The Student Room Group

McGill vs. UCLA vs. LSE

Mcgill University is located in Montreal, Canada. (Accepted Februrary 11, 2004)

UCLA (University of California at Los Angeles) is located in Los Angeles, California, United States. (Accepted March 12, 2004)

LSE is located in London, United Kingdom.
(For the sake of discussion, lets consider I've gotten into LSE - at the moment, I havent, but I'm being optimistic and hoping for the best, even though most of my friends have gotten rejections)

I have a dilemma; which should I choose?

I wish to study Economics and Politics. Going to America or Canada will allow me do to a double major in both; if I were to go to LSE, I would do the degree 'Government and Economics' which is pretty much the same thing as doing a double major. The question here is, which is the best in academics? Here's my guess:

1) LSE
2) UCLA
3) McGill

Now comes the question of the cities. Montreal, London, and Los Angeles are all fantastic, very happening places. The universities unfortunately, in Montreal and London, are smack bang in the middle of downtown (having it's own football field in the middle of the bustling city of Montreal has given a lot of city officials a reason to hate McGill). UCLA is a half an hour drive to Los Angeles; perfect for enjoying the suburbia of university, but also close enough to the city to enjoy a hectic nightlife once in a while. Rankings in terms of likability of cities:

1) Los Angeles
2) Montreal
3) London

Then comes the question of reputation. Which has the best reputation? All three are known by university professors worldwide; but what about employers, relatives, neighbours, the babe that lives across the street? Here's my guess:

1) London School of Economics ("wahh you went to LSE?")
2) McGill University
3) UCLA

Which has the strongest alumni, and would be the best location for forming a tight and useful net of contacts that would be useful in the business and political world?

1) London School of Economics
2) McGill University
3) UCLA

The nicest weather? (A no-brainer)

1) UCLA
2) LSE
3) McGill (sub-zero temperatures for almost half the year)

Let's also not forget that a degree for me in Canada or London would be three years; U.S. would mean four years.
Cost:

1) McGill University: around 35,000 pounds for 3 years
2) UCLA; around 100,000 pounds for 4 years
3) LSE; around 80,000 pounds for 3 years (not sure about this one)

Now here are the questions I have to ask you guys:

1) Do any of you have any idea of whether or not these three colleges have exchange programs with each other?
2) Do you disagree with any rankings?
3) Which do you think is the best overall in terms of reputation, education, and university experience?

Sorry to bore you guys if you don't know anything about UCLA or McGill - thanks for listening anyway. I hope some people give me invaluable advice!

Scroll to see replies

Reply 1
just want to say - government and ecoonomics isnt the best regarded degree hence not aaa requirements. Anything that begins with economics in the name is way better regarded by employers and hence they require aaa (most of em anyways). So what kinda career u wanna head into? University of California would be my choice by the way - because it is a highly regarded uni and that is a great degree ur doing
Reply 2
TheWolf
just want to say - government and ecoonomics isnt the best regarded degree hence not aaa requirements. Anything that begins with economics in the name is way better regarded by employers and hence they require aaa (most of em anyways). So what kinda career u wanna head into? University of California would be my choice by the way - because it is a highly regarded uni and that is a great degree ur doing


I'm not sure yet. Possibly a government related job in relation to economic policy within the country, or a post related to economic decisions, in an international organization like the WTO or the UN.
Reply 3
I think any of those universities would give you a very well regarded degree. Choose which one you would prefer!

One aspect you should consider is where do you want all your future friends/contacts to live? Assuming you're from England, American and Canada is a long way away! If you want the experience of life in America/Canada, look on the LSE website and see if they do exchanges in the 3rd year.

