EC235: Economics of European Integration – My Experience

Kayleigh joined LSE Summer School from the University of Austin, Texas, to take EC235: Economics of European Integration. Read on to learn more about her LSE Summer School academic experience.

 

Why did you decide to attend LSE Summer School?

I was looking for a study abroad programme where I could explore a lively city while also learning something that related to my major in college. LSE Summer School was the perfect combination, and there was such a large selection of courses with topics that both interested me and counted towards my degree plan!

Why did you choose your course?

I chose EC235: Economics of European Integration because I was interested in how economics affects the European Union, a one-of-a-kind union in international politics. The pairing of historical and present-day events was something that seemed unique to this course, and what stood out to me even more was the fact that we had two professors helping us explore the content.

Tell us about an average day as a student on your course.

A typical day started with a three-hour lecture, including a 15-minute break in the middle. This was one of my favourite parts of the day because my friends and I would explore different cafés and make plans for the week!

After lectures, we had one to two hours of free time where we could grab lunch, explore London, or do some extra studying. Then we had a 1.5-hour discussion seminar where we covered any concepts from class that were particularly difficult and worked on problem sets. This was a much smaller group, so there were many opportunities to ask questions or delve deeper into the material.

After the seminar, we had the rest of the day off, and being in the centre of London made it so easy to get straight to exploring!

What was your favourite part of your course?

My favourite part of this course was the small-group discussions after lectures, because that was where I truly grasped the material and was able to think further about the real-world implications of what we learned. Additionally, being in an environment where all your classmates are from around the world sparked many interesting debates that shared insights into things I had never thought of before.

What advice would you give to students considering your course?

The biggest piece of advice I would give is to ask as many questions as possible, because you are learning from world-class professors. Each time I asked a question, whether it was something I didn’t understand or just something I wanted further insight on, I was met with incredibly knowledgeable answers that sparked even more curiosity and encouraged me to continue learning in my own time.

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

As a student applying to law school in the upcoming year, this course has broadened my perspective on not only economic concepts, but the way I perceive learning overall. The lectures, where we paired real-world events with economic concepts, trained me to see ways in which academic concepts apply to my own life. This “forever student” mentality is something I have brought up in countless internship interviews, and each time I am met with positive responses that highlight the value of this attitude towards learning.

Was meeting and talking to other students on your course easy?

My professors hosted a mixer on the first day of classes as a way for us to meet each other. It was a casual environment where everyone was open to making new acquaintances, and this was where I met most of my friends for the session. I would say just put yourself out there, because most of the time a simple hello is enough to spark a new friendship.

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

Maximise your time. Whether you’re there for one session or all three, the summer is going to fly by in the blink of an eye. I would recommend signing up early for any of the social or Spark professional skills events hosted by LSE Summer School, because those fill up fast, especially the boat party.

Another thing that helped me maximise my time was asking people I met in my class to go on weekend excursions early on. This helped add some structure to the weekends and also ensured the plans would make it out of the group chat!

What was your favourite part of studying at LSE?

My favourite part of studying at LSE was definitely the convenience of being in the centre of London. One of my favourite memories was rushing out of class to do an outfit change before watching The Devil Wears Prada musical with my friend! The freedom of being a quick Tube ride away from almost anything was incomparable.

Did you feel supported by your lecturers?

My lecturers were incredible, whether it came to explaining concepts in class or hosting informal mixers at the pub after class. They truly cared about getting to know each and every student, which was clear in the effort they put in both inside and outside of lectures.

Would you recommend your course and why?

100%. The combination of having passionate professors who truly care about your learning and being in such a diverse student population made the course such an engaging environment to learn in. This course was challenging in the best way, because it pushed me to think in ways I hadn’t been accustomed to before.