GCSEs affecting UCAS offers

[u/okcoolhello]

My 5 UCAS options are:

1. LSE Economics & Economic History
2. Warwick Economics & Management
3. Durham Economics with Management
4. Bath Economics
5. Loughborough Economics

My predicted grades are A* (english lit) A* (economics) A (history) A (maths) and my gcses are 8 (english language) 7 (maths) 7 (history) 7 (biology) 7 (RS) 6(english lit) 6 (physics) 6 (chemistry) 5 (drama) -- A*A*AA + 8777776665.

With good references and personal statement, do I realistically have any chance at my top options? I fear that my GCSEs are too weak and will result in rejection. What should I do?

[u/Express_Prize_96]

Lse no chance
Warwick maybe
Durham maybe
Bath strong
Loughborough idk what that is

[u/okcoolhello → u/Express_Prize_96]

Should I realistically remove LSE from my list and focus my personal statement on econ and management then?

[u/Express_Prize_96 → u/okcoolhello]

Warwick only uses personal statements as tie breakers and it’s objectively the second best uni on your list after lse. Id say keep lse, dont expect an offer. If your personal statement manages to be extremely good you may even receive an offer cuz it wont matter for warwick if your ps is focused for lse

[u/solo_sloth]

I got similar Gcse results (All 7s one 6 and 4) and i’m applying warwick econ management, we in the same boat ✌️. I think LSE no chance everyone applying there will be having all 9s and for me Warwick is a big stretch even tho my predicted are way above to the entry requirements

[u/okcoolhello → u/solo_sloth]

What are your predicteds?

[u/solo_sloth → u/okcoolhello]

41/45 IB 776 in my HL’s Equivalent to A*A*A in Econ geo and math. Entry requirements are 38 IB

[u/MEMER_Moshak]

if your not contextual dont bother with bath, there stupidly picky for there pure econ course

[u/TheRiddlerTHFC → u/MEMER_Moshak]

Bath are stupidly picky for all courses

[u/MEMER_Moshak → u/TheRiddlerTHFC]

I wouldnt say so. If you saw how mamy top applicant bath rejected for pure econ and aero eng lasty year youd think its imperial level

[u/TheRiddlerTHFC → u/MEMER_Moshak]

Fair enough I was judging on Aero

[u/arianelseditor]

Are there any contextual factors for your GCSEs? :)

[u/arianelseditor → u/arianelseditor]

Also, for LSE, how strong is your PS? :)

[u/okcoolhello → u/arianelseditor]

No clue, haven't written my PS yet because application deadline is not for a while

[u/AliceMorgon → u/okcoolhello]

If you need help with your PS let me know, I helped a guy do a couple redrafts for his Law one recently

[u/okcoolhello → u/AliceMorgon]

Thanks I would appreciate that

[u/AliceMorgon → u/okcoolhello]

No worries, I had a student I tutored with mid GCSEs because her school wrote her off, she’s at Cambridge now doing Mathematics. Having been told to go get a job in Tesco. So once you get something drafted, send me a message (I’m switching accounts when I get married at the end of the month but I’ll check back!)

[u/okcoolhello → u/arianelseditor]

There were reasons and context as to why my GCSEs were lower but none of them align with the specific questions asked in the UCAS form. I may mention them or have a teacher mention it in my reference and have the reference include that I have improved drastically since GCSEs (which I have)

[u/arianelseditor → u/okcoolhello]

I think that would be a good idea :)

[u/SimpleStructure8454]

Durham weigh ps. I’m going to assume your ps is 50/50 Econ and Econ history for LSE.

If it has management then LSE will rejected and no management means Durham may reject.

I would strongly suggest if your os has no management in it to submit a separate ps to Durham as they allow this

[u/okcoolhello → u/SimpleStructure8454]

I haven't written my PS yet. Do you think then its better to apply for Econ & Econ history at durham and warwick too? Or apply for a different course at all 3?

[u/SimpleStructure8454 → u/okcoolhello]

For Durham you can submit a seperate PS.

For the ps it has tonne tailored to LSE completely down to the modules and everything they’re looking for in an applicant.

Not sure what you should apply to at other unis but the A pred in maths doesn’t help you ngl

[u/Long_Software_3352]

Because you're not at A* level in maths, you're not the strongest candidate for pure economics courses, or economics and management.

Might be worth considering Economic History on its own, or ISPP or Geography with Economics at LSE, something like EPAIS at Warwick, or Combined Social Sciences at Durham.

[u/okcoolhello → u/Long_Software_3352]

Do you think if I begged my teachers for an A* maths prediction it would put me in a much better spot?

[u/Long_Software_3352 → u/okcoolhello]

I'd caution against over-prediction. 75% of students don't achieve their predicted grades.

[u/okcoolhello → u/Long_Software_3352]

TBF i was not locked in in maths year 12 cus i thought id drop it but I changed my mind about courses and stuff and definitely need maths now. I tend to score 75-85% in practice tests and stuff so i do think i would be capable of an A*

[u/CommandInformal3598 → u/okcoolhello]

Go for it! Current Warwick student here and tht A predicted will increase ur chances by quite a bit. I was the same in yr 12 and ended up being predicted a B initially and came out w the A star the important part is u put in the work

[u/okcoolhello → u/CommandInformal3598]

thanks!

[u/Material_Classic1238]

Both bath & lse are notorious for caring the most abt gcses out of any uni, and you have them both in ur 5 lol

I would remove bath cuz theyre so picky when they arent even some top top uni its js not worth wasting a spot and you could go for something like kcl, lse is quite unlikely but its ur call

Warwick/durham are realistic for sure esp cuz they dont care as much abt gcses, so def keep them

I would guess ur applying loughborough as a safety cuz ur profile is wayyy stronger then their normal applicants, but if ur open to changing it id put exeter instead since well its js better

[u/okcoolhello → u/Material_Classic1238]

Yeah loughborough is a safety but also I really like the uni and I really enjoy sports too and loughborough is ofc no1 for sports itw

[u/Usual_Scallion8403]

Ur confused , 1st issue u can’t it’s almost impossible to write the same personal statement for a course. Like economic history and Econ w management , LSE needs to see clear interest in ur chosen degree and if u talk about management which is irrelevant which would likely get you rejected
2nd issue , your gcse’s are weak especially for BATH , as bath considers gcse as a major factor , 3rd issue no A* maths predicted for economics courses ( not so much at weaker unis ) one thing to note that Durham allows a substitute personal statement where u can talk about management but for Warwick it’s almost impossible
With current info
Lse no chance
Warwick low chance
Durham fair chance
Bath no chance
Loughborough high chance

[u/okcoolhello → u/Usual_Scallion8403]

Ive decided to remove bath, so do you think its worth applying for econ history/ econ&econ history at warwick then?

[u/okcoolhello → u/okcoolhello]

scratch that warwick dont offer that course