryProfiles
OntheUCASwebsite,eachcourseateveryuniversityhasanEntryProfile,accessiblewhenyoueithersearchfora
courseorsearchforauniversity.EntryprofilesgiveaclearstatementoftheessentialandpreferredsubjectsatA2
and AS, as well as the grades and other requirements universities are looking for from applicants. As well as
specifying what grades are required, certain courses may specify required additional tests, skills, recommended
evidenceofrelevantworkexperienceandsoon.Itisessentialyoureadallofthisinformationclosely.
•
•
Applying for Economics Courses at University – 2016 Guide
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Section5:ASelectionofPastYears-PersonalStatements(AllSuccessful!)
Statement1:Geography(Oxford)
Page9
Geographershavearesponsibilitytothinkaboutthefutureinrelationtourbandevelopment.Thiswasthebasisofa
presentationIdeliveredonthefailuresofurbanplanning.DuringinvestigativetripstoEastLondon,Igainedan
awarenessofhowinformaleconomiesindeprivedareascanplayaroleinbolsteringregeneration.SudhirAlladi
Venkatesh'sbook'TheUndergroundEconomyoftheUrbanPoor'illustrateshow,inChicago,theshadowmarket
providesabackboneforurbanrenewal.Indeed,PaulKnox's'AtlasofCities'taughtmehowthesocialstructureof
citiesisintegraltotheirsuccess.Structureandfunctionshouldbeintegrated,encapsulatingafinebalancingact
betweensocialdiversityandcohesionaswellaseconomicprosperitywithinacity.Onecouldarguethatsuch
structureandfunctioninacityareindispensabletoasuccessfulholisticapproachtourbanplanning.
Thisbalance,betweenstructureandform,maybechallengedbyacity'sroleasahubformigrants.Migrationis
anotherareainwhichgeographershavetolookforwardandseeksolutionstoanoften-divisivetopic.Myresearch
foraninternalessayprizeonmigrationandeconomicdevelopmentillustratedthevarietyofdifferentopinions
surroundingthistopicandtheimportanceofbeingabletoevaluatethepositionalityofthedifferentarguments.In
hisbook'Exodus',ProfessorPaulCollierarguesforahumancapitalquotasystemtobeintroducedonimmigrants.
Althoughprovidingconvincingevidencethatdiasporacouldbeobviatedthroughtheuseofquotas,Ichallengedthis
conclusion.GiventhepopularsupportinGermanyforvictimsofthecurrentSyrianmigrationcrisis,thereisan
opportunityforadiasporatointegratewithoutsocialdisruption,somethingthatCollierbelievestobeimpossible.
Gaininganunderstandingofhowgeographersanalysedatafordecision-makingmotivatedmetowritearesearch
projecttitled,'ToWhatExtenthastheUseofGISBecomeaWaytoExcludetheGlobalPoor?'Iassessedhow
technologycanbeusedtogatherandanalysedatatooffersolutionsinareasrangingfromrainforestconservationto
urbanplanning.Forexample,IinvestigatedtheuseofGISinKenyatoexaminelandusesbetween1987and2011.
ThisdataallowedtheMinistryofEnvironmenttoidentifybushareasunderthreatfromenvironmentalchangesand
humansettlements,ultimatelyleadingtonewlegislationpreventingpermanentdamage.Duringmyresearch,I
interviewedMathengeMwehe,aresearcherattheGISResearchInstituteinNairobi.Ourconversationsreinforced
theimportanceofconsideringhowdatacanbemisrepresentedbydifferentstakeholders,andmademealerttothe
riskofmakingdecisionswithoutproperhumancontext,especially,inthiscase,giventhelackofdataonlower
incomecitizens.
IhavefurtherexploredthisinterestinGISthroughitsincorporationintomystart-up,EdgeMobile.Edgehelpsski
resortsexplorehowtheirvisitorsinteractwiththeenvironmentaroundthem.Datacollectedfromtheapponskier
performanceenablestheanalysisofpatterns,helpingreachconclusionsastowhereinefficienciesandsafetyissues
maylay;thisenhancedmyabilitytointerpretandanalysedata.
Atschool,IrantheEntrepreneurshipSocietythatinvolvedhostingandleadingdiscussionswithCEOsofmajorfirms
aswellasinnovativestart-ups.IalsohadaseniorroleintheGeographySocietyandwashousecaptain.Overtwo
years,IhavementoredEnglishandmathsatlocalschoolsandgivenlecturesonenterpriseattheBrentSummer
School,teachingmetheimportanceofclearcommunicationandsuccinctexplanation.Ienjoyskiing,sailing,to
instructorstandard,andthecamaraderieofhousematches.
Forme,geographyisstrategicandfundamental,itnotonlyevaluatescriticalissuesfacingtheindividualandsociety
butalsoseekssolutionstothesebigproblems-therecanbelittlemorerewardingthanthat.
