London School of Economics
London
This thread is closed
would i be really stupid to turn down lse
Scroll to see replies
Barny
Just remember this:
It is understandable that you want to have 3 years of fun and want to experience the University lifestyle dream that so many go on about. It's not what it's made up to be.
The majority of your life will be taken up by work. I would be concentrating on how to make my working life the most enjoyable, rather than my 3 years at University. In that case LSE will give you more options when it comes to jobs and quality of jobs, which means that the next 40 years of your life are more likely to be enjoyable. So for that reason, I'd choose LSE.
It is understandable that you want to have 3 years of fun and want to experience the University lifestyle dream that so many go on about. It's not what it's made up to be.
The majority of your life will be taken up by work. I would be concentrating on how to make my working life the most enjoyable, rather than my 3 years at University. In that case LSE will give you more options when it comes to jobs and quality of jobs, which means that the next 40 years of your life are more likely to be enjoyable. So for that reason, I'd choose LSE.
mmm, that is a fair good point.
didn't really think of it like that..
i really don't want to drop out though, and i can imagine being really... lonely?? i dont just mean because i won't be near my school pals and stuff, i just worry about feeling like a small fish in a big pond! especially since so many students are postgrad/international (which isnt a bad thing, just ive heard that a lot keep themselves to themselves)
London School of Economics
London
KwungSun
Let me guess..you've just about started your GCSEs?
You'd be surprised.
UoL generally can be described as:
"Here are the lectures, here are the exams, good luck".
At Oxford I have had much better teaching than my friends at UoL.
webecomesilhouetes
You'd be surprised.
UoL generally can be described as:
"Here are the lectures, here are the exams, good luck".
At Oxford I have had much better teaching than my friends at UoL.
UoL generally can be described as:
"Here are the lectures, here are the exams, good luck".
At Oxford I have had much better teaching than my friends at UoL.
I can imagine. But the OP wasn't asking whether or not to go Oxford. Neither does the teaching mean he would be "much better off at Oxford".
alpday
mmm, that is a fair good point.
didn't really think of it like that..
i really don't want to drop out though, and i can imagine being really... lonely?? i dont just mean because i won't be near my school pals and stuff, i just worry about feeling like a small fish in a big pond! especially since so many students are postgrad/international (which isnt a bad thing, just ive heard that a lot keep themselves to themselves)
didn't really think of it like that..
i really don't want to drop out though, and i can imagine being really... lonely?? i dont just mean because i won't be near my school pals and stuff, i just worry about feeling like a small fish in a big pond! especially since so many students are postgrad/international (which isnt a bad thing, just ive heard that a lot keep themselves to themselves)
That's a fair point, and you have to ask whether or not you'd commit yourself to the degree if you go to LSE. There's no use going if you're just going to be wanting to be at Manchester everytime the going gets tough and ultimately drop-out or do poorly because of this. You need to remember that 3 years will go so so quickly. If you really didn't like LSE when you get there, get your head down, work hard for 18 months(that is effectively all it is) and come out with an excellent degree, then the world is your oyster. You can go do a postgrad(or even another undergrad) at Manchester or any other University in the country, and you will still be young. But you will have so many more options with regards to further study and careers than if you went to Manchester in the first place.
People tend to build up University to be the most fun time of your life and often say that you will never have as much fun again - this simply isn't true in my experience. I went to York and found that it didn't fufil my expectations of what University life was all about. I subsequently dropped-out and worked for a year, only to find that working life is much more fun(for me at least) than student life. I just started a degree at Nottingham in September. Nottingham has a reputation for being a lively town and a fun Uni. Guess what? It's pretty much the same as York was, and I imagine the difference between LSE and Manchester social life to not be worlds apart either. In my experience the social culture of most Universities is based mostly around drinking. At age 18 that sounds like the best thing ever. Wait until you go out and get drunk 3 times a week with the same people at the same places, you will get thoroughly thoroughly bored. I'm not saying this is what you'll do, but it's what a lot of students do, and for some that's great, they're content with that, but for other it falls a long way short of "the best years of their life".
