<p>I am currently a Freshman at a top 30 liberal arts college. I'm declared as an Economics major, and was looking for advice as to which schools to apply. I am also a member of student government at school, and apart of a nationally ranked lacrosse program. Therefore, I can only study during the summer or fall of my Junior year. I'm certain I want to study in England, so I was wondering where people thought I would have a good chance getting into. I recieved a 3.6 this semester, and figure my gpa by the time I actually have to apply will be around a 3.6 or 3.7. Obviously Cambridge and Oxford are great places to study, but I am not confident I would be admitted, however, I do know some colleges are easier to get into than others at those two schools. Also on my list was the summer program at LSE, and also a fall term at UCL. Can anyone give me feedback into what my chances are for getting into, if any, of these schools. And also give examples of other strong economics programs in England. Thank you.</p>
<p>UK universities are pretty much shut in the summer. They do not run summer programs. They rent out their accommodation to external companies who run summer programs. These programs are not taught by or credited in any way by UK universities as far as I am aware (as a PhD student at Oxford I got approached all the time by people asking me to teach on such courses). Therefore, you only need to meet the admissions standards of the education company to attend such a course. This probably means you just have to pay.</p>
<p>“I recieved a 3.6 this semester, and figure my gpa by the time I actually have to apply will be around a 3.6 or 3.7.”</p>
<p>If it’s 3.7, then you have an excellent chance for Cambridge; your chance for Oxford would be pretty good too.</p>
<p>you really think if I maintain around a 3.6 I have a fair chance at getting into an Oxford program? I’m assuming if you think I have a good chance for that, then I will have a very good chance at getting into UCL?</p>
<p>“you really think if I maintain around a 3.6 I have a fair chance at getting into an Oxford program? I’m assuming if you think I have a good chance for that, then I will have a very good chance at getting into UCL?”</p>
<p>Not 3.6, but a 3.7 would put you in a good position. I know many people with 3.7’s at non-top 10 LAC’s, even some with 3.5’s though at an Ivy, who went to Oxford on exchanges. I’m not sure about UCL.</p>
<p>As cupcake pointed out, the vast majority of summer programs are not administered by the universities; during summertime, companies are paying to use university property for their programs, but that’s all the connection with the universities. In case of these summer programs, the only thing matters basically is the money you have. These programs could be great, but I don’t think that you can profit much academically.</p>
<p>But if you are considering an exchange program, that’s a different story. As far as I know many top US university offer such programs to Oxbridge - or, there are the Rhodes and Gates scholarships, if you are considering to gain a degree here. (Which usually means a one year MPhil, which is the MA in Oxbridge), but needless so say, the competition for such scholarships is fierce. </p>
<p>Regarding the GPA: 3.7 is usually enough, although for some programs it could be easily 3.8, or some cases, even 3.9. But the latter is quite rare.</p>
<p>can anyone recommend any other strong economics programs in europe to study abroad at?</p>
<p>If you want to go deeper into europe you could do something like helsinki or erasmus.</p>
<p>London School of Economics is a very prestigious school situated in London (in case you didn’t gather that one from the title). I know they have 2 options either the full academic year r a summer option which I think would interest you.</p>
<p>Just to make a correction: Ivypbear seemed to suggest that the standards for Oxford were harder than Cambridge. This is incorrect, they have the same standard. I think that you have a chance at Oxbridge,but not too great - apply anyway. Obviously UCL and LSE are good, but I am frequently astounded on this board that people fail to mention Durham. Durham is a fantastic university, operating, in some respects along the same collegiate lines as Oxbridge. I would definately suggest looking into it there. PM me if you want some more info</p>
<p>An admissions tutor at a third university once memorably told me to avoid Durham, calling their colleges ‘glorified halls of residence’.</p>
<p>Keepittoyourself - certainly that is true about Durham Colleges - there is no teaching there as in Oxbridge College Nonetheless, having friends at Durham (Grey, Hatfield and University Colleges) and having visited all of them, I can say that certainly the other best aspects of the Oxbridge Colleges are there - the sense of camaraderie and communal fun. The fact that you meet a lot more people than you would in a regular hall of residence. If you do not get into Oxbridge, then Durham is certainly not to be avoided, and is a damn good university. If the admissions tutor told you it wasn’t then he was an idiot.</p>
<p>And you are sexist – who said it was a man?</p>
<p>That’s right mate ignore the point.</p>
<p>And I should add keepitoyourself, whether you ignore the point I make,I question the advice you give here in particular regarding Durham a fantastic University. I question your experience.</p>
<p>Any idea how difficult it is to get accepted at LSE Junior year abroad ?</p>
<p>There are excellent UK universities outside of the top 5.
This respected newspaper has subject league tables, here’s the one for economics:
[University</a> guide 2011: Economics | Education | guardian.co.uk](<a href=“http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/table/2010/jun/04/university-guide-economics]University”>University guide 2011: Economics | Education | theguardian.com)</p>
<p>UCL, York and Bristol are all very impressive institutions.</p>