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Page10
Statement 2: PPE (Oxford)
WhenIwasfifteenyearsold,IhadtheprivilegeofbeingelectedDeputyYoungMayoroftheLondonBoroughof
Newham.Engagingwiththeelectorate,seniorpoliticiansandmedia,Iexperiencedsomeofthelinksbetween
economics,politicsandphilosophy,energisingmydecisiontopursuethesubjectsacademically.Ienhancedmy
abilitiesthroughself-study,readingTheTimes,TheEconomist,debatingandwritinganonlineblog.Thisinitiative
helpedmedowellatschool:youngestChiefEditoroftheschoolmagazine,highestachievingGCSEstudentinthe
boroughandaSixthFormScholarshipforstateschoolpupilstomyschool.
WhilereadingHarforditdawnedonmethatthereisaneconomistineachofus.Iexploredtheideainmyarticle
'sKOOLonomics'byexamininghowstudentsuseeconomicthinkingtomakerationaldecisionsinschoolsituations.
However,inmyessay'TragedybehindtheSchoolGates'IinvestigatedtheparadoxinthePrisoner'sDilemmaofhow
reasoncanbeself-destructiveanddiscussedmeasurestopromotecooperativebehaviour.In'King'sSpeech'(a
highlycommendedpieceforthe2011RESessaycompetition),IechoedMervynKing'sfearofarepeatofthe
financialcrisisandconsideredhowgovernmentresponsehasnotfullyaddressedissuessuchasbanksbeingtoo
importanttofailanddeep-rootedglobalimbalances.IagreewithRajan'sanalysisthatserious'FaultLines'laynotin
economicsbutinpolitics.IenjoyrunningtheCollegeEconomicsSociety,organisingmeetings,interactingwiththe
expertsandlearningfromthem.
Inmypaper'It'stheEconomy,Stupid'Iarguedthatpoliticiansmustaddresstheeconomicaspirationsofasocietyto
getelected.However,inthecontextofthesovereigndebtcrisis,economicreformsarebeingunderminedby
politics.InalectureontheArabSpringIattendedattheLSE,DrLisaAndersoncautionedagainstplacingtoomuch
emphasisonthecausalrelationshipbetweenpovertyofthemassesandpoliticalunrest:ideologiesplayarole.My
essay'FearistheKey'(winner,CollegePoliticsprize)discussedhowconservatismisapositionalattitudedrivenby
fearofchangeratherthananideology.Ihavemetleadingpoliticians,visitedtheHousesofParliamentand
witnessedproceedingsoftheNewhamCouncil.IcomplementedmyexperiencesandstudiesbyreadingWoolf's
IntroductiontoPoliticalPhilosophy.IamaCommitteeMemberoftheCollegePoliticalSociety.
Philosophyenablesustothinkcriticallyaboutsomeoflife'sdeepestquestionsandprovidestheeconomistandthe
politicianwithamoralcompass.Thisencouragedmetothinkandengageindiscussion.HavingreadWarburton's
IntroductiontoPhilosophy,Iattendedhisexhibition'PicturingPhilosophers'whichinspiredmetodesign'Walkwith
Philosophers',anewcoursefortheNewhamSummerSchool,whichItaughtinaSocraticstyle.DebateChamber's
PhilosophySummerSchoolandaHarvardonlinecourseonJusticeenhancedmythinking.Then,havingreadLiberty
andEqualityeditedbyMachan,IamscheduledtotalkattheCollegesocietyonhowthetwocanbecompatibleyet
contradictorydependingontheirconception.
MyotherinvolvementsandresponsibilitiesincludedpositionsasDeputyHeadBoy,SchoolCouncilChairandjazz
bandmember.AtCollegeIrevivedtheDebatingSociety,hostedBerkshireSchoolsdebatingcompetitionandwas
rankedinthetoptwelveatEnglandSchools2012DebatingTeamTrials.OutsideCollegeIhavetaughtdebatingatan
OxbridgeSummerSchool,GCSEHistorylessonsandotherworkshops.
IvolunteeredasaprimaryclassroomassistantandhadworkexperienceatFreshfieldslawfirm.Ihavebeen
selectedasaLondon2012YoungLeaderandhostcommunityeventsassociatedwiththeOlympicGames.These
experienceshavestrengthenedmyorganisationalskillsandabilitytoworktotightschedules.
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Statement 3: Teacher Reference for a Top US University (Economics)
Page11
IhavebeenteachingattwoofBritain’smostacademicschoolsforovertwentyfiveyearsand,inallofthattime,itis
ahardtothinkofastudentwhocanmatchtheintellectualengagement,urbanityandsheerpositivitythatStudentX
bringstohismanyandvariedactivities.IrecommendStudentXtoyouinthestrongestpossibletermsandwithout
reservation.StudentXloveslaunchinghimselfintoanyopportunitiesthatflowhisway,heisnotsomeoneinclined
to sit back and let life drift by. At school he has long been among our most academically able students and he
deliversassignmentsoforiginality,insightandbalance.