It's worth noting that I can only say what I'm saying now because I've experienced both sides of the coin, and have learnt these lessons the hard way(dropping-out etc.) but if I had my time again I would have just worked hard for those 30 weeks a year, for 3 years, got my degree, and then done what I truly wanted to do. You will have far more flexibility and options to do what you really want with a degree from LSE.
You've got ages to decide, but don't let the money isssue sway you, at the end of the day, LSE graduates are the best payed graduates in the country, so it shouldn't be difficult to pay back your loan., It seems like your mum is behind you on that front as well.
My elder brother studies at manchester and I am going to (grades pending) LSE next year and I have a number of friends at LSE so maybe i can help you weigh up a little better...
Socially:
Manchester = a student city, always parties going on and always things to do. however being 1 of like 50 or 60,000 students makes you a small fish in a big pond and in many ways it can be much more rough than London as being in central means that its pretty much always busy and always well lit.
LSE = definitely less sociabale than manchester however realistically it seems to be that it is what you make of it and if you are determined to, its not hard to have a good time. t say that noone goes out would be false because the people that I know there certainly do..and they are very very active citizens meaning there is a tonne of stuff you can get involved with. sure manchester has more volume wise, but you cant take on a million things anyway so the choice in london should do you just fine.
Cost:
Manchester again being student orientated is very cheap - my brother pays £77 for a two bed flat (so £77 from his flatmate too) which is pretty nice and in a decent area. Also the clubs and stuff again are cheaper I would presume
LSE - we all know london is much more expensive however you can get halls from as little as £90 and from everyone who goes there, if you stay economical then its not so hard to live. there are plenty of part time work opportunities due to the tourism industry and london pays fairly well. Also as mentioned, you get a much larger student loan (upto £6200 which is over a grand more i think) and on top of this, if you come from a low income background LSE offers a bursary as well as a large number of scolarships which can significantly ease the financial burden. So yes, it costs more, but there are plenty of ways in which you can cope.
Teaching
Manchester: its got a huge huge student body and although you rarely heaer about its bad teaching, my brother often complains that it isnt great and considering the volume of students he often has problems with really bad administration at the uni that can really piss him off.
LSE: yes it has a rep for bad teaching, but as far as I can tell most people get along fine despite it. Manchester has also got an international teaching staff so the whole english problem may well apply there and in addition, LSEs teaching prepares you to be much more of an independent learner which can only be a good thing.
Reputation:
Manchester is certainly making inroads with its huge spending plan, and they reckon they will get into the top 25 globally within something like 5 years. whether or not that happens i dont know. howeveer LSE has an enviable reputation as a world leading institution and although it dropped to 59th in the world this year, this was due to a change in the make up of the tables that favours the natural sciences and disfavours the social sciences..tehrefore dont pay much attrention to that.
I can see where you are coming from in wanting a studenty lifestyle and therefore the appeal of manchester and newcastle (sorry i havent commented on there but i know nothing about it!). i suspect that my brother does have a more studenty lifestlye than I will when i go to university, however that said i know people at LSE who seem to go out just as often as he does, maybe once a week less at max. therefore as i say, dont listen to people who say LSE has no social life - it will have one so long as you want to find it. although you dont want to become an investment banker, not knowing what you want to do would say to me you should pick the instiution who's name carries a much better name, incase you do want to go into some uber-competitve field.
if you want to go to LSE you can have the fun three years that you crave. with so many people wanting to go there I would suggest that reputation should preceed cost (which is manageable) and that as long as you want fun you will find it.
wow that was a long post, i bloody hope it helped lol
good luck choosing!
Socially:
Manchester = a student city, always parties going on and always things to do. however being 1 of like 50 or 60,000 students makes you a small fish in a big pond and in many ways it can be much more rough than London as being in central means that its pretty much always busy and always well lit.
LSE = definitely less sociabale than manchester however realistically it seems to be that it is what you make of it and if you are determined to, its not hard to have a good time. t say that noone goes out would be false because the people that I know there certainly do..and they are very very active citizens meaning there is a tonne of stuff you can get involved with. sure manchester has more volume wise, but you cant take on a million things anyway so the choice in london should do you just fine.
