Warning about LSE

How can they sabotage your intern application?

Posted from TSR Mobile

That sounds great to me. I don't really see it as a problem.

Spoken like a true masochist

Posted from TSR Mobile

O.K, I'm writing this because I wished someone had done the same for me when I was applying to University, and been honest about what it’s REALLY like at LSE. I have also been reading threads about how people think that achieving a place at LSE is the be all and end all of everything. I am a Second year student at the University, and wanted to make a formal warning to people wanting to apply to this University, because I don't want others to be duped the way that I was and then arrive here and realise what a colossal mistake they have made.

I knew before I came to LSE that it wasn’t going to be a ‘fun’ uni. I was aware of how dissatisfied students were at LSE but I decided to put that all aside and do it for the future prospects that a degree from LSE could offer me. Let me tell you that was the biggest mistake of my life and given the choice again, I would pick a friendlier, less academic uni over this shite hole.LSE was made out to be a vibrant, cosmopolitan uni with students from all over the world. The truth is that the international students (mainly Chinese) are cliquey af. They stick together and rarely interact with the home students. I have been in lectures where I have attempted to talk to some of the pupils and they brush you off and start talking in their own language to their friend from the same country. The rare home students that you’ll meet are either ‘rahs’ or socially awkward beyond belief.

The societies are crap. You can’t have a light hearted conversation without someone trying to be politically correct. The lecturers are awful. Many are post graduates who don’t want to be there. In some of my lectures I could barely understand what the lecturer was talking about because his English was so bad. The workload is unbearable. The ‘LSE culture’ is vile, everyone is trying to get one up on each other all the time. London in general is just an awful place tbh. LSE has no campus so there isn’t a university feel to it at all. It feels more like a workplace. Londoners in general are just unfriendly (lord forbid if you smile at a stranger). It’s a busy, expensive, isolating place where you just feel insignificant. The careers service is diabolical too.

Now with my *****ing out the way (lol) the point of this post was to advise people. I browsed TSR a lot during my application process and there was this false notion that the strongest way to get into investment banking was through LSE. This is totally false. My internship at JP Morgan had students from Warwick, Birmingham, Manchester etc. And they were all loving their uni experience.It takes a certain type to study at LSE. For those who are debating between LSE and a uni like Warwick pick the latter. LSE is a cold, isolating place which has sucked the life out of me. If you want a real taste of University life, do not come to LSE.

Definitely matches the feeling from my friends at LSE, sadly.

When I ask friends if they're enjoying uni/ general conversations about their uni life - the happiest ones are undoubtedly Leeds. Everyone at Leeds honestly seems to love it. Followed by Manc/ Newcastle. If you want to enjoy yourself, these places seem to satisfy hugely. Good luck to all wherever you are starting.

O.K, I'm writing this because I wished someone had done the same for me when I was applying to University, and been honest about what it’s REALLY like at LSE. I have also been reading threads about how people think that achieving a place at LSE is the be all and end all of everything. I am a Second year student at the University, and wanted to make a formal warning to people wanting to apply to this University, because I don't want others to be duped the way that I was and then arrive here and realise what a colossal mistake they have made.

I knew before I came to LSE that it wasn’t going to be a ‘fun’ uni. I was aware of how dissatisfied students were at LSE but I decided to put that all aside and do it for the future prospects that a degree from LSE could offer me. Let me tell you that was the biggest mistake of my life and given the choice again, I would pick a friendlier, less academic uni over this shite hole.LSE was made out to be a vibrant, cosmopolitan uni with students from all over the world. The truth is that the international students (mainly Chinese) are cliquey af. They stick together and rarely interact with the home students. I have been in lectures where I have attempted to talk to some of the pupils and they brush you off and start talking in their own language to their friend from the same country. The rare home students that you’ll meet are either ‘rahs’ or socially awkward beyond belief.

The societies are crap. You can’t have a light hearted conversation without someone trying to be politically correct. The lecturers are awful. Many are post graduates who don’t want to be there. In some of my lectures I could barely understand what the lecturer was talking about because his English was so bad. The workload is unbearable. The ‘LSE culture’ is vile, everyone is trying to get one up on each other all the time. London in general is just an awful place tbh. LSE has no campus so there isn’t a university feel to it at all. It feels more like a workplace. Londoners in general are just unfriendly (lord forbid if you smile at a stranger). It’s a busy, expensive, isolating place where you just feel insignificant. The careers service is diabolical too.

Now with my *****ing out the way (lol) the point of this post was to advise people. I browsed TSR a lot during my application process and there was this false notion that the strongest way to get into investment banking was through LSE. This is totally false. My internship at JP Morgan had students from Warwick, Birmingham, Manchester etc. And they were all loving their uni experience.It takes a certain type to study at LSE. For those who are debating between LSE and a uni like Warwick pick the latter. LSE is a cold, isolating place which has sucked the life out of me. If you want a real taste of University life, do not come to LSE.

Just out of interest, why didn't you drop out after the month or so it took you to realise what LSE was really like and reapply for entry to a different university for the following year?

Of course London can be an isolating, dark and scary city. Of course LSE, King's, Imperial, UCL, etc. can all be isolating, dark and scary. LSE is one of the best universities in the world. You either thrive in London or complain and get pushed to the back of the queue.

Wow. Any academic establishment needs to find a healthy balance for both its students and staff between academia and plain old fun. If its too much of one and not enough of the other then that place is failing . It doesn't make any difference if you come out of it the other side with glorious qualifications from a glorious institution or not. From what you have said LSE seem to be deficient in ensuring there is a culture of healthy competitveness together with, I don't know. Mutual respect for one another ? I wonder if it has always been this way? Surely the Lecturers must be aware of this.They can hardly be stupid,can they? OP, I really hope you are able to complete your degree in a friendlier environment.

I totally agree with you. Ambition is a great thing. I would consider myself an ambitious person. However, there is a problem when certain individuals become so consumed with ambition that they adopt a ruthless mentality. Especially when it comes to internships. I have a friend at Warwick who said that all those applying for internships help each other out a lot and share notes etc. That mentality of 'helping each other out' is unheard of at lse. Everyone is uber competitive.

Being uber competitive is one thing. But not if it is to the detriment of you being or developing into a decent human being.

You're brave to share this on here, and I hope prospective LSE students take note of this. I do agree, London can feel like an isolating place, as much as you can't help think London is a busy, vibrant Hub, you don't get the same sense of community than say a smaller city

Idk maybe it's just me but I find the whole London is a 'vibrant' place such an illusion. If you scratch the surface, most people are stressed and weary of the people around them. Also the disparity between the rich and poor is mind boggling. Only the rich can truly maximise the vibrant hub of london. But most of the rich people (mainly bankers) that I've met are so tired. One guy I met said that the only reason he's rich is because he doesn't have the time to spend his money. The only thing I've learnt about living london and I know this sounds absolutely ridiculous that it took me so long to realise this is that money doesn't buy you happiness.
I genuinely thought that I would attend lse, become an investment banker, get rich and die happy. Lol at least I've learnt a life lesson even though it was the hard way.