<p>London is hardly a bad city to be in plus if you go 2 LSE you can live right in the centre of the city which is cool. Although as has been mentioned before costs are crazy. It is like 2 dollars for a coke can.</p>
<p>Plus LSE is a great school altogheter (except for some of the buildings which are kinda crap).</p>
<p>1. I think it was theghostofsnoopy who said that LSE is not a top program ("only" in the top 15.) ... LSE is more than highly ranked enough.</p>
<p>I was simply stating that LSE is not a "top" school in the sense that Chicago is. Chicago and MIT simply opperate at a higher level.</p>
<p>A number of the US grad programs in Econ seem focused on the PhD, mentioning the possibility of a Masters almost as a footnote. Otoh, D is interested in pursuing this avenue only via a fairly high ranked school...Top 15 or so,</p>
<p>If that's the case, her options are LSE and NYU, with LSE's MSc being the far superior program. Most schools worth speaking of in the US do not offer a terminal masters in econ.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I was simply stating that LSE is not a "top" school in the sense that Chicago is.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Well, yeah...it's just tiring to see people on CC.com say that a program isn't a "top program" when it's top 15 or even top 10. Such a weird sorta myopia of academics here.</p>
<p>I agree, but in this case its probably justified. Speaking with anybody in the field, you'd likely get a hairy-eyed look in response to the initial claim. But to the OP's D's needs, it may do just as well.</p>
<p>If D were looking for a Ph.D. in Econ with opportunities for research, I'm sure her thinking would be different. But she's looking to craft a specific package for policy analysis in the non-academic world. LSE seems to be among the best options for meeting that, though testing that proposition is why I started this thread in the first place.</p>
<p>Testing that proposition? Okay, so I've a bit of half-caste academic in my world view as well.</p>
<p>Reading this forum you do get the impression that if you do not have a 4.0 from HYPMS you will lead a very sad and misserable life.</p>
<p>PSmyth, I understand that. I was on CC when the rocks were still cooling, when we passed the 50K total in posts, and a special sub-forum for the Ivies hadn't even been remotely thought of yet. Remarkably, I think a few posters who antedated my presence are still wandering around here. </p>
<p>The past couple of years I've mainly been offering commentary to other parents but now I find that CC is becoming, idly if nothing else, a place to browse for info.</p>
<p>My sense right now is that if D doesn't get into LSE, she'll take a gap year and then do a combined Law/Econ program here in the states. But she's refining her plans and the rate of once every six months, though the key is "refining," not "changing."</p>
<p>If in six months she still wants to come to LSE I would deffo recommend it. I decided to come and have not regreted it. Plus London has so much to do and see. And not all of it is very expensive. Most museums are free (especially the very famous ones like the Tates, British, Imperial, National Gallery and Greenwich).</p>
<p>Hi TheDad,
Has she thought about a masters in public policy? Or looked into possible combined JD/public policy programs? Just a thought, based on her interests. I don't know LSE's econ program, but I get the impression that econ these days many places is more math than policy oriented.
