Cambridge Economics Students and Applicants
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I actually emailed someone at one of the colleges to do with whether further maths was required, and they said back that it was preferable though not essential, and that there are a number of students at most colleges taking economics without having done further maths. I would have said that not having further maths would be of more a hindrance to applying to LSE and UCL (whose course is more mathematical in nature).
With regards to critical thinking, it does not actually really help your application, however in respect to helping you with cambridge application it does bare helpful in regard to the Thinking Skills Assessment that is necessary to be taken when applying for economics at a large number of the colleges. Many of the questions in this refer to the main conclusion of short tests, intermediate conclusions etc, just like studied in critical thinking....i too am taking critical thinking, and not further maths and am in exactly the same position...there are also practice papers for the thinking skills assessment if you want to see how helpful your critical thinking skills may come in handy!
With regards to critical thinking, it does not actually really help your application, however in respect to helping you with cambridge application it does bare helpful in regard to the Thinking Skills Assessment that is necessary to be taken when applying for economics at a large number of the colleges. Many of the questions in this refer to the main conclusion of short tests, intermediate conclusions etc, just like studied in critical thinking....i too am taking critical thinking, and not further maths and am in exactly the same position...there are also practice papers for the thinking skills assessment if you want to see how helpful your critical thinking skills may come in handy!
xander12345678
I actually emailed someone at one of the colleges to do with whether further maths was required, and they said back that it was preferable though not essential, and that there are a number of students at most colleges taking economics without having done further maths. I would have said that not having further maths would be of more a hindrance to applying to LSE and UCL (whose course is more mathematical in nature).
With regards to critical thinking, it does not actually really help your application, however in respect to helping you with cambridge application it does bare helpful in regard to the Thinking Skills Assessment that is necessary to be taken when applying for economics at a large number of the colleges. Many of the questions in this refer to the main conclusion of short tests, intermediate conclusions etc, just like studied in critical thinking....i too am taking critical thinking, and not further maths and am in exactly the same position...there are also practice papers for the thinking skills assessment if you want to see how helpful your critical thinking skills may come in handy!
With regards to critical thinking, it does not actually really help your application, however in respect to helping you with cambridge application it does bare helpful in regard to the Thinking Skills Assessment that is necessary to be taken when applying for economics at a large number of the colleges. Many of the questions in this refer to the main conclusion of short tests, intermediate conclusions etc, just like studied in critical thinking....i too am taking critical thinking, and not further maths and am in exactly the same position...there are also practice papers for the thinking skills assessment if you want to see how helpful your critical thinking skills may come in handy!
Other then one sample paper on TSA website- where can I find more papers?
Any leads will be helpful.
rnshan
Other then one sample paper on TSA website- where can I find more papers?
Any leads will be helpful.
Any leads will be helpful.
They don't release the past papers.
xander12345678
I actually emailed someone at one of the colleges to do with whether further maths was required, and they said back that it was preferable though not essential, and that there are a number of students at most colleges taking economics without having done further maths. I would have said that not having further maths would be of more a hindrance to applying to LSE and UCL (whose course is more mathematical in nature).
With regards to critical thinking, it does not actually really help your application, however in respect to helping you with cambridge application it does bare helpful in regard to the Thinking Skills Assessment that is necessary to be taken when applying for economics at a large number of the colleges. Many of the questions in this refer to the main conclusion of short tests, intermediate conclusions etc, just like studied in critical thinking....i too am taking critical thinking, and not further maths and am in exactly the same position...there are also practice papers for the thinking skills assessment if you want to see how helpful your critical thinking skills may come in handy!
With regards to critical thinking, it does not actually really help your application, however in respect to helping you with cambridge application it does bare helpful in regard to the Thinking Skills Assessment that is necessary to be taken when applying for economics at a large number of the colleges. Many of the questions in this refer to the main conclusion of short tests, intermediate conclusions etc, just like studied in critical thinking....i too am taking critical thinking, and not further maths and am in exactly the same position...there are also practice papers for the thinking skills assessment if you want to see how helpful your critical thinking skills may come in handy!
do you even do economics at cambridge?
how is economics at lse and ucl more mathematical?economics at cambridge is one of the most mathematical economics degree in the world. further maths will be very very useful. a lot of camb economists have done further maths. those who havent struggle and usually switch to doing development modules in the 2nd year.
Well i am passing on indirect information that i have been told, though told by people who should genuinely know from experience and what their job entitles as to what is involved in different degrees from different universities.
