🕰️ When should you apply to LSE?

I often get asked, 'When's the best time to apply to LSE?' So, I wanted to write a few words on that.

My answer will focus on the MIM and MSc Finance programs, as the timing doesn't differ much between the two.

Let's think strategically here. We want to dodge two main things:

1. The rush of the majority of applicants. Ideally, we apply before this wave hits.

2. The top-tier applicants. Again, it's best to get our application in before theirs.

So, let's break it down, starting with the first point:

LSE's selection committee operates on a rolling basis. The application window opens around the end of November or early December. However, the flood of applications typically pours in during February and March. Why then? Well, for a couple of reasons:

a) Many students only start seriously considering a master's degree after the first few months of their final undergraduate year. They go home for Christmas, have a eureka moment with their families, and boom – they decide they need a master's degree.

b) Then there are the ambitious folks who've been gunning for jobs in Investment Banking or Consulting in London. Come January, many face rejections and find themselves without a solid plan. Their next move? Rather than wasting a year, they opt for a master's degree.

In February and March, LSE can receive 3 to 4 times the applications they get in December or January.

Now, about the strongest applicants in Europe, especially for MIM and MIF programs:

They typically aim for LBS, HEC, and ESSEC first. LSE often becomes their backup option (though this is less the case for LSE's finance program, which is as competitive as HEC's MIF or LBS's MFA, but it's pretty accurate for LSE's MIM).

Informed applicants usually go for Round 2 (R2) or Round 3 (R3) applications. The most prepared ones will be applying in R2. This year, for instance, LBS's R2 deadline is December 12th, while HEC and ESSEC have their R2 deadlines on January 3rd.

So, the strongest candidates are likely sending off their applications around now.

To sum up and directly answer your question: If you're aiming for LSE, the best time to apply is from now until February. Get in there before the rush and stand out from the crowd.

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