[ellenabethx]

Hello, I'm in year 11 and I'd really like to be investment banker.
I'd love to do Economics at LSE
I have chosen to do Maths, Further Maths, Economics, Government & Politics Studies and Spanish for A Level
My current school doesn't offer Economics at A level, but they said I may be able to do Economics at our partner school.
However, if I cannot I'm not sure whether to stay at my school's sixth form and do Business Studies instead of Economics, or move to the other sixth form I have a place in that offers economics.

Could you give some advice on what to do. Do you really need economics a level to do it uni, especially LSE.

Thanks

[Fynch101]

'I'd really like to be investment banker'

Do you know what an investment banker is? I've no idea to this day.

[Potally_Tissed]

Maths is essential, further maths is highly recommended if you want to apply to places like LSE. You don't really need economics, though obviously it's not a bad choice for one of your other two subjects.

[Tateco]

(Original post by ellenabethx)
Hello, I'm in year 11 and I'd really like to be investment banker.
I'd love to do Economics at LSE
I have chosen to do Maths, Further Maths, Economics, Government & Politics Studies and Spanish for A Level
My current school doesn't offer Economics at A level, but they said I may be able to do Economics at our partner school.
However, if I cannot I'm not sure whether to stay at my school's sixth form and do Business Studies instead of Economics, or move to the other sixth form I have a place in that offers economics.

Could you give some advice on what to do. Do you really need economics a level to do it uni, especially LSE.

Thanks

Such a stereotype

[RajPopat94]

(Original post by ellenabethx)
Hello, I'm in year 11 and I'd really like to be investment banker.
I'd love to do Economics at LSE
I have chosen to do Maths, Further Maths, Economics, Government & Politics Studies and Spanish for A Level
My current school doesn't offer Economics at A level, but they said I may be able to do Economics at our partner school.
However, if I cannot I'm not sure whether to stay at my school's sixth form and do Business Studies instead of Economics, or move to the other sixth form I have a place in that offers economics.

Could you give some advice on what to do. Do you really need economics a level to do it uni, especially LSE.

Thanks

Maths is a requirement, so that's a given. Further is arguably more essential than Economics, so definitely do that too. The Economics question is debatable. I think that you should study what you want to study and at the place you think you'll get the best grades. It's pointless switching to a different school to study Economics and not achieving the same grades you'd get at your original school.

Did you do Economics at GCSE? What's your reasoning for wanting to do it? LSE offer loads of courses which are similar to Economics, but don't have the name tag. Things like Business Management etc are pretty similar and it gives you the chance to get to LSE with Business Studies. Also, at LSE, the first year of your course is similar whatever you do and if you're good enough, you can change after the first year.

If you're really into it, you could study Economics in your own time, but I've heard that LSE don't like both Economics and Business Studies. My advice would be to stop looking so far ahead. A Levels are so different to GCSE's and a lot can happen in two years. Simply study what you'd like to study, achieve the best grades you can and go from there

[ellenabethx]

(Original post by Tateco)
Such a stereotype

er ouch

[ellenabethx]

(Original post by RajPopat94)
Maths is a requirement, so that's a given. Further is arguably more essential than Economics, so definitely do that too. The Economics question is debatable. I think that you should study what you want to study and at the place you think you'll get the best grades. It's pointless switching to a different school to study Economics and not achieving the same grades you'd get at your original school.

Did you do Economics at GCSE? What's your reasoning for wanting to do it? LSE offer loads of courses which are similar to Economics, but don't have the name tag. Things like Business Management etc are pretty similar and it gives you the chance to get to LSE with Business Studies. Also, at LSE, the first year of your course is similar whatever you do and if you're good enough, you can change after the first year.

If you're really into it, you could study Economics in your own time, but I've heard that LSE don't like both Economics and Business Studies. My advice would be to stop looking so far ahead. A Levels are so different to GCSE's and a lot can happen in two years. Simply study what you'd like to study, achieve the best grades you can and go from there

Thankyou.
No I'd never do Economics and Business studies.
I did Business Studies at GCSE but I find it quite boring.
The thing I like about Economics is the mixture between maths, finance and its relevant to life.
LSE is so competitive, I dont want to miss out to someone who has Economics

[The Polymath]

(Original post by ellenabethx)
Hello, I'm in year 11 and I'd really like to be investment banker.
I'd love to do Economics at LSE
I have chosen to do Maths, Further Maths, Economics, Government & Politics Studies and Spanish for A Level
My current school doesn't offer Economics at A level, but they said I may be able to do Economics at our partner school.
However, if I cannot I'm not sure whether to stay at my school's sixth form and do Business Studies instead of Economics, or move to the other sixth form I have a place in that offers economics.

