LSE

It's a great school, and you'll have a great experience - with a few big caveats. LSE is not for everyone. It's very independent and research-focused. If you're used to a system where you're given constant access to professors and are, for lack of a better phrase, 'spoon fed', you will not be happy at the LSE - or anywhere in the UK, for that matter. There's fierce resistance to this approach within the LSE. On top of that, the grading system is quite strange. If you get a 68 or above in an International Relations course (and many other courses, for that matter), you're doing exceptionally well. Very few students get to that level, and anything above that is truly exceptional. LSE is quite rigid in this way, and often times you're not entirely sure what it takes to get a top grade like that. You really have to do it by trial and error - and keep pushing yourself harder and harder. You'll get there, but it might take some time (especially if you're from an inflation-heavy school like some sister schools of Columbia I need not mention here). You can attending office hours of both teachers and professors, but they rarely give you past papers as examples. Certain degrees can be seen as very theoretical and abstract. This is often a shock to American students (like myself) who study subjects like International Relations. In the USA, IR tends to be quite behavioralist/scientific and policy-focused, whereas at the LSE it tends to be very historical and theoretical focused. Either way, it'll certainly broaden your horizons and introduce you to a new way of thinking. Bottom line: do a fair amount of research before you go - speak to students who've attended the LSE both full-time and for a year abroad. The more views you collate, the better prepared you'll be for the LSE's strengths and weaknesses - which are, as always, all relative.

It's hard not to like a school that is located in London. But of course the LSE has its own merits. I had some pretty engaging courses. Plus, it is always fun to tell people that you go there, because everyone always seems mighty impressed. In general, the students at LSE are pretty intelligent, it's just that there are so gosh darn many of them!

Self-sufficiency, ability to make friends fast, street-wise, in short, the ability to survive in a big city, all these are required, but don't worry you'll soon pick them up by necessity anyway! I recommend you get all interested in your studies otherwise the temptations of this endlessly fascinating city will be too much to resist! Other than that, take up a sport to unwind and keep fit, y'know that old saying, survival of the fittest.

Try to get into a hall of residence: much easier to make friends! Join a couple of 'societies', they organise lots of events for almost nothing.

The LSE summer programme is excellent for udergraduate students, graduate students lookin gto fullfill certain requirements, career people looking for additional credentials or just about anyone who is interested in a rigorous and demanding summer programme that still leaves plenty of time to pursue leisure options. Highly reccomended.

There are loads of wwwdot websites that help provide cheap travel. Buy an AtoZ (said, 'A to Zed') map, sold at newsagents. It's a comprehensive London Street Guide. A computer isn't necessary here.