University Requirements

My main aim is to go to London School of Economics. I made some research on its admissions and what I have found out:

1. What is very important for me - age requirements. I'll be 17 when I finish my A-levels and i have heard that you can apply to the British universities only from the age of 18. But, luckily:

Age requirements

Admission to the School is based upon academic merit. As the School has a responsibility for safeguarding children under English Law, appropriate senior staff will be notified of an offer of admission made to anyone who will be younger than 18 years of age at the time of registration


2. UCAS Applications for the year 2010 are to be submit from September 2009 till (nearly) 15 January.

3. Also, the combination of subjects is important. The applicants with more than one 'soft subject' are not likely to get to the top universities.

Here are 'non-preferred' subjects for LSE :

Accounting
Art and Design
Business Studies
Communication Studies
Design and Technology
Drama/Theatre Studies*
Home Economics
Information and Communication Technology
Law
Media Studies
Music Technology
Sports Studies
Travel and Tourism

I study Further Maths, Economics and ICT, but I guess that ICT is considered as a 'soft subject' too.


4. A-level in Russian.

'Similarly, an A level or equivalent in your first language may not be counted' - that what LSE official website says. So is there a point in taking Russian A-level?

5. Competition

In 2007, we received 19,000 applications for 1,200 places. Competition for admission is particularly high in Accounting and Finance, Economics, Law and Management.


6. Interviews

Students are not usually invited for an interview to LSE, only those who have unusual qualifications or mature applicants may be asked for it.

7. Retakes

Competition for places at the School is intense, so it is important that you achieve consistently high grades throughout both years of your A level studies. Whilst grades can be improved by re-sitting modules, we prefer applicants who have achieved high grades in their AS and A2 examinations at their first attempt.

8. I'm not quite sure which course I want to apply for ( Economics, Management, Finance) but all these courses requirements are:
AAA or AAB grades ( including Maths).


9. I didn't see any information whether universities consider language A-level as 'preferred', but I'll find out.
I'd like to try to pass French AS-level in 2009.