The breadth of his work is reflected in prizes awarded in subjects as diverse as Politics, Chinese, Maths and
Economics.InPolitics,hewashonouredforavibrantessayonsocialismintheUnitedStates;hisresearchonChinese
softpowerearnedasecondplaceinourannualXanaduPrize.IhavebeenteachingStudentXEconomicsforthelast
twoyearsandIexpecttobeinformedandentertainedinequalmeasurewitheachsubmission!StudentXgetsinto
thehiddenwiringofasubject;hehasexceptionalabilitytoleavethepublishedsyllabusbehindtofindarelevant
casestudyorslightlycontrarianperspectivewithwhichtochallengetheconventionalwisdom.HiswrittenEnglishis
adelight,ofpanacheandstandardonewouldexpectfromprofessionaljournalistswithmanyyearsofwritingunder
theirbelt.Asophisticatedwrittenstyleis-inpart-theproductofcountlesshoursreadingarticlesandpapersfrom
Foreign Affairs, the Economist, the Financial Times, Project Syndicate and Brookings Papers. With some students,
persuadingthemtoexplorearoundthesubjectisakintopullingteeth.NotsowithStudentX!Hehasastupendous
capacitytoreadacrossarangeofsubjectswithglobalrelations,economicsandpoliticshisparticularforte.
Undoubtedly the biggest passion in Student X’s academic life here at school is his leadership of our debating
program.Hehascompetedatinternationallevelindebatingeventsandhasbeenafinalistatnumeroushigh-profile
competitionsincludingschoolseventsorganisedbytheuniversitiesofCambridge,OxfordandDurham.StudentXis
PresidentoftheschoolDebatingSociety-acommitmentthatrequireshimtoorganizeschoolteamsenteringlocal,
regional and national events. From competing most weekends at an elite level to nurturing and encouraging our
youngeststudentstodiptheirtoesintotheexperienceofdebatingheadtoheadwitheachother,StudentXrelishes
theworkthathisdebatingteamdoeachweek.Researchingforcompetitionsisacatalystforbuildingexceptional
contextualknowledge.Andthechallengeofdebateundoubtedlyhelps StudentXtowriteandarguewithpassion,
precision and purpose. When a student finds their element great things can happen and I know this to be true in
StudentX’scase.Heisoneofthebestdebatersthatwehaveproducedoverrecentyears.
Involvement with our wider community is also part of Student X’s DNA. He has been active in supporting local
schools to start up debating clubs and enters the local competitions he organizes. He has participated for several
yearsinourout-reachsupportprogramfortheelderly.Andhehasbeenanaccomplished,considerateandeffective
mentortostudentsatalocalschool,helpingtobuildconfidenceinMathematicsandEnglish.Oneoftheexceptional
featuresoflifeatourschoolisthearrayofsocietiesrunbystudents.Fewpeopleinmyexperiencehaveembraced
thisaswellasStudentX!HeisanactivememberoftheEconomicsandEntrepreneurshipSocietiesandaco-Founder
andeditorofanewinter-schooleconomicsmagazinedueforlaunchlateronthisautumn.Iregularlytakestudents
to enrichment talks at the Royal Society of Arts and the London School of Economics and Student X can be relied
uponasthefirststudenttoconfirmhisattendance!HehascompletedextensiveinternshipsintheofficeofSenator
MaxBaucusinWashingtonandalsoattheBeijingofficeoftheinsurancecompanyICBCwhereStudentXresearched
anddeliveredapaperanalysingpensionsystemsinEuropeandtheUnitedStates.
Academictermsherearedrainingonallconcerned;itistoStudentX’screditthatheuseshisholidaytimetotravel,
readandbewonderfullyproactiveinseekingeventsandcoursesthatcansatisfyhisintellectualcuriosity.Although
not a natural sportsman, Student X keeps himself fit by participating in competitions for his boarding house in
swimming,squash,footballandtennis.Notably,hewasafoundingmemberoftheCollegeBaseballClub.StudentX
isatruedelighttoteachandwillbeasuperbassettothecampusofanyofthetopuniversitiesintheworld!Isay
thisasateacherwhohasseenhundredsofoutstandingstudentspassthroughmycareovertheyears-StudentXis
rightuptherewiththebest!Heiscollegiate,ambitious,personable,articulateand,mostofall,ateamplayerofthe
highestcalibre.ThereisgenuinedepthandinsightinhisworkandStudentXhastheskillsandmotivationtogoa
verylongwayindeed.
