Peruano929 Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 I peruse through these forums frequently, but this will be my first official post. So first I want to say, "Hello Everybody!" I want to do an MSc or MPhil next year. Due to girlfriend reasons, I'd like to go to Cambridge. I think I have a decent shot at getting in but with top schools it is never a guarantee, so I was wondering if there were any programs close to Cambridge that I was forgetting about. So far I have: Cambridge Oxford Essex LSE UCL Warwick I would apply to York, Nottingham, Manchester and such, but they are a bit too far away. Programs near London are okay, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneMoreEcon Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 How far down are you willing to go in prestige? And what are your long-term goals? London has tons of schools, and the train ride to Cambridge is about 45 minutes. U. of East Anglia (I think) IS IN Cambridge, if you'll go down that far (and if they offer an MSc/MPhil) but they're within 15 minutes walking distance of each other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peruano929 Posted January 20, 2009 Author Share Posted January 20, 2009 Well, it can't hurt to have backups right? My long-term goal is for placement in Top US Program (Berkeley is my dream school). I was talking to the admission officer at Stanford and they say that US students don't need to have a Master's. I think with a little luck I would have a shot at a top program out of undergrad. I have a really solid undergraduate record, so as long as the program is decent and keeps me in shape mathematically I will consider it. How far away is Exeter, York, Nottingham from Cambridge by train? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneMoreEcon Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 My advice is to search for the recent RAE thread for top programs. One thing you might want to check is how far train rides are from potential schools and Cambridge. UK seems to have a good transport system, so it may be possible to live further away than London if you're mostly looking to spend the weekends with your girlfriend. An hour each way from Cam to LSE (45 to the city and another 15-25 on the Tube to LSE or less for UCL) is doable - especially for the prestige of both schools - and might be OK to do on a daily basis. Since you posted your location, I will say that it's an uphill battle for a Top 10 if you did your undergrad at UF, and a top masters in UK will help. It's expensive, but it will help. As for the *need* to have a masters... well, that depends on where you did your undergrad and who's writing your LORs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elcapitano Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 How far down are you willing to go in prestige? And what are your long-term goals? London has tons of schools, and the train ride to Cambridge is about 45 minutes. U. of East Anglia (I think) IS IN Cambridge, if you'll go down that far (and if they offer an MSc/MPhil) but they're within 15 minutes walking distance of each other. UEA is (mostly) in Norwich (which is a couple of hours away by train I think) - you might be thinking of Anglia Ruskin but I wouldn't have thought they had a masters worth doing. It's a former polytechnic so it specialises more in vocational subjects. Exeter is really far, York is also pretty far as you'll have to change somewhere inconvinient. Nottingham is probably a couple of hours away, so too far for a daily commute but maybe not so far it's impossible... Oxford and Warwick aren't particularly close, both will take longer to get to than Nottingham I should think, the Rail Network makes it difficult to go west from Cambridge without going to London. I can't be bothered to check out schedules but you can check them here National Rail Enquiries - Official source for UK train times and timetables it will also give you prices; if you're a student and traveling after 9.30 you'll be eligible for 1/3 off individual fares if you get a railcard. If have an undergrad record that gives you a chance at a top school after a masters then the probability of you getting into either Cambridge, LSE, UCL, or Essex, and perhaps Nottingham (the good schools that are potentially near enough) approaches 1. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asianeconomist Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 If you're looking to get a top admit, then don't take chances. Stick to the top schools (LSE, Oxbridge, UCL). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emanuele Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 Oxford seems close but it takes a long time because it is connected very badly with "the other place" :D. I went to Cambridge yesterday and it took 3,5 hours each way by bus. BTW, Cambridge is a wonderful city and I think it will be great to spend a year there with your girlfriend! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Connemara Pony Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 Yeah, you seriously do not want to be doing the Oxford Cambridge bus journey every week. It's horrendous! LSE and UCL are your best options. I don't think anywhere that isn't London is that feasible from Cambridge tbh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peruano929 Posted January 21, 2009 Author Share Posted January 21, 2009 Thank you guys for the replies. You all are very kind and helpful. I've been working on applications so I haven't had too much time to reply. I submitted my Cambridge application! :D OneMoreEcon, though UF is a state school, I believe it produces very high quality students. National Merit Scholars and other kids who got into top Ivies come to UF for the Value. The valedictorian of my IB class went to UF while students ranked lower than him filled up the Ivies. Also, UF has placed kids in top econ departments at Chicago, Northwestern, and Berkely straight out of undergrad. Elcapitano thanks for even thinking about potentially looking at the bus routes for me. I will look at Nottingham more closely. I will stick to the most know schools for now. So, just to make sure, in London, LSE and UCL are the only good schools? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panruisi Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 Peruano929, I go to UF too! And coincidentally, I'm also applying to some of the same master's programs as you. go gators! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peruano929 Posted January 23, 2009 Author Share Posted January 23, 2009 Cool. Let's have that Gator Nation spread to some top-ranked Master's programs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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