LSE - How does my GCSE Profile affect my chances of entry?
Hello,
I hope everyone's well. Wanting to ask a question regarding LSE and how they vet people's GCSE grade profile as well as their A-Levels. So, if you have had personal experience with LSE I'm eager to hear your thoughts.
I have 12 GCSE's - from 2020 COVID year (predicted grade, no tests) and they're not satisfactory at all.
Overall, achieved a 6 in Mathematics (B), and 5s (Cs) in English Literature & English Language respectively. My two highest grades were in Art (7) and Business (7). As for sciences, Physics at 6 (B), Biology / Chemistry at 5s (Cs) respectively.
However, at A-Level - I achieved.
A* Economics
A Business
C Statistics.
Which was significantly better; but still hung up on the grade C.
If I was to apply, after retaking Statistics and getting minimum B (for the Economic History course requirements I meet contextual so offer would be AAB), what would be the likelihood of an offer for the economic history bsc course with my GCSE profile?
If a poor chance , what GCSEs should I retake for best chances to better my profile? Assuming the 5s should be retaken - the ones other universities tend to filter by (i.e. both English gcse's).
I know they are strict but I feel the economic history course is much less competitive than their main offerings in Economics + Finance related courses so wanted to know if I stood a chance.
Thanks.
Comments (9)
Worth applying but your stats aren't ideal as you don't have a strong set of GCSEs. They also don't like to see business A-Level - it's considered to be a non-academic a-level.
Retake the English Lang as you're below the required grade, and potentially consider doing a more academic A-Level if you are taking a year out. It would be tricky, but if you could get an A/A* then it would be a real boost to your application. Your Maths GCSE is acceptable - have seen people with 6s in Maths and 8/9s in other subjects get in.
If you bang the PS there is a chance, but the econ history course is still very competitive.
Thanks for this, but I don't think it's feasible for me to retake another A-Level right now - but I will consider it. What subjects, of their selected 'preferred' A-Levels, would you think would be suitable?
I'm going to definitely retake English Language + Literature too, whilst I'm at it. Considering retaking Business, to get a 8/9 and be able to increase a grade. Considering what else to retake - have you ever seen people get in with 5s? Because I cannot think that is at all acceptable for them; might mean I've to retake two of my three science subjects.
Achieved A-Level grades matter more tbh for your application - have seen some people with one or two 5s but the calibre of the intake is quite high so students generally have a majority of 7-9s at GCSE. To make your GCSEs competitive you are right that you would have to sit a few, but its not really worth it imo. Your plan below sounds strong, best of luck with that.
What course did you do at LSE, or is it just people you know? As I'm wanting to know what else I should consider retaking + what GCSEs (like Mathematics) people tend to average in.
As again, I feel I come up short with a 6 in Maths.
Also, I'm considering Business retake - to bump it up, and kind of show a bit more potential in this topic - but this is a weird one as it's a 7 and already within that 7-9 range.
If I was to retake my English Literature/Language, I'd have just 2 5s remaining in Chemistry/Biology - despite these 2 being a bit more of an unconventional topic that's not as simple to me as Maths/English - I'm considering if it's worth to re-take these too (likely is - as I don't want to chance it - but want to hear your thoughts).
LSE finance graduate over here.
Admission within the BSc in Economic History seems to be "easier" because academic requirements are lower than Econ / Finance.
But you should look at another metric available on every course page on the LSE website: the number of applicants and the number of onboarded students in the previous year. In the case of Economics history, 359 students applied, for only 26 onboarded students (i.e., final admission rate of 7%). So Economic History really isn't an easy course to get into.
Thing is, a lot of students have the same rational as yours… academic requirements are lower, so I will have a better chance. Yet, among these 359 students, the first tier will certainly have top grades so LSE can afford to be very picky.Plus, are you really interested in Econ History or in getting into LSE?
The fact you compared it to Econ and Finance makes me feel like you want to use this program to have the LSE stamp. (As an FYI, it is impossible to transfer from Econ History to Econ or Finance, if you also had this in mind).
Regardless, of whether it is the case or not, it is not a good thought process.