By the way, I had a little look round UCLA a few years ago - beautiful!
Reply 4
TheWolf
just want to say - government and ecoonomics isnt the best regarded degree hence not aaa requirements. Anything that begins with economics in the name is way better regarded by employers and hence they require aaa (most of em anyways). So what kinda career u wanna head into? University of California would be my choice by the way - because it is a highly regarded uni and that is a great degree ur doing



I don't agree with you there...
" London School of Economics and Political Sciences " is famous for Both Economics and Governments...
Infact most of their Famous alumni are people who studied Political related degrees there.
rajuredrum:
I'd go for lse if i were u but then again i'm biased..
Reply 5
if it was me i'd go to UCLA, but i just want sunshine and a nice beach.... :smile: :wink:

academically and rep wise i'd say LSE is the best.
Reply 6
a degree at economics and politics is more valuable than a goverment and economics
Reply 7
TheWolf
a degree at economics and politics is more valuable than a goverment and economics


And why exactly? :confused:
Reply 8
Frances
And why exactly? :confused:


places with economics infront are always more competitive than at the back you get a bscGovEco ( more gov than econ) if you go with lse, hence its requirement is only aab, whereas if it was Economics and xxx would be aaa at lse. Employees do look at these things (more competitive = if you get in a competitive place - clearly you stand out from the crowd) But i dont know what career what he wants to have, in the finance top firms these things do matter
Reply 9
TheWolf
places with economics infront are always more competitive than at the back you get a bscGovEco ( more gov than econ) if you go with lse, hence its requirement is only aab, whereas if it was Economics and xxx would be aaa at lse. Employees do look at these things (more competitive = if you get in a competitive place - clearly you stand out from the crowd) But i dont know what career what he wants to have, in the finance top firms these things do matter


I think it would be more to do with the actual content of the degree than the way that the names are arranged. I had a flick through the LSE prospectus, and they only require GCSE maths for the Government and Economics, rather than A level- that sort of stuff usually seems to matter in terms of content with economics, but it would be a bit presumptuous that any joint honors economics degree would be like that.

And to be honest, I don't think that anybody at LSE needs to worry about how competitive their course is. :biggrin:
Reply 10
TheWolf
just want to say - government and ecoonomics isnt the best regarded degree hence not aaa requirements. Anything that begins with economics in the name is way better regarded by employers and hence they require aaa (most of em anyways). So what kinda career u wanna head into? University of California would be my choice by the way - because it is a highly regarded uni and that is a great degree ur doing



hmmm to be honest I think this is just a load of bull sh*t! Maybe if you want to only be a corporate lackey and nothing more, you should take notice of whether it's politics or econ which is placed first on your CV. I pity anyone who has sacrificed their individuality to the extent that their sole concern in life is what a HR manager makes of their education. Education is about wanting to develop your own intellectual interests, to develop your way of thinking- to train your mind to ask questions regarding why certain things happen in the way that they do, how they could be changed, whether or not they should be changed-in short your own personal intellectual discovery.

If you are good enough, you will have absolutely no problem getting a job, no matter whether politics or economics comes first on your CV. I constantly get the feel that people here can sometimes be so far concerned about what other people think-that they forget the very essence of what an education should provide.

As for the choices you have, all 3 are excellent institutions, I've personally studied at the LSE and have visited McGill-both are fine institutions. Naturally I am biased and would recommend the LSE-after all being there was the best time of my life. However, in all honesty, I prefer Montreal as a place to live in throughout your degree, lovely peaceful city-so friendly. Perhaps you should chose on that basis! If you’re looking to work abroad though, then it would have to be LSE or UCLA.
Reply 11
Thanks for all the advice.. just a bit more about me..

I live in Singapore. Therefore it will be equally expensive in terms of travelling to go to either Canada/USA/England. It will mean flights back at least twice a year. However, I am able to afford all three - UCLA is still damn expensive though.

I wish to work abroad, in places like India and Europe after my degrees are complete. I guess this scratches McGill off the list - are there degrees not that widely recognized around the world?
Reply 12
rajuredrum
Thanks for all the advice.. just a bit more about me..

I live in Singapore. Therefore it will be equally expensive in terms of travelling to go to either Canada/USA/England. It will mean flights back at least twice a year. However, I am able to afford all three - UCLA is still damn expensive though.

