troll2

PROFILE: Type of Undergrad: Swedish Uni Undergrad GPA: N/A Type of Grad: LSE MSc Grad GPA: Merit GRE: 790/490/4.0 Math Courses: Calculus, Linear Algebra Econ Courses (grad-level): Micro, Financial Econometrics, Financial Economics Econ Courses (undergrad-level): Micro/Macro/Metrics Other Courses: Various applied econ courses Letters of Recommendation: Weak Research Experience: MSc dissertation Teaching Experience: None Research Interests: Macro / Financial mkts SOP: Cheesy Concerns: Weak LORs Applying to: Top 30

For asset pricing you also need probability theory / stochastic calculus, don't know any good books though (just had bad ones ;))

Yet another introduction to analysis by Victor Bryant has lots of words.

if you're half smart you need about 1-2 weeks of prep to nail 780+ on the gre quant, so don't take a year off for that reason.

TOEFL iBT scores are reported after 15 business days according to the ETS website.

it seems they have made it almost a rule to take 8 weeks, me and all my friends who have applied have gotten a response 8-10 weeks from our application date (applied in january). i'm guessing it might be different for early applicants - if you're a superstar they should give you a spot right away, if they are hesitant they might wait longer just to see who else applies. they admit over 100 students I don't think you need to worry if you have an OK profile.

Thanks all for your input! LSE must be reading here too, because they just sent me an email that I've been given an offer for Fin & Econ ;)

I have been admitted (and accepted) to the one year EME program at LSE. However I have reconsidered, and would rather like to do the MSc Finance & Economics, or MSc Economics. Does anyone know if it's "easy" to change from EME to Fin. & Econ or Economics after registration (while attending the EC400 prep course)? I have applied for a change of programs already, but since they refuse to reply in a timely manner it would be nice to know if it is likely that I'll be able to switch, since I'm not sure I want to attend LSE if I'm going to do the EME. Thanks a lot.

Well the grades aren't curved, so there's no reason to compete at all, unless you gain pleasure from seeing other people fail... :)

EME Distinction Fail 2010 50 10 % 2009 28 8 % 2008 32 16 %

Right, thanks. I guess I'm more worried about what comes after, i.e EC484 and Advanced Micro. I have actually considered switching to the Finance and Econ program if that is possible at all. Did you do your undergrad at LSE, and what course are you taking this fall?

OK thanks. I applied in April and it says they will try to answer all applicants before "the weeks following May 1st".. that's pretty vague though :) Yes, attending the mandatory EC400 prep course. Already freaking out about the potential fail since I haven't done any math in years. We'll see how it goes I guess ;)

I asked LSE about stats for MSc EME, and this is what I got (in %); Distinction Fail 2010 50 10 % 2009 28 8 % 2008 32 16 % "The rest are divided between Merits and Passes. It is important to recognise that papers are marked according to the standards of the examiners. There is absolutely no grading curve or prescribed distribution of marks. The proportion of distinctions and failures is thus liable to fluctuate. Therefore the past does not indicate the results in any given year. Also the one-year course is a relatively small cohort, around 20-25 students. As you will appreciate, statistics on small samples are less reliable predictors, and also one or two students more or less getting a Distinction or Fail will translate into quite sharp rises or falls in percentages."

Well, obviously I am since I'm asking, the one-year MSc EME. I'm Swedish and will be moving to London in the end of August. I've applied for LSE accomodation via Hallpad, but haven't received any response yet.. Could be a good thread for those of us who are new to London (and the UK), to discuss the program and practical stuff. So, who else? :)

Ok I wasn't feeling confident before, but now I am actually considering not taking up my EME offer. Pay £20k for a program and fail with 60% probability ;)