Could you give some advice on what to do. Do you really need economics a level to do it uni, especially LSE.

Thanks

The subjects you listen are literally perfect, but you need to consider your motive for applying. Do you know what an investment banker is? Do you know what LSE is like? Why aren't you considering Oxbridge?

Do you even know what Economics is? If you did, you wouldn't even be considering Business Studies, as it's irrelevant and will almost certainly get you rejected. I can tell you that it was nothing like what I expected. I thought I'd be looking at stock markets, crunching numbers and looking at how to make money. In reality, the greatest bit of maths involved in the A-level (it's totally different at degree level) was to multiply a number by 4 and then calculate % difference.

What will a switch to your 'partner school' entail? Will you be losing friends, leaving to a school miles away, or is it just next door? Think very carefully, but definitely don't do Business. If you're going to stay at your school, a science, especially Physics, could be a good alternative, and will also broaden your options in the future as at the moment you seem pretty clueless about what Economics entails.

Sorry if I sound a bit harsh, I'm just stating quick facts

[ellenabethx]

(Original post by Junaid96)
The subjects you listen are literally perfect, but you need to consider your motive for applying. Do you know what an investment banker is? Do you know what LSE is like? Why aren't you considering Oxbridge?

Do you even know what Economics is? If you did, you wouldn't even be considering Business Studies, as it's irrelevant and will almost certainly get you rejected. I can tell you that it was nothing like what I expected. I thought I'd be looking at stock markets, crunching numbers and looking at how to make money. In reality, the greatest bit of maths involved in the A-level (it's totally different at degree level) was to multiply a number by 4 and then calculate % difference.

What will a switch to your 'partner school' entail? Will you be losing friends, leaving to a school miles away, or is it just next door? Think very carefully, but definitely don't do Business. If you're going to stay at your school, a science, especially Physics, could be a good alternative, and will also broaden your options in the future as at the moment you seem pretty clueless about what Economics entails.

Sorry if I sound a bit harsh, I'm just stating quick facts

Hello, thanks for the advice.
When I chose my GCSEs I wanted to be an Accountant, and Business seemed like a good idea. When I did my work experience I had the chance to go to an Investment Bank Section. I really enjoyed the work, a lot more than when I was shadowing the accountant.

I am really interested in Economics, and regularly read Stephanie Flanders' articles.
The 'partner school' is the boys school that is a few miles away. Luckily I live across the road from it. I would only be doing the Economics A Level there, and the rest of my A Levels at my current school.
Unfortunately, this is has not been secured for definite.
I applied to another sixth form which do economics, and I have a place there.

I'd much rather stay at my current school because I think its a good school and I have friends there. That is why I'd prefer to do the option of going to the boys school for a couple of lessons a week.

I'm not sure if I could get into Oxbridge, and as banking mostly happens in and around London, that is why I want to go to LSE, and for its amazing reputation.
My five choices at the moment would be Cambridge, LSE, Durham, Leeds and (Warwick or UCL). Which do you reckon is best?

The only reason I'd consider Business Studies was if I couldnt go to the boys school and I didn't want to leave me friends.
What you are suggesting is that if that happens then I should do a different subject completely. What do you think for that, it is between History, Biology and Law.

If I can't go to the boys school, should I leave? Making friends comes quite easily for me? Or should I stay and do another option?

Thanks

[sazzabazza]

(Original post by ellenabethx)
Hello, I'm in year 11 and I'd really like to be investment banker.
I'd love to do Economics at LSE
I have chosen to do Maths, Further Maths, Economics, Government & Politics Studies and Spanish for A Level
My current school doesn't offer Economics at A level, but they said I may be able to do Economics at our partner school.
However, if I cannot I'm not sure whether to stay at my school's sixth form and do Business Studies instead of Economics, or move to the other sixth form I have a place in that offers economics.

Could you give some advice on what to do. Do you really need economics a level to do it uni, especially LSE.

Thanks

If you are actually interested in LSE, you wouldn't be asking a question like thisl!!
Do some research, it took me four clicks from the LSE homepage to find your answer, ffs!

