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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

Help LSE or Warwick

38 replies

LilyFlower2222 · 21/01/2022 18:37

Niece has applied for Accounting and Finance and has luckily got offers from both LSE and Warwick. This has becoming very stressful as she’s can’t decide which one to firm. Warwick has a year in Industry and LSE doesn’t. Will that affect job opportunities or is going to LSE the best decision based on name. Help please your wisdom will be greatly appreciated. Thanks

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Needmoresleep · 21/01/2022 20:53

I would have thought the main question is London or not. LSE accounting course is very very highly regarded. There are big networking advantages in being in the centre of London. The course will bd very international.

However London is not for everyone. Warwick is a great University as well and much greener.

Notagardener · 21/01/2022 20:54

Can't really comment but DC is at LSE and loves being in London, was always her goal to study in London. She visited Warwick for an event, and although she said uni was nice she would not have wanted to study there as too boring.

LIZS · 21/01/2022 20:58

Has she visited, they are very different locations and styles. Do they both give same exemptions from professional exams? I would have thought a placement could be useful experience.

LilyPond2 · 21/01/2022 21:08

As Needmoresleep has said, I think your niece really needs to think about what sort of place she wants to live in while doing her degree. In terms of location, Warwick and LSE are quite chalk and cheese. I can't imagine a degree from either is going to hold your niece back in her career, so I think she should focus a bit more on where she actually wants to live (and perhaps on affordability of London unless that is not an issue).

Oldowl · 21/01/2022 21:16

Congratulations to your niece! She must have got one of the first LSE offers this year. My DD is at LSE. She really enjoys it, but she has friends at Warwick who are loving the experience too. Offer holder days may help her decide. Are the course modules very different? Are the offers from LSE and Warwick the same?

Original poster
LilyFlower2222 · 21/01/2022 22:01

Thanks for the replies. She has visited both and loved them hence making it difficult. Both have exemptions. In terms of modules, from the research she has done she can take more Economic modules than Warwick. Whether that makes a difference in terms of career prospects we don’t know?

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Original poster
LilyFlower2222 · 21/01/2022 22:02

Course modules seem to be very similar

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Needmoresleep · 21/01/2022 22:24

What does she want to do afterwards. If she wants, say, an international career with a multinational, LSE has greater name recognition overseas and she will study alongside students from just about everywhere.

dreamingbohemian · 22/01/2022 11:35

LSE for the reputation and networking

polavary · 22/01/2022 11:41

LSE better reputation for her course (but Warwick still an extremely good university!) but totally different experience. Going to uni in London is unlike any other city so she needs to decide based on that. In her position I would have picked Warwick every time. Has a campus feel and is very studenty.

jgw1 · 22/01/2022 11:42

In the most recent student satisfaction survey LSE was 53rd (which is higher than it has been for a long time, perhaps at last they have changed something?) whereas Warwick was 14th.

pleasestoprainingplease · 22/01/2022 11:48

Sister at Warwick and the other choice was LSE. Came down to the fact she lives in London and is used to London already. Is London very different to where she is living now? My Sister wanted a change and to get a bit further away to truly feel like she isn't living at home if that makes sense. For what it's worth she is loving life and partying hard whilst working hard at Warwick.

Sorry that probably doesn't help!

Original poster
LilyFlower2222 · 22/01/2022 11:56

Thanks for all the responses they’ve been very helpful. Initially she was set on Warwick but since receiving the LSE offer she’s been thinking being in London will be beneficial in terms of access to Internships and job prospects. Her direction career wise is either auditing or Finance analyst

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thebigpurpleone · 22/01/2022 12:05

Year in industry will be amazing for the CV.

LIZS · 22/01/2022 12:13

Most of the large accountancy firms and banks have offices in other areas of the country. Not sure the intern opportunities will necessarily be as London centric as previously.

RomainingCalm · 22/01/2022 12:24

Both are great, well-respected universities. The year in industry could be really helpful and open up graduate opportunities as well as giving her some important work experience for her CV.

I guess it comes down to lifestyle. Warwick is more campus based, students tend to stay on campus for social life, clubs and sports etc.

London university life is probably more 'spread out' - more students commuting into university for lectures and then going back home. Could make it more tricky to establish friendships etc.

Another consideration could be the cost?

Needmoresleep · 22/01/2022 13:43

On student satisfaction, DS was very happy at LSE but had friends who might have enjoyed Warwick more. It was a matter of pride that LSE came bottom of student satisfaction surveys, so respondes probably reflected that. Some sort of macho thing. LSE may have responded well to the pandemic (DDs experience at Imperial was very good) so this may have lifted them off the bottom. Truth is LSE suits some, not others, and this is probably the primary decision.

London gives lots of networking opportunities. There were lots of networking breakfasts where senior economists from different would give a talk, and free breakfast. Or employment during vacations even if clerical through a temp agency rather than an internship.

In answer to OP I would say LSE unless the 18 year old niece feels London and the internationalism threatens to be overwhelming. Only a quarter of students on that course are likely to be British, and even fewer non London white British. Brilliant for some. Not great for others who seek comfort and safety in the familiar. (FWIW I was the only Brit on my course at LSE many years ago and straight from an all gils convent boarding school many years ago. . The first year was tough but I would not have it any other way.)

Needmoresleep · 22/01/2022 13:57

Also worth considering that at Warwick you spend second and third years living in Leamington or Co. Evening recruitment/networking events can become tricky. Bus home to change into something smart, bus back to University and then bus home again. Not insuperable, but it is easier being in the heart of London.

Original poster
LilyFlower2222 · 22/01/2022 15:11

Pleases….they used to live in London until late secondary school age and moved to a market town 2 hours from London. So she has experience of living in London. It’s definitely a tough decision for her

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Original poster
LilyFlower2222 · 22/01/2022 15:14

The year in industry is one she’s struggling with as she has no idea how beneficial it would be in comparison to coming away from LSE without it. We’re a family of health professionals hence no valuable experience

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AppleTree16 · 22/01/2022 15:26

I went to Warwick for 5 years and I would really ask your niece whether she wants to live on a campus uni. I hated it. You are cut off (it’s a 20 minute bus from Coventry in the morning and more than an hour from Leam). The tutors on my course were awful (science degree and more interested in research and not pastoral care) and Warwick’s reputation on both sexual assault and student protest is horrific at the moment.

LSE Is a much more well regarded university and the opportunities for internships and summer placements (instead of a year in industry) are plentiful for good students. No grad job is going to turn down ambitious people who work hard and can show willing on summer placements etc / extra activities.

I think I’m a bit biased but that’s my experience.

Original poster
LilyFlower2222 · 22/01/2022 17:10

Thanks Appletree for your insight that’s definitely food for thought. As Warwick was also in the news last year unfortunately

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Engley · 22/01/2022 18:12

My DS at LSE.Loves being in Central London and having a great time.He is working and playing hard.

TheSpanishApartment · 22/01/2022 18:48

I work at LSE. We have had a huge focus on student satisfaction for the last few years, hence the improvement in scores. LSE does have the reputation of being good to have been at (v good for CV, guaranteed a job in the City if that’s what you want), but difficult to be at. Agree with all the previous comments about location and student body. We are 75% postgrad and 75% international student body so it’s a very different experience from the standard Russell Group UK UG experience. I personally would go elsewhere for UG and aim for a taught PG at LSE.

TheSpanishApartment · 22/01/2022 18:50

NB most of the international students are very wealthy. Literally everyone has a MacBook and most have designer bags etc etc. That’s obviously not all of the student body, but definitely the majority. Campus is in a v good location I do give you that. London is obviously expensive though.