Course Spotlight - MG101: Marketing

We sat down with Clarke, who took the course MG101: Marketing in 2023, to hear all about his experience of the course - from the teaching to his advice to future students. 

 

Why did you decide to attend LSE Summer School?

I wanted to study abroad during the summer so I could have the international experience while staying at my university during my normal semesters. I had friends who had attended LSE in the past and they all recommended it, so I began to look into LSE. I was interested in studying in London because of the history of the city and the various things to do there. Between the city, the university, and the overall experience, LSE seemed like the best fit.

Why did you choose MG101?

I chose MG101 to learn more about marketing and find different subtopics that I could explore further at my home institution. My university offered transfer credit for taking MG101, which allowed me to take the course at LSE while still receiving the same credit I would receive at home. I was interested in MG101 because I could come away with several subtopics that I was interested in and could enrol in these courses at my home university.

Tell us about an average day as a student on MG101.

The average day consisted of one seminar and one lecture. During the lecture, we would learn one or two topics within marketing and the professor would talk about various definitions and examples relating to the topic. During the seminar, we would break out into small groups and go over a case study. The day before we would read the case study and during class we would talk about the reading and answer several questions as a group. At the end of the seminar, each group would share their take-aways from the case. We would go over the topics we learned during lectures in more details, which was particularly helpful for any more challenging topics.

What was your favourite part of MG101?

My favourite part about MG101 was the groupwork within seminars and meeting new people. During the seminars we would be put into groups and asked to discuss case studies, and it was nice to meet my group and learn more about them. My group would grab lunch together, sit beside each other during lectures, and study together before the final. So, it was nice to have a new set of friends where we could work together but also socialise.

What advice would you give to students considering MG101?

I would advise them to be open to learn and meet new people. The class can seem fast because it is taken during a short 3 week span, but it was nice to review the slides after class if any of the concepts were confusing. The lecture has a lot of people so it is important to be willing to talk to your neighbours and meet new people. The seminar class is smaller which means there is more groupwork and discussion. Reading the case studies before class helps your group solve the case, so I would recommend doing this and to be friendly with your seminar group because they can be a great resource for help.

What are your short-term professional goals, and how does MG101 contribute to these goals?

While I am not sure what exact career path I want to pursue at the moment, marketing is one of them. Taking this class helped me understand a broader sense of what marketing is, and different types of marketing that I might be interested in.

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

My best piece of advice is to find the right balance and routine. It is important to find the right balance between socialising, classwork, and exploring, so it can be difficult at first. Finding a routine that fits all of these needs best allows you to maximize your time at LSE and in London.

How has MG101 helped you in your undergraduate degree/career plans?

I was able to receive credit at my home university for taking MG101, which helped me towards my graduation credits. I was also able to learn different areas of marketing which I might be interested in learning more in classes at my university.

What was your favourite part of studying at LSE?

My favourite part of studying at LSE was meeting new people and the different experiences I was able to have. It was good to meet people from across the world while attending the same class as them. LSE offered a variety of events, like the Boat Party, which were great for meeting new people while seeing different parts of London.

Would you recommend this MG101 and why?

I would recommend MG101 because it was a great way to be introduced to marketing. The class style supported the concepts we were taught because we would learn the concept during lectures and then apply it during seminars. It was helpful to work through the cases during seminars with other people, so we could talk about the case while meeting new people.