AIBU to ask what is better for undergrad economics? Cambridge or LSE?

[downtonabbeyfan1234]

If MNHQ want to move this to higher education that is fine with me.

Fortunate that DS has offers from both unis and I know they are both excellent (no issue cost wise with us thankfully). Anyone has any information as to what has the better undergrad course?

We've both looked at as much info as we can online. Apparently LSE has a new economics curriculum (and that interests DS very much) but Cambridge has a mix of maths and essays. Rankings wise Cambridge is higher up in the UK subject rankings but LSE is higher up in the global rankings for economics. If anyone has any DC currently doing economics, relaying their thoughts would be great.

I know that Cambridge is excellent but DS has heard of some cases where people turn down their Cambridge offer to go to LSE.

@PenStation

The LSE course is better regarded but a relative is a graduate of this course and wishes he had gone to Cambridge due to the networking opportunities.

This

[quote downtonabbeyfan1234]@Phos would you recommend Nottingham as an insurance choice?[/quote]
Potentially, what is his offer from Nottingham?

Nottingham is different from LSE/Cambridge in that it's a campus university but that can be an advantage as much as a disadvantage. It's a well respected university, the economics department is strong and if he's looking for a particularly mathematical degree they do a lot of econometrics and quants modules (though you can stick to the more essay based, theoretical stuff too especially in 2nd and 3rd year)

If he's potentially interested in studying abroad for a year or semester Nottingham is also good for that.

Nottingham is different from LSE/Cambridge in that it's a campus university but that can be an advantage as much as a disadvantage. It's a well respected university, the economics department is strong and if he's looking for a particularly mathematical degree they do a lot of econometrics and quants modules (though you can stick to the more essay based, theoretical stuff too especially in 2nd and 3rd year)

It would be lovely if employers and business contacts assessed every degree on its individual merits. But they don't. Cambridge opens more doors than the LSE, which opens more doors than Nottingham. It's not fair on the universities that are further down the pecking order, but it's the truth.

Anyone with an offer from Cambridge would be a fool to pass it up to go to Nottingham.

well, it was a long time ago now, but I went to both! (not for economics though)

In my view, Cambridge wins EVERY SINGLE TIME. The teaching was incomparably better. It was way more fun. LSE was corporate; sharp suits for UGs going to lectures; snippy competition. Cambridge was exciting, engaging, broadening.

I'd also think twice or even three times about an LSE Masters: MScs are substantially taught by PhD students, treated as cash cows.

Both places do have some absolutely wonderful teachers; you hear extraordinary speakers; they are stimulating places. But for a 3 year UG? No competition...

@Phos it is AAA but unlike LSE the A does not have to be in maths

Hi my son also has offers for both this year (but for Geography) and has firmed Cambridge. Both a great unis but he feels Cambridge will be a more unique and fun student experience. At LSE, you only get guaranteed accommodation for the first year. Then you have to hope your friends have the same budget as you for accommodation. They can end up living quite far out and many who live in London anyway, just move back home at this point. Also, LSE has a crap reputation for student support / welfare. We live in London anyway and DS is looking forward to the chance to live in a calmer environment - as he said, “Cambridge is a place where I’ll be able to think with a clearer head.”

I would say Cambridge for undergrad and then he can always apply to LSE for postgrad if he wants the ‘London experience.’

@TatianaBis

Nottingham the town is a dump, however, and no match for the historic beauty of Cambridge or the multicultural metropolis of London.

Students have a laugh wherever they are.

I think your idea of Cambridge for undergrad and LSE for postgrad is ideal.

I second this. However, I am biased as I had the BEST time of my life at Cambridge (not an economist but knew some - they seemed to have time for fun).

@entropynow I assume with your name you did physics? haha

I agree with the others that, unless he has a particular antipathy to the idea of small Colleges and a small city then Cambridge student life is likely to be richer.

Then consider post-grad at LSE. Or even better, go to the US!

@irregularegular from what I've seen in the US the postgrad degrees are straight to phd. cant find a masters in economics degree taught at Harvard

@irregularegular from what I've seen in the US the postgrad degrees are straight to phd. cant find a masters in economics degree taught at Harvard

True, in the US you essentially do the masters and phd in one go. Though I think most give the (non-advertised) option to leave with a Masters if you don't complete the phd. Oxford is moving the same way - encouraging students who expect to do the Dphil to apply for the combination from the start.

DS has many years before he needs to decide about his postgrad life. Thankfully now he's a bit more sure about where he wants to study his undergrad.

Thanks all for your honest advice.

Believe I should give an update. DS firmed Cambridge and actually insured LSE.

He was originally put off by LSE but I encouraged him to research LSE as much as possible before making his final choice. He has looked at the virtual open day recordings (those from the uni and from the Econ dept) and saw that the uni has invested a lot of time and money trying to improve the student experience and create a better community feel. DS is still intrigued by the economics curriculum reform.
He has looked at a student Youtuber at LSE and she seems to be having a lot of fun in her vlogs.

The negative stereotype of LSE social life seems exaggerated to an extent. DS tells me people he has spoken to say 'it is what you make it'.