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Statement 4: Politics, Philosophy and Economics (Oxford)
Page12
Itisourinherentlyselfishnaturethatdrivespolitics,philosophyandeconomics.Thisself-interestledtothe
socialcontractandthecreationofcivilsociety;itshapesmarketsandunderpinsourhumanexistence,
fromwhichstemsphilosophicalthought.Howeveritisourrationalfacultythatdefinesusashumanand
thisplaysacrucialroleinPPE.Mypassionfordebate,curiosityandappetiteforlearninginatutorial
settingiswhatdrawsmetoOxford.
Blackburn'sTruthsparkedmyinterestinphilosophy,promptingmetowriteanexternalessayonthe
effectivenessoflanguagetoachieveknowledgeinthePlatonicsense.Followinganalysisofthe
epistemologyinTheRepublic,Iconcludedthepracticalityoflanguagemeansitcannotconveytruth.I
exploredthedefinitionofknowledgeIfoundinTheaetetusinanessayentitled"IsKnowledgeJustified
TrueBelief"lookingcloselyattheGettierproblem,andthenotionsofquietismandfoundationalism,
arguingthatknowledgecannotbedefinedasasecondorderconcept.Camus'MythofSisyphuswasthe
mostchallengingbookIhaveread,butlookingatitalongsideTheOutsiderrevealedtometheabsurd,and
Itookinterestinhislineofreasoningforlivinglifetothefullinaworlddevoidofmeaning.Discussionat
myschool'sPhilosophySocietyhelpedmeformulatelogicallyvalidandreasonedarguments.Thisenabled
metocomefirstinmyschool'sTheologyexamandgainhighlycommendedforanessaycriticisingtheidea
ofinherentHumanRights,arguingasBenthamdidthatwecannotrelyonsuchaprioriipsedixitisms.
MyREScompetitionessayonthemoralityofhighdrugpricescame2ndoutof2100entries.InitIechoed
Sandel'sfearoftheever-wideningscopeofcorruptingandundemocraticmarkets,analysingthepatent
systemandthesubsequentlackofaffordablelife-savingdrugs.RecentlyI'veenjoyedreadingtheworkof
economistssuchasMazzucatoandHidalgo.Thelatter'suseofmathematicalmodelstoanalysethe
topocraticnatureofeconomiesprovidedaconvincingargumentforgreaterconnectednessandmore
diversenetworks.IattendedatalkbyHidalgoinOxfordoncomplexitytheorythatemphasisedtheholistic
natureofeconomics,andIwasinterestedinhismodelofeconomiesascomputerswhichdevelopby
crystallisingimaginationandgrowinginformation.InanotherexternalessayIcriticisedfootloose
capitalism,usingtheMarxistlanguageofexploitationtoarguefirmsshouldfacerestrictionswhen
expandingintothedevelopingworld.ThecentralroleofinstitutionswasrevealedtomeinWhyNations
Fail,anddespitethearbitraryuseoftheundefinedlabelsofinclusiveandextractiveinstitutions,the
argumentwasconvincing.AtanLSElectureIsawthattheEU'sfailinginstitutionswereonesourceofit's
economicandpoliticaldifficulties.
Democracyhasbeenararitythroughoutpoliticalhistory,andthecurrentwesternworldviewofitasan
innategoodissomethingIhavebeenkeentoquestion.WithemphasisontheMiddleEast,Ilookedat
whetherauthoritarianismcaneverbeacceptable,concludingthatitisnotintrinsicallyimmoralandcanbe
effective.AttendingatalkbyZacGoldsmithattheRSAtemperedmygrowingscepticismofdemocracy,and
havingreadRousseau'sSocialContractIreturnedtotheideathatparticipationbytheelectorateis
fundamentalforprinciplesofequalityandfreedom.FollowingaweekwithmylocalLibDemMP,and
havingreadMendoza'sharshcritiqueofausterityIadaptedmyformerlypro-austerityview,recognising
theneedforawellfundedwelfarestate.AtapoliticssummerschoolIexploredideassuchaspublicchoice
theory,equalityandutility-maximisingwealthdistributions,andaspartofmyschool'sMUNteamIhave
enjoyeddebatingglobalpoliticalissues.AsheadoftheEconomicsSocietyIinvitespeakerstoenthuse
youngeconomistsfromarangeofschools.Iamanacademicprefect,bagpiperandgrade8cellist.
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Statement 5: Economics and Management (Oxford)
ItisdifficulttothinkofamoreimportantandinterestingtimetostudyandunderstandEconomics.Asthecoalition
governmentembarksonthebiggestspendingcutssincethetimeofThatcherandtheworldlookssettoplungeback
intorecessionthroughtheinstabilitywithintheEuroZone,onecannotignoretheimpactofeconomicpoliciesonall
ourlives.Thisiswhatdrawsmetothesubject.
