Chances of getting into UCL?

Hey guys, I am looking to apply to UCL's Economics or PPE degree and would like to know what you think my chances of getting in are.

My academic profile + supercurriculars are as follows:

A levels: A* A* A* Maths, Econ, Politics + A* in EPQ
GSCEs: 9888887766
Work Experience: internships at PWC and Deutsche Boerse
Deputy head boy
Entered multiple Oxbridge essay competitions and read multiple books related to my course.

Would appreciate any feedback!

Reply 1

liztruss

Original post

by Bobsleigh322

Hey guys, I am looking to apply to UCL's Economics or PPE degree and would like to know what you think my chances of getting in are.
My academic profile + supercurriculars are as follows:
A levels: A* A* A* Maths, Econ, Politics + A* in EPQ
GSCEs: 9888887766
Work Experience: internships at PWC and Deutsche Boerse
Deputy head boy
Entered multiple Oxbridge essay competitions and read multiple books related to my course.
Would appreciate any feedback!

probs not getting in u don’t do 4 a levels mate

Reply 2

thegeek888

Original post

by Bobsleigh322

Hey guys, I am looking to apply to UCL's Economics or PPE degree and would like to know what you think my chances of getting in are.
My academic profile + supercurriculars are as follows:
A levels: A* A* A* Maths, Econ, Politics + A* in EPQ
GSCEs: 9888887766
Work Experience: internships at PWC and Deutsche Boerse
Deputy head boy
Entered multiple Oxbridge essay competitions and read multiple books related to my course.
Would appreciate any feedback!

For Economics, you would be competing with a lot of applicants with 4A* grades predicted but for PPE you would have a much better chance at UCL. 🙂

Reply 3

Anonymous #1

i think people saying you need 4 a levels aren’t considering that some sixth forms / colleges don’t allow you to do 4 (mine for example, yet probably about 5 people per year get into oxbridge which is similar to ucl). obviously if you did have 4 A*s then great, but i don’t think it’s going to stop you from getting into either course if the rest of your application is strong.

Reply 4

artful_lounger

Clearing and Applications Advisor, Universities Forum Helper

Original post

by Bobsleigh322

Lack of FM may be a factor for the main economics course although I'm not sure how much of a factor it is. Your grades are self-evidently excellent though and unlikely to be an issue.

The essay competitions and wider reading are the most relevant supercurriculars so focus on these. Avoid just listing the fact you did them and write about your experiences and thoughts on doing those things, what you learned, what your reflections on those things are, and analyse the stuff you read/wrote critically. What led you to read X or Y over Z? What argument did you present in your essays, how to you construct it and what are the limitations of it/how does this compare to current positions on the topic in academic research?

Be thoughtful when writing about your internships - remember you're applying to a degree in economics or PPE. these are academic degrees, not finance training programmes. Focus specifically elements of the internships that have a bearing on the degree e.g. economic phenomena you encountered or modelled etc. So many economics applicants write really generic personal statements with their fancy work experience at investment banks and suchlike without demonstrating any awareness of what an economics degree actually entails which pretty clearly signals they have no real interest in the degree content and just want to get the degree to go into finance (which, FYI - you can do with any degree).

Don't think being deputy head boy has much bearing on anything. Would only suggest you mention briefly at most.