Clueless American Needs Help! Didn't get into UCL, what's my next step?

Try Liverpool John Moores University.

University of the west of scotland is the best univeristy in scotland and 3rd best in the uk, you should apply there.

Thanks! I'll definitely look into it.

I haven't seen it on any of the (admittedly few) rankings lists that I've looked at. I still do want to go to a school that is well regarded even if it's not a top school. So, anyway, is Liverpool John Moores well known for Economics?

This is so innocent that it has made me feel bad...

... Honestly now: Have a look at the Russel Group universities.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russell_Group

They are all very well respected. I can't tell you what kind of university to look for, because I don't really understand the significance of your "3.5 GPA". All of those universities will be looking to take on 1:1 and the best 2:1 students.

This is so innocent that it has made me feel bad...

... Honestly now: Have a look at the Russel Group universities.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russell_Group

They are all very well respected. I can't tell you what kind of university to look for, because I don't really understand the significance of your "3.5 GPA". All of those universities will be looking to take on 1:1 and the best 2:1 students.

how can you consider the LSE as being a second tier Institution?

You really are clueless.

Hi Everyone!

So I just need a bit of advice as I am an American and therefore not familiar with the universities in the UK and am definitely interested in attending a postgraduate program in the UK.

So this year, kind of on a whim, I applied to just UCL for Economic Policy. I got rejected and now as I am really serious about postgrad school I need to know what universities may be more "in my league" as I really don't want to face a whole load of rejections when I apply next year.

Some quick stats: From undergrad I have a 3.5 GPA (from what I know this is a solid 2:1 degree in the UK system). I did a semester of Environmental Economics at LSE as well as a semester in Israel. I have had pretty interesting internships in the US, London and in Israel. I'm looking at doing a degree in some kind of Economics (like international economics, development economics, economic policy).

So far my research has shown me that since I got rejected from UCL I should look at schools that are a bit more "second tier." These are the ones I've decided to apply to so far:
Edinburgh
Glasgow
Manchester
KCL (War Studies Dept for this one)
LSE (Hey, it might happen! but this is definitely a stretch, I know)
Bristol
Leeds


If anyone can give me any advice, I'd greatly appreciate it!!!!

Hi Everyone!

So I just need a bit of advice as I am an American and therefore not familiar with the universities in the UK and am definitely interested in attending a postgraduate program in the UK.

So this year, kind of on a whim, I applied to just UCL for Economic Policy. I got rejected and now as I am really serious about postgrad school I need to know what universities may be more "in my league" as I really don't want to face a whole load of rejections when I apply next year.

Some quick stats: From undergrad I have a 3.5 GPA (from what I know this is a solid 2:1 degree in the UK system). I did a semester of Environmental Economics at LSE as well as a semester in Israel. I have had pretty interesting internships in the US, London and in Israel. I'm looking at doing a degree in some kind of Economics (like international economics, development economics, economic policy).

So far my research has shown me that since I got rejected from UCL I should look at schools that are a bit more "second tier." These are the ones I've decided to apply to so far:
Edinburgh
Glasgow
Manchester
KCL (War Studies Dept for this one)
LSE (Hey, it might happen! but this is definitely a stretch, I know)
Bristol
Leeds


If anyone can give me any advice, I'd greatly appreciate it!!!!

My 3.5 GPA means that I have a 2:1, from what I've researched. It seems that a 3.3-3.6 translates to a 2:1 in the british system so it looks like I'm solidly in the middle of 2:1 degree. So I guess for the unis in the Russell Group I'd need really good references, personal statements and internship experience to make myself stand out?

Thanks everyone for the extra help! I'll definitely add a few of those universities to my list.

I am wondering, though, which schools would you definitely say are "second tier" and which would you say are still "top tier" but just not in the top 5 schools. I guess I just want a clearer idea of which schools would be a stretch (and therefore I'll need to work really hard on obtaining the best references and write the absolute best personal statement) and which schools could be more of a "safety" (a term we Americans use a lot) for someone with a 2:1 degree.

I guess I just really don't want to apply to 10 schools and get rejected from them all so i would definitely like a Safety School or two on the list!

KCL War studies department is AMAZING, if you want to go into the field, you'll find nowhere better.

Otherwise, Warwick (**** hole, but great uni) Durham and Edinburgh better all feature on your list. Though, these are all on a similar level to UCL :/

Top Tier: UCL, KCL, LSE, Warwick, Edinburgh, Durham, er, many others. :P

Past Oxbridge, in terms of prestige, they're on a similar level. In terms of academic prestige, they're all the same (ish).

I studied at Boston University in the States. It's ranked 64th in the world on this Guardian list http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2010/sep/08/worlds-top-100-universities-2010

I don't think it's too well known in the UK, though.

As for LSE, I'm an Econ student so my friends, professors and I obviously know about it and all know it's an amazing school. but when I went to do my semester there I would tell random people "I'm going to LSE" and many of them would have no idea. So I guess it's well known in the Econ/Political Science field but it's not too well known outside of that.