Balancing your time at LSE Summer School

As an LSE Summer School student, you will find there is a lot on offer to split your time between – from your course to social events, to professional development workshops and exploring London. Finding the right balance between learning, expanding your network, and enjoying London may be hard. This article provides some key points to help you strike the right balance between everything that LSE Summer School and London offer.

Remember what made you choose LSE summer school

Did you choose it because of the high-quality education? Then you may want to prioritise preparing for lectures and classes, but remember to also try to break up your study time with other events. Did you choose it for the networking and career opportunities? Then be sure not to miss any of the Spark events, that will give you precious career advice and the opportunity to meet other students. Did you choose it for the city and international experience? Then make sure to visit all of London's hotspots and taking opportunities to meet new people at LSE’s social events.

Schedule

Before arriving in London, prepare a list of objectives you want to achieve, and events/places you want to visit. With this in mind, prepare rough weekly schedules where you determine the main activities for each day you are in London. Anytime you discover an activity you want to undertake, be sure to note it immediately. You can also keep an eye on your emails and the Summer School social media and website for an idea of what is going on each week. Scheduling will help you keep your mind clear and ensure you make the most of your time in London.

Don't forget to try new things

Whatever the primary objective for your LSE Summer School experience is, set aside some hours every week to try something new. The more you get out of your comfort zone, the more you learn and grow. For instance, visiting the British Museum wasn't at the top of my to-do list, but it revealed itself to be one of the most enriching experiences during my time in London.

Don't forget to meet new people

Although you can always go back to London, you won't have the opportunity to meet the same people. Classes, lectures, and extracurricular activities offer the chance to meet like-minded students. Investing time with them will give you global long-lasting friendships that can help you later in your life journey.

In conclusion, there is no one size fits all way of allocating your time in London – the best way to divide your time is to prioritise whatever suits your aspirations and goals. If you feel overwhelmed with all of the activities and events LSE Summer School and London offer, return to this article to ensure you are picking the right ones.

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.