GEORGE ALLISON

Third year BSc Politics and History student, offer-holder for the MSc in Political Sociology. Student Marketing and Recruitment Assistant.

LSE’s next Open Day will be held on 29 April 2020. We also have an Open Day later in the year in July. To help you get the most from our open events I thought I would share my experience. As a student who attended an Open Day in 2017 and decided to study at LSE, I hope you find this useful.

Applying to university can be an incredibly daunting experience, especially if you’ve not received the relevant information. First, you’re faced with deciding on a course (LSE calls them programmes!) that is relevant to your interests. Then you’re presented with a broad range of universities, all of which differ in terms of their offering and nature. Finally, you’ll consider the student experience, namely what will studying and living in your university be like. Helpfully, LSE’s Open Day will provide clarity and information to help you make informed decisions.

PROGRAMMES AND APPLYING

Before attending the LSE Open Day, I was unsure whether to apply for Government, History or Law. A key benefit of the day is the opportunity to hear from actual lecturers and subject leaders who are leaders in their relevant fields. All departments offer these talks, from Accounting to Anthropology, Social Policy to Statistics. These subject talks helped determine the programme I eventually applied for, BSc Politics and History; it really is a great opportunity to hear about our subject combinations and the flexibility afforded to LSE students. There are also general talks, and these will provide information on applying to LSE, careers and student life. These sessions are friendly and welcoming and are delivered in an accessible and enjoyable way. Staff were on hand at my Open Day to answer my questions and the experience gave me greater confidence when it came to the application stage and beyond.

THE UNIVERSITY

Whilst choosing the right programme is important, the Open Day also presents you with an opportunity to experience the university itself. LSE has a unique academic environment with an open and accessible campus. By being an open campus, attendees have the opportunity to explore the campus in a self-guided and relaxed manner. There’s also free coffee on hand (or ice-cream in the summer!) to power you through the talks and walking you’ll inevitably do. Visiting areas such as the library, SU and lecture facilities gives you an authentic look at LSE’s campus, both academic and social. LSE’s location in the heart of Central London also gives you the chance to explore surrounding areas such as Covent Garden and Trafalgar Square. Choosing the right university is incredibly important and LSE’s Open Day offering gives you the fullest, most complete view of our campus.

STUDENT LIFE

Finally, applying to university inevitably involves considering what your student experience will be like. For many applicants this will be the first time they have lived away from home. Usefully, the Open Day involves a comprehensive programme of accommodation tours. The facilities available for a tour have included Bankside House, Northumberland House and Urbanest Westminster in the past. LSE guarantees accommodation for first year students who apply before the deadline and the opportunity to view these facilities, often toured by current residents, will help ease any reservations or concerns you have about moving out. You’ll also be able to experience the Students’ Union (SU) building (SAW), which is the hub of social activity on campus. Many events occur here including performances, club nights and sporting events. Students currently living in London who decide not to move out will also benefit from the day as many of our student ambassadors commute to university. This will be a chance to ask them about the logistics of this and how our off-campus support network ensures an equally enjoyable student experience. For those short of time, Urbanest, a provider of accommodation in London and other UK Cities, sometimes have a bus fitted out with a mock room and this is parked on our campus. As such, no matter how you intend to live as a student, LSE’s Open Day will help you make the best, most informed decision for you.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I hope the above has proved useful. If you’re unsure about LSE or university life in general, the LSE Open Day is your chance to make sense of what can be a complex and worrying process. It’s a chance to get information on the university itself, the programmes we offer and ultimately how LSE can shape your future. Ask questions, be curious and make the most of the day – best of luck for the months ahead!

If you can’t make it to one of our Open Days then don’t worry, there are plenty of other options to help you find out more about LSE. Check out our Event finder to see other opportunities for visiting campus and to discover when we may be in a city near you. Alternatively experience LSE from home via our blogs, video diaries and more.