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Lola

April 21st, 2023

Take advantage of your time at uni: 3 lessons

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Estimated reading time: 10 minutes

Lola

April 21st, 2023

Take advantage of your time at uni: 3 lessons

0 comments

Estimated reading time: 10 minutes

“The only mistake in life is the lesson not learned.” ~ Albert Einstein

With the above quote in mind, I thought I’d share three lessons that I’ve learned about taking full advantage of my time studying at LSE.

1. Don’t be afraid to speak up during or outside of class 

Getting the opportunity to learn at LSE gives you access to some of the brightest peers and professors in the country. While being surrounded by such inspiring people can be a wonderful experience, it can also be quite intimidating. At least, that’s how I felt when I first began my studies here. I rarely spoke up out of fear that my ideas were dumb or wrong or would annoy others. However, by not sharing your thoughts, the only person you are harming is yourself. After finally gaining the courage to participate in class, I’ve noticed that it helps you stay more engaged in the course, understand the topic better, and even help others pick up on nuances or ideas they wouldn’t have caught otherwise.

LSE makes it easy to participate, by having small group seminars for every course. These seminars are the perfect size for discussions and offer more individual time with the professors. Not only that, but I’ve found that the professors are incredibly willing to talk with you outside of the official class times as well. Whether that be asking them a question after the lesson is over, attending office hours, or shooting them a recent article you’ve found – don’t be afraid to connect with your professors outside of class time! On that note – I’d say the same about your peers. After all, everyone is there for the same reason, to learn and grow with one another. 

2. Take advantage of the social networks that you can build at LSE 

Taking advantage of the social networks at LSE also requires you to get past the intimidation factor. Once you do that, you will be opened up to an entire world of interesting opportunities. Here are some of my favourite ways to get involved and expand your social network while at the school:

  • LSESU sport clubs and societies – whether it be a sport, a side interest, or a career-focused club – there is a society at LSE that would fit your interests and introduce you to several people that you wouldn’t have met otherwise.
  • Attend guest lectures and events on campus – one of the best parts about the LSE is that it makes sure its students are not in a bubble, but instead provides them with the opportunity to meet and hear from people doing amazing work across various fields. I’ve found that attending guest lectures or career events is a great way to be exposed to successful individuals that are also incredibly willing to share their tips and advice with you. This provides a great easy transition into network building for life post LSE. 

3. Stay on top of your coursework to make things easier for yourself

Each term at LSE flies by! It felt like just as I was getting adjusted to the coursework and courseload, final assessments were around the corner. Now I won’t lie and say that I kept on top of all of my coursework all semester. But I am incredibly grateful that I managed to be proactive about doing the readings for each class, checking in with professors when I was confused, and forming study groups with others in my cohort. As I get started preparing for my final assessments, I know I’m in a much better place than I would have been having not done all of that. In the short term – it might be easy to slack off, but in the future, you will be grateful if you don’t!  

These are just some of the lessons I’ve learned while studying at LSE. Drop a comment sharing one of the most important lessons you learned during your university days! 

About the author

Lola

My name is Lola Idowu, a master’s student from New York, studying Behavioural Science. Aside from my interest in human behaviour, I also love to read, try out new restaurants, and shop at local markets or boutiques.

Posted In: Student life

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