Warwick 2:2 Vs. Essex 2:1, for Econ?

Hmm... a 2:1/1st from anywhere is better than a 2:2 regardless; won't Warwick let you do the second year again?

I'd take the Essex option, personally.

no way dude, stay at warwick. thats a high status uni, my friends doing econ at that uni wid maths. you should stay, and just try work harder for a 2:1 going to essex would be a big step back. stick it out and work hard. good luck

Its quite a big jump, have you rung around some of the Unis at the lower end of the top 10 for econ? Bristol, Durham, Bath, NOttingham, York etc.

If you want to go on a Graduate job scheme, 2:1 is the minimum requirement for at least 90% of these (I speak from experience).

Only one I've seen which "considered" 2:2 applicants (GES).

Now I'm not saying that if you don't get a 2:1, your life is over, might as well claim Job Seekers Allowance for the rest of your life as that's as much money as you'll ever earn in your life but, options do become rather limited and restricted.

Although it's all about signals, would you rather be top of a "less intelligent" group or bottom of a "more intelligent"* lot? (READ DISCLAIMER).

*DISCLAIMER: I am not in any way judging the students of Warwick to be more intelligent than the students of Essex, nor am I suggesting that people are dumb in general. I am using suggestive comparisons between the general average types of enterences to the Universities in question. It's a fact that Warwick's enterence requirements are a lot higher than Essex's entry requirements. If we assume that A-Levels are a signal of intelligence {which of course is questionable} then obviously one would expect, that on average those who go to Warwick have higher UCAS scores than those from Essex. 2:1s from Warwick are apparently given to about 80% of the students each year (that figure was in the Telegraph a year or so ago) getting less than that would suggest you're less intelligent / hard working / (or other) than your peers. Using that logic, the 2:1 from Essex would suggest the same level of intelligence as your peers (and a first more intelligence). Obviously one must consider this while remembering that Universities don't have a "lets give 10% of our students firsts, 80% 2:1s" etc policy.

lhn123, can you link to the HSBC Gap Year Programme please

No there isn't such a thing as a HSBC Gap Year Programme. Back in early 2004 I wrote a letter with my CV attached to Mr Bill Dalton (I don't know him by the way), then Chief Executive of HSBC Bank Plc, asking for a internship position at their Investment Bank, then I got in! It was a personal phone call from his personal assistant. I can never forget the excitement ever!

However I do not recommend everyone doing it though, as A) he's retired now; B) I'm sure he gets very annoyed after seeing more than a couple of these letters. But having said that, there must be other ways along the lines of this idea which may be viable, so go for it! I think I'm a live example in the sense that the "real" world is not that rigid and clear cut after all. Initiative is the key to success anywhere in life really. Things can be done!