[The Polymath]

(Original post by ellenabethx)
Hello, thanks for the advice.
When I chose my GCSEs I wanted to be an Accountant, and Business seemed like a good idea. When I did my work experience I had the chance to go to an Investment Bank Section. I really enjoyed the work, a lot more than when I was shadowing the accountant.

I am really interested in Economics, and regularly read Stephanie Flanders' articles.
The 'partner school' is the boys school that is a few miles away. Luckily I live across the road from it. I would only be doing the Economics A Level there, and the rest of my A Levels at my current school.
Unfortunately, this is has not been secured for definite.
I applied to another sixth form which do economics, and I have a place there.

I'd much rather stay at my current school because I think its a good school and I have friends there. That is why I'd prefer to do the option of going to the boys school for a couple of lessons a week.

The only reason I'd consider Business Studies was if I couldnt go to the boys school and I didn't want to leave me friends.
What you are suggesting is that if that happens then I should do a different subject completely. What do you think for that, it is between History, Biology and Law.

If I can't go to the boys school, should I leave? Making friends comes quite easily for me? Or should I stay and do another option?

Thanks

Okay, so you used to want to be an Accountant, and now an Investment Banker. Either way you've never studied proper economics, so you can't be 100% sure that's what you want to do (obviously).

I'd say the option of going to the boys school could be a good one, and there are two girls who come over from our 'partner school' to have German lessons.

You have to be sure that you're going to be comfortable as the only girl in a school full of boys, as I get the feeling that it would be very intimidating - more so that you may think, however confident you are in your own school.

Don't even think about business - if you want to stay but not go to the boys school for Economics, do Physics instead, or perhaps Philosophy if you think you'd be good at it. Both will do you fine in an application for Economics, I assure you, as long as you maintain your interest, read around, and learn about the subject in some way in your own time. You could even tell universities that you wanted to take it but the school was not able to make any provisions for you. The vast majority of universities will be fine with this, LSE and Oxbridge included.

There's little point in leaving just to do Economics A-level.

[ellenabethx]

(Original post by sazzabazza)
If you are actually interested in LSE, you wouldn't be asking a question like thisl!!
Do some research, it took me four clicks from the LSE homepage to find your answer, ffs!

I know, I have read the requirements, I just wanted advice because uni places are so competitive

[ellenabethx]

(Original post by Junaid96)
Okay, so you used to want to be an Accountant, and now an Investment Banker. Either way you've never studied proper economics, so you can't be 100% sure that's what you want to do (obviously).

I'd say the option of going to the boys school could be a good one, and there are two girls who come over from our 'partner school' to have German lessons.

You have to be sure that you're going to be comfortable as the only girl in a school full of boys, as I get the feeling that it would be very intimidating - more so that you may think, however confident you are in your own school.

Don't even think about business - if you want to stay but not go to the boys school for Economics, do Physics instead, or perhaps Philosophy if you think you'd be good at it. Both will do you fine in an application for Economics, I assure you, as long as you maintain your interest, read around, and learn about the subject in some way in your own time. You could even tell universities that you wanted to take it but the school was not able to make any provisions for you. The vast majority of universities will be fine with this, LSE and Oxbridge included.

There's little point in leaving just to do Economics A-level.

Yeah, I suppose I'm scared I'll get to Uni and do Economics and realise I hate it.
But I'm sure I won't

Our school doesn't do philosophy, and I hate physics even though I'm surprisingly good at it.

That's another problem, all the boys at the school know who I am and I know I'm going to be verbally abused. Aaaaaaah I don't know what to do.

I might just wait until results day to make a decision

[The Polymath]

(Original post by ellenabethx)
Yeah, I suppose I'm scared I'll get to Uni and do Economics and realise I hate it.
But I'm sure I won't

Our school doesn't do philosophy, and I hate physics even though I'm surprisingly good at it.

That's another problem, all the boys at the school know who I am and I know I'm going to be verbally abused. Aaaaaaah I don't know what to do.

I might just wait until results day to make a decision

In that case I would be VERY cautious about joining the boys school. Seriously, your performance will fall to rock bottom as you'll lose confidence and fail to contribute in classes or ask for help from the teacher as you'll be afraid of attracting attention.

You hate Physics?.. that's surprising as you've chosen Maths and F. Maths, but oh well. So you don't want to do anything out of Biology, Chemistry, English Lit, Geography or History?

As a last resort, you could always self-study the AS and do the A2 there. The AS really isn't that difficult, and the textbook (for AQA, that is) is absolutely top notch. I know a guy who did AS on his own and got an A, though there was a member of staff whose office he could go to if he ever got stuck.

