Chances at LSE?

[intldevelopmentguy]

Hi All,

I'm new to this site, so I hope that this is the right place to post this..

I am interested in applying for the MSc Environment and Development program at the London School of Economics for Fall of 2012, and before I begin the application process, I'm wondering if anyone has any insight on my chances of getting accepted. The program seems very competitive

Intake/applications in 2009: 36/479 (http://www2.lse.ac.u...evelopment.aspx)

but I feel that I've got a good shot nonetheless.

I suppose the best way to do this is describe my potential strengths and weaknesses..

Strengths:

• The program is a near perfect fit for my research and career interests (I double majored in Environmental Studies and International Development in undergrad)
• I am confident that I could put together a very strong application
• I conducted a Fulbright grant in Norway on a relevant topic after graduation
• I have had several relevant internship experiences (with environmental NGOs, private development consulting firms, etc)
• I have been published in a peer reviewed journal and presented at numerous conferences, in the US and abroad
  
  
  
  • Very limited quantitative background, with only introductory coursework in economics
  • I did my bachelors at a little known school, with only about 700 students.. and no grades. We used a pass fail system and narrative evaluations. My evaluations were consistently strong, but I have some concern about admissions officers from LSE being able to understand/appreciate the distinct system
  • I'm relatively young (23) and only have one year of real work experience after graduation, not counting the Fulbright project (I work in international development and agricultural capacity building with the US Department of Agriculture)

Your thoughts or experiences would be much appreciated!

Thanks

Edited July 19, 2011 by intldevelopmentguy

[jblsmith]

Weaknesses:

• I did my bachelors at a little known school, with only about 700 students.. and no grades. We used a pass fail system and narrative evaluations. My evaluations were consistently strong, but I have some concern about admissions officers from LSE being able to understand/appreciate the distinct system

No grades?! Where did you go to school???

[IRdreams]

No grades?! Where did you go to school???

I have 2 guesses: Reed or Evergreen State College

[jblsmith]

They have such things? I had no idea. My mind is blown.

[IRdreams]

Hi All,

I'm new to this site, so I hope that this is the right place to post this..

I am interested in applying for the MSc Environment and Development program at the London School of Economics for Fall of 2012, and before I begin the application process, I'm wondering if anyone has any insight on my chances of getting accepted. The program seems very competitive

Intake/applications in 2009: 36/479 (http://www2.lse.ac.u...evelopment.aspx)

but I feel that I've got a good shot nonetheless.

I suppose the best way to do this is describe my potential strengths and weaknesses..

Strengths:

• The program is a near perfect fit for my research and career interests (I double majored in Environmental Studies and International Development in undergrad)
• I am confident that I could put together a very strong application
• I conducted a Fulbright grant in Norway on a relevant topic after graduation
• I have had several relevant internship experiences (with environmental NGOs, private development consulting firms, etc)
• I have been published in a peer reviewed journal and presented at numerous conferences, in the US and abroad
  
  
  
  • Very limited quantitative background, with only introductory coursework in economics
  • I did my bachelors at a little known school, with only about 700 students.. and no grades. We used a pass fail system and narrative evaluations. My evaluations were consistently strong, but I have some concern about admissions officers from LSE being able to understand/appreciate the distinct system
  • I'm relatively young (23) and only have one year of real work experience after graduation, not counting the Fulbright project (I work in international development and agricultural capacity building with the US Department of Agriculture)

Your thoughts or experiences would be much appreciated!

Thanks

My bet is that if you were competitive enough to receive a fullbright you have a healthy chance at admission.

I sort of hate that I'm posting in this thread though since I don't like the "do I have a chance" threads. My main reason? Admission is such a capricious thing when we are talking about a few to a few dozen slots. There is really is no way to know where you'll get in with any accuracy. I remember hearing from a Harvard undergrad admission counselor that if they rejected everyone in their entering freshman class they could construct an equally good class from the people they actually rejected and that is with a cohort of well over 1000 acceptances.

The application advice for grad school I was given by professors reflects: they basically told me to apply to all top 15 schools and see which one said yes. Some people will amend this and say apply to all top programs where there is a reasonably good "fit" between you and their program. Again, I'm not particularly keen on this idea since people's research focus tends to change dramatically while in graduate school. I got admitted to a university that does not emphasize quantitative polisci because as an undergrad I didn't either and yet will likely be doing an EITM style dissertation.

As to LSE and the issue of non-grades, I can't speak to this school specifically, but I was in a slightly similar position when I applied to grad school. I did a junior year abroad at Oxford and our program did not have us sit prelims nor finals there so basically did not receive a grade for any of my junior year classes. Instead, I received written evaluations from my tutors and professors. This did not impact negatively on my application to US graduate schools and I imagine that had I gone the british route, it wouldn't have mattered much either. The bigger potential issue is the name recognition factor of your university and your LOR writers, but this is something you have very little control over at this point and again you have a fulbright since then which does convey name recognition.

[marting]

The LSE is the most international university in the world so they do understand all the different marking schemes that are used.

Definitely apply, whilst the "E" stands for economics and LSE is famous for this, the majority of the school does not deal with quant methods and of course the primary focus of the school are the social sciences.

LSE is very competitive, but these figures are skewed by the very large number of chinese students apply that don't really have a chance of getting in due to their english level.

The personal statement is important, so make sure you have a strong statement about why the subject and what you want to get out of it.

[intldevelopmentguy]

Thanks for the responses, all, I appreciate it!

Just to respond to your question, jblsmith, I went to the New College of Florida. It's a great little school, with several pretty unique academic qualities; in addition to the lack of grades, there's a strong emphasis on independent research, and all students are required to write a thoroughly researched Senior Thesis before graduating. The student:faculty ratio is around 10:1, which is quite good for a public university. And it's on the beach

[Zahar Berkut]

A friend of mine from high school went to New College, and she's doing her master's at Cambridge. I figure if they can figure out your grading system, LSE should be able to as well. But really, that's something you should ask your school registrar about directly, since they would have to deal with this issue all the time.

Thanks for the responses, all, I appreciate it!

Just to respond to your question, jblsmith, I went to the New College of Florida. It's a great little school, with several pretty unique academic qualities; in addition to the lack of grades, there's a strong emphasis on independent research, and all students are required to write a thoroughly researched Senior Thesis before graduating. The student:faculty ratio is around 10:1, which is quite good for a public university. And it's on the beach