Cost:
Manchester again being student orientated is very cheap - my brother pays £77 for a two bed flat (so £77 from his flatmate too) which is pretty nice and in a decent area. Also the clubs and stuff again are cheaper I would presume
LSE - we all know london is much more expensive however you can get halls from as little as £90 and from everyone who goes there, if you stay economical then its not so hard to live. there are plenty of part time work opportunities due to the tourism industry and london pays fairly well. Also as mentioned, you get a much larger student loan (upto £6200 which is over a grand more i think) and on top of this, if you come from a low income background LSE offers a bursary as well as a large number of scolarships which can significantly ease the financial burden. So yes, it costs more, but there are plenty of ways in which you can cope.
Teaching
Manchester: its got a huge huge student body and although you rarely heaer about its bad teaching, my brother often complains that it isnt great and considering the volume of students he often has problems with really bad administration at the uni that can really piss him off.
LSE: yes it has a rep for bad teaching, but as far as I can tell most people get along fine despite it. Manchester has also got an international teaching staff so the whole english problem may well apply there and in addition, LSEs teaching prepares you to be much more of an independent learner which can only be a good thing.
Reputation:
Manchester is certainly making inroads with its huge spending plan, and they reckon they will get into the top 25 globally within something like 5 years. whether or not that happens i dont know. howeveer LSE has an enviable reputation as a world leading institution and although it dropped to 59th in the world this year, this was due to a change in the make up of the tables that favours the natural sciences and disfavours the social sciences..tehrefore dont pay much attrention to that.
I can see where you are coming from in wanting a studenty lifestyle and therefore the appeal of manchester and newcastle (sorry i havent commented on there but i know nothing about it!). i suspect that my brother does have a more studenty lifestlye than I will when i go to university, however that said i know people at LSE who seem to go out just as often as he does, maybe once a week less at max. therefore as i say, dont listen to people who say LSE has no social life - it will have one so long as you want to find it. although you dont want to become an investment banker, not knowing what you want to do would say to me you should pick the instiution who's name carries a much better name, incase you do want to go into some uber-competitve field.
if you want to go to LSE you can have the fun three years that you crave. with so many people wanting to go there I would suggest that reputation should preceed cost (which is manageable) and that as long as you want fun you will find it.
wow that was a long post, i bloody hope it helped lol
good luck choosing!
If you honestly don't mind what job you end up with out of uni, I would go where you'll be happiest. You can still get a good job with a degree from Manchester, it's not like you're turning LSE down for somewhere ****.
Barny
It's worth noting that I can only say what I'm saying now because I've experienced both sides of the coin, and have learnt these lessons the hard way(dropping-out etc.) but if I had my time again I would have just worked hard for those 30 weeks a year, for 3 years, got my degree, and then done what I truly wanted to do. You will have far more flexibility and options to do what you really want with a degree from LSE.
No, you wouldn't; not necessarily. It's much easier to say "I would have done __" when you're looking back on it in hindsight than it is to say "I'm gonna do __", when you know you're not gonna enjoy it. Tons of people drop out of uni every year because they hate their university, and if you hate your university, you hate your life, given that you spend the best part of three years there. There's no linear correlation between employability and standard of teaching at uni; there are people who graduated from Cambridge with a first on this very forum who are struggling to even get job interviews.
J-bob
(blah)
This whole post reeks of bias, and can be summarised in the following:
"Manchester: yep, that's exactly what you want.
LSE: well, it's not what you want, but it's good too!
Therefore LSE."
Seriously, how many paragraphs about LSE did you start with "well, it's a bit crap, but..."?
generalebriety
This whole post reeks of bias, and can be summarised in the following:
"Manchester: yep, that's exactly what you want.
LSE: well, it's not what you want, but it's good too!
Therefore LSE."
Seriously, how many paragraphs about LSE did you start with "well, it's a bit crap, but..."?
"Manchester: yep, that's exactly what you want.
LSE: well, it's not what you want, but it's good too!
Therefore LSE."
