Course Spotlight - FM200: Entrepreneurial Finance

We sat down with Tim, who took FM200: Entrepreneurial Finance, to heard about his experience of the course - from class projects, to daily schedules, to how it will help him in his career. 

 

Why did you decide to attend LSE Summer School?

The university I attend (Northeastern University) has a partnership with LSE Summer School, so many people from my school had been before and told me about it. Friends from clubs and classes told me how much they enjoyed their time at LSE Summer School, which made me decide that I wanted to go. Also, I studied abroad during my first semester of college and loved it, so I wanted to study abroad again.

Why did you choose your course?

FM200 helped me fulfil one of my degree credit requirements at my home university, but the main reason I decided to take FM200 was because of my interest in venture capital. The classes went into detail about what you would do if you were an entrepreneur in different scenarios and led to amazing discussions!

Tell us about an average day as a student on your course.

An average day in my life started with an 08:00 wakeup with an all-inclusive breakfast served to me in my LSE accommodation Passfield Hall. I’d walk about 25 minutes to campus for my seminar which started at 10:00 and this would go on until 13:00. From there, I had a 2-hour break between my lecture and seminar, where I would either go to the library or George IV, the pub on campus for a drink. After class, I would usually watch the Euros football tournament and meet new people or go out to dinner.

What was your favourite part of your course?

My favourite part of the class was the project that we presented on the last day. We had to come up with an idea for a company and pitch it to the class (who acted as the venture capital investors) on why they should invest in our company. One person from each group presented, which I did, and it was an awesome experience!

What advice would you give to students considering your course?

I would take FM200 if you are someone who likes to think outside the box. The class is unique in the sense there is no midterm (which most courses at LSE Summer School have) and just has a project and final. If you do not enjoy tests and enjoy group projects more, this is the class for you!

What are your short-term professional goals, and how does your course contribute to these goals?

I am looking to go into Investment Banking after I graduate from Northeastern University. This class definitely helped me learn how to think from a founder’s perspective (which is usually the type of client that an investment banker is representing), which I think will overall develop my skillset after I graduate and start work!

What was your favourite part of studying at LSE?

My favourite part of LSE Summer School was the diversity of everyone in my classes. People came from all four corners of the world. When I first applied to LSE, I assumed that the majority of my friends and classmates would be from the USA, which was definitely not the case. People came from all over, and it was amazing to hear about everyone's different perspectives and backgrounds. Everyone was very friendly and social, and it was very easy to make friends. I enjoyed going to the pub on campus, George IV, after my classes to either watch the Euros or socialise with people.

Was meeting and talking to other students on your course easy?

I found it very easy to meet and talk to other students on my course. Before you even arrive at LSE, you can join group chats with everyone who is enrolled in your class. When I arrived on campus, everyone in my class was very talkative, and after the first day of lectures, I went out to lunch with a large group of students taking my course. I am still close with a lot of the students that I met through the course.

What would be your top tip for future Summer School students?

My top tip for LSE Summer School students would be to put yourself out there! Some of my favourite experiences and memories from Summer School came about after I pushed myself out of my comfort zone. Whether that was going up and talking to random people or saying yes to new experiences, it is important to try new things. I would also recommend travelling as much as you can. I decided to travel to Europe 10 days before Summer School started, which meant I visited 8 countries before getting to the UK, and I also tried to travel on the weekends to more countries. With how cheap flights are in Europe, you are missing out if you do not take advantage of it!

How did you find the course and teaching experience at LSE?

The course and teaching experience were very different to that of my home university, but I did enjoy the different styles. It felt a lot more hands off in the sense that you had to think through the lens of being an entrepreneur, so there is not always a right and wrong answer. It did not feel as direct as my classes at my home university, which really challenged my thought process and the way I think. I also enjoyed how there was a lecture and a seminar, a smaller discussion-based class, which went over in more depth what we had learned in the lecture that day. This teaching style helped me retain the information and succeed in the class.

 

This interview was written by one of our 2024 students, who are here to share their stories and help you understand the Summer School experience at LSE.