SincetakingupEconomicsatASlevel,mymaininteresthaslainwiththeevolutionofinnovationwhichisespecially
apparentinthepastcentury."TheRationalOptimist"byMattRidleyisabookthataddressestheadaptabilityofthe
humanracetoovercometheobstaclesofthepastandarguesforoptimismwhenlookingtothefutureashuman
ingenuity and innovation will provide a basis for continued growth despite issues like food shortages and strained
resourcesupply.
Todevelopmyunderstandingofthissubject,Iresearchedandwroteanessayfortheschool'sEconomicsprizeon
the importance of urbanization to provide the high density living that is required to spark innovation, boost
productivity, and ultimately fuel growth. I concluded from this research that urbanization is one of the most
importantfactorsforcontinuedgrowthduetotheincreasedcreativityandenterpriseexperiencedinhighdensity
locations.Furthermore,itisbecomingincreasinglyimportantfromanenvironmentalstandpointinordertoreduce
the future carbon footprint of developing countries such as China and India. I ended up winning 1st prize for this
competition,examinedbyProfessorPaulCollier.
Forme,whatmakesthesubjectsofascinatingisitsdynamicnatureduetotheirrationalactionsanddecisionsofthe
global populace. As a mathematician, I was fascinated to find that even this irrationality can be modeled and
calculatedthroughtheapplicationofGameTheorywhichhasbecomesomethinginwhichI'mespeciallyinterested.
"TheArtofStrategy"byDixitandNalebuffwasoneofthemostusefulbooksIreadinrelationtothissubjectasuse
the of extensive case studies practically demonstrates the principles of Game Theory to everyday human decision
making.Furthermore,LeonardMlodinow’s"TheDrunkardsWalk"gavemeaninsightintohowineffectivethehuman
brainisatunderstandingprobabilityandstatisticswhichcanexplainwhymanyoftheirrationalchoiceswemakeare
governedbytheviewthattheseinstinctsareinfactrational.InthisbookMlodinowshowsthroughthemanipulation
of statistics that the chaos of randomness can be understood through awareness of the chance affecting our
decisions.
OverthesummerIspenttwoweeksworkingforCeresFundLtd.Ifoundtheworkrewardingasanexperiencewhich
gave me an insight into how complicated the workings of the market are, reinforcing all that I have learnt of the
irrationality of most consumer choices. Furthermore, I worked for African Access Holdings (Pty) Ltd for 3 weeks,
beingsecondedtoagroupcompanyspecializingintravelandeventmanaging.Thiswasaparticularlyenlightening
experienceasitmademeawareoftheimportanceofsuchdemandingmanagerialstructuresinlargercompanies.I
alsomanagedashoponPortobelloHighStreetwhichwasinterestingtoexperiencefirst-handtheroleofeconomic
theoryinpracticalsituations.
At school, I am Secretary of the Advertising Society, on the committee of the Model United Nations, the school’s
Psychology Society and the Entrepreneurship Society as well as being Secretary of the more informal Meditation
Society.Ienjoytheresponsibilityoforganizinghousegames,captainingmyhousefootballandcricketteamswhile
also representing the school in both sports. I am looking forward to the challenging nature of an Economics and
Managementcourse,asitwillallowmetostudythetheorythatfascinatesmeintandemwiththepracticalsideof
economics,whichissorelevanttoeverychoiceImake.
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Statement 6: Economics at Cambridge
IfirstbecameawareoftheimportanceofEconomicswhenIrepresentedIraqataModelUnitedNationsconference
inEdinburgh.Idebatedissuesrangingfromtheproblemofaiddependencetotheeconomicimpactofterrorism,
andwonthe“BestDelegate”awardintheEconomicsCommittee.Sincethen,Ihaveextendedmyknowledgeof
differentareasofEconomicsbyreadingtheFinancialTimesandTheEconomist,andbyattendingopenlecturesat
theLSEandRSA.Inmygapyear,IamworkingasaneconomicresearchassistantfortheInternationalGrowthCentre
(attheinvitationofProfessorTimBesley)inateamplanningtomeasureprivatereturnstoeducation,withthe
excitingpossibilityofundertakingfieldworkinIndia.
MyinterestinGameTheoryasamethodforunderstandingstrategicdecision-makingencouragedmetoread‘The
ArtofStrategy’byDixitandNalebuff.Iamintriguedbyhowempiricalevidenceseemstorefutetheassumptionsof
RationalChoiceTheory,leadingustoquestionhowrationalweareandhowusefultheassumptionofself-interestis,
giventhestrongsocial,culturalandmoralinfluencespromotingaltruism.GameTheoryalsoappealstomebecause
itprovidesanopportunitytousemyaptitudeforMathematicstoanalyseeconomicproblems.Iamworkingthrough
‘MathematicsforEconomicsandBusiness’byIanJacques,andhaveenjoyedapplyingcalculustoproblemssuchas
thoseencounteredinconstrainedoptimization.IameagertodevelopmyMathematicalskillsandtheirapplication
toEconomicsatUniversity.