Firstly, i never questioned whether economics at Cambridge was or wasn't one of the most mathematical based courses available, and so your drawing upon this is completely irrelevant as i never brought up the debate. (i agree that it is)
However, i believe that UCL and LSE do not take the same units, potentially the economic history and economic politics units that are undertaken at Cambridge, or at least not at the same time and consequently the effect is that the course would appear to become slightly more math orientated, even if not overall but at least sooner into the course.
What is 'a lot'?...if you are to pick holes in somebody's comments then make yours practical and useful...it would be fair to say most likely at minimum 50% of Cambridge economic undergraduates take further maths, but form personal research and contacts it would not appear to be as high as is speculated about particularly on this forum.
also 'those who haven't struggle'...i believe this to be a slightly broad generalisation, and if you are willing to work to understand something and give it the time and commitment you can make it work, and that is what Cambridge are looking for. If you can provide this, and persuade them so, then it is a positive thing.
Firstly, i never questioned whether economics at Cambridge was or wasn't one of the most mathematical based courses available, and so your drawing upon this is completely irrelevant as i never brought up the debate. (i agree that it is)
However, i believe that UCL and LSE do not take the same units, potentially the economic history and economic politics units that are undertaken at Cambridge, or at least not at the same time and consequently the effect is that the course would appear to become slightly more math orientated, even if not overall but at least sooner into the course.
What is 'a lot'?...if you are to pick holes in somebody's comments then make yours practical and useful...it would be fair to say most likely at minimum 50% of Cambridge economic undergraduates take further maths, but form personal research and contacts it would not appear to be as high as is speculated about particularly on this forum.
also 'those who haven't struggle'...i believe this to be a slightly broad generalisation, and if you are willing to work to understand something and give it the time and commitment you can make it work, and that is what Cambridge are looking for. If you can provide this, and persuade them so, then it is a positive thing.
Well i am passing on indirect information that i have been told, though told by people who should genuinely know from experience and what their job entitles as to what is involved in different degrees from different universities.
Firstly, i never questioned whether economics at Cambridge was or wasn't one of the most mathematical based courses available, and so your drawing upon this is completely irrelevant as i never brought up the debate. (i agree that it is)
However, i believe that UCL and LSE do not take the same units, potentially the economic history and economic politics units that are undertaken at Cambridge, or at least not at the same time and consequently the effect is that the course would appear to become slightly more math orientated, even if not overall but at least sooner into the course.
What is 'a lot'?...if you are to pick holes in somebody's comments then make yours practical and useful...it would be fair to say most likely at minimum 50% of Cambridge economic undergraduates take further maths, but form personal research and contacts it would not appear to be as high as is speculated about particularly on this forum.
also 'those who haven't struggle'...i believe this to be a slightly broad generalisation, and if you are willing to work to understand something and give it the time and commitment you can make it work, and that is what Cambridge are looking for. If you can provide this, and persuade them so, then it is a positive thing.
Firstly, i never questioned whether economics at Cambridge was or wasn't one of the most mathematical based courses available, and so your drawing upon this is completely irrelevant as i never brought up the debate. (i agree that it is)
However, i believe that UCL and LSE do not take the same units, potentially the economic history and economic politics units that are undertaken at Cambridge, or at least not at the same time and consequently the effect is that the course would appear to become slightly more math orientated, even if not overall but at least sooner into the course.
What is 'a lot'?...if you are to pick holes in somebody's comments then make yours practical and useful...it would be fair to say most likely at minimum 50% of Cambridge economic undergraduates take further maths, but form personal research and contacts it would not appear to be as high as is speculated about particularly on this forum.
also 'those who haven't struggle'...i believe this to be a slightly broad generalisation, and if you are willing to work to understand something and give it the time and commitment you can make it work, and that is what Cambridge are looking for. If you can provide this, and persuade them so, then it is a positive thing.
Well i am passing on indirect information that i have been told, though told by people who should genuinely know from experience and what their job entitles as to what is involved in different degrees from different universities.
Firstly, i never questioned whether economics at Cambridge was or wasn't one of the most mathematical based courses available, and so your drawing upon this is completely irrelevant as i never brought up the debate. (i agree that it is)
However, i believe that UCL and LSE do not take the same units, potentially the economic history and economic politics units that are undertaken at Cambridge, or at least not at the same time and consequently the effect is that the course would appear to become slightly more math orientated, even if not overall but at least sooner into the course.