[SamF1992]

You don't need to worry about doing Economics at A level, it bears virtually no relevance to Economics at degree level at all. If you really want to do Economics at degree level, the Maths is more important.

I'd suggest reading some general economics based stuff like The Economist, and some more thorough, microeconomic based stuff to see if you actually like economics, or whether you just like how it sounds. Most economics at degree level will be nitty gritty maths, and it's not for everyone.

[ellenabethx]

(Original post by Junaid96)
In that case I would be VERY cautious about joining the boys school. Seriously, your performance will fall to rock bottom as you'll lose confidence and fail to contribute in classes or ask for help from the teacher as you'll be afraid of attracting attention.

You hate Physics?.. that's surprising as you've chosen Maths and F. Maths, but oh well. So you don't want to do anything out of Biology, Chemistry, English Lit, Geography or History?

As a last resort, you could always self-study the AS and do the A2 there. The AS really isn't that difficult, and the textbook (for AQA, that is) is absolutely top notch. I know a guy who did AS on his own and got an A, though there was a member of staff whose office he could go to if he ever got stuck.

The thing I dont like about physics, is probably because GCSE physics is irritating, and the physics teachers are appalling.

Hmm Biology or History sounds good, not sure about History's workload though

[Zürich]

(Original post by ellenabethx)
Hello, I'm in year 11 and I'd really like to be investment banker.
I'd love to do Economics at LSE
I have chosen to do Maths, Further Maths, Economics, Government & Politics Studies and Spanish for A Level
My current school doesn't offer Economics at A level, but they said I may be able to do Economics at our partner school.
However, if I cannot I'm not sure whether to stay at my school's sixth form and do Business Studies instead of Economics, or move to the other sixth form I have a place in that offers economics.

Could you give some advice on what to do. Do you really need economics a level to do it uni, especially LSE.

Thanks

You don't need it but it obviously helps. Forget Business Studies altogether.
Maths + F.Maths are more important as even the first year maths at LSE goes beyond F.Maths.

The best combo is probably F.Maths, Economics and History/English/etc.

[max_e]

(Original post by ellenabethx)
Hello, thanks for the advice.
When I chose my GCSEs I wanted to be an Accountant, and Business seemed like a good idea. When I did my work experience I had the chance to go to an Investment Bank Section. I really enjoyed the work, a lot more than when I was shadowing the accountant.



Thanks

Hello, if you don't mind me asking, how and where did you manage to get some work experiance at a investment bank and what exactly did you do? I have been looking around, trying to get some work experiance yet the people that i have contacted thus far have said that there would be little that i could do and that it is the wrong environment for a person my age (i'm 16).

[ellenabethx]

(Original post by max_e)
Hello, if you don't mind me asking, how and where did you manage to get some work experiance at a investment bank and what exactly did you do? I have been looking around, trying to get some work experiance yet the people that i have contacted thus far have said that there would be little that i could do and that it is the wrong environment for a person my age (i'm 16).

I went to HSBC in Liverpool, my family know the manager, normally they don't do work experience

[hockeyjoe]

(Original post by ellenabethx)
Hello, I'm in year 11 and I'd really like to be investment banker.
I'd love to do Economics at LSE
I have chosen to do Maths, Further Maths, Economics, Government & Politics Studies and Spanish for A Level
My current school doesn't offer Economics at A level, but they said I may be able to do Economics at our partner school.
However, if I cannot I'm not sure whether to stay at my school's sixth form and do Business Studies instead of Economics, or move to the other sixth form I have a place in that offers economics.

Could you give some advice on what to do. Do you really need economics a level to do it uni, especially LSE.

Thanks

For a start, probably the best degree you could do to get into finance would be maths, so why don't you do that? If you have no idea what economics entails, I can't see how you've drawn the conclusion that you want to study it, or that its a good degree to get you into IB. If you have, you're just following a stereotype and an assumption because any degree can get you into IB.

In answer to your question, you don't need economics at A level but it does give you an idea of what the degree is all about. Obviously something the universities will look for is not only your capacity to do well in economics, but that you have a deep understanding of the point of it at least is probably very important when applying. The best set of A levels you could have would be maths, f maths, physics and english/economics/MFL.

Economics has nothing to do with finance, if that's what you're interested in, why not look at finance w maths courses for example? You won't be studying derivatives in an economics degree.