Recentturmoilintheglobaleconomyledmetoread'AnimalSpirits'byAkerlofandShiller,whichintroducedmeto
theintriguingmannerinwhichpsychologyaffectstheperformanceofthemacroeconomy.InmyessayfortheRES
YoungEconomistoftheYearCompetition,entitled"AreEconomicRecessionsInevitable?”Iarguedthattherewas
convincingevidencetosuggestthatunderlyingpsychologicalfactors,ratherthanpolicyfailures,causethebusiness
cycle.Sincethen,Ihavebeguntoexplorerivaltheoriesofbusinesscycles,includingKeynesian,Monetaristand
Austrianideas.
AmartyaSen’s‘DevelopmentasFreedom’sparkedmyinterestintheroleofeconomicandsociallibertiestoincrease
theadvancementofpoorcountries,viathemarketmechanism.However,Ifoundthatmuchdebatesurrounding
developmentisconcernedwiththetimeframeinwhichtransitionstowardsmarket-basedeconomiesoccur,rather
thansimplyevaluatingthebenefitsoffreemarkets.Thedevelopmentofsocialcapitalappearstobeachallenging
butessentialpartofthisprocess.Mybeliefthatitisnecessarytoadoptabottom-upapproachtoimprovingliving
standardsofcitizensindevelopingcountrieswasreinforcedbyreading‘TheWhiteMan’sBurden’byWilliam
Easterly.Myinterestinmicrofinancecamefromreconcilingthisapproachtodevelopmentwiththeimprovementof
economicfreedomsandmyentryformyschool’sEconomicsessayprizefocusedontherecentgrowthin
microfinancetofundsmallIndianbusinesses.Iconcludedthatregulationofmicrofinancelendingshouldbe
increasedtoensurethatcreditbubblesdonotgrow,burstandcausehavoc,astheyhavedoneinthedeveloped
world.
Inmyview,educationisthebestremedyavailabletoimprovegloballivingstandards.Throughmountaineering
expeditionstotheHimalayasandtheAndes,Ihaveraised$12000tohelpeducateorphangirlsfromtheMasaai
tribeinTanzania.IwillbeteachinginTanzaniaforthreemonthsfromnextApril.
Asthesecretaryofmyschool’sEconomicsSociety,Isoughtoutinspiringspeakersfromvariedacademicand
businessbackgroundstoenthusebuddingeconomistsfromseverallocalschools.Thisexperiencehashelpedto
developmyorganisationalandtimemanagementskills.Iamkeentomakethemostoftheopportunitiesthata
universityeducationcanoffer,andhopeonedaytopursueacareerinacademia.
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Page15
Statement 7: PPE at Oxford
Everyissueinphilosophyandpoliticaleconomyhingesuponhumannature.Machiavelli'sThePrince,forinstance,
expressesamanifestoofgovernanceatonelevel,yethasanunderlyingpessimisticviewofmankind.Suchmistrust
isevidenttoalesserdegreeinBurke'sideathatinterconnectedinstitutions,notindividuals,makeupsociety's
bedrock.IalignwithAugustine,whoseviewaccountsfororiginalsin,whilstexplainingman'scapacityforboth
malevolenceandbenevolence.ResearchforaschoolessayonAugustineimpressedonmethatmuchscholastic
analysismightbeunderpinnedandconstrainedbyone'sintrinsicmake-up.
TheFinancialTimesandTheTodayProgrammeonRadio4ismydailyreminderthat,asconfirmedinLewis'Big
Short,ourfinancialsystemisflawed.Klein'sTheShockDoctrinehasledmetoconsidertherelationshipbetweenthe
riseofneo-liberalismandalackofregulationthatmayhavecausedthe2008crash.Iwitnessedthisresidualfragility
ofthemarketsatfirsthandwhilstworkingforSecurisInvestmentManagementin2012.InexploringBritain's
labouredrecoveryfromthecrash,IstudiedtherolethatQEcanplayinMonetaryPolicy.Iargued,inahighly
commendedpiecefortheRESessaycompetition,thatQEwasbothnecessaryandeffectiveinthecontextofthe
UK'snegativeoutputgap.Atamacrolevel,networkeconomicsgivesQEanaddeddimension,accountingforits
profoundeffectsuponemergingmarketslikeBrazil.Itsapplicationatamicrolevel,whencombinedwithgame
theory,encouragedmetoinvestigatehowcriminalgroupsactinareallifePrisoner'sDilemma.Iconcludedthatthe
mafiaandauthoritiesconstantlychangethefactorsandpay-offsofthegametoencourageanddiscourage
cooperationrespectively.
