What is a LIFE Conversation?
A LIFE Conversation is a 30-minute, one-to-one conversation about any aspect of your life at LSE. It's a chance to talk about questions, concerns, or ideas you'd like to think through with someone who knows the School well.
You might be finding LSE different from what you expected. Maybe you're facing a tricky choice, figuring out a new way of working, trying to meet people, missing home, or starting to think about what comes after your degree. Or maybe you're discovering what the School offers beyond your degree - events, training, specialist services, opportunities - and have no idea where to begin.
What might I use a LIFE Conversation for?
All sorts of things. Here are some examples of what students come to talk with us about
There's no wrong reason to book. If you're not sure whether a LIFE Conversation is the right thing, that itself is a fine reason to come along.
How does a LIFE Conversation work?
You book an appointment - choose whether you want to meet on-campus or online - and turn up. We start by listening. We can talk through some ideas or options to consider, explain how something might work, or help you discover teams and services you hadn't come across yet. You'll leave with a clearer sense of what you might like to do next.
Bring anything that's on your mind, including questions you're not sure how to phrase.
Who will I be talking with?
A team of experienced LSE staff offer LIFE Conversations. We've spent years teaching and supporting LSE students, and some of us studied here ourselves.
Why do these conversations exist?
The School offers a huge range of specialist advice, networks, scholarships, and programmes, as well as hundreds of workshops, activities, and events. All of these are genuinely interesting at some point. But it's not possible to do all of it. And finding a balance across all the things you need and want to do can be tricky.
And sometimes the sheer amount of choice isn't helpful. A service might use specific terms you haven't come across yet, so it isn't always obvious whether it's for you. Or you might still be figuring out what you want, and wondering how to start. Or you might not be sure of where you can find various types of support or opportunities.
LIFE Conversations are a place to work that out. We can help you figure out what's on offer outside your degree programme and talk through what might be interesting or helpful to you. Exploring, trying things, and figuring out what you want and what works for you are part of being at university. So is taking those decisions into your own hands. We're here to help you make sense of what's on offer and support you figure out what’s right for you.
Do LIFE Conversations replace other one-to-one support around the School?
No. LSE has excellent specialist teams who offer advice on studying, careers, wellbeing and mental health, using the library, research and digital skills, finances, administrative matters, and much more. They're the experts in what they do! You can consult directly with any of these teams to ask about what you're looking for. You don't need to come through LSE LIFE beforehand in order to meet specialists from other teams.
Sometimes, though, you might not know exactly what you're looking for. Or you might have questions or concerns that don't seem to fit into an obvious category. Taking a step back to get a bigger picture can be helpful to find your bearings. If you'd like to explore a different perspective or talk something through - that's what a LIFE Conversation is for.