Seriously, how many paragraphs about LSE did you start with "well, it's a bit crap, but..."?
i said to the OP that manchester is social and it is cheaper (their two main concerns) however i also said LSE can be social and is financially viable whilst having the additional bonus of being much more respected than manchester is
obviously im going to be biased, im going to LSE, but if the OP didnt want bias then dont post in a bloody LSE forum,
I just feel that the benefit of going to LSE in terms of its name, quality of the course is greater than the loss in social life( which i beleive is down to the individual anwayy) and the extra cost.
"There's no linear correlation between employability and standard of teaching at uni"
Are you serious??? I don't mean to be rude but there is undeniably a positive correlation between standard of teaching and employability - or is it just coincidence that, on avearge, the universities with the highest teaching rankings (based on the HEFCE/QAA Teaching Assessment) also have the highest rankings for employability and starting salaries.....
I haven't started uni yet but i've done enough statistics so far to tell you that the probability is infintessimally small.
Edit: Just re-read what you said and i admit it's probably not linear, but you've got to agree there is a strong relationship
Are you serious??? I don't mean to be rude but there is undeniably a positive correlation between standard of teaching and employability - or is it just coincidence that, on avearge, the universities with the highest teaching rankings (based on the HEFCE/QAA Teaching Assessment) also have the highest rankings for employability and starting salaries.....
I haven't started uni yet but i've done enough statistics so far to tell you that the probability is infintessimally small.
Edit: Just re-read what you said and i admit it's probably not linear, but you've got to agree there is a strong relationship
generalebriety
No, you wouldn't; not necessarily. It's much easier to say "I would have done __" when you're looking back on it in hindsight than it is to say "I'm gonna do __", when you know you're not gonna enjoy it. Tons of people drop out of uni every year because they hate their university, and if you hate your university, you hate your life, given that you spend the best part of three years there. There's no linear correlation between employability and standard of teaching at uni; there are people who graduated from Cambridge with a first on this very forum who are struggling to even get job interviews.
All things being equal, going to LSE gives you a massive advantage over Manchester or Newcastle, surely you can see that? I'm not talking about teaching standards, I'm talking about reputations.
Anyway, I read some of your other posts and found out that you do Social Anthropology, in which case go to wherever you like, because going to LSE rather than Manc or Newcastle to do Social Anthropology isn't going to make much difference at all.
well i think that the uni u go to could be trivial in the end. people who went to uni's way down the league table i.e 60th..... still end up in top jobs at places like Goldman sachs. why? it's cause they have something unique about them which grabs any employers attention. so lets not be sidelined by the 'LSE reputation'. if manchester suits you, then go there. in the end YOU WOULD BE COMPETITING ON LEVEL TERMS WITH THE PERSON WHO WENT TO LSE. im not just saying this, i'v seen this happen. from what i gather it's all about personality and ability in the business world. the LSE grads who dont have a mixture of both could be stuck in the end.
so yeah, i'd say manchester, since you appear to be more drawn to that.
so yeah, i'd say manchester, since you appear to be more drawn to that.
What everyone else is telling you to do is irrelevant. Do what YOU want to do - it's your life. Besides you've already said that you don't want to go into IB and the university degree will only get your foot in the door job-wise, at the end of the day it will be more about you. There are many things other than academics that employers will be looking for.
Jibzy
well i think that the uni u go to could be trivial in the end. people who went to uni's way down the league table i.e 60th..... still end up in top jobs at places like Goldman sachs. why? it's cause they have something unique about them which grabs any employers attention. so lets not be sidelined by the 'LSE reputation'. if manchester suits you, then go there. in the end YOU WOULD BE COMPETITING ON LEVEL TERMS WITH THE PERSON WHO WENT TO LSE. im not just saying this, i'v seen this happen. from what i gather it's all about personality and ability in the business world. the LSE grads who dont have a mixture of both could be stuck in the end.
so yeah, i'd say manchester, since you appear to be more drawn to that.
so yeah, i'd say manchester, since you appear to be more drawn to that.
I agree with this, but there is no denying that those who go to a top class uni are statistically far more likely to end up in the top jobs. It is not just the reputation LSE has but the connections it has forged with law firms, IB's etc. etc. in London and around the world that makes it such a good place job wise.