AsaConservativePartymember,IamprovokedbyThatcherism'slegacy.AlthoughIdisagreewithitscentralideaof
'bigbanglocalism,'Jenkins'ThatcherandSonsofferedafascinatingtakeonherpolicyandmarkedinfluenceupon
successors.IhadtheopportunitytodebatemyviewsataPoliticssummerschoolinLondon.Duringthistime,I
challengedmyopiniononParliament'seffectiveuni-cameralism.Inoneessay,IadvocatedLordsreformduetoits
unelectednature.TimespentintheWestminstervillagethissummerhaspromptedmetoreconsiderthisinthe
contextofcoalitiongovernment.DrawingontheworkofBogdanorandMcLean,Inowquestionthestabilityofa
coalitionthatlacksafirmideologicalbasis.Cable'srecentblisteringcriticismofhisTorycounterpartsisanexample
ofthis.
FromThePhilosopher'sToolkit(Baggini&Fosl),IsensethatagreatbenefitofthestudyofPhilosophyistrainingin
theartoflogicalargument.Incompetingformyschool'sPhilosophyprize(highlycommended)IreadWilliams'
Morality.Althoughdiffusework,itmademepondertheroleofmoralityandwhetheritisaprioriasaconcept,ora
socialcontractadoptedforpragmaticpurposes.Inacontemporarycontext,hisdefusedsubjectivismandmy
subscriptiontonaturallawmeansInowadvocatebothcondemnationofandinterventionintotheSyrianregime.
Thisyear,Iamsecretaryofmyschool'sEconomics,AmnestyandCatholicSocieties,aswellasbeingonthe
committeeofthePoliticalandEntrepreneurshipSocieties.IhaveinvitedandhostedseveralspeakerssuchasSir
MartinBroughtonandAndrewMitchellMP.IhavealsoorganisedapaneleventontheFinancialCrashfeaturingHaJoonChangandPaulOrmerod,twoeconomistswhorecognisetheimportanceofnetworksineconomicsandare
preparedtochallengeorthodoxthought.
Outsideofacademia,Iamcaptainofmyschool'schessteam.Asaqualifiedfootballcoach,Ihavemanagedaschool
XItoanunbeatenseasonandreceivednationalawardsfromISFA.
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Page16
Statement 8: Engineering, Oxford
Theopportunitytomakeanimpactonpeople'slivesthroughengineeringexcitesme.Working
withGlaxoSmithKline
forninemonthsaspartoftheEngineeringEducationSchemeprovidedan
opportunitytotackleacustomer
protectionissuethatGSKhadbeengrapplingwithforfive
years,namelyinconsistentsealingontheirtoothpaste
boxes.Ourteam,throughaprocessof
triallingandrefining,builtsevenexperimentalrigsandconductedresearch
ontheproduction
linesatGSK'sfactoryinMaidenhead.Thepivotalmomentcamewhenwerealisedtheneed
to
motoriseoursetup,enablingustogeneratemorereliabledata.Thisledtoanew
understandingoftheripping
mechanismgeneratinganinsightthatGSKhadneverconsidered.
Ourindustrialisedripmeasurementsystem,
supportedbyasixty-pageanalysisreport,was
presentedtoseniorengineersandearnedaCRESTGoldAwardas
wellasselectionasthe
inauguralGoldLevelIndustrialCadets.Ifoundcollaboratingwithandleadingtheteam
a
rewardingexperience.Theprojectmademeacutelyawareoftheimportanceofanoptimum,cost-effective
engineeringsolutionbroadeningmyexperiencebeyondthetheoretical,ideal
solutionsfoundinroutineschoolwork.
Thechancetodeliveramoreambitiousprojectinmy
finalyearatuniversityparticularlyinterestsme.
Thissummer,Icompletedan8000-worddissertationfortheschoolscienceprizeonthefuture
ofcommercialair
travel.Aswellasmechanicalandaerospaceengineering,Iwasintroducedto
informationengineering,focusingon
dronesandautonomousplanes.Infuture,Iwouldliketo
researchnewsenseandavoidsystemsandtheir
applicationsinreducingthe50percentof
accidentsthatresultfrompiloterror.ReadingJ.E.Gordon's"TheNew
ScienceofStrong
Materials"demonstratedtometherelianceofengineers'creationsonmaterials,which
remains
assignificantnowinengineeringaswhenGordonwaswritingin1968.Lastspring,Iwrotean
essayand
deliveredapresentationanalysinglinksbetweenthepropertiesofGrapheneandits
possiblefutureuses.Iwas
struckbythesubsequentunearthingofothertwo-dimensional
crystals,suchasBoronNitride.Thisprojectplaced
secondinmyschool'sYear12Physics
prize.Inanotherextendedresearchproject,Iexaminedtheimplementation
ofsmartmaterials
intransport,includingmorphingbodiesusingpiezoceramics,multifunctional
composites,
damagedetectionsystemsandevenself-healingstructures.Icarriedoutinterviewswith
engineersat
theNationalCompositesCentreandAirbus.Iwouldliketodevelopmyenthusiasm
foraerothermalengineeringin
myfourthyearatuniversity.
