Are you a new student at LSE? Or are you thinking about coming to study at LSE?
There are a lot of unknowns when you're about to starting to studying at university. The one thing you can know a lot about is yourself!
The more you know about yourself, how you study and learn best, and what you want from your experience at LSE - the better prepared you are to meet the challenges and reap the benefits of studying here.
We’re all different, and no one approach suits everyone. So here are some questions you can ask yourself to think about what works for you and what new things you might want to try as you make the move to LSE. As you reflect on these questions, you might want to write down your thoughts or discuss them with friends, classmates, your academic mentor, or LSE LIFE study advisers.
When are your best times of day for focus and concentration? How do you take advantage of that “prime time”?
What interrupts your focus or concentration? (e.g. visits, calls, messages from friends or colleagues, automated messages). How do you protect your prime time from those interruptions?
When do you tend to have less focus during the day? What times of day is it harder for you to pay attention? What do you usually do during those times?
What do you do when you have more than one deadline in the same week – or on the same day? What is your method to plan and prioritise?
How do you use calendars, lists, or other electronic or physical tools to manage and prioritise your tasks?
Where do you prefer to study? What makes a “good” study space for you?
What is your study/workspace like? Are there changes you can make to create an environment that suits your ways of working?
What different spaces you could use – on campus and off campus? What spaces at LSE do you know about? How do some spaces lend themselves to different types of tasks?
How often do you think about your goals? Do you write about them or share them with others?
Are the goals you set for yourself realistic? Can you challenge yourself further? Are you expecting the impossible?
How do you know if you're making progress towards your goals?
How do your short-term goals relate to your long-term goals?
What does "success" at LSE mean for you?
What are you most looking forward to? Why?
What are your academic aspirations? Which courses excite you the most?
What kinds of activities outside the classroom do you want to get involved in?
What opportunities do you think LSE and London can offer you?
Has there ever been a time when a setback turned into a positive experience for you?
How do handle disappointment? If you recieved a low mark, who could you turn to? How do you use criticism and feedback to your advantage?
What helps you keep going when it's tough to stay motivated?
There are no right or wrong answers to any of these questions. The idea is to learn more about your preferences, priorities, and what was worked well for you so far.
There will be plenty of opportunities to discuss more specific areas of studying – like academic reading, writing, and managing your time and your work once the academic year is underway.
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LSE LIFE offers hands-on workshops on all these skills and more! Check out our programme to see what will be on offer to you once the academic year begins
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You can also complete Prepare to Learn at LSE, the School's online pre-arrival course for undegraduates and postgraduates. You'll need your LSE log in details to access the course.
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Share your experiences with others. Ask them how they’re managing, too. Whether it’s with your classmates or friends and family—or your academic mentor, course teachers, or LSE LIFE study advisers, it can be good simply to talk about it.