My Advice for Future Summer School Students

5 tips to help you make the most of your summer!

My name is Mathias, and I come from Copenhagen, Denmark. I spent the month of July at LSE Summer School, which was one of the best experiences of my life. After three weeks at LSE and in the big city of London, I have a few tips for future LSE Summer School students that I think everyone should know.

The Santander Cycles

The first - and perhaps the most important - tip I can give future students is to ditch the tube and rent the city bikes (Santander Bicycles). There are several reasons for this. First of all, it can often be cheaper to use bicycles. If you use them for less than 30 minutes at a time, you can cycle around London for under £2 a day. In addition, the Tube is also hot over the summer, so it is often more refreshing to cycle around the place. Finally, it's a great way to get to know the city. By cycling, you get to experience parts of the city you would otherwise not have seen, as you have more freedom.

Book an Event

I would suggest checking out the LSE Summer School Events in advance and getting an overview of what you think might be interesting. Some events require a small payment (these are often bigger events), but there are also a lot of free events. There is everything from active to cultural to career-related events, where you will have plenty of opportunities to meet students who are attending different courses. In this way, you get to expand your network further while you gain important skills.

Hidden Lockers

LSE is centrally located in London, so it is easy to experience the city before or after classes. However, it can be a bit tiring to move around with your backpack. That's why I found some lockers on campus where you can store your things safely with a padlock while you experience the city or attend events. The lockers can be a bit difficult to find, as they are located in the basement of the Old Building, but I can recommend seeking them out or asking for directions. The staff are always happy to help whatever the inquiry may be.

New friends from all over the world

The LSE Summer School is a unique opportunity to meet new people from all over the world. You can expand your professional network and create new friendships. I deliberately chose to attend LSE Summer School on my own to force myself to talk to and meet new people - and this is the best thing I have done. Through your course, events, and other activities, you meet other young people who want to meet new people as well. If you are outgoing and keep smiling, then you have the opportunity to make a lot of new friends. I am still in contact with a lot of those I met at the summer school, who are from all over the world, including France, Spain, Italy, India, Mexico, the USA, and Australia.

London Nightlife

London is a huge city. There is so much to experience, including the nightlife. Going out with your new friends is a great opportunity to strengthen friendships further. Apart from the fact that it is exciting to experience what the nightlife is like in a vibrant city like London, it is also an opportunity to meet people that you would not otherwise have met. One of the places I can highly recommend is the Ministry of Sound - a well-known club that plays house music and is full of young like-minded people who are ready for a good time.

 

These are my top five tips for future LSE Summer School students. It was a once in a lifetime experience.

 

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.