Economics Applicant Thread UCAS 2012

Well it was either that or Religious studies. They want us to be as well-rounded as possible so we have to have several sciences, arts etc. subjects. You can only choose 2 of your 3 Higher Levels (I could only choose one of them that's why I don't have Maths HL...) and then 2 other subjects like either History or Politics and Biology or Chemistry/Physics etc. But 1 or 2 C-category subjects like Philosophy, music, religious studies or sports are compulsory. I hate it

Btw I have a question: I will sit the S1 exam in January. So now I will have to pick another extra module for the summer exam session. Should I choose D1, S2 or M1? I heard D1 is extremely easy but should I rather pick something that is a bit more challenging?

Well it was either that or Religious studies. They want us to be as well-rounded as possible so we have to have several sciences, arts etc. subjects. You can only choose 2 of your 3 Higher Levels (I could only choose one of them that's why I don't have Maths HL...) and then 2 other subjects like either History or Politics and Biology or Chemistry/Physics etc. But 1 or 2 C-category subjects like Philosophy, music, religious studies or sports are compulsory. I hate it

Btw I have a question: I will sit the S1 exam in January. So now I will have to pick another extra module for the summer exam session. Should I choose D1, S2 or M1? I heard D1 is extremely easy but should I rather pick something that is a bit more challenging?

Which exam board are you on for Maths?

I suppose I appreciate that, I wish the English system was more rigorous in forcing students to do more academic subjects and make them more well-rounded. It would definitely be good if a language A-level was compulsory.

I would personally choose S2, it's apparently not that hard and quite relevant to economics. (so I've heard)

That is true at least one language and one science should be compulsory. That makes you way more well-rounded. But on the other hand you can just study what you like and don't have to force yourself to analyse love poems...

Yea S2 seems like fun. But on the other hand I like Mechanics; I've always liked Physics so I thought I might like Mechanics as well.

I'm on Edexcel just like you

I'd go for S2, simply in case you're asked a statistics question at interview. I can help you with any Edexcel modules.

What are your UMS like? If they're good then it will only boost your application even if they don't ask for them

Not that good, maths 96%, economics 91%, chemistry 88%, biology 86% which is why I'm having doubts about Cambridge.

Also, a lot of schools encourage their students to take softer subjects (to boost their grade average) which are just completely pointless in every aspect of life, that is definitely wrong...

I think just take whichever one you think you will enjoy, they won't mind what modules you take when considering you.

I'd go for S2, simply in case you're asked a statistics question at interview. I can help you with any Edexcel modules.

Are you doing further additional maths?

Not that good, maths 96%, economics 91%, chemistry 88%, biology 86% which is why I'm having doubts about Cambridge.

Not that good, maths 96%, economics 91%, chemistry 88%, biology 86% which is why I'm having doubts about Cambridge.

I got results quite similar to you and i'm thinking of applying...

I got results quite similar to you and i'm thinking of applying...

I don't know why any of you are being put off, you all have such good grades and scores it would be stupid not to apply!

Exactly.

Thinking of it this way may help. If your collective application (personal statement, UMS, interview, reference and GCSEs) places you in the top 180 (or so) candidates applying for Economics, you'll receive an offer.

Not exactly

If your collective application (personal statement, UMS, interview, reference and GCSEs) places you in the top 3-12(depending on college) candidates out of a total of 40-120 applying for Economics(depending on college) OR top 25(ish) out of 50-75(ish) in the winter pool, you'll receive an offer.

I'm struggling to see how that's different? Due to the pooling system, you can assume the best 180 (depends on the year) candidates will be given an offer.

I'm struggling to see how that's different? Due to the pooling system, you can assume the best 180 (depends on the year) candidates will be given an offer.

Not necessarily at all. A pooled candidate from one college is not always as good as a pooled candidate from another. In addition to this for example say the 10th best candidate at one college who gets rejected may be better than the 7th best candidate at another who gets pooled.

Its very hard to differentiate between candidates between different colleges despite the guidelines for tutors on whom they should pool.

Your best bet of getting into Cambridge is to get into your original college, obviously, but to assume the pool will extract the best candidates is very far from the mark. But it does do a good job nonetheless.