Why did you choose to study at LSE?
After three years at university, you are told at school, you will venture out to work in the “real world”. But I realised that if I go to LSE I could go to a university which was alive and intimately connected with the real world right away. Why shut yourself away with the dreaming spires when you could be meeting Boris Johnson one day and Aung San Suu Kyi the next? Why not experience the real world alongside your degree by working at the Houses of Parliament or playing in the BBC Symphony Orchestra? Why not be taught by world-leading professors who are themselves making the government policy which will determine the future history of Britain?
What are the benefits of studying in London?
The old adage goes: “tired of London, tired of life”. It is most definitely true. If you go to university in London you will realise there is no better city in the world! The people you meet, the opportunities you have, the beautiful surroundings you work in, London cannot be beaten.
Why did you choose a degree in International History?
In Britain History degrees are usually very narrow in their focus. But LSE is different. You have the opportunity to explore not only the histories of pretty much any country on the planet but also the chance to do so in an interdisciplinary way. When I was choosing my university I knew I would love the LSE course because it would give me the opportunity to study a language, learn new social science disciplines and through LSE100 engage with students who were doing subjects wildly different from my own. All those promises have been delivered upon during my time here!
What do you hope to gain from your degree?
The most important thing for me was to find the specialism which would lead onto a long and successful career. At LSE I have found my passion in the study of Modern China and it is something which I will be pursuing at Master’s level and beyond.
How did you find the teaching, supervision and social life within the department?
During my time at LSE I have met some truly inspirational academics. In the LSE International History department every single faculty member is world-class. Whatever you want to achieve at LSE the department will be behind you, giving you that extra bit of knowledge to go on and realise your dream. In terms of social life it is a cliché, but also a truism, that the people you meet at university will be some of the best friends you will ever make. LSE is such an amazing university because it is filled with like-minded people: people willing to debate, to have a laugh, to work hard. The department makes sure that you have plenty of opportunities to meet your fellow students and build friendships that last a lifetime.
What are you planning to do next?
I am going on to do a MA in East Asian Studies at Yale University from August 2014.