I wish to work abroad, in places like India and Europe after my degrees are complete. I guess this scratches McGill off the list - are there degrees not that widely recognized around the world?


No, it does not. If you're on MSN though priv. message me with your add. All three of the universities are well regarded, perhaps the LSE is the most highly regarded-particularly at graduate level. I've worked in India, I know at least some min. amount bout what's likely to be expected of you-although this does depend on what field you're looking to go into and the region.
Reply 13
* No one has made mention that there is a massive difference in the type of teaching between these institutions. UCLA wold be regular assessment, multiple choice. LSE got just four 3hr exams at the end of the year. More scope to fall off the rails at LSE if you are the kind of student that gets distracted - and can't write essays (on your own, under time pressure).
* All these institutions are similar in that they tend to have big classes, and can be impersonal. They all have good reputations. Reputation is in part fostered by size... the bigger, the more chance of finding good scholars. UCLA is biggest.
* There was reference made to culture either. LSE will be the most international. UCLA least (the "foreigners" at UCLA are more likely to adhere to a US cultural and financial ethos, so less diverse ideas). UCLA is more likely to have a fraternity-type culture, with insufferable rich, ignorant and drunk US males. Montreal is marked by the anglo-French confluence right on its doorstep.
* Costs: I think a more realistic assessment in £88,000 for UCLA, £50,000 for LSE..., and far less again for McGill. Quite a big difference to your own estimates. Obviously you are not paying, else you would have had more precise numbers (your are more likely to find rich ilk at UCLA). LSE is at an annual cost of around £10k fees, £4k at Passfield hall (incl food) for a 40 week contract and £2.3k other expenses. Caviar and vodka extra.
* Montreal is certainly the best city to live in my books. McGill is at the top of a hill, with a lot of greenery behind it. But there is no ski slope on campus. LSE will be best from the point of being in a capital city (the only one of the three) with a great speaker list, every day.
* Don't worry about the government / economics divide. I am told you don't learn all that much as an undergradaute. Employers are more concerend about the institution. Afterwards, they look at the specialisation. Govvernment and Politics is a great mix if you want to do international political economy. That means themes like development, curencies, globalisation, etc.
* A major major advantage of UCLA is that it is easier to change programs. Hey you may find your life's passion is in medieval Spain or stellar theology after all. IN LSE, you ae boxed in to your course. McGill is in between, but more like UCLA.
* By going to the US, you would be implicity supporting an economy and society that wages perpetual war on small nations, and keeps them in poverty by unfair trade restrictions, and this is supported by a majortity of voters. Not for me. In London now, there is a real chance of dethroning Blair, as so many voters now see how they are manipulated and lied to. But despite US responsibility (or the lack of it), you are far more at risk from terrorism in London. This is no mean risk. Just a few weeks ago, a Russian was found at the Hungarian border with a few kilos of caesium and plutonium. It is just a question of time. It might not be a "nuclear" bomb, but a "dirty" one. London has to be the prime target, especially if gung-ho Blair remains in power. In Montreal, you are far safer from every point of view.
* The year is 40 weeks in McGill, 31 weeks in LSE. In LSE, there is more the expectation that you will teach yourself, or that your friends will teach you.
* There was another thread on McGill and Toronto with more info on McGill.
Reply 14
africa
* No one has made mention that there is a massive difference in the type of teaching between these institutions. UCLA wold be regular assessment, multiple choice. LSE got just four 3hr exams at the end of the year. More scope to fall off the rails at LSE if you are the kind of student that gets distracted - and can't write essays (on your own, under time pressure).
* All these institutions are similar in that they tend to have big classes, and can be impersonal. They all have good reputations. Reputation is in part fostered by size... the bigger, the more chance of finding good scholars. UCLA is biggest.
* There was reference made to culture either. LSE will be the most international. UCLA least (the "foreigners" at UCLA are more likely to adhere to a US cultural and financial ethos, so less diverse ideas). UCLA is more likely to have a fraternity-type culture, with insufferable rich, ignorant and drunk US males. Montreal is marked by the anglo-French confluence right on its doorstep.
* Costs: I think a more realistic assessment in £88,000 for UCLA, £50,000 for LSE..., and far less again for McGill. Quite a big difference to your own estimates. Obviously you are not paying, else you would have had more precise numbers (your are more likely to find rich ilk at UCLA). LSE is at an annual cost of around £10k fees, £4k at Passfield hall (incl food) for a 40 week contract and £2.3k other expenses. Caviar and vodka extra.
* Montreal is certainly the best city to live in my books. McGill is at the top of a hill, with a lot of greenery behind it. But there is no ski slope on campus. LSE will be best from the point of being in a capital city (the only one of the three) with a great speaker list, every day.
* Don't worry about the government / economics divide. I am told you don't learn all that much as an undergradaute. Employers are more concerend about the institution. Afterwards, they look at the specialisation. Govvernment and Politics is a great mix if you want to do international political economy. That means themes like development, curencies, globalisation, etc.
* A major major advantage of UCLA is that it is easier to change programs. Hey you may find your life's passion is in medieval Spain or stellar theology after all. IN LSE, you ae boxed in to your course. McGill is in between, but more like UCLA.
* By going to the US, you would be implicity supporting an economy and society that wages perpetual war on small nations, and keeps them in poverty by unfair trade restrictions, and this is supported by a majortity of voters. Not for me. In London now, there is a real chance of dethroning Blair, as so many voters now see how they are manipulated and lied to. But despite US responsibility (or the lack of it), you are far more at risk from terrorism in London. This is no mean risk. Just a few weeks ago, a Russian was found at the Hungarian border with a few kilos of caesium and plutonium. It is just a question of time. It might not be a "nuclear" bomb, but a "dirty" one. London has to be the prime target, especially if gung-ho Blair remains in power. In Montreal, you are far safer from every point of view.
* The year is 40 weeks in McGill, 31 weeks in LSE. In LSE, there is more the expectation that you will teach yourself, or that your friends will teach you.
* There was another thread on McGill and Toronto with more info on McGill.


