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Declining LSE for the 'university experience' -

2026

Hello, I've got a mate in school (were not really friends) who got accepted in to LSE, but declined it yesterday in favour of his insurance university - Bristol. I was unable to find out the results he achieved, but he told me that he manged to achieve the required grades for the LSE, but he is turning it down because going to a university in central London, and staying at home with his parents will mean that he will miss out on the 'university experience'. I tried to convince him that he was being foolish, and that the difference between LSE and Bristol, in terms of their reputation for the teaching of Law is huge, but he did not listen to me.

A friend of mine said to me that he was probably lying, and that he probably got declined from LSE because he failed to achieve the 3A's, but I cannot be too sure, because he is quite an odd fella.

Any opinions? Is it worth giving up a place at one of the worlds most prestigious universities just because you may not have the 'university experience'?

Reply 1

badboy_sdx

Course it is....I was accepted in Cambridge and Imperial and declined the first because its not in London and the latter too boring, honestly an environement which i cant work well in...Ppl have differnet opinions on things :smile:

Maybe he isnt lying..then again maybe he is

Reply 2

2026

OP

15

badboy_sdx

Course it is....I was accepted in Cambridge and Imperial and declined the first because its not in London and the latter too boring, honestly an environement which i cant work well in...Ppl have differnet opinions on things :smile:

Maybe he isnt lying..then again maybe he is

I guess you have a valid point.

Reply 3

zxczxc

11

-1984-

Hello, I've got a mate in school (were not really friends) who got accepted in to LSE, but declined it yesterday in favour of his insurance university - Bristol. I was unable to find out the results he achieved, but he told me that he manged to achieve the required grades for the LSE, but he is turning it down because going to a university in central London, and staying at home with his parents will mean that he will miss out on the 'university experience'. I tried to convince him that he was being foolish, and that the difference between LSE and Bristol, in terms of their reputation for the teaching of Law is huge, but he did not listen to me.

A friend of mine said to me that he was probably lying, and that he probably got declined from LSE because he failed to achieve the 3A's, but I cannot be too sure, because he is quite an odd fella.

Any opinions? Is it worth giving up a place at one of the worlds most prestigious universities just because you may not have the 'university experience'?

Sounds like shit to me. If he really didn't want to "miss out" then he would probably have picked a different firm back when he had the chance. A sudden change of heart it could well be, but it sounds a bit dodgy, especially if he's an odd bloke anyway, and if he is unable to fully deal with the fact that he's missed his grades.

Reply 4

Knogle

16

He may be lying, I don't know, but it's certainly not unheard of. University experience is very important and it is critical that you study somewhere you'll enjoy and be able to fit into... some people just can't take the city, and some want to live away from their parents. Perfectly understandable.

Reply 5

Johan C

13

-1984-

Is it worth giving up a place at one of the worlds most prestigious universities just because you may not have the 'university experience'?

No.

Reply 6

sins55

1

Johan C

No.

Lets not get caught up. LSE is an awesome uni, but Bristol is far from bad and growing in reputation. Every person I knew in Southampton who lived at home HATED it for that reason, I knew very few people who lived away from home and didn't enjoy it however.

Whilst obviously people in this forum will be strongly subjective as you're obviously career minded people, for some people (myself included at undergraduate) the experiences gained whilst at uni where as important as the institution and they are a lot easier to have if you're not living at home...after a year in halls, you'll understand.

Of course, he may be lying, but it's definitely not unheard of.

Reply 7

ONBH

The guy's talking crap. You don't go to Bristol over LSE, not even to study law which isn't the LSE's strongest area. Moreover I can't imagine why one would imagine that they would have a better time spending three years in Bristol than in London.

Reply 8

deen

For most people LSE is definitely a better choice than Bristol, especially in the longer run, but there are exceptions and your friend might be one.

Two examples from my time at LSE:
1) I was a second year mentor to a first year guy from London who stayed at home with his parents. He found it really hard to make friends at LSE as he wasn't in a hall of residence, his parents were quite strict about him socialising late at night and he didn't have any particular interests that meant he could play an active role in a society (he didn't play any sports or want to get involved in journalism or politics etc). I got the impression from him and a few other Londoners that I met that going to LSE while staying at home with your parents for all three years wasn't necessarily much fun. If you're a Londoner and don't stay at home all the time (or are 100% determined to make the most of it) then the story can be completely different though.

