How competitive are LSE, Oxford, Cambridge Masters in Econ.?

[elcapitano]

Originally Posted by rcwlhk

Typically we expect candidates to score over 760 in the quantitative section of the test.

Source: MSc Economics MSc Economics (Research) MSc Economics (Two-year programme) - Taught programmes - Graduate Prospectus - Graduate Admissions - LSE

Sorry, this was the page I was looking for when I said I thought 780 (couldn't find it immediately) so 760 it is. Cambridge want 90th percentile » MPhil in Economics so that'll be about the same. Interestingly, Cambridge want their UK applicants to have done the GRE as well next year. When LSE tried this a couple of years back the number of applicants fell dramatically as most UK courses don't require home students to have done the GRE. It's possible that Cambridge might be less competitive than usual next year next year if a bunch of other British universities don't follow suit - I reckon they'd need at least 2 of Oxford, LSE, UCL and Warwick in order to make it worthwhile for sufficient numbers of home students.

[Norfrost]

Originally Posted by elcapitano

Sorry, this was the page I was looking for when I said I thought 780 (couldn't find it immediately) so 760 it is.

I think 780 is for the MSc in EME.

[asianeconomist]

Originally Posted by elcapitano

Sorry, this was the page I was looking for when I said I thought 780 (couldn't find it immediately) so 760 it is. Cambridge want 90th percentile » MPhil in Economics so that'll be about the same.

In fact, this is even more interesting because a large portion (probably majority) of the MPhil students continue to the private sector. It would be quite excessive to expect people who do not want to carry on with academics to sit for the GRE.

[tangsiuje]

Originally Posted by asianeconomist

In fact, this is even more interesting because a large portion (probably majority) of the MPhil students continue to the private sector. It would be quite excessive to expect people who do not want to carry on with academics to sit for the GRE.

Why do you think that? It's not like the GRE tests any particularly academic skills. My impression is that all American universities require you to sit for the GRE to enter grad school, irrespective of whether you plan on pursuing an academic career or not.

What really surprises me is the fact that this fine, English institution has subjected itself to such a daft, American-style multiple-choice test in the first place, and that it also requires graduates from other fine, English institutions to sit for it.

[rcwlhk]

Well, while we're on the topic of the GRE, or in general, generalized tests, consider this ---- even for those students who intend to go on to the private sector and think of the Masters in Econ as a stepping stone, let's recall that even for admissions to an MBA, you still require the GMAT. So, in effect, Econ schools just substitute the GMAT for the GRE.

[asianeconomist]

Originally Posted by tangsiuje

Why do you think that? It's not like the GRE tests any particularly academic skills. My impression is that all American universities require you to sit for the GRE to enter grad school, irrespective of whether you plan on pursuing an academic career or not.

What really surprises me is the fact that this fine, English institution has subjected itself to such a daft, American-style multiple-choice test in the first place, and that it also requires graduates from other fine, English institutions to sit for it.

Yes. But Grad Schools generally require GRE for PhDs not Masters degrees. I just felt that people who would like to continue to private will not be eager to practice for the GRE.

[mariobross]

I have a friend who got into the MSc in Economics at LSE and his Q score was 730......... Even though you find those statements like "the minimum average Q gre of accepted students is 750" ........... most of the time doesn't happen in reality.
However, the closer your score is to 800, the better.

[asianeconomist]

Originally Posted by mariobross

I have a friend who got into the MSc in Economics at LSE and his Q score was 730.........

1-year or 2-year ?