Hello everyone, I’m writing to see if people can give me advice on the tricky decision I have to make.
I’ve been accepted in Sciences Po Paris (like a PPE course) and UCL (economics course). I really can’t make a decision. My goal is to go to a university where I can build a network and get really good grades so I can go to nop-notch grad school (ivy league or Oxbridge).
In Sciences Po :
- I’ll have the opportunity to do a dual BA with Columbia or Berkeley IF I GET EXCELLENT GRADES in my first year. However, it’s still a bit risky.
- I might get a good scholarship in Sciences Po.
-I am very familiar with the French academic system so I think it might be easier for me to get better grades in Sciences Po but at the same time, I’m not sure I’ll be in the top 10% of my class (condition to get into the dual BA with Columbia or Berkeley).
UCL :
- Has a better international reputation.
- WAY better ranked in economics.
- UCL will be a great exposure for me, I mean studying in the UK in general, will give me the opportunity to assimilate new academic methods.
- I like the fact that the course will concentrate on economics since I’m not really into politics.
- I’m not sure I will be able to get good grades in UCL or get into ivy leagues grad schools (I honestly don’t know so if anyone has gone through the same thing I’ll be glad if you give some details)
Thanks everyone for any help it’s a big decision of my life and I want to make sure it’s the right one!
Most students at UCL get a 2:1 or better, so it should be possible to get in to an “Ivy” grad program.
BTW, you do realize that not all Ivies have top econ programs and some of the top econ programs are outside the Ivy League, right?
One thing I’m always befuddled about is why many non-Americans focus on a particular sports league that plays a bunch of sports that many of them don’t even care about.
UCL. Better for your subject, and anecdotally (ie, based on the experience of the students that I know), a better student experience.
Thank you for your answer. I know that UC Berkeley (not an ivy) has an excellent econ program so this is basically why I was considering Sciences Po (for a potential Dual BA program) so I’m a bit lost now. @PurpleTitan
Sciences Po is a bet- UCL is not 
Agree with @collegemom3717.
Unless costs are a consideration (it seems not as you’re considering the double-BA programs), you’d get a better education and experience at UCL and you could always apply to top American programs for grad school.
Unless you want to go to ENA for grad school and stay in France, the gamble on the dual degree would be too great I’d say. There is quite good overlap and movement between the US and UK systems but very little between those two and and the French system.
The dual degree programs are a very interesting opportunity to bridge the gap so if you’d had a direct admit, I’d have said go for it - but you’d have to compete with French students who have grown up in the French system for a place, right? Unless you are confident you are competitive, I wouldn’t take the risk.