2) A friend of mine who read Law was from a small northern town and was very close to his family and school friends. He went back home for all of the holidays and many weekends in term. He couldn't adapt to living in London at all and this affected his enthusiasm for the academic work. He ended up getting a 2:2 and is now a supervisor in a factory near his home town (and he is very happy doing this). However, I think he might have been happier going to a northern university where he would also have been more likely to get a 2:1.

Saying that, every other person I met at LSE loved their time there (myself included) but it does go to show that it's not right for everyone.

Reply 9

candystrippa

2

depends on the person really.
he could well be lying but some people have different values. besides, bristol is quite a nice uni too. if the insurance was something like "kent" or something, that would be more fishy...

Reply 10

ONBH

It's true, there are a few examples of people not enjoying the LSE and indeed London. But this guy applied to study law at LSE, got an offer and held it. I could understand if he'd changed his mind after a few weeks at LSE but it sounds like he missed his offer and simply thought of a convenient excuse to save himself from losing face.

Reply 11

Johan C

13

sins55

Lets not get caught up. LSE is an awesome uni, but Bristol is far from bad and growing in reputation. Every person I knew in Southampton who lived at home HATED it for that reason, I knew very few people who lived away from home and didn't enjoy it however.

Whilst obviously people in this forum will be strongly subjective as you're obviously career minded people, for some people (myself included at undergraduate) the experiences gained whilst at uni where as important as the institution and they are a lot easier to have if you're not living at home...after a year in halls, you'll understand.

Of course, he may be lying, but it's definitely not unheard of.

Lol sins I'm more social and fun-loving than I make out and friends are essential to me, but my personal answer to 1984's question is still No because I think that you have to think ahead... as usual :frown:

.

Reply 12

lolza

Hey, im from essex and its only a 40-odd commute from my home to LSE....however as I loved LSE, the course, just the prestige of the place, I applied for accommodation. University is only what you make it - sure as hell im gonna be a whole lot more broke living in halls than if i was living at home with my parents, but thats the sacrifice i wanted to make to ensure that i was going to have a good time at uni. Prestige played a large part in my decision too - going to sumwhere like LSE and living in London is something a lot of people would like to do but many people dont get the chance too. I for one cannot see how LSE would not give you the whole "uni experience" - I turned down a place at Nottingham - you gotta think about it this way - hopefully they'll be a least sum people that you will click with watever uni ur at!

sorry for this ramble! lol. ive jus bout had enough with people saying that you cant have the whole "uni experience" at LSE - why single it out from all of the other top 5/top 10 unis?!?!?! xx

Reply 13

simply_me_

Its probably because due to its prestige its seen as all work no play!!
Also due to its size this probably re-enforces this idea!

BAH well I am a fun loving 'cool dude' who likes to 'parthay' (I think thats what the hip term is these days - hmmm ill research that on wikipedia... :biggrin:

)

lol

Reply 14

kyril

Agree Johan 100%. To decline LSE and go to Bristol for such reason is lame. Bristol is very nice place but LSE is bloody good institution.

PS I am a bit biased as Bristol was the only university that rejected me.

Reply 15

Johan C

13

kyril

Agree Johan 100%. To decline LSE and go to Bristol for such reason is lame. Bristol is very nice place but LSE is bloody good institution.

PS I am a bit biased as Bristol was the only university that rejected me.

Lol, I can't get over UCL's rejection for Econs :p:

Reply 16

shady lane

16

I think your friend is lying. If he had rejected LSE months ago that's one thing. But on results day? That reeks of not getting the grades and trying to make everyone think he turned LSE down.

Reply 17

2026

OP

15

kyril

PS I am a bit biased as Bristol was the only university that rejected me.

lol.

shady lane

I think your friend is lying. If he had rejected LSE months ago that's one thing. But on results day? That reeks of not getting the grades and trying to make everyone think he turned LSE down.

I agree.

Reply 18

rboogie

7

This happens a lot. I live in an intercollegiate hall. I know quite a few people who tell me 'yeah, I got into LSE, but I wanted the experience of Kings/UCL/Birkbeck.' It's plain rubbish considering when I probe further and ask them specifically about what they don't like about LSE and usually these people mumble general platitudes which are just plain ridiculous.

Reply 19

rhododendron

8

I know someone who transferred to Bristol after his first year at LSE. He said he didn't like the London atmosphere, which one can understand.

However, transferring on results day, after having selected LSE as your firm choice, is very different: stinks of skulduggery.

Declining LSE for the 'university experience' -

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