LSE economics VS Cambridge Economics - Undergraduate

Hi all
If you were to be lucky enough to receive offers from both Cambridge and LSE to study economics then what factors would you consider to make your firm choice.

We are based is London and commute to LSE is max 45 min. There will be no maintenance cost as DD plans to stay home.
But DD has worked incredibly hard to receive offer from Cambridge.
She is now getting cold feet to think about challenges of living away from home.
But at the same time don't want to regret looking back.
Please can someone help or guide us on how to make correct choice.
TIA

Reply 1

Anonymous #2

Original post

by Anonymous

Hi all
If you were to be lucky enough to receive offers from both Cambridge and LSE to study economics then what factors would you consider to make your firm choice.
We are based is London and commute to LSE is max 45 min. There will be no maintenance cost as DD plans to stay home.
But DD has worked incredibly hard to receive offer from Cambridge.
She is now getting cold feet to think about challenges of living away from home.
But at the same time don't want to regret looking back.
Please can someone help or guide us on how to make correct choice.
TIA

If there are any offer holder days available she should ideally go, people usually get a gut feeling if a place is for them. She could check out the modules available at each uni and decide which uni have ones which intrigue her the most. Considering cost is important too maybe staying at home and going to LSE is far cheaper than living in Cambridge. I would say both unis have a really good career trajectory but being in London help increase accessibility to employers for internships. But there are advantages to moving away with building resilience, responsibility independence.

She should consider what is she trying to get out of uni holistically not just the degree.
Is there a hobby she has like a sport she would like to continue in uni? The collegiate system at Cambridge would lead to a different experience than LSE.
The teaching system is different too. She should do research into what it is like to be a student at each uni, the good and the bad.

All in all, I think it is best for her to wait for LSE to get back to her and make a final decision from there. Good luck to her.

Reply 2

Wired_1800

Original post

by Anonymous

Hi all
If you were to be lucky enough to receive offers from both Cambridge and LSE to study economics then what factors would you consider to make your firm choice.
We are based is London and commute to LSE is max 45 min. There will be no maintenance cost as DD plans to stay home.
But DD has worked incredibly hard to receive offer from Cambridge.
She is now getting cold feet to think about challenges of living away from home.
But at the same time don't want to regret looking back.
Please can someone help or guide us on how to make correct choice.
TIA

Cambridge is Cambridge.

Reply 3

Bibihello

If she plans to study MSc in Economics or PhD in economics (can apply to US universities directly without a master’s degree and they often offer full scholarship with generous stipend), I would suggest LSE. If she plans to work immediately after finishing her undergraduate study, I would go for Cambridge.

Reply 4

Clearing and Applications Advisor, Universities Forum Helper

Is she planning to live at home forever or hoping to move out at some point? Moving out for university is about the easiest option she’ll have to start building life skills while also being supported.

I don’t understand your comment about no maintenance costs for going to LSE. That 45 minute each way commute will not be free nor will any of the other expenses associated with studying (and unless you’re rich enough to give her a flat when she wants to move out it’s a good idea to charge a nominal amount of rent even if you put it all in a savings account for her).

Personally I would recommend that she moves out for at least a year even if she decides to go to LSE.

Reply 5

Stiffy Byng

Cambridge is only fifty minutes by train from King's Cross, and living in a Cambridge College is a great way to experience a degree of independence whilst also being looked after.

Reply 6

Stiffy Byng

Original post

by Anonymous

She should take a gap year and do maths instead because economics is a nonsense, useless, easy, not respected and boring degree with terrible employment prospects; ChatGPT can do anything in an economics degree now but it can't do proper rigorous mathematics. Maths will command much more respect than a silly economics degree

Oh well, UBS must have hired my economics graduate nephew by mistake, and must be paying him the big bucks by mistake.

Reply 7

Anonymous #4

Original post

by Anonymous

Hi all
If you were to be lucky enough to receive offers from both Cambridge and LSE to study economics then what factors would you consider to make your firm choice.
We are based is London and commute to LSE is max 45 min. There will be no maintenance cost as DD plans to stay home.
But DD has worked incredibly hard to receive offer from Cambridge.
She is now getting cold feet to think about challenges of living away from home.
But at the same time don't want to regret looking back.
Please can someone help or guide us on how to make correct choice.
TIA

Have they got LSE yet?

Reply 8

Anonymous #1

Original post

by Anonymous

Have they got LSE yet?

No not received offer from LSE yet. But ever since Cambridge offer has come the thought of staying home versus going away is playing in her mind.
So need to know things we should consider before making any decision if she receives offer from LSE/ UCL ..

Reply 9

Anonymous #5

Original post

by Anonymous

Hi all
If you were to be lucky enough to receive offers from both Cambridge and LSE to study economics then what factors would you consider to make your firm choice.
We are based is London and commute to LSE is max 45 min. There will be no maintenance cost as DD plans to stay home.
But DD has worked incredibly hard to receive offer from Cambridge.
She is now getting cold feet to think about challenges of living away from home.
But at the same time don't want to regret looking back.
Please can someone help or guide us on how to make correct choice.
TIA

I go LSE and my advice are as following:

Look at the modules thoroughly. Have a read of all the modules offered throughout the 3 years, and pick which one you prefer more after a holistic overview.

Think carefully of what you want to gain, university experience? job opportunities? etc. LSE and Cambridge are similar reputation wise amongst employees when it comes to employability, I can't speak for Cambridge but at LSE, you're constantly exposed to the financial industry, many networking events, talks from employers, careers fairs etc are held almost weekly to help students with job opportunities such as securing an internship or spring weeks.
However the University experience is very much minimal, people come here for the degree and not the experience. So if you're someone who is outgoing or want the university experience, you won't find it here.

Reply 10

Wired_1800

Original post

by Anonymous

Hi all
If you were to be lucky enough to receive offers from both Cambridge and LSE to study economics then what factors would you consider to make your firm choice.
We are based is London and commute to LSE is max 45 min. There will be no maintenance cost as DD plans to stay home.
But DD has worked incredibly hard to receive offer from Cambridge.
She is now getting cold feet to think about challenges of living away from home.
But at the same time don't want to regret looking back.
Please can someone help or guide us on how to make correct choice.
TIA

@Muttley79 might have a view.

(edited 11 months ago)