You only have one PS, meaning you will have to apply in Econ History for all you other 4 choices.
At this stage, my recommendation is for you to either:
i) Keep you A levels as they are but consider also applying to less demanding universities, so as to have a back-up;
ii) Take a gap year to redo your A levels and aim at higher grades. Make sure to keep yourself busy during this year (e.g., charity, travel, launch a start-up…);
iii) Do an apprenticeship program at an investment bank (if that's a sector of interest), such as that of JP Morgan, for 2 years, during which you can also retake your A levels. Then re apply to LSE. A very good friend of mine in my course had done this apprenticeship and loved it.
Let me know if any questions.
Hey Khazar,
Thanks for the response. I will respond to what you have said below:
"But you should look at another metric available on every course page on the LSE website: the number of applicants and the number of onboarded students in the previous year. In the case of Economics history, 359 students applied, for only 26 onboarded students (i.e., final admission rate of 7%). So Economic History really isn't an easy course to get into."
- I agree with you here, I've seen it is relatively easier no doubt than Econ/Finance which are fiercely contested and so difficult to get a place in. But, you are right. I have checked; a 14:1 chance is still slim. I would plan on applying to both the Econ History + Econ History & Geog to try combat this, but still it is a big issue - so I want to prepare as well as possible so that I cannot regret anything once it is done.
"Plus, are you really interested in Econ History or in getting into LSE?
The fact you compared it to Econ and Finance makes me feel like you want to use this program to have the LSE stamp. (As an FYI, it is impossible to transfer from Econ History to Econ or Finance, if you also had this in mind)."
You are right that the LSE stamp would be useful & surely be of help in landing internships etc. But, I am genuinely interested in the course - it is a significant commitment in the loan that I have to take out & eventually pay at the end of the day - and I don't want to do it for a course I wouldn't enjoy. I'm not interested in moving over to the other courses, though they would be favoured, I've to be more realistic. This is not to say I'm only doing it for the stamp, rather to say such courses as finance/econ aren't attainable to me right now.
For me, the biggest attraction for LSE is the commitment to careers within there and the high pedigree sort of environment that you would be in; which many have attested to, and it's something I would really enjoy & an environment I want to be in.
"You only have one PS, meaning you will have to apply in Econ History for all you other 4 choices."
- As for this, hopefully taking up a foundation course at Durham that would provide me the safety net of the opportunity to progress to econ at durham. Means I can wholly tailor P.S. to courses I enjoy. Should I get upgrade in the grade C, to an A (which is my aim), it opens up a lot more options so you are right and I will bare that in mind.
As for your options, I appreciate you listing these out.
However, I am currently in a gap-year where I am experimenting with launching up something new with more time to commit (which'll help bolster my CV), and trying to land pre-uni internships/work experiences. I feel this gap year is a bit useless in my goal of improving grades etc. as I never really knew I wanted to do this; I never even knew I'd be in a gap-year until september.
But, I am very grateful that it has allowed me the clarity of understanding what I want to do, taking a break, and planning for the future.
My Plan:
- I'm going to try do the foundation course for this year entry, and simultaneously retake my poor A-Level grade C in Stats (and certain GCSEs it seems - perhaps this year, though may be too late)
- The foundation course would help significantly in improving my mathematics skills + will seek as much help as possible.
- From there, I aim for an A to be as competitive as possible, but a B will allow me to apply to LSE as I'm eligible for contextual.
- Will also apply to degree apprenticeships again, very competitive though.
If neither work out, I am still able to continue on with Econ at a semi-target with a good set of A-Levels, so I am not filtered out by grades when applying for jobs/internships, which quells a big concern of mine.
Let me know if you have anymore suggestions, or if I missed anything, I would greatly appreciate them!
Great plan man, all the best in your applications and fingers crossed for LSE.
Don't hesitate if you want a read through of your PS. Some LSE students had been had shared useful insights when I was applying. Happy to do the same.
Thank you for the nice comments. I've sinced DM'd you, if you're able to check it whenever you're free - I'd love to take you up on your offer!
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