I went to the LSOP open day yesterday and I thought that it would be useful to tell you guys and girls about it!
LSOP is very easy to find! I come from Nottingham, so I went on the train and walked from St Pancras station to LSOP. This takes about 10 minutes and is quite a nice walk!
On entering LSOP, I was shocked about the amount of scaffolding! But we were then told that a £5 million refurbishment project for a new common room, canteen and labs etc was taking place! This, we were told, would be nearly ready for September 2006.
We went on a tour of LSOP. I found a few of the girls doing the tour very immature and unprofessional when trying to ‘sell’ their university. For instance, when showing us a ‘role-play’ of a pharmacy, they kept giggling which was immature and when showing us how computerized systems worked they were disorganised. I also found that they lacked communication skills, which I thought that they would have developed! However these were Year 2 students and when compared to a Year 4 student who joined us, there was a noticeable difference and I could see how well students develop! The students were also very good when in the reception and telling us about LSOP, and timetables etc. I found it very useful to hear directly from students without lecturers listening, so as to hear ‘first-hand’ information.
We went on an accommodation tour to see the International Hall, which is right opposite the school of pharmacy! The rooms were a good size. However there are no en-suite accommodations and everything is catered. In the International hall, there is a bar and the majority of Pharmacy students stay here! However I was told that the food is sucks by a student!
LSOP is a VERY multicultural university, which the university said that they try to encourage.
There is a lot of student support at LSOP and everything is geared towards the students. All teachers are experts in pharmacy with excellent teaching. LSOP has a FANTASTIC reputation with employers and this is a big bonus, especially in the pre-reg year! As it is a small school, everyone gets individual attention and older students support you as everyone knows everyone else! There is more of a community here than in other universities and this really appeals to me!
Before I went to see LSOP, I thought that it would be really boring studying there! But was I wrong! Being in the centre of London, LSOP is close to Soho, the West End and of course the fabulous Oxford Street! Students at LSOP cal join the LSOP student union AND the University of London student union! There are bars very close by as LSOP is in a student, yet kinda posh area!
I really enjoyed my day and will probably make LSOP my firm, unless I hear from Kings! I think it would be great to study here! It is very useful to go and see the universities before your make your decision and previous to going I wasn’t too sure about making LSOP my firm!