GCSE's At Oxford, Cambridge and LSE (Economics)

Hi,

I am just wondering weather an application would stand a chance at Oxford, Cambridge and LSE for an economics course if the applicants GCSE and A-level grades where as follows:

GCSE

Maths - B (1 UMS Mark off an A)
English Lit - C
English Language - C
Science - C/C
Business studies - C
I.t. - C
Resistant Material - A
Religious Education - B
Physical Education - B

So all in all - ABBBCCCCCC (very poor)

But the applicants A-levels where as follows:

A-levels

Maths - A
Further Maths - A
Physics - A
Economics - A
Law - A (AS only)
Business - A (AS only)

So AAAAaa

Do you think they would have a chance at an economics course at Oxbridge or LSE? Bering in mind the applicant is a very polite and intelegent young man who decided to turn his life around at A-level, shame about his GCSE's I know, Do Oxbridge, LSE look that highly on GCSE grades?

Please quote me.

Thanks,

Reply 1

Tyrotoxism

2

LSE will probably reject you but if you can perform at interview then you have every chance at Oxford/Cambridge.

Reply 2

Mimi600

1

I think it is definitely worth a try with the AS/A level results. Oxbridge do say they look for an 'upward trend' in results, showing that the applicant has made real progress through committment and hard work (and a real flair for their subject(s)). The GCSEs aren't good enough really, but when you look at the A levels it shows clearly that something has radically changed.

I'd go for it,
Good luck

Reply 3

econ1

OP

2

Tyrotoxism

LSE will probably reject you but if you can perform at interview then you have every chance at Oxford/Cambridge.

Thanks, what would the Oxbridge interviews consist of?, Anyone had one?
I know LSE don't interview makes to that much harder to get accepted.

Reply 4

Tyrotoxism

2

econ1

Thanks, what would the Oxbridge interviews consist of?, Anyone had one?

Everybody's interview experience differs. Very generally: you may be given a few maths problems, an extract to read and analyse, converse on current economic issues and expand upon interests you may have alluded to in your personal statement.

Reply 5

cognito_08

16

econ1

Thanks, what would the Oxbridge interviews consist of?, Anyone had one?

There is a wealth of information, here, about Oxbridge :
http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?f=23

Reply 6

Hanoi

15

GCSEs are very poor, B in Maths and your other GCSE subjects apart from Science and English are not traditional subjects...apparently LSE take into account what subjects you did at GCSE so Cambridge will probably hold it against you as well (unless you got over 95% UMS in your A Levels).

Harvard is very optimistic btw...

Reply 7

eulerwaswrong

13

the gcses wont look good no - and whatever people say - they will look at them and it wont look that great - but thats just one part of your application - if all the other parts look great - then you are in with a shout.

Bottom line: it doesnt rule you out but it doesnt exactly help. (im sure ive read LSE have a minimum gcse thing - i may be wrong)

Reply 8

Laus

13

I have very poor GCSE results (worse than yours) and really good A level results, and I got into York. OK, so it isn't LSE or Oxbridge, but the course is very competitive. I emailed Oxford and Camb asking if I had a chance and they encouraged me to apply (I didn't, in the end.) So it is definitely worth a shot. :smile:

Reply 9

ijustlovetolearn

1

I know for a fact LSE does look at GCSEs and to be honest no one with Bs would apply for economics there. You'd have to have an amazing statement.

Reply 10

x-shivi-x

OK the gcse grades aren't that good, but LSE state that they want above a C in maths and english GCSE's, which you have (im not sure about oxford and cambridge).

I think you should go for it!! :smile:

The worst that will happen is that your unsuccessful but you have nothing to lose. Those A level grades are really good aswell so i think you stand a very good chance. :biggrin:

Reply 11

Anatheme

18

econ1

Do you think they would have a chance at an economics course at Oxbridge or LSE? Bering in mind the applicant is a very polite and intelegent young man who decided to turn his life around at A-level, shame about his GCSE's I know, Do Oxbridge, LSE look that highly on GCSE grades?

Please quote me.

