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Imperial Maths or LSE Econ?

I have an offer for Imperial Maths and I am currently studying economics at LSE, however my imperial offer requires 70% first year average and a grade 2 in step 2 or step 3.

I am unsure what to do - should I try and revise for both my lse exams (5 of them, not at all trivial exams either) and STEP, or should I just stay at LSE and focus on getting good grades in those.

For context I have been preparing for STEP since January with a month break and I'd say I have improved a lot, but the newer papers are harder and its a gamble especially since revising for STEP will probably make my LSE performance worse

I really love maths and I do not inherently enjoy econ anymore and I'm not bothered about all the high finance jobs with LSE since I'm not that type of person - I have autism and social anxiety I can't even join a society lol. I realise this won't change at imperial and I need to do something but idk how

So do I risk revising for both for imperial maths?

Thanks

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Reply 1

Original post by yjjjve
I have an offer for Imperial Maths and I am currently studying economics at LSE, however my imperial offer requires 70% first year average and a grade 2 in step 2 or step 3.
I am unsure what to do - should I try and revise for both my lse exams (5 of them, not at all trivial exams either) and STEP, or should I just stay at LSE and focus on getting good grades in those.
For context I have been preparing for STEP since January with a month break and I'd say I have improved a lot, but the newer papers are harder and its a gamble especially since revising for STEP will probably make my LSE performance worse
I really love maths and I do not inherently enjoy econ anymore and I'm not bothered about all the high finance jobs with LSE since I'm not that type of person - I have autism and social anxiety I can't even join a society lol. I realise this won't change at imperial and I need to do something but idk how
So do I risk revising for both for imperial maths?
Thanks
bit unfair them asking for a 70% average; they should just ask for the step 2 assuming you’ve got the right grades from high school.

LSE and imperial are similar unis in terms of the atmosphere; so if you think changing unis will help with your anxiety, it likely won’t.

it you want to study maths instead you could transfer to maths with economics at lse or switch to imperial and maybe convince them to drop the 70% requirement or reduce it bc they wouldn’t give it to someone on a gap year (provided you meet the grades and subject requirements for ICL). If they say no then then really consider switching within LSE or revise for both (if you want to).

I would just switch to the maths with economics course at LSE.

Reply 2

Original post by lanky_giraffe
bit unfair them asking for a 70% average; they should just ask for the step 2 assuming you’ve got the right grades from high school.
LSE and imperial are similar unis in terms of the atmosphere; so if you think changing unis will help with your anxiety, it likely won’t.
it you want to study maths instead you could transfer to maths with economics at lse or switch to imperial and maybe convince them to drop the 70% requirement or reduce it bc they wouldn’t give it to someone on a gap year (provided you meet the grades and subject requirements for ICL). If they say no then then really consider switching within LSE or revise for both (if you want to).
I would just switch to the maths with economics course at LSE.

maths at lse is really bad tho and I will still have to do econ modules

Reply 3

Original post by lanky_giraffe
bit unfair them asking for a 70% average; they should just ask for the step 2 assuming you’ve got the right grades from high school.
LSE and imperial are similar unis in terms of the atmosphere; so if you think changing unis will help with your anxiety, it likely won’t.
it you want to study maths instead you could transfer to maths with economics at lse or switch to imperial and maybe convince them to drop the 70% requirement or reduce it bc they wouldn’t give it to someone on a gap year (provided you meet the grades and subject requirements for ICL). If they say no then then really consider switching within LSE or revise for both (if you want to).
I would just switch to the maths with economics course at LSE.

I have asked now but idk if they will because I already had to ask for a 70% average - initially they demanded above 70% in every single module!

Reply 4

Original post by yjjjve
I have asked now but idk if they will because I already had to ask for a 70% average - initially they demanded above 70% in every single module!
Why though? I don't get why they're asking for it. It's not like you're asking to transfer into year 2.

Reply 5

Original post by yjjjve
maths at lse is really bad tho and I will still have to do econ modules
Is it really that bad? Yeah, but not many econ modules; but surely you like econ at least a little bit, because, I mean, you did pick it.

It could just be a lot easier for you to do that than, let's say, switch to imperial. Especially since you've got used to the place and switching unis in London doesn't change the fact that you still have all the problems that London brings. But if you want to go to Imperial to study maths, I mean, do it; I'm just giving you alternative options.

I personally didn't enjoy my time at Imperial a huge amount, but their maths department is very good. Just make sure it's where you really want to go.

Reply 6

Original post by lanky_giraffe
Why though? I don't get why they're asking for it. It's not like you're asking to transfer into year 2.