What is 'a lot'?...if you are to pick holes in somebody's comments then make yours practical and useful...it would be fair to say most likely at minimum 50% of Cambridge economic undergraduates take further maths, but form personal research and contacts it would not appear to be as high as is speculated about particularly on this forum.
also 'those who haven't struggle'...i believe this to be a slightly broad generalisation, and if you are willing to work to understand something and give it the time and commitment you can make it work, and that is what Cambridge are looking for. If you can provide this, and persuade them so, then it is a positive thing.
Firstly, i never questioned whether economics at Cambridge was or wasn't one of the most mathematical based courses available, and so your drawing upon this is completely irrelevant as i never brought up the debate. (i agree that it is)
However, i believe that UCL and LSE do not take the same units, potentially the economic history and economic politics units that are undertaken at Cambridge, or at least not at the same time and consequently the effect is that the course would appear to become slightly more math orientated, even if not overall but at least sooner into the course.
What is 'a lot'?...if you are to pick holes in somebody's comments then make yours practical and useful...it would be fair to say most likely at minimum 50% of Cambridge economic undergraduates take further maths, but form personal research and contacts it would not appear to be as high as is speculated about particularly on this forum.
also 'those who haven't struggle'...i believe this to be a slightly broad generalisation, and if you are willing to work to understand something and give it the time and commitment you can make it work, and that is what Cambridge are looking for. If you can provide this, and persuade them so, then it is a positive thing.
Hi. I got 3A*'s 5A's and 2 B's. I only got an A in GCSE maths. I'm now in college studying AS level Maths, economics, business, accounting, spanish and general studies. I am on target for AAAACA in my AS exams but all of my teachers believe I can get an A at A2. I started the spanish course 2 and a half months later than everybody else in my class and it is in this I am expected a C. I want to go to oxbridge or lse to study economics but I am worried that my dismal C on my application combined with my relatively poor GCSE results will prevent me from getting in. Do I have a chance? Am I better off applying for PPE or economics or something else? A different university? What should I take to A2? and should I take further maths? Please help me!!!
In my year only 10 people out of 146 hadn't taken F Maths A level. Slightly more than 50% evidently have F Maths
But I agree with your last paragraph insomuch as I hadn't taken F Maths, and yet got the top mark out of my college on the Quantitative Methods paper last year and got a first overall. I had to work hard, obviously, but I'd hope that no one thinking of attending Cambridge is under the illusion that hard work is optional
Btw, please delete two of your three posts
But I agree with your last paragraph insomuch as I hadn't taken F Maths, and yet got the top mark out of my college on the Quantitative Methods paper last year and got a first overall. I had to work hard, obviously, but I'd hope that no one thinking of attending Cambridge is under the illusion that hard work is optional
Btw, please delete two of your three posts
I'm nearly certain that shall i get acceptable AS-grades in the summer i shall apply to cambridge, along with others such as LSE, UCL, Durham etc, to do straight economics.
I was wondering does anyone have any advice on extra reading that i would find particularly interesting and relevant to include in a personal statement and talk about at interview, as there are so many books and not quite enough time to read everything, unfortunately!
I know there is no 'definitive book to read', however i only ask for any sensible suggestions that are interesting...thanks
I was wondering does anyone have any advice on extra reading that i would find particularly interesting and relevant to include in a personal statement and talk about at interview, as there are so many books and not quite enough time to read everything, unfortunately!
I know there is no 'definitive book to read', however i only ask for any sensible suggestions that are interesting...thanks
try the economist, the keynes thoery i cant remember how to spell his surname properly it, Adam Smith (the father of economics)
It really depends what you're interested by. In this thread there are some suggestions.
I wouldn't bother reading Smith, it's not really worth the effort. It's also good to keep up with The Economist if you can, you can get it online if not in magazine form.
I wouldn't bother reading Smith, it's not really worth the effort. It's also good to keep up with The Economist if you can, you can get it online if not in magazine form.
I think you should read one or two "pop" economics books like Freakanomics and the Undercover economist.
Then pick and area you're interested in, read an introductory book on it, then find out who some of the major theorists are in that area and read a couple of their ideas, know how to compare them etc.
I'm sure you wouldn't need much more than that for your interview.
And do try and read the Economics articles in the Economist(easier said than done, I always have the best intentions...)
Then pick and area you're interested in, read an introductory book on it, then find out who some of the major theorists are in that area and read a couple of their ideas, know how to compare them etc.
I'm sure you wouldn't need much more than that for your interview.
And do try and read the Economics articles in the Economist(easier said than done, I always have the best intentions...)
