Chopov Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 I have offers for both LSE and UCL Msc in Economics. I have to decide where to go within next week or so. My interests are labor and applied microeconomtrics and I want to pursue a Phd (in the same university) after the Msc. Then, anybody knows how difficult is to get a distinction in a Msc in Economics at a top UK University (i.e LSE or UCL)? Also, anybody know how many students get a distinction? It is a though decision so any information is more than welcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Blondin Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 Hi, First of all congratulations for your offers! I think that obtaining a distinction is doable if you work seriously enough. I was enroled in the MSc EME at LSE, and throughout the year thought I would never pass the program. I did not work much or prepare classes. Then I started preparing for the exams, worked hard, and ended with a merit, missing the distinction by two percent. The 'morale' of my story is that I think most of the sudents in such programs have the ability to get very good grades, if only they work hard/seriously enough. Regarding your interests in labour and applied microeconometrics, UCL is the place to go! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miaataro Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 Do you (or any other) have an idea on how hard it is to get to continue for a PhD in UCL? If I remember correctly, it is said on the website of LSE that you need a distiction in the MSc but I haven't found similar information regarding UCL. I was hoping to get admitted to the MSc programme in UCL next year and aim for a PhD there so that's why I'm asking... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chopov Posted June 27, 2008 Author Share Posted June 27, 2008 I have contacted some professors at UCL and they told me that the criteria is more or less than for LSE. You should get a distinction in the Msc. Though, one told me that it is a bit less strict... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chopov Posted June 27, 2008 Author Share Posted June 27, 2008 Hi, First of all congratulations for your offers! I think that obtaining a distinction is doable if you work seriously enough. I was enroled in the MSc EME at LSE, and throughout the year thought I would never pass the program. I did not work much or prepare classes. Then I started preparing for the exams, worked hard, and ended with a merit, missing the distinction by two percent. The 'morale' of my story is that I think most of the sudents in such programs have the ability to get very good grades, if only they work hard/seriously enough. Regarding your interests in labour and applied microeconometrics, UCL is the place to go! I will probably go to UCL. Just that declining an offer from LSE is not easy... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karina 07 Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 As the only general guideline I'd give, try to find some actual current students there to ask, because the official rules and what schools actually do is often different. I knew one girl who was allowed to continue to a Ph.D. in a "distinction-only" progression who had a 63; of course, that was very unusual (she must have had a really great thesis idea), and hence the story was repeated, but still. Apart from that, rules vary so much not just across different schools but across different programs in different schools that yea, other "generic" advice wouldn't help you. But do keep trying to inquire from students in those exact programs, if you don't find any here, because what they tell you might be different from what the graduate secretary or a professor says. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canuckonomist Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 I will probably go to UCL. Just that declining an offer from LSE is not easy... UCL and LSE are both great programs, so I wouldn't feel bad choosing one for the other. Keep in mind that UCL does rank better in some fields than LSE. You've got two fantastic offers, so don't feel concerned choosing one for the other. Things will all work out in the end if you work hard. (I turned LSE down this year for Queen's, and I have no concerns about it.) Cheers, Canuck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Blondin Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 Another option would be to go to LSE and then apply for the PhD programs. LSE is indeed a nice brand name, and it could be helpful if you start having doubts about pursuing an academic career. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chopov Posted June 27, 2008 Author Share Posted June 27, 2008 Could be. But I was thinking on doing the Msc and Phd in the same university in order to have contact with faculty as earliest as possible. Any information on the number of studentes getting distinction? Blondin? How about LSE? