A-level combinations

Hi,

I really want to get into LSE finance/economics/maths and economics, or Imperial economics finance data science, and I am unsure of which A-levels to pick. I'm currently doing GCSEs and should get around 8 or 9 grade 8s/9s, with at least an 8 in maths, but a chance of a 9. The A-levels I've picked are maths, further maths, politics and economics. Although I know further maths is extremely difficult, I am genuinely determined to make it work however hard I need to try. Are the A-levels I've picked going to maximise chances of getting into the course I want, as I know physics is quite popular. I am quite good at physics, but I enjoy politics more, but if taking physics will increase my chances I am willing to do it.

Any advice?

Your choices are fine. Choosing Politics over Physics is wise if you'll enjoy it more, as is will increase your likelihood of getting a better grade.

Thanks - I was just wondering since physics is very common as a choice for these courses, but so long as choosing politics over physics won't impact my chances of getting in, that's what I'd rather do.

Hi,
I really want to get into LSE finance/economics/maths and economics, or Imperial economics finance data science, and I am unsure of which A-levels to pick. I'm currently doing GCSEs and should get around 8 or 9 grade 8s/9s, with at least an 8 in maths, but a chance of a 9. The A-levels I've picked are maths, further maths, politics and economics. Although I know further maths is extremely difficult, I am genuinely determined to make it work however hard I need to try. Are the A-levels I've picked going to maximise chances of getting into the course I want, as I know physics is quite popular. I am quite good at physics, but I enjoy politics more, but if taking physics will increase my chances I am willing to do it.
Any advice?

Hi,
I really want to get into LSE finance/economics/maths and economics, or Imperial economics finance data science, and I am unsure of which A-levels to pick. I'm currently doing GCSEs and should get around 8 or 9 grade 8s/9s, with at least an 8 in maths, but a chance of a 9. The A-levels I've picked are maths, further maths, politics and economics. Although I know further maths is extremely difficult, I am genuinely determined to make it work however hard I need to try. Are the A-levels I've picked going to maximise chances of getting into the course I want, as I know physics is quite popular. I am quite good at physics, but I enjoy politics more, but if taking physics will increase my chances I am willing to do it.
Any advice?

Thanks for the advice. I do triple and could quite possibly get a 9, but I’m not sure I would do so well at a level just because a level is more about understanding it than just rote learning facts I assume. However I do work very hard and I would rather go to the university I want and do physics than do politics but not get in, even if that’s the a level I would rather do. Would doing politics over physics be a deciding factor for the university?

But also doing an access programme might help too like Sutton trust

Also make sure you give your very best for maths and science specifically (physics if you do triple) because those grades will haunt you for the rest of ur life, especially since econ is becoming more and more competitive. That being said, dw if things go wrong. I didn’t get a single 9 or 8 at gcse and got an offer for EFDS (contextual)

Out of interest how important are english literature/geography for imperial efds or lse finance? They're probably the only subjects where I won't get 8/9, but geography it's quite likely I'll score quite low in geography (6 or lower), and probably get a 7 in english lit. Also if I had a change of heart and applied to a ppe course at oxford/lse/ucl would these gcse grades in english lit and geography make my application less competitive, even if I got 8/9 in everything else? Thanks.

From what I know, universities mainly care about English lang and less about English lit. Geography too shouldn’t matter too much if you apply to finance related degrees. Remember they look at your profile contextually, so for some people it’ll be considered relatively impressive to get 7s and 6s in comparison to others in better positions.

Thanks so much for the advice. I've just registered my interest in the pathways to banking and finance programme, although I don't think I can actually apply until September, when I'm in year 12 and have my gcse results. To be honest though, I think my chances of getting into it are slim as I'm from a high achieving school in the south east, I've never been eligible for free school meals and never really been disadvantaged, but I'll try as you never know.

Thanks. In English lang I'm looking at a grade 8, but apart from lit and geography I'm probably getting all 8s and 9s, which I hope will make my application competitive so long as I get impressive A level grades. I'm planning of getting the futher maths textbook before I go on holiday this year so I can get ahead during the summer, as I'm going on holiday as soon as my gcses finish up until the beginning of the autumn term, so I'm hoping even if I just do 1/2 an hour of maths and further maths every day, it'll make my life a lot easier when I get back. Tbh if further maths goes well, which I hope it will considering I'm prepared to do whatever it takes to succeed at it, I'll probably apply to finance/economics related degrees like lse finance and imperial efds but if it doesn't go as well as I hoped I'll probably try for ppe. I assume when I apply to university I'll have to apply for all ppe or all economics/finance as I can only write 1 personal statement, so it won't work if I try to write it for both ppe and finance? Also do you know if applying to 2 courses at the lse would be a good idea, or would that hurt my chances? Thank you again for the advice.

Is there anything I could do to increase my chances of getting into the pathways to banking and finance programme given how few of the criteria I meet?

What you heard about LSE is not true.