Oneofmypassionsisthecoordinationoftheschool'sstudent-runsocietiessystem,which
involvesover200
meetingsperyear.Akeyachievementhasbeentowelcomenearlyfortylocal
schoolstotheseevents.Iinvited
ProfessorGrahamRichards,formerHeadofChemistryat
Oxford,tospeakattheinauguralmeetingoftheScientific
andEntrepreneurshipSocietiesand
IwasexcitedbyhisdiscussionofthecollaborationbetweenEngineeringand
Chemistry
studentsinthefoundationofnewscientificbusinesses.IchairtheEconomicsSocietyandthisautumn,
launchedandeditedaglobal,interschooleconomicsmagazine.Ihavealso
organisedourschool'scharitablesociety
fortwoyears,whichhasraised90,000poundsfor
numerouscharitiesthroughannualeventsinvolvingadinner,
auctionandlecture.Ihave
workedforthreesummersinanicecreamshop.Oneofthemostintriguingchallenges
hasbeen
maintainingthemachineryusedfortheproductionandstorageoficecream.
Thissummer,I
recruitedandranateamthatwrotecontentforaneweducationalappcalledSmartUp.We
create
interactivegamesthatteachusersaboutentrepreneurship.Asamemberofmyschool's
2ndVIII,IrowedatHenley,
wonthe2014NationalChampionshipsandwillbecompeting
internationallythisyearintheUSA.
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Section6:RecommendedReadingforEconomics/Management/PPE
Page17
Thisisaselectionofbooksforenrichmentandextensionreading(February2016edition)
1. 23ThingsTheyDon'tTellYouAboutCapitalism(Ha-JoonChang)
2. ArtofStrategy(DixitandNalebuff)–especiallygoodforGameTheoryexamplesandanalysis
3. ConsolationsofEconomics:HowWeWillAllBenefitfromtheNewWorldOrder(GerardLyons)
4. Drunkard’sWalk(LeonardMlodinow)–brillianthistoryofMathsandlotsofrelevantapplications
5. GDP:ABriefbutAffectionateHistory(ProfessorDianeCoyle)
6. Inequality–asuperbbookononeofthedefiningissuesoftheage(ABAtkinson)
7. Misbehaving:TheMakingofBehaviouralEconomics(RichardThaler)
8. PhishingforPhools:TheEconomicsofManipulationandDeception(GeorgeAkerlofandRobertShiller)
9. PoorEconomics:RethinkingWaystoFightGlobalPoverty(Banerjee&Duflo)
10. PositiveLinking–NetworksandNudges(PaulOrmerod)–goodintrotonetworkeconomics
11. RiskSavvy-Howtomakegooddecisions(GerdGigerenzer)–theworldofheuristics
12. TenGreatEconomists(PhilipThornton)–biographicalbackground,wellwortharead
13. TheBox-HowtheShippingContainerMadetheWorldSmallerandtheWorldEconomyBigger,(Levinson)
14. TheEuro:HowaCommonCurrencyThreatenstheFutureofEurope(JosephStiglitz)
15. TheEverythingStore:JeffBezosandtheAgeofAmazon(BradStone)
16. TheGreatDivide(ProfessorJosephStiglitz)
17. TheGreatEscape(ProfessorAngusDeaton)
18. TheIdeaofJustice(AmartyaSen)
19. ThePlunderedPlanet:HowtoReconcileProsperitywithNature:(ProfessorPaulCollier)
20. ThinkingFastandThinkingSlow:(ProfessorDanielKahneman)
21. WhatMoneyCan'tBuy:TheMoralLimitsofMarkets(ProfessorMichaelSandel)
22. WhoGetsWhat-AndWhy:UnderstandtheChoicesYouHave,ImprovetheChoicesYouMake(AlRoth)
23. WhyInformationGrows:TheEvolutionofOrder,fromAtomstoEconomies(CesarHidalgo)
24. WhyNationsFail:OriginsofPower,ProsperityandPoverty(DaronAcemoglu&JamesRobinson)
25. WorldlyPhilosophers:Lives,Times,andIdeasofGreatEconomicThinkers(RobertHeilbroner)
ReadinglistlastupdatedSunday,February07,2016
OtherSuggestedResources
TheEnlightenmentEconomicsblogwrittenbyDianeCoyleisexcellentforkeepinguptospeedwiththeflowofnew
economicsbooksthatarebeingpublishedatthemoment:www.enlightenmenteconomics.com/blog/
SuperbregulararticlesavailablefromtheProjectSyndicatewebsite:www.project-syndicate.org/
IpostregularuniversityandeconomicssubjectadviceonmyTwitterfeed:@tutor2ugeoff
YouarewelcometocontactmeonanyaspectoftheUCAS/UnitedStatesapplicationprocess.
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