I do know someone who went to LSE for a masters in econ after majoring in econ undergrad, with the thought that it would be fun to be in London. I hear he was innundated with work and really had little time to enjoy or explore London, and that he thought he would have been better off taking a gap between undergrad and the masters program. So, definitely not something to sign up for mainly as an overseas experience -- though I don't get the impression that's what your daughter is thinking. On the plus side, the masters did stand the student I know about in very good stead, and he's gotten some interesting jobs since getting it. Hope that helps.</p>
<p>Sac, the MPA/Law combo would work for her and had indeed been her previous target. But the more she's delved, it seems as if the Econ (and she's a mathy person herself) is seen as a more powerful combo than an MPA...still need to get data on that. The MPA is seen by some of her mentors as being more useful for studying Public Policy than doing it. The "interesting jobs" aspect is what attracts her to LSE; I think TheMom and I see more of an upside in visiting London than D does in exploring. I confess, she's gotten to a point where working her butt off is second nature. She's the kind of kid that I would have hated to have in my classes as an undergrad.</p>
<p>TheDad, if by MPA you mean masters in public administration, I agree that does not sound like anything that would engage your daughter. I think she'd be bored to death. On the other hand, public policy (could the degree be an MPP? I know they also offer a PhD, at least at Cal) can be very quantitative and seems to jibe with your description of your daughter's interest in analyzing particular public policies. I think they are the people who are hired to do studies of the effects of policies, while people with MPA's are the people who run local governments.<br>
Is your D in Budapest this semester?</p>
<p>Hi TD - first can I say its very refreshing to see someone who obviously cares so much for their D - and to be so interested in supporting your D's choices. </p>
<p>Having read your posts TD - if your D is very interested in Politics at some stage - a Masters and the LSE has a large value. If you look through the political alumni list from the LSE, it certainly can rival HYPSM. Ever since Kennedy did it, it has become very fashionable for the political elite to do a year in England (usually at either the LSE, Oxford or Cambridge). I wouldn't worry if I were you about the value of doing such a degree if the final aim is the political sphere. Its perfect - and adds an element of internationalism which you wouldn't get at a US college. </p>
<p>Purely on economics (and it doesn't seem that maybe thats such a huge issue) Chicago has the biggest reputation at the moment. But it shifts a lot - Harvard are doing some very interesting things at the moment, and 10 years ago, the LSE was right up there with the top 2 or 3. </p>
<p>One statistic that might help convince is that 30% of the Economics Nobel Prize winners over the last 30 years have had LSE affiliations. Almost all the members of the monetary policy commitee in the UK are LSE affliates, and (to varying degrees) between 10-30% of elected representatives in the UK are LSE grads.</p>
<p>The LSE economics program is very mathematical - this is what distinguishes it from Chicago and Cambridge etc. who's approach is much more subjective. Courses in Econometrics at the LSE are THE best in the world, and the research done there in technical areas of economics still remains at the very pinnacle of the worlds product.</p>
<p>(As you can image however, this is not a glamorous area of economics, and thus the nobel prizes and publicity has waned slightly - however, econometrics is very much the future of the field of economics.... there is very little left to discuss in terms of pure theory, since it is widely accepted to be only a starting point in terms of dealing with real problems.)</p>
<p>Here are some useful links:</p>
<p>Political Alumni of the LSE (note the massive quantity of high profile americans with masters degree lol)</p>
<p>(This compares with a place like cambridge: A lot more kings and queens, but fewer sumpreme court judges and top politicians. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_University_of_Cambridge_members#Signatories_of_the_American_Declaration_of_Independence%5B/url%5D">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_University_of_Cambridge_members#Signatories_of_the_American_Declaration_of_Independence</a>)</p>
<p>Data on the LSE being right at the top for cutting edge Econometrics research (which your D will get a chance to be involved with at a basic level)</p>
<p><a href="http://www.econphd.net/rank/reconm.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.econphd.net/rank/reconm.htm</a></p>
<p>(Also check out the other rankings for grad work in the field of economics - LSE is rarely outside the top 15, and the only non-US representative).</p>
<p>Personally I would say that the career plan as set out is great. Maths/Econ/Law/Practical Experience/International Element. Its viritually perfect. Speaking another language fluently, and an M.P.A done with the J.D would probably put the world at her feet lol.</p>
<p>Don't let the money issue put you off - the US won't offer the terminal masters, and no other UK institution has such a record of providing "the year in the UK" for top people as the LSE.</p>
<p>(My background is undergrad LSE, grad Stanford - both in economics and public policy disciplines).</p>
