5 min read
Most people use their summer to take a much-needed break or simply to recharge. At the same time, the summer months can be highly productive for university students and working professionals.
Summer is a great time to earn some extra credits, learn a new skill, develop an existing one, or simply expand your knowledge on a subject that intrigues you. Here are some reasons why you might want to take an LSE Summer School course next year.
Advance your career
Just because you left university and started a career, it does not mean that you completely leave learning behind you. Developing new skills can keep your career moving forward in the right direction. Do you frequently need to deliver presentations? Improve your presentation skills with a public speaking course. Does your current position require a lot of writing? A writing course can help you improve your writing skills and make your written communication as advanced as possible. Perhaps you would like to expand your responsibilities by learning about social media marketing or digital markets. Whatever industry, taking summer classes that target specific knowledge or skills can give your career a boost.
Keep current skills up to date
Technologies and methods in every industry evolve over time, especially in the age of digitalisation. Sometimes, it can be difficult to keep your skills current when you are packed with day-to-day responsibilities. You may want to learn what is new in the world of artificial intelligence or finance. You may need to learn new data modelling techniques, update your leadership skills, or discover new project management techniques. Whether as part of a longer-term degree or certificate program or a targeted course to update a specific skill, use your time this summer to keep your knowledge up-to-date.
Learning a new language
Learning a new language is an amazing way to broaden your horizons and gain new perspectives on the world you live in. You may have studied French in high school or continued your Italian lessons in college. Even if you have never studied a language at all, it is never too late to start. Many language institutes offer introductory language courses over the summer. And while it may be tempting to try one of those programs, taking formal classes from a qualified instructor from a world leading university can significantly increase your chances of truly becoming proficient.
Earn further credits
Earning additional credits over the summer has another benefit as well: building extra credits will look great on your CV. Taking classes over the summer might enable you to graduate faster without extending your time at university. Or you could earn an additional undergraduate or graduate certificate alongside your degree. Whatever your unique goals, summer is a great time to stack up on credits to enhance your degree and get ahead of your fellow students.
Small class size
Most summer classes have lower enrolment numbers than classes during the regular semester. Some even have a limited enrolment size to ensure small classes. Small class sizes offer some enormous advantages for example classroom discussions will be more active. Besides that, everyone in the class will have the chance to ask in-depth questions, get involved in the coursework, and participate in the various classroom debates. You will also have more opportunities to get to know both your instructors and your peers. Your instructors will have the chance to get to know you. And you will have the opportunity to get more individualised attention and support if you need it.
Lifelong learning
Regardless of where you are in your life, learning just for the sake of learning can be very pleasing. Maybe you have always been curious about politics or the history of London, for instance. Perhaps your goal is to read and discuss English literature. Maybe you are intrigued by economics and the current developments. Whatever your interest, there is probably a summer school course that covers it. There is no better time than summer to try something new just for fun.
Summing it all up, it is important to stress that this is hardly a comprehensive list of all the benefits of taking a summer school course. But whether you are in pursuit of a concrete goal or simply enjoy learning, use your time wisely this summer to build some new skills and gain fresh perspectives. LSE is the perfect place to do so.
This blog was written by one of our 2022 Student Ambassadors, who are here to share their stories and help you understand the summer school experience at LSE.