Sure, a charismatic, interesting and genuinely intelligent person from Manchester would be preferable to a dour, introverted bore from LSE, but in the real world you have to give yourself every opportunity. If you are charismatic etc. AND went to LSE, then think how attractive you would be to prospective employers. It is fair to say that those who go to other 'lower class' uni's can compete, but it is a rash assumption to say that everyone at LSE is inherently unattractive in other areas to employers.
Anyway, since you don't care about jobs etc. I would say go where your heart takes you seeing as your head is seemingly unable to do so!
Jibzy
well i think that the uni u go to could be trivial in the end. people who went to uni's way down the league table i.e 60th..... still end up in top jobs at places like Goldman sachs. why? it's cause they have something unique about them which grabs any employers attention. so lets not be sidelined by the 'LSE reputation'. if manchester suits you, then go there. in the end YOU WOULD BE COMPETITING ON LEVEL TERMS WITH THE PERSON WHO WENT TO LSE. im not just saying this, i'v seen this happen. from what i gather it's all about personality and ability in the business world. the LSE grads who dont have a mixture of both could be stuck in the end.
so yeah, i'd say manchester, since you appear to be more drawn to that.
so yeah, i'd say manchester, since you appear to be more drawn to that.
while there may be people at goldmans in top jobs who did go to crap unis, you gotta remember that the owerwhelming proportion of grads taken will be from the top 10 or so target unis. so to say you would be competing on level terms with an LSE person i would say is not really true. yes if you really had that unique something you may get a job over an LSE person, but if the OP doesnt have that unique something (like most of us) then the reality is LSE>Manchester. not a deciding factor at all, however the OP doesnt want to be a banker anyway..
DannyBoy123
I agree with this, but there is no denying that those who go to a top class uni are statistically far more likely to end up in the top jobs. It is not just the reputation LSE has but the connections it has forged with law firms, IB's etc. etc. in London and around the world that makes it such a good place job wise.
Sure, a charismatic, interesting and genuinely intelligent person from Manchester would be preferable to a dour, introverted bore from LSE, but in the real world you have to give yourself every opportunity. If you are charismatic etc. AND went to LSE, then think how attractive you would be to prospective employers. It is fair to say that those who go to other 'lower class' uni's can compete, but it is a rash assumption to say that everyone at LSE is inherently unattractive in other areas to employers.
Anyway, since you don't care about jobs etc. I would say go where your heart takes you seeing as your head is seemingly unable to do so!
Sure, a charismatic, interesting and genuinely intelligent person from Manchester would be preferable to a dour, introverted bore from LSE, but in the real world you have to give yourself every opportunity. If you are charismatic etc. AND went to LSE, then think how attractive you would be to prospective employers. It is fair to say that those who go to other 'lower class' uni's can compete, but it is a rash assumption to say that everyone at LSE is inherently unattractive in other areas to employers.
Anyway, since you don't care about jobs etc. I would say go where your heart takes you seeing as your head is seemingly unable to do so!
indeed. sorry if i sounded very rash lol.....i respect LSE and always will. really wanted to go there because of the course. bt anyway, u know how that all ended lol...
Related discussions
- Is it stupid to turn down an offer from LSE?
- PPE: LSE vs Warwick
- Should I turn down LSE to reapply for Oxford?
- LSE or UCL???
- Official London School Of Economics Undergraduate rejection holders 2022
- Anyone with decisions from LLK1 - Int. Social and Public Policy and Economics?
- UCL or LSE for Philosophy & Economics?
- LSE Politics and Economics or QUB Chemical Engineering
- UCAS Clearing 2023 FAQ and Help Megathread
- Got a Ucas or results related question? Ask a Clearing and Applications Advisor here
- LSE waitlist
- Turning down LSE for KCL
- Warwick vs LSE for PPE
- Is LSE as bad as everyone says?
- Order in which you put your UCAS preferences
- Durham or UCL for Law LLB?
- LSE MSc Economics vs working in Econ Consulting
- Oxbridge 2:1 VS Top Russell Group 1st
- LSE vs Durham for law
- How strict is the 1st entry requirement?
