[Yangh]

I'm an international student from Hong Kong and am REALLY desperate to get into LSE. I'm planning to take a gap year (where i'm working in an accountancy firm for a year) and will apply then. Here are my grades:

GCSEs 5A*s 2A's 1B (B is in English Language and have acheived A* in Maths)
FSMQ- A in Additional Maths (A is highest possible grades)
A-Levels (what i'm likely to get)- A*A*AB in Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Chem respectively

What advice will you give for the personal statement as i know it is very important. I have heard of many cases where people just mention only Maths like the personal statements for Pure Maths at other unis.

How much of my personal statement should be spent on saying what i did on my gap year?

[TheUltimateProof]

Looks good from here. You have better grades than me at GCSE and your a levels are above entry requirement. I got an A at GCSE maths and a C in English so don't be worried there.

Look at the personal statements on this website, there is plenty of good example to lead off from in the pure maths section. I made mine 75% math, 10% economics and other books I read and the rest ECs.

[Yangh]

(Original post by TheUltimateProof)
Looks good from here. You have better grades than me at GCSE and your a levels are above entry requirement. I got an A at GCSE maths and a C in English so don't be worried there.

Look at the personal statements on this website, there is plenty of good example to lead off from in the pure maths section. I made mine 75% math, 10% economics and other books I read and the rest ECs.

Thanks for the reply. I was wondering if you could tell me what subjects you did for your A-levels and if i will be slightly disadvantaged (in terms of getting an offer) if i didn't do Economics a-level.

Also as i am on a gap year, how much on my personal statement do you think i should talk about it?

[TheUltimateProof]

Check my profile for school stuff. I don't think it'll matt at all really nt doing econ that is. Maybe give it 2 or 3 lines outlining what skills you improved and how.

[Ruvermillion]

probably will be fine although the B in Chemistry might slow you down a bit. Also being an international student on a gap year isn't going to be good in their eyes i'm afriad :s

[pgbow]

not true. a gap year wouldnt put you at any disadvantage as long as you show that you have used the time wisely. personally i took 2 years off before uni and i got in just fine. working at an accounting firm sounds a pretty good reason to me.

anyway, your results are likely to meet the criteria for the course so what's left is your personal statement. the purpose of the personal statement is to let the admission office know more about you, so they can judge if you are suitable for the course. therefore, you should talk about your passion for the course and provide evidence (such as interest in reading books on the subject or doing additional optional modules on that subject). also, it is important to show them u have other skills/experiences too, such as organisational skills, leadership, even sports. this is where your work experience during your gap year come in. show them you are an all rounded student rather than having your whole life just revolving around school.

[Ruvermillion]

(Original post by pgbow)
not true. a gap year wouldnt put you at any disadvantage as long as you show that you have used the time wisely. personally i took 2 years off before uni and i got in just fine. working at an accounting firm sounds a pretty good reason to me.

anyway, your results are likely to meet the criteria for the course so what's left is your personal statement. the purpose of the personal statement is to let the admission office know more about you, so they can judge if you are suitable for the course. therefore, you should talk about your passion for the course and provide evidence (such as interest in reading books on the subject or doing additional optional modules on that subject). also, it is important to show them u have other skills/experiences too, such as organisational skills, leadership, even sports. this is where your work experience during your gap year come in. show them you are an all rounded student rather than having your whole life just revolving around school.

wait, you mean you go an offer from LSE after having 2 years off? I was always under the impression that gap years are disadvantaged because their skills have waned

[pgbow]

yea. to be exact, i went to uni after 2 years and nine months after i completed my A levels. because im an international student, my A levels were in November/December. finished in Dec 2008, started last september.

well, I dont know. I always think that if u use the time wisely to upgrade yourself, learn other skills and gain valuable experiences, it'll more than offset the fact that u havent touched your books in a year. besides, with excellent A level grades like those you'd require to enter the course, it shows that you're smart and more than capable of coping despite the one year off. so I dont think it's a big deal, as long as you present it well in your personal statement. oh, and it's also important to justify your descision. why did you decide to do a gap year as opposed to go to uni?

having said this, it's just my point of view, and I did get in. if you're really concerned, why not just simply emailing the admission office and ask if taking a gap year will affect your chances?

[Ruvermillion]

(Original post by pgbow)
yea. to be exact, i went to uni after 2 years and nine months after i completed my A levels. because im an international student, my A levels were in November/December. finished in Dec 2008, started last september.

well, I dont know. I always think that if u use the time wisely to upgrade yourself, learn other skills and gain valuable experiences, it'll more than offset the fact that u havent touched your books in a year. besides, with excellent A level grades like those you'd require to enter the course, it shows that you're smart and more than capable of coping despite the one year off. so I dont think it's a big deal, as long as you present it well in your personal statement. oh, and it's also important to justify your descision. why did you decide to do a gap year as opposed to go to uni?

having said this, it's just my point of view, and I did get in. if you're really concerned, why not just simply emailing the admission office and ask if taking a gap year will affect your chances?

What course did you get an offer for?

[pgbow]

(Original post by Ruvermillion)
What course did you get an offer for?

actuarial science

[smoky188]

Why post under another name?
http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/show...655&p=37310358