Yeah, you're right.
Reply 15
TheWolf
a degree at economics and politics is more valuable than a goverment and economics

It is the same thing, because at LSE government = politics and the degree is xxx AND yyy, meaning it doesn't matter which way round the subjects go, a degree in xxx and yyy is the same as yyy and xxx, they are exactly the same.
Reply 16
"UCLA is more likely to have a fraternity-type culture, with insufferable rich, ignorant and drunk US males." - africa

Uhh No....that would be University of Southern California (USC) not UCLA that has the environment that you just mentioned. It's not called the University of Spoiled Children for nothing

All three are good schools. It just depends on your personal preference. I went to UC Davis and have nothing but good things to say about my sister school, UCLA.
Reply 17
J.S.
hmmm to be honest I think this is just a load of bull sh*t! Maybe if you want to only be a corporate lackey and nothing more, you should take notice of whether it's politics or econ which is placed first on your CV. I pity anyone who has sacrificed their individuality to the extent that their sole concern in life is what a HR manager makes of their education. Education is about wanting to develop your own intellectual interests, to develop your way of thinking- to train your mind to ask questions regarding why certain things happen in the way that they do, how they could be changed, whether or not they should be changed-in short your own personal


*applauds*
Reply 18
I am applyin to the same course in LSE. It's my backup choice, assuming i do get an offer - those people r takin their time!

LSE have a lot of exchange opportunities. I am not sure about Gov n Eco, but i think they have a program with UChicago for econ , a very highly regarded business school itself , and Columbia for Law. I'd check about gov n eco though.,.
Reply 19
DaKewLesT
... i think they have a program with UChicago for econ...



R u sure about this? i can'd find anything about it on the net.