<p>EDIT: Oh...and yes the building do look really crap from the outside (but they're usually stunning on the inside). And the library is the largest dedicated social sciences library in the world.... the whole campus is WiFi'd up, technologically its right up there. And they're buying as many buildings as possible in an incredible crowded central location. (They've just finished one I think which has doubled their room space). Nevertheless, the place is very much like an M.C Escher painting, and you almost don't need to descend to street level to get from one end to the other (it has plenty of bridges). Its a fun place.</p>
<p>One other thought</p>
<p>LSE is also very good for recruiting. This is the write up by the Times: <a href="http://extras.timesonline.co.uk/stug2006/uk37.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://extras.timesonline.co.uk/stug2006/uk37.pdf</a></p>
<p>And on the overall rankings <a href="http://extras.timesonline.co.uk/stug2006/stug2006.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://extras.timesonline.co.uk/stug2006/stug2006.pdf</a> you can see that LSE scores higher on employment prospects than oxford/cambridge. My experience was that at the LSE recruiment possibilities were better than at Stanford for IBanking/NGOs etc.</p>
<p>I have 2 agree with all that uncle bob has to say except the buildings (I might have a chip on my shoulder as they make us play volleyball in the old court!!) they are not the best inside. Except the library which is great and huge and has every book on social sciences ever published (an obvious exageration but it has all I always needed). The new academic building looks great although it will only be finished in 2008. To late for me to use but the floor plans look cool. The LSE alumni list is impressive. The only other thing I do not like about LSE is the careers service. They have a lot of info on many different careers but there seems to be a IB obsession going on and we only hear about that.</p>
<p>Thanks for the input.</p>
<p>Sac, you're right, it's the MPP that D would be looking at. She said that route would also work in the long run, but the Masters in Econ degree carries a lot of weight on the Hill and in OMB and that in tandem with her bachelor's in Math and eventual Hill experience makes her attractive to the government relations departments in times of political drought.</p>
<p>Hi, Uncle Bob. Gee, it's been years since I've had an uncle. Acting a data acquisition specialist and mentor for my D is one of the pleasures in my life. She has other mentors, both at school and on the Hill, but she still likes to compare notes. I think that D sees herself in the staff role but as the Great Wheel turns, who knows? </p>
<p>D may have to spend two years in the UK at LSE since she doesn't have an undergrad Econ degree. She'll have about three-four Econ courses to go with the Math degree. One of her Econ profs will right her a sterling rec; the prof had been plotzing for D to turn to Econ major. </p>
<p>Thanks for the extended info.</p>
<p>TheDad, I had a discussion last night about LSE with the parents of a boy who will graduate from Tufts this year. It's quite an international family: the mother is from a prominent Indonesian/Chinese family, the father French with a PhD in economics from Cal. The boy plans some kind of international relations / foreign service type of career. His sister got a masters at Columbia in I'm not quite sure what and is now working for the World Bank in field offices all over Indonesia.</p>
<p>Anyway, the kid hasn't decided whether to go directly to graduate school or to get an internship in DC or go back to Africa where he did his JYA. (Not enough continents in this family!) </p>
<p>The point of this saga is that this is a kid with a lot of options and LSE was the only graduate school that he applied to. He and his father feel that it would offer the best opportunities for him to make the connections that he would need going forward. </p>
<p>Another friend of mine, a woman in her 40's, did an LSE masters after Wharton and went on to several government positions including the Exim Bank and the Millenium Fund. She felt LSE was invaluable experience personally and that it continues to shine on her resume.</p>
<p>....just remember that the dollar is currently on sale :P</p>
<p>So Expensive!!!</p>
<p>How can ANYONE afford to go to the LSE or anywhere else in and around London withouth funding of some kind? The cost of living is out of this world and the tuition fees rival those at American colleges (which also happen to be out of this world). I looked at the LSE for like, a nanosecond before realizing a few things:</p>
<p>1) I finance my own studies.
2) I am broke.</p>
<p>Scratch the LSE off my list of possibilities!</p>
<p>As I said, Lead, D should have some good shots at fellowships. Moreover, for a high-value experience, she's willing to take on loans. An MsEcon from LSE is a fairly bankable proposition as near as I can tell, unlike, say, an MA in Art History from UC Santa Cruz. (No offense to Art History Masters and/or Banana Slugs.) Some things are worth going into debt for, others aren't. I often have to remind clients not to confuse price with value, e.g., that something at low cost isn't necessarily a good value...and in fact is often the contrary. (Note: a high cost doesn't confer good value either.) The conclusion is that each price/value assessment needs to be performed independently instead of relying upon a quick rule.</p>
<p>I think she's looking at the Econ-Law double as something like being a dual-class character in D&D, LOL. Momrath, thanks for the input. I think D is planning with an eye to organizations and firms that recruit fairly selectively.</p>