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Blondin Posted June 28, 2008 Share Posted June 28, 2008 Any information on the number of studentes getting distinction? Blondin? How about LSE? I think three people got a distinction when I was there, out of a class of ~25. I don't know about the MSc Econ though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matrin Zong Posted June 30, 2008 Share Posted June 30, 2008 I am from LSE. Getting distinction is something pretty difficult. If you are really PhD material you should not have problem with it, but surprisingly many people convince themselves that they are not as good as they thought. When I came to LSE I thought 70% - that must be easy... But you can expect 70% from the exam when you have everything correct. If you screw up any on the exam you should not expect 70%.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaelmas Posted June 30, 2008 Share Posted June 30, 2008 This may be a dum question, but do you need to be distinction material in order to progress to the second year from Msc at LSE? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chopov Posted July 1, 2008 Author Share Posted July 1, 2008 This may be a dum question, but do you need to be distinction material in order to progress to the second year from Msc at LSE? Sorry, but I was talking about the Msc 1 year program. You should get a distinction to continue to the Mphil/Phd. Any other experience on LSE or UCL (or other top UK program)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaelmas Posted July 1, 2008 Share Posted July 1, 2008 Sorry, but I was talking about the Msc 1 year program. So was I :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chopov Posted July 1, 2008 Author Share Posted July 1, 2008 So, there isn't a Msc second year. You should get distinction to advance to the Mphil/Phd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
filroz Posted July 3, 2008 Share Posted July 3, 2008 advance to MRes/PhD if we are talking about LSE, just to be 100% clear :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpleportals Posted July 4, 2008 Share Posted July 4, 2008 Getting a distinction at LSE is very difficult. In some courses (e.g. Time Series) the FAILURE RATE has even been over 35% Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
segnoesogno Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 Hi Chopov! I will be doing the MSc Economics at LSE from september on. I talked with a guy who did it 3 years ago and he told me that there are approximately 100 students in the class and 20-25 get the distiction. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpleportals Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 I've got some official stats (most recent) (D=Distinction, M=Merit, P=Pass, Fail=F) MSc EME 1D, 3M, 4P Rest=F MSc Economics History 1D, 16M, 16P, Rest=F MSc Finance and Econ 8D, 22M, 31P, Rest=F MSc L Econ Dev 2D, 21M, 11P, Rest=F MSc Risk 0D, 32M, 8P, Rest=F MSc Develop 4D, 54M, 11P Rest=F MSc Econ (Res) 3D, 5M, 2P MSc Econ (2Y) 3D, 3M, 5P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpleportals Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 Now official course stats (LSE): Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpleportals Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 Time Series: D 6.12 % M 10.20 % P 59.18 % F 24.49 % Stochastic Processes: D 9.26 % M 14.81 % P 44.44 % F 31.48 % Methods of Economic Investigation D 28 20.14 % M 42 30.22 % P 34 24.46 % F 35 25.18 % Advanced Econometrics D 28.57 % M 21.43 % P 7.14 % F 42.86 % Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpleportals Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 I don't say that it is impossible to get a distinction at LSE. I say that it is very hard. But then it also depends on the courses you wish to undertake. If you wish to follow quantitative courses then I warn you: it will be extremely difficult! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norfrost Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 I've got some official stats (most recent) (D=Distinction, M=Merit, P=Pass, Fail=F) MSc EME 1D, 3M, 4P Rest=F MSc Economics History 1D, 16M, 16P, Rest=F MSc Finance and Econ 8D, 22M, 31P, Rest=F MSc L Econ Dev 2D, 21M, 11P, Rest=F MSc Risk 0D, 32M, 8P, Rest=F MSc Develop 4D, 54M, 11P Rest=F MSc Econ (Res) 3D, 5M, 2P MSc Econ (2Y) 3D, 3M, 5P No data for the 1-year MSc Econ? Thanks for posting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
filroz Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 MSc Econ (Res) 3D, 5M, 2P and the others have failed? of the class of 100? (or class of 50 with assumption that there is equal number of research and not research students?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcwlhk Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 @mpleportals Thanks for posting the stats! Specifically, I'm most interested in the stats for LSE! Is it possible to give us more details as to how many people were enrolled in the classes and course itself? (i.e. how many people enrolled in Time Series and how many people were enrolled in the MSc EME program?) Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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