LSE or Cambridge to study BSc Economics
Hi! I recently just got an offer to study economics at both Cambridge and LSE. I was really confused as to which one to pick. I am very good at maths but for me, I want to pick the university which will help me the most career wise, as I really want to go into investment banking after University, but don't know which university will be better for me. I have heard that LSE help more with careers in terms of internships, but in terms of jobs after university, I don't know if Cambridge or LSE will help more as I have heard that the academic prestige Cambridge carries is still very good, but LSE provides a lot of career support. I could really use some support and advice as to what would be better to help me get a career into investment banking as this is what I mainly care about! I have heard that LSE provides more networking opportunities, but there will be less competition for recruitment at Cambridge. I am really unsure what to pick
Thank you!
Thats a very hard choice - both place and are targeted by every bank basically. Depends on lots of other things - do you want to live in London or Cambridge for 3 years of your life, where do you think you'll enjoy more? Networking events are also more incovenient to go to from Cambridge alongside interviews etc. However, in my opinion i'd go with Cambridge in a heartbeat. Nothing beats it's prestige and brandname in the UK (Or Oxford) and it will stay with you incase you no longer want to go into banking (or finance in general). Everybody in the world knows Cambridge and know only the best of the best get in whereas although LSE is a fantastic university and well known in the business world, a random person may or may not know of its prestige inside or outside of the UK.
Do you think more people in the world know Cambridge or Oxford? And would it be most prestigious to attend both of them or just one of them (the more prestigious one, whichever one you determine that to be).
Fully agree with the above. Well done for getting both offers - huge achievement. There's basically no difference from a recruitment perspective for IB (as the user above noted, Cambridge is more broadly appreciated as a brand name).
Very personal decision (which is a true luxury as a decision point). Do which experience you think you'd enjoy more. And of course, take nothing for granted - it's still a hugely competitive industry to enter so prepare and hustle at university, whichever you go to.
I'm just going to say it - this is an easy decision. You need to think longer term here and outside of the IB junior recruiting lens. Having Cambridge, and Cambridge Econ is a truly gold stamp that you will carry with you forever. If you leave finance, move to the US/Abroad, pursue a career in politics, go to grad school, or do literally anything else, you want to be known as the Cambridge guy. Yes some people will know LSE and if they do they will know how great of a school it is, but everyone knows Cambridge and it will give you the benefit of the doubt. Also is a tighter network, specifically with your college, which has tangible benefits in the PE/HF recruiting sphere down the line.
In terms of actual SA/Junior recruiting, I would still argue that Cambridge has the slightest of legs up on LSE. In defence of LSE, their kids are the most prepared, most in the know and utilize their resources to the maximum to yield the most optimal outcomes. Cambridge kids yield the same outcomes with lesser preparedness and utilization of resources. Yes the environment at LSE will force you to be prepped, and while Cambridge won't be the same in that regard, recruiting into IB/PE is still a major focus of students on campus. LSE kids do have some exclusive opportunities out of undergrad with specific PE funds or banks, but Cambridge has WAY more really unique and great opportnuities in both the banking side but more specifically the buyside (HF). There are opportunities more lucrative than banking that you don't even know about that materialize at both Oxford and Cambridge that you just don't get anywhere else. Not to say Cambridge is a golden ticket, because UK finance recruiting is still the most random in the world, but you open more doors and keep the same ones open as LSE.
None of what i'm saying matters if you truly want to study and live in London. I don't know you or your preferences for a uni experience, but if you said 'I really don't want to be in a small town' or 'I want to be in the city for my uni years' or 'the Cambridge college thing isn't for me', then I would say pick LSE and don't look back. You will still very likely achieve your goals and have a great time. I would probably argue that it is a unique experience that everyone should try to experience, but that's just my perspective and not the objective truth. You should go tour Cambridge and your college and truly understand what being there means and vice versa by chatting with your LSE mates.
Congrats on two amazing offers. You can't go wrong with either option, but if we're strictly talking about the superior opportunities for your career in the long term, go to Cambridge.
Having graduated from the LSE, I fully agree with the below. Go to Cambridge. No brainer.
People who are either saying LSE or that it depends on “other factors” are either short sighted or LSE students. While LSE is top notch, will open many doors and is well-renowned globally, you’ll get plenty of time in London during your banking stint.
Cambridge (along with Oxford), on the other hand, is the only other uni globally that is broadly in the same league as Harvard / Stanford / MIT. The best of the best. Wow factor when you speak to your family and friends (most won’t know LSE outside of business circles).
2 extra benefits: 1) you’ll get a unique, differentiated student experience vs being in a major big city with no campus life (harder to make friends) 2) you’ll get life access to the Oxbridge club in London.
based on the ucas system (firm/insurance) and iirc cambridge econ is A*A*A and LSE econ is A*AA so surely cambridge firm/ lse insurance would make sense. altho if u have gotten those two offers im sure ur good enough that the requirements arent really an issue. not many people miss their oxbridge offers these days and it is much more competitive to get an offer vs achieving 3/4 A*s.