Trending
- Official London School of Economics and Political Science 2024 Applicant Thread
- LSE september 2024 grad intake
- LSE Economics L100 2024 Entry
- Ucas offers
- LSE offers
- Application to LSE
- University spreadsheets
- TMUA
- LSE grade- 2024 UCAS
- LSE masters after Durham?
- LSE International and Social Public Policy with Politics
- lse personal statement
- Lse 2024
- LSE PPE for 2024 entry
- Official LSE Offer Holders Thread for 2024 entry
- LSE Graduate Reserve List 2023/24
- LSE Economics query
- LSE Bsc Economics 2024 Applicants
- I want to get into LSE
- When can I expect to hear back from LSE?
Latest
- exeter vs bristol
- Gcse maths ocr paper 6 higher June 14th 2023
- 2024 Westminster 16+ Entry
- Ofcom graduate scheme 2024
- 1 Reason guys approached less attractive girls in group
- Breakup
- Official: University of Nottingham A108 2024 Entry Applicant thread
- King's College Maths Sixth form 2023 applicants
- London Student Accommodation Needed
- RSM graduate scheme 2024
- Make it More Tibet-ey !!
- Official: University of Bristol A100 2024 Entry Applicants
- Need help drawing this graph-AL Maths
- How do I talk to a guy who I have nothing to talk about to?
- HMRC Tax Specialist Programme 2024
- Called rude and disrespectful by the ward manager, in front of a staff huddle
- going insane
- Software Engineering Degree Apprenticeship | Digital & Technology Solutions Level 6
- How do you get a higher mark in a higher English critical essay?
- The Official Cambridge Applicants for 2024 Entry Thread
- SOAS PG student looking to take over tenancy
- Brampton Manor Sixth Form
- tenancy takeover lumis
- University of Oxford 2024 Undergraduate Applicants Official Thread
- Official Warwick Applicants Thread 2024 Entry
- Mental Health Support Society XXI
- Is there still a chance?
- Make it More Prize-ey !!
- Can I study nursing?
- Want fun
- 2024 Pharmacy applicants mega-thread
- study tips for bio, chem and maths?
- Sciences Po | Admissions 24
- University of Sunderland A100 2024 Entry
- Official: Barts and the London (QMUL) A100 2024 Entry Applicants
- [Official thread] Hamas-Israel Conflict
- NEA Computer Science Form - "Debt Free App"
- 57% AI generated score
- Official Cambridge Postgraduate Applicants 2024 Thread
- Question for guys
Latest
- exeter vs bristol
- Gcse maths ocr paper 6 higher June 14th 2023
- 2024 Westminster 16+ Entry
- Ofcom graduate scheme 2024
- 1 Reason guys approached less attractive girls in group
- Breakup
- Official: University of Nottingham A108 2024 Entry Applicant thread
- King's College Maths Sixth form 2023 applicants
- London Student Accommodation Needed
- RSM graduate scheme 2024
- Make it More Tibet-ey !!
- Official: University of Bristol A100 2024 Entry Applicants
- Need help drawing this graph-AL Maths
- How do I talk to a guy who I have nothing to talk about to?
- HMRC Tax Specialist Programme 2024
- Called rude and disrespectful by the ward manager, in front of a staff huddle
- going insane
- Software Engineering Degree Apprenticeship | Digital & Technology Solutions Level 6
- How do you get a higher mark in a higher English critical essay?
- The Official Cambridge Applicants for 2024 Entry Thread
- SOAS PG student looking to take over tenancy
- Brampton Manor Sixth Form
- tenancy takeover lumis
- University of Oxford 2024 Undergraduate Applicants Official Thread
- Official Warwick Applicants Thread 2024 Entry
- Mental Health Support Society XXI
- Is there still a chance?
- Make it More Prize-ey !!
- Can I study nursing?
- Want fun
- 2024 Pharmacy applicants mega-thread
- study tips for bio, chem and maths?
- Sciences Po | Admissions 24
- University of Sunderland A100 2024 Entry
- Official: Barts and the London (QMUL) A100 2024 Entry Applicants
- [Official thread] Hamas-Israel Conflict
- NEA Computer Science Form - "Debt Free App"
- 57% AI generated score
- Official Cambridge Postgraduate Applicants 2024 Thread
- Question for guys