My LSE Story - Why I Chose Session 3

I’m Chen Yuexi from Beijing, China! I’m currently a student at Beijing Foreign Studies University, studying finance. At LSE Summer School, I studied FM250: Finance, which was one of the most insightful courses I’ve taken. I’d recommend it to anyone interested in economics, business and finance, or wanting to go a step further in understanding our rather complicated world! I took my course in Session 3, which usually takes place in August, and I want to discuss my experience of studying and living in London during this time, and why I would recommend it!

I was always interested in studying abroad and have considered applying to do further degrees abroad, especially the UK. I chose Session 3 of Summer School partly due to the late schedule of my home institution, as I hadn’t finished my final examinations and essays until July, meaning that the timing of Session 3 suited me best. Luckily, LSE offers many interesting and useful Summer School courses in their later session.

The range of courses in Session 3 suited my interests the most. As a student majoring in finance, I prefer a more general but advanced course, so I chose FM250: Finance as it delves more deeply into statistics and macroeconomics. The course was taught by Dr. Michela Verardo and Dr. Ashwini Agrawal from LSE’s Department of Finance, and covered topics such as asset-markets and corporate finance. The professors are approachable and have crafted a course that is relevant and uses real-life examples like the economies of the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany, France, China, Japan, Spain and so on. The course combines big lectures and small practice classes, called seminars, which are really helpful for understanding the text materials and questions more deeply.

Another benefit of attending Session 3 is the access to in-person preparatory English classes, prior to your course starting. If English is not your first language, or you are worried about your English-speaking competency in an academic setting, you you can take a preparatory English course for 5 days before the start of the Summer School session. This is helpful for understanding the course materials, slides and recordings that you will analyse when your course begins. I really enjoyed the preparatory English class, as it was relaxed and not so difficult. The teacher was also funny and friendly, and was great at guiding us through the academic materials and texts.

I found that there was a greater availability of LSE accommodation options in Session 3. I stayed in High Holborn, which was very convenient as it was 10 minutes from campus, and close to a number of restaurants. You are also close to a number of supermarkets and will have facilities to make some food for yourself in High Holborn. I lived in a single room with a shared bathroom with 6 other students, who were all very easy to get along with – it was nice staying in LSE accommodation, as I was around fellow Summer School students.

Another benefit of the LSE campus in general was the facilities. For me, the library was my favourite place to go to after lectures. I enjoyed reading , finishing my assignments and chatting with my classmates or teaching assistant there. The colourful decorations and architectural structures made the library a pleasant place for studying and social networking.

I also enjoyed all the events on offer during Session 3. I joined activities such as the London Walking Tour and Party on the Plaza, as well as Spark sessions focusing on wellbeing and job searching. The Spark sessions in particular will help you to develop professionally, as well as introducing you to some amazing individuals from all over the world.

LSE Summer School will equip you with the skills to set the foundation for life beyond the summer. One major skill I acquired during my time at LSE that has helped me was learning to balance work and life. This helped me stay motivated and productive, while drastically reducing unnecessary burnout. I also learned time management, which was an essential skill I needed to develop, given my exhausting profession. This made juggling work and personal time more effective and less stressful, as I learned how to prioritise my time wisely. Learning to create valuable connections and networking has been the most valued asset I have carried with me beyond Summer School and these friendships have shaped me into a better person not only personally but also professionally. Lastly, Summer School has helped me to break from my comfort zone and foster cultural awareness, which has equipped me to operate in an increasingly cross-cultured and globalised world.

It’s truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience at LSE Summer School. Please find your own balance between leisure and studies, go sightseeing in London or other UK cities over your weekends. It can be challenging, but it is worth it for the huge variety of skills and experiences you will gain while in London. I am glad to have joined in Session 3, and recommend you consider the courses on offer later in the summer too!