For incoming postgraduate students at LSE, the summer before the start of the school year is always busy. Some students are preparing for their move to London, others are relocating to new accommodation in the city, some are wrapping up their undergraduate studies, and many are finishing jobs or internships. The prospect of beginning a master’s programme can be daunting, but many questions new students may have can be answered by joining a Destination LSE session for postgraduates.
During the summer of 2021, I was preparing for my move from the US to London for my degree in International Social and Public Policy. I gave notice at my job, worked through the recommended reading list for my program, reserved my accommodation in an LSE flat, and booked my plane ticket to London. I checked the monthly updates from my department, read the Graduate Offer Pack, and attended an online information session for graduate offer holders. But one of the most helpful virtual events in preparation for my program was the Destination LSE session.
In July, I joined a “Destination LSE: North America” online social event, which is aimed at helping offer holders get to know each other and providing a space for students to ask questions, learn more about LSE Careers, and hear tips on how to make the most of their first few weeks at LSE. The virtual session I attended divided the participants into Zoom breakout rooms, where we had the opportunity to introduce ourselves, share our program, and chat with each other.
For me, the most useful takeaways from my Destination LSE session were the connections I formed with my future Department of Social Policy classmates and other LSE postgraduate students who were also preparing for their move from the US to London. After connecting with a fellow American student during the event, she added me to a WhatsApp group chat for US postgraduate offer holders. That forum was especially useful in connecting me with other students who helped give advice based on their experiences applying for visas, finding a flat, arriving early to LSE accommodation, complying with COVID travel requirements, and many other questions I had. Another student I met during the Destination LSE session became a friend later on when we reconnected after arriving in London, and we introduced each other to others students we had met in our program.
If you’re on the fence about joining a Destination LSE event, consider trying one out – you never know what future connections or friends you may make.
