Economics Applicant Thread UCAS 2012

Yeah, that was the point I was trying to get across.

Do you think universities want to know if you were awarded a subject prize (for best performing student in a subject) from your school, or UMS marks in a module (which I know some referees mention)?

If I get a B in English Literature I will be dropping that; otherwise, I will be continuing with five.

Also, if I get 90%+ in AS-Levels this year, I only need 70% in the A2 exams to get an A.

Hmm, I sort of disagree. I could talk about Economics for ages and end up writing an essay on why I want to study it. You need to get into the groove of being concise. By all means don't miss out a point if you feel it's relevant, but don't elaborate on everything. It's likely you'll go through it with a teacher and cross out a few sentences as they don't really add much.

What sections are you conforming to?

If you take this approach you'll probably be so far over the character limit that you end up rewriting large parts of it because you've ruined the flow by cutting it down to the right length. 4000 characters isn't a lot of space and if you're leaving a line between paragraphs, which you should, 3600 characters is more realistic. Think carefully about what you want to include, so you don't end up with 7000 characters or something crazy

Yes, both of those are relevant things to be mentioned (the UMS marks by the referee and the subject prize if it's in a relevant subject).

Yes, both of those are relevant things to be mentioned (the UMS marks by the referee and the subject prize if it's in a relevant subject).

I'll see if I can manoeuvre it in then.

Hopefully our references are willing so we can ask them to include certain things My reference writer said he's written 12 references for Oxbridge applicants and 11 of them got an interview, so hopefully I'll get to that stage, at which point your PS and reference are pretty much forgotten about any way!

I think they're still very much contributing factors! Especially when they'll spark conversation from your personal statement.

Heyy everyone.
Thinking of apply to Durham, Bristol, Nottingham, Birmingham and Leeds for straight economics but think it might be risky. For GCSE's I got 5A*s and 4As and my AS levels are Maths, French, economics and English Lit which I'm predicted AAAA. However, I dont know what my chances are as my A levels perhaps arent sciency enough. What are my chances??!!!

Heyy everyone.
Thinking of apply to Durham, Bristol, Nottingham, Birmingham and Leeds for straight economics but think it might be risky. For GCSE's I got 5A*s and 4As and my AS levels are Maths, French, economics and English Lit which I'm predicted AAAA. However, I dont know what my chances are as my A levels perhaps arent sciency enough. What are my chances??!!!

Hi everyone
This year I have done AS levels in maths, history, economics, physics and critical thinking
I am considering applying possibly apply to one of the top 5 uni's (depending on my results). I was wondering would they prefer it if i carried on with all my AS levels to A level (except critical thinking XD) or would dropping physics and doing a further maths AS level be more helpful ?
Cheers

GCSE's are 9a* , 2a and I haven't been told my predicted A level grades but going off the UMS from january maybe A*(maths) A*(history) A*(economics) and A (physics) . My thinking was that the majority would prefer further maths but a few of my teachers have said maybe go for the 4 A levels instead of 3 and an AS.

You definitely have a good shot at top 5 with those GCSEs and predictions. LSE apparently like Physics. Just try and think of a good reason why you didn't do FM

Looking back I probably should of taken it, but I have only just started studying economics this year so I had no idea about the requirements :/ Hopefully i can get by without it !

(Don't quote me on that, though). LSE, Cambridge and UCL are definitely keen on further maths.

What are your GCSEs and predicted A-level grades?

I'll quote you on this though

From the Cambridge website:



Plenty of people get offers without Economics and FM is in the same bracket. I don't think they place too much emphasis.
As for UCL it's not even mentioned on their site as far as I can see.

Does anyone know which straight economics courses are the most mathematical?

I've heard UCL like further maths (they lower the offer for people with further maths) but I don't have any concrete proof of this... (EDIT: I have emailed UCL, I will post their response)

However a Cambridge admissions tutor told me that 90% of successful applicants have taken at least some further maths module (correlation doesn't imply causation and all that but it certainly looks like it would help)