I feel like a lot of the LSE outcomes are due to the herd mentalilty and how everyone there is on the grind from day 1 (many even before) for springs/summers etc. If thats an environment that appeals to u then go ahead but in terms of recruiting i doubt LSE gives u a leg up compared to oxbridge. But the atmosphere and student experience at oxbridge is really unique and i think its very beneficial to have that in developing as a person.
LSE student here - the way I would describe the difference here is that your median outcome at LSE is likely to be higher, but the tail-end outcomes at Cambridge are more likely. Being in the LSE environment makes it hard to slack on internships, and you'll probably have access to better "resources", meaning you're pretty likely to come out with a solid job. However, if you go to Cambridge and exert just as much effort as the LSE hardos, you're likely to come out with a VERY good job. I would've taken Cambridge if I had the choice.
Cambridge students only falter when they come in without the knowledge of the recruitment process, and thus just get into it too late. But you obviously don't have that, so go Cambridge imo
I went to LSE and I can’t believe this is even a question. Definitely Cambridge
Do you mind me asking why this is the case for you?
As someone who did an undergrad at LSE and postgrad at Cambridge
Pick Cambridge
Do you mind me asking why this is the case for you?
Hey, currently currently choosing betweeen a cam and lse postgrad and was curious to hear what you thought having done both ?
Take Cambridge and don't look back.
Do you mind me asking why this is the case for you?
Cambridge
Couldn’t get into Oxbridge for my undergrad. Getting into LSE is a lot easier
I would choose Cambridge in a heart beat. No comparison.
Do you mind me asking why this is the case for you?
Sure
(1) you might want to change your WSO username which has what looks like your name and DOB in it
(2) For me at least, Cambridge had way less Chinese students which was a massive turn off for me at LSE and as such it was a much more social environment
Also despite the rep that LSE has, Cambridge reach is international (state side) something not at LSE. I also liked Cambridge as a city more than London as a student
Cambridge is a lot better bro. The LSE brand name is diluted with the millions of degrees that they have. I got into LSE and chose a different uni but if i would have gotten into Cambridge I would have definitely attended. If you decide to not pursue banking after your undergrad, the Cambridge name would help you out in almost all the other fields. My boss is a Cambridge land economy grad in India and his connections and alumni network are insanely strong.
I went to LSE.
Start with Cambridge and decide if you want to transfer to LSE at 2nd or 3rd year to be "closer to the city" for internships etc
This is exactly what high achievers like Jan Sramek did. You get the best of both worlds.
Cambridge >>>>> LSE anywhere in the world. I’ve lived in Asia, Europe, UK and have attended a similar school in the city as LSE and the Cambridge brand name is solid wherever i go.
I doubt switching would be easy though right?
Not easy but there are a few ways it can be done:
(1) Asking LSE to defer its offer to next year (universities are sometimes amenable to this), before taking them up on it (or later declining it). First year exams at LSE only count towards 1/9th of your degree grade. Could either negotiate with LSE for them to give you credit for your first year at Cambridge, to avoid having to spend an additional year at uni or taking all your Year 1 exams with your Year 2 ones.
(2) While enrolled at Cambridge, reach out to LSE and ask if they'd be willing to accept an Oxbridge transfer student who was previously offered a space there. Deans of both universities would probably need to approve the transfer (as they have done for others). Would expect them to since you were previously admitted to both universities on merit. Would probably need to achieve good grades in your first year at Cambridge too.
There is absolutely no need to do this and I would advise against stressing about switching altogether. Pick Cambridge and don’t look back, there is 0 benefit in transferring. If you need to travel for internship events/interviews the company will reimburse you. Most importantly in this instance, it is already difficult enough to make a lot of friends in London and no doubt joining as a second year makes it at least twice as hard. This is coming from an LSE student.
Yeah agree. Why on earth would you transfer. Just go to Cambridge. People would kill for this opportunity.
Most comments have hit the nail on the head, Cambridge is a no brainer. LSE is undoubtedly strong and only inch-hairs behind Cambridge recruiting wise, but you're in extremely good stead at either Cambridge or LSE. I think the most important element is culture and social scene - living in London (if you want to) will be fun but LSE campus recruiting scene gets more intense every year to the point where you're solely there to recruit, rather than have fun and enjoy London. At LSE, I'd bet your friends will be 85% course and very few from other courses. At Cambridge in a college, you'll have a much better and diverse range of people to meet. Cambridge will have an extensive college network, history, prestige and 3 years of free, fully-catered accommodation. Unless you're desperate to live in London as an undergrad, go for Cambridge.
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