I studied at LSE. Not econ. You hit the ground running. Both lse and Cambridge are excellent. The student experiences are very different. Talk to people doing both and visit both a few times if you can

I did LSE and then Oxford. Personally LSE broadened my horizons, everyone was very International and I loved it. But you end up with a very mature social life, I hardly went to any student bars because frankly they weren't so nice. I appreciate this has changed recently. I found Oxford a bit small and stuff but undoubtedly its Oxford that people care about. However, most undergrads from both places end up doing MAs so this isn't such a big deal what he ends up doing for his first degree

@Fuuyf5677 might I ask what you studied? Econ as well?

DS likes the fact that with LSE being in London there's lots of 'political' stuff going on. Some people he has spoken to have called Oxbridge a bubble.

The people who call Oxbridge a bubble are usually those who didn't get in though so always take what anyone says with a pinch of salt.

@SeasonFinale good point.

I didnt do econ but another similar subject. I would say that both our bubbles - Oxbridge for me was a much more British bubble than the LSE but you have to be prepared to live in a massive city. Lots of my British friends at the LSE were a bit overwhelmed with how big it was. Something to look out for is that most of my friends no longer live in the UK - they were mostly internationals and after doing a few years in the city left. To be fair, I did the same but that tells you something. Everyone at the LSE was totally focused on internships right at the start but again am assuming thats not too different at Cambridge, Oxford or Imperial at undergrad level.

What I wouldnt do is go anywhere else other than Oxbridge or top London unis. It's just not worth it. So I would say - maybe he should pick according to where he'd rather live. Students are studies and fun loving everywhere. I do remember when LSE went 24hr - I was really really happy about it. Equally i also remember visiting my best mate at Cambridge and being really jealous of her library key.

Personally, I do think that Oxbridge terms are just unnecessarily short. You cover the same amount of material in a much shorted timeframe. However, it does teach you to be able to digest and produce copious amounts of information in a very short space of time. Thats a useful skill in itself though its a lot less pleasant while you're doing it

A friend of mine went to the LSE (law, not economics) and found it very difficult socially. Very intense and very competitive, hard to make friends (she’s a normally gregarious and friendly person) and eventually left. I think London was too much for her; she started again elsewhere and did fine. My daughter went to Cambridge and loved every minute (despite all the worried stereotypes about everyone being richer/posher etc. So that’s my two penny worth; good luck to your son.

I did law at LSE (my choice was between Oxford and LSE) - I chose it specifically because I loved London. They are very different experiences, I made many lifelong friends at LSE and had a fantastic time but it suited my personality. I think the quality of the teaching is likely to be better at Cambridge, LSE has a bad habit of using PhD students for tutorials, some of them are excellent but others just aren't good teachers. It's nothing like the tutorial system at Oxbridge and from what I can tell it hasn't changed since I was there (despite this being an area where LSE repeatedly falls down on student surveys).

Basically I'd choose LSE over Cambridge if like me the experience of living in London is a big draw in of itself. Otherwise, i'd choose Cambridge.

[quote downtonabbeyfan1234]@Fuuyf5677 might I ask what you studied? Econ as well?

DS likes the fact that with LSE being in London there's lots of 'political' stuff going on. Some people he has spoken to have called Oxbridge a bubble.[/quote]
But what’s wrong with a bubble if that bubble is filled with some of the greatest minds and world experts in their fields, and a community of peers all engaged in study, thinking, discussion, creativity, sport etc etc? I have never understood why ‘bubble’ is used so sneeringly. It doesn’t mean you don’t engage with the world, or travel. Cambridge terms are so short that you can go and work in the ‘real world’ every vacation if you so wish.

@ThanksItHasPockets it's just a very small stuffy bubble. And a bit boring and dare I say it British. But I am not British and as an undergrad, I loved getting back into a global bubble. Oxford frankly felt small and a bit parochial after that. Both places are elite bubbles - the main question is which one would you rather be in and what do you aspire to do afterwards and where. LSE students will be much more focused on getting their first job in London and then moving onto to Zurich, New York, Frankfurt etc etc etc rather than living in a three bed house in the home counties, which to me is boring. But thats a personal preference.

We are talking about elite universities here - so it's not like students or staff at one are better or worse than each other. Personally, I dont think the tutorial system is all that good. It doesnt teach you enough about working in a team, managing social relations etc, too focused on the relationship with the tutor, which doesnt prepare you for the workplace which are usually much more diverse. Lots of PhD students teach tutorials so it's not like you get top profs doing it all the time.

Either way, most graduates from both end up in London afterwards so whichever one he picks, he will get to experience London.

I also went to LSE and did economics and another subject (joint degree) - I loved it but I wanted the experience of living in London, the whole “dreamy spires”, debates in the common room and cycling to lectures feel of Oxbridge didn’t appeal to me.

Best of luck to your DS in his decision.

@Fuuyf5677 Well, we all have our prejudices and yours are clearly quite different to mine.

I will add one further point which I think is little-discussed but in retrospect probably my favourite thing about an undergraduate experience at Oxbridge: the college system means that you live and work with students across the full range of academic disciplines. The LSE student body is undoubtedly a more global demographic and the specialism in social studies might suit OP's DS if he wants to immerse himself in this field. Conversely if I think of my own friends from university they comprise physicists, chemists, lawyers, art historians, doctors, etc etc, and I really value the different perspectives that they all bring (especially as only one of them lives in a three-bedroom house in the Home Counties ).

I suppose you could try to replicate this by living in intercollegiate halls in London but it is harder, especially now ULU / Student Centre on Malet St has gone.