Thanks,

Try again

Reply 12

TheMeister

15

Your English is terrible; you have a problem with grammar and your 1st and 3rd persons are all over the place. If you do apply, make sure that the Personal Statement is top notch without the basic errors you've made here.

Reply 13

littlemiss-sunshine

13

econ1

Hi,

I am just wondering weather an application would stand a chance at Oxford, Cambridge and LSE for an economics course if the applicants GCSE and A-level grades where as follows:

GCSE

Maths - B (1 UMS Mark off an A)
English Lit - C
English Language - C
Science - C/C
Business studies - C
I.t. - C
Resistant Material - A
Religious Education - B
Physical Education - B

So all in all - ABBBCCCCCC (very poor)

But the applicants A-levels where as follows:

A-levels

Maths - A
Further Maths - A
Physics - A
Economics - A
Law - A (AS only)
Business - A (AS only)

So AAAAaa

Do you think they would have a chance at an economics course at Oxbridge or LSE? Bering in mind the applicant is a very polite and intelegent young man who decided to turn his life around at A-level, shame about his GCSE's I know, Do Oxbridge, LSE look that highly on GCSE grades?

Please quote me.

Thanks,

The B at maths GCSE may not be good enough for LSE, but they focus loads on the personal statement so you never know...
As for economics at Oxbridge - whether or not you get an interview at Oxford is primarily decided by how well you perform in the test you have to sit first (TSA); the interviews I had were mainly problem solving based around game theory and questions about management based upon a given extract. I know that there is no test for Cambridge so they're likely to place more weight on grades and PS.
I'd say go for it but don't put all your hopes upon getting in, and I'd only go for LSE or Oxbridge not both, so you've still got 4 choices where you may stand a better chance of getting in. Hope that helps (:

Reply 14

username102860

10

x-shivi-x

The worst that will happen is that your unsuccessful but you have nothing to lose.

Apart from wasting a space on the application y'mean?

Oxbridge is feasible, but LSE is definitely not (this is down to the interview process). Fantastic UMS is obviously desirable, especially for Cambridge.

Reply 15

DaveParlour

13

Considering the amount of competition for Economics courses, those GCSE grades will set you back a long way. With your A-level choices, the Business AS will be practically ignored as you are doing Economics A2. Your Maths A2 will also be practically ignored as you are doing Further Maths A2, they see it as if you can get an A in FM, then an A in Maths is standard, but they do hold FM in relatively high regard in this instance. So effectively you have Further Maths, Physics and Economics at A2, the others just show you can cope with a workload. You better be hitting the high 90+ UMS scores if you want a chance at Cambridge, or getting an A in every module if you want a shot at Oxford / LSE.

What standard of school did you go to? e.g. the 5 A*-C GCSE pass rate?

Reply 16

econ1

OP

2

Laus

I have very poor GCSE results (worse than yours) and really good A level results, and I got into York. OK, so it isn't LSE or Oxbridge, but the course is very competitive. I emailed Oxford and Camb asking if I had a chance and they encouraged me to apply (I didn't, in the end.) So it is definitely worth a shot. :smile:

I can't believe you never applied. What course are you doing and what A-levels did you have? Thanks for the info gives me a bit of hope lol.

Reply 17

econ1

OP

2

x-shivi-x

OK the gcse grades aren't that good, but LSE state that they want above a C in maths and english GCSE's, which you have (im not sure about oxford and cambridge).

I think you should go for it!! :smile:

The worst that will happen is that your unsuccessful but you have nothing to lose. Those A level grades are really good aswell so i think you stand a very good chance. :biggrin:

Thanks, do you know if that is all LSE require from GCSE?

Reply 18

130ss

2

No they will all reject you.. you need at least an B grade for english language. For all 3.
LSE are GCSE's nazi's for economics at LsE (L100) you need at least 7A*, and you have to have a good PS and do well in the interview..

Reply 19

dougiemacs

for cambridge, would maasively depend on your UMS scores in your a levels. especially for maths, considering your gcse grade.

GCSE's At Oxford, Cambridge and LSE (Economics)

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