LSE GROUPS 2018 was one of the highlights of my first year at LSE and is something that I look back at with fond memories. As a wide-eyed first year student itching to try something new in university, I remember signing up for GROUPS without much thought when my department first advertised it back in early 2018. I’ve had no regrets participating in the programme, and upon reflection, would like to summarise how GROUPS has benefitted me as an undergraduate at LSE.
1. Experience research on a topic of my choice
Firstly, GROUPS enabled me to participate in the full end-to-end process of a research project, from designing a research topic to analysing data and writing a report. The theme of LSE GROUPS 2018 was “Belonging”, and my group chose to investigate how students’ sense of belonging to LSE varies across departments. I’ve always wondered, for example, whether smaller or bigger departments are better at fostering a sense of belonging to the school, so I really enjoyed being able to study this myself. If you’re looking for a way to apply the knowledge you’ve gained at university to investigate something you’re interested in, then GROUPS is the perfect opportunity!
2. Obtain new research skills, and hone your report-writing and presentation skills
Secondly, during the programme, multiple sessions on research skills such as effective literature searching, statistical data analysis in SPSS, and conducting interviews were organised every day. I was able to brush up on my existing research skills and learn some new ones too. Furthermore, I also presented my research findings to several LSE academics and all GROUPS participants and received detailed feedback on my report at the end of the programme. This was a great way to hone my skills in presenting and report-writing and served as preparation for my summative projects in LSE.
3. Make new friends
Lastly, LSE GROUPS was a great way to make new friends. As I spent almost 7 hours a day for two weeks working with my group, the programme ended up having a strong social element to it as well. Since participation in LSE GROUPS is voluntary, all of my group members were highly motivated and none of us encountered any problems in dividing the workload for the project. Most of the groups were extremely diverse, consisting of students across all years of undergraduate study and degree programme—people I would have been unlikely to meet if not for the programme. Coming from the Department of Statistics, it was interesting to hear the perspectives of group members from departments such as Anthropology and Management, and we were able to draw upon the skills gained in our respective subject areas to produce a successful report. If you would like to meet other students with an interest in research, then LSE GROUPS is one of the best ways to do so!
My experience at LSE GROUPS 2018 was an unforgettable one, and I truly enjoyed dedicating two weeks to studying something that interests me alongside a bunch of fantastic students and supportive faculty. If you have some free time after exams in Summer Term (now Spring Term) and are looking to try something new, I can definitely recommend LSE GROUPS!