- The Economist (subscribe to it)
- "The Age Of Turbulence" by Alan Greenspan
- Economics ... For Dummies
- "The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money" John Maynard Keynes
- "The Age Of Turbulence" by Alan Greenspan
- Economics ... For Dummies
- "The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money" John Maynard Keynes
Speedbird2008
- The Economist (subscribe to it)
- "The Age Of Turbulence" by Alan Greenspan
- Economics ... For Dummies
- "The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money" John Maynard Keynes
- "The Age Of Turbulence" by Alan Greenspan
- Economics ... For Dummies
- "The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money" John Maynard Keynes
errm...I wouldnt advise anyone to ready Keynes' general theory. U WILL NOT LAST 30 MINUTES!!
try titles on the "History of economic theory" i.e by J.K Gallbraith. such books would give u an insight into the ideas of the past great economist without going into much technical detail!
Speedbird2008
- The Economist (subscribe to it)
- "The Age Of Turbulence" by Alan Greenspan
- Economics ... For Dummies
- "The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money" John Maynard Keynes
- "The Age Of Turbulence" by Alan Greenspan
- Economics ... For Dummies
- "The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money" John Maynard Keynes
Boring as hell. And you only really need to know the main gist of his arguments (sticky prices, 'we're all dead in the long run' etc)
My advise is to read books such as:
[B]
he Affluent Society- by J.K Galbraith (great if you want to discuss the whole free-markets versus Government intervention in your PS)
The worldly Philosophers- Robert Heilbroner (good intro into the ideas of the economist of the past)
Capitalism and freedom- M. Friedman (Compare with the 'Affluent society'
Globalisation and it's discontents- J. Stiglitz.
Road to serfdom- F. Hayek (perfect if you wish to show interest in both Economics and Politics, and their interrelationships)
Thinking Strategically- Dixit and Neblauf (Game theory)
n.b- No matter how cliched these books appear to be. the important thing is to be able to formulate your own opinion/ideas/thoughts on the issues discussed. this would show intellectual curiosity. also be able to integrate the information in such a way that it enables you to express your interest effectively.
[B]
he Affluent Society- by J.K Galbraith (great if you want to discuss the whole free-markets versus Government intervention in your PS)
The worldly Philosophers- Robert Heilbroner (good intro into the ideas of the economist of the past)
Capitalism and freedom- M. Friedman (Compare with the 'Affluent society'
Globalisation and it's discontents- J. Stiglitz.
Road to serfdom- F. Hayek (perfect if you wish to show interest in both Economics and Politics, and their interrelationships)
Thinking Strategically- Dixit and Neblauf (Game theory)
n.b- No matter how cliched these books appear to be. the important thing is to be able to formulate your own opinion/ideas/thoughts on the issues discussed. this would show intellectual curiosity. also be able to integrate the information in such a way that it enables you to express your interest effectively.
seriously don't read freakanomics. me and my supervisor were joking about all the applicants who have read it. And it's a bit rubbish.
heilbroner is pretty good, but there is lots of tl;dr biographical detail.
Thanks for the advice so far...lots of suggestions already, and i knew there would be some disagreements upon certain texts..
I read Freakonomics on a 3 hour plane journey, and i agree it is has no worth as an economic text, however a few of the short stories are interesting such as the management of the drug gang...the theory behind it all is very basic, and almost common knowledge in some parts.
Read the first third of undercover economics, but it has a very similar feel to freakonomics and not so sure how much i am learning from it, probably going to move on to a different book for train journeys...
I think the 'globalization and its discontents' looks interesting, as developing economics is of interest to me in particular...
Any more suggestions are welcomed ...
I'm probably looking to focus my reading on development economics
yet will still try to read at least one book covering each of the other areas such as;
game theory
economic history
free-market system/socialism
economist of the past - (the worldly philosphers)
economics and politics
A few of the more famous economists ideas
I read Freakonomics on a 3 hour plane journey, and i agree it is has no worth as an economic text, however a few of the short stories are interesting such as the management of the drug gang...the theory behind it all is very basic, and almost common knowledge in some parts.
Read the first third of undercover economics, but it has a very similar feel to freakonomics and not so sure how much i am learning from it, probably going to move on to a different book for train journeys...
I think the 'globalization and its discontents' looks interesting, as developing economics is of interest to me in particular...
Any more suggestions are welcomed
...I'm probably looking to focus my reading on development economics
yet will still try to read at least one book covering each of the other areas such as;
game theory
economic history
free-market system/socialism
economist of the past - (the worldly philosphers)
economics and politics
A few of the more famous economists ideas
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