Exactly! I find it a bit unfair

Reply 7

Original post by lanky_giraffe
Is it really that bad? Yeah, but not many econ modules; but surely you like econ at least a little bit, because, I mean, you did pick it.
It could just be a lot easier for you to do that than, let's say, switch to imperial. Especially since you've got used to the place and switching unis in London doesn't change the fact that you still have all the problems that London brings. But if you want to go to Imperial to study maths, I mean, do it; I'm just giving you alternative options.
I personally didn't enjoy my time at Imperial a huge amount, but their maths department is very good. Just make sure it's where you really want to go.

Yeah I know my problems will not change I need to figure out how because I can't go on like this... at least I will be doing maths

Reply 8

lse is clear of imperial and a maths degree will probably lead to the same kind of work as econ degree anyway. i feel like switching will also mess up your atmosphere and social life etc

Reply 9

Original post by yjjjve
maths at lse is really bad tho and I will still have to do econ modules

It's not bad at all. Econometrics Mathematical Econ at LSE is really really well regarded. Do that if you like and then do a Masters if needed. Imperial is better for Maths of course but it's not a huge gap and you have much more employability from LSE. You dont need to be in Finance societies just talking in general
I guess it also depends on what your plans are. You want to be an academic or something?
(edited 1 month ago)

Reply 10

Original post by Zürich
It's not bad at all. Econometrics Mathematical Econ at LSE is really really well regarded. Do that if you like and then do a Masters if needed. Imperial is better for Maths of course but it's not a huge gap and you have much more employability from LSE. You dont need to be in Finance societies just talking in general
I guess it also depends on what your plans are. You want to be an academic or something?

I'm not very employable anyway as u could probably tell so it doesn't matter

I just prefer maths. I do not care for econ really at all anymore.
And EME is not easy to get into lol u need to be really passionate about econ too.
And objectively LSE maths dept and courses are bad especially in comparison to imperial

Reply 11

Original post by yjjjve
I'm not very employable anyway as u could probably tell so it doesn't matter
I just prefer maths. I do not care for econ really at all anymore.
And EME is not easy to get into lol u need to be really passionate about econ too.
And objectively LSE maths dept and courses are bad especially in comparison to imperial

Why not look at other unis? I would avoid Imperial as it's not very supportive.

Reply 12

Original post by Muttley79
Why not look at other unis? I would avoid Imperial as it's not very supportive.

imperial is the 3rd best uni for maths in the country and its a quant target

Reply 13

Original post by yjjjve
imperial is the 3rd best uni for maths in the country and its a quant target

No it's not good for Maths - don't believe flawed League tables. I teach Maths and it's one my students avoid.The support is dreadful ....

Reply 14

No, it's not good for Maths these days - I teach Maths so why would I mislead you?

Reply 15

Original post by Muttley79
No, it's not good for Maths these days - I teach Maths so why would I mislead you?

"not good" by what metric? You just keep saying this with no evidence apart from anecdotal evidence and assertion by authority as a teacher?

Reply 16

Original post by yjjjve
"not good" by what metric? You just keep saying this with no evidence apart from anecdotal evidence and assertion by authority as a teacher?

The teaching is below par these days - presumably you are aware of the report that lots of staff complained about bullying? It's all on the internet. They tried to keep 100% teaching online and did for a lot longer than many unis.

Student have had a poor experience and not just people at my school.

Reply 17

Original post by Muttley79
The teaching is below par these days - presumably you are aware of the report that lots of staff complained about bullying? It's all on the internet. They tried to keep 100% teaching online and did for a lot longer than many unis.
Student have had a poor experience and not just people at my school.

staff complained about bullying - how is that my problem? And I have not heard or seen this anywhere - must be old news.

Any actual evidence for poor teaching or just more anecdotes?

Reply 18

Original post by yjjjve
I have an offer for Imperial Maths and I am currently studying economics at LSE, however my imperial offer requires 70% first year average and a grade 2 in step 2 or step 3.
I am unsure what to do - should I try and revise for both my lse exams (5 of them, not at all trivial exams either) and STEP, or should I just stay at LSE and focus on getting good grades in those.
For context I have been preparing for STEP since January with a month break and I'd say I have improved a lot, but the newer papers are harder and its a gamble especially since revising for STEP will probably make my LSE performance worse
I really love maths and I do not inherently enjoy econ anymore and I'm not bothered about all the high finance jobs with LSE since I'm not that type of person - I have autism and social anxiety I can't even join a society lol. I realise this won't change at imperial and I need to do something but idk how
So do I risk revising for both for imperial maths?
Thanks
One word...LSE!!! 😉

Reply 19

Original post by thegeek888
One word...LSE!!! 😉

Why? I see you everywhere talking about LSE you're clearly very biased for some reason - you a grad?

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