HOW TO GET INTO LSE FOR ECONOMICS || CAREER PLAN, ENTRY REQUIREMENTS, WORK EXPERIENCE

Summary

Richard, an LSE Economics graduate, shares expert guidance for students aiming to secure a place in this highly competitive program. Drawing on experience helping over 1,000 applicants with a 90% success rate, he highlights the most common mistake—failing to demonstrate strong, long-term maths ability. He presents a four-part framework for success: crafting a specific career plan, showcasing deep academic understanding beyond A-levels, maintaining a consistent track record of excellence, and gaining relevant work experience. Richard also explains entry requirements, contextual offers, and the importance of demonstrating both quantitative skills and genuine passion for economics to stand out in the application process.

Takeaways

• 📊 LSE Economics is extremely competitive, with only a 10.2% acceptance rate, so strong preparation is essential.
• 🧮 Demonstrating a long-standing aptitude and enjoyment for maths is crucial for success in the application.
• 🎯 Applicants should have a clear and specific career plan to show how they will use their LSE degree.
• 📚 Go beyond A-level economics by studying advanced topics like indifference curves, game theory, and multivariate optimization.
• 🏆 Highlight a long track record of academic success from GCSEs onward, including awards and achievements outside school.
• 💼 Relevant work experience in finance, law, or accounting can make your application stand out.
• 📝 Use referees to showcase additional achievements and skills that may not be evident from grades alone.
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• 🔍 Research specific career roles and desks in finance or economics to demonstrate informed career goals.
• 🎓 LSE often requires high grades in further maths (A*A preferred) and strong overall academic performance.
• 🌍 Understanding the quantitative and problem-solving aspects of economics is key to standing out as a candidate.
• 💡 Showing genuine passion for studying and engaging with economics outside the classroom helps differentiate applicants.
• 📈 Personalized guidance and strategic application support can significantly increase the chances of acceptance.

Q & A

Who is Richard and what is his background?

Richard is a graduate from the class of 2012 at LSE with an economics-related degree. Since graduating, he has helped over a thousand students apply to universities, including LSE for economics, achieving a 90% success rate.

What is the main focus of Richard's advice in the video?

The main focus is on avoiding common mistakes when applying to LSE for economics and following a four-part framework that increases the chances of acceptance.

Why is demonstrating aptitude in mathematics important for LSE Economics applicants?

LSE Economics is a rigorous, mathematical course. Applicants need a long-standing record of success and enjoyment in maths to show they can handle the quantitative demands of the course.

What are the four key components of Richard's framework for applying to LSE Economics?

The four key components are: 1) Career plan, 2) Academic understanding of economics, 3) Long track record of success, and 4) Relevant work experience.

How should applicants demonstrate their career plan in the application?

Applicants should be specific about their career goals, such as identifying the exact role and company they aspire to work for, and show a clear understanding of the steps required to achieve that career path.

What advice does Richard give about showing academic understanding of economics?

Applicants should go beyond the A-level syllabus, understand advanced topics like multivariate optimization, game theory, and economic theorists, and demonstrate a quantitative and problem-solving approach to economics.

What constitutes a long track record of success according to the video?

A long track record includes high performance throughout school, strong GCSE and A-level grades, success in additional academic challenges like UK Math Challenge, and engagement with subjects outside the curriculum.

How can work experience help applicants stand out?

Relevant work experience in fields like finance, law, or accounting demonstrates understanding of the career path, shows practical skills, and highlights motivation and initiative, making the application stronger.

What are LSE’s typical entry requirements for Economics at the undergraduate level?

Typical entry requirements include high grades in maths and further maths (usually A* or A*A), strong GCSE results (7-9 grades), and contextual considerations for applicants with academic challenges.

Why is LSE Economics considered highly competitive, and how does it compare to other top UK universities?

LSE Economics is highly competitive with only 10.2% of applicants receiving offers. Its rigor and reputation make it comparable, and in some cases slightly more competitive, than Oxford or Cambridge for economics.