London School of Economics as an undergrad, any insights?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:3 years vs 4 years, a little bit more flexibility with course choices in Scotland. English unis are very fast paced, esp the top 5. Yes to classes, hw, tutorials and assignments in Scotland. Final exam is between 50-100% of the grade depending on a course. Read syllabuses for 2 similar courses at LSE and Edi to get a feel for the differences.

I hate to say it but in Edinburgh your child will face a great deal of discrimination (for being American) from the general population who hate the English anyway. Especially on a weekend night when they are drunkenly running through the city streets. In London, its far more of a melting pot and no one will care, either way where you are from.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:3 years vs 4 years, a little bit more flexibility with course choices in Scotland. English unis are very fast paced, esp the top 5. Yes to classes, hw, tutorials and assignments in Scotland. Final exam is between 50-100% of the grade depending on a course. Read syllabuses for 2 similar courses at LSE and Edi to get a feel for the differences.

I hate to say it but in Edinburgh your child will face a great deal of discrimination (for being American) from the general population who hate the English anyway. Especially on a weekend night when they are drunkenly running through the city streets. In London, its far more of a melting pot and no one will care, either way where you are from.

What a load of nonsense. After two years at Edi, my kid has never been subjected to any discrimination. She has a lot of friends from the UK, and has no intention of transferring to the US.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:3 years vs 4 years, a little bit more flexibility with course choices in Scotland. English unis are very fast paced, esp the top 5. Yes to classes, hw, tutorials and assignments in Scotland. Final exam is between 50-100% of the grade depending on a course. Read syllabuses for 2 similar courses at LSE and Edi to get a feel for the differences.

I hate to say it but in Edinburgh your child will face a great deal of discrimination (for being American) from the general population who hate the English anyway. Especially on a weekend night when they are drunkenly running through the city streets. In London, its far more of a melting pot and no one will care, either way where you are from.

Working class Scots hate everyone. Especially when they are drunk. But there are not many working class Scots at university, particularly Edinburgh. It is not something I would unduly worry about. Edinburgh is a wonderful city and I'd actually pick it over London for the university experience because the risk of London is that you're going to London for university, not the university that happens to be in London. Whereas in Edinburgh it's a much more balanced experience and stronger university experience overall.

[Anonymous]

I posted earlier, the post with the focus on how academically different the LSE will be from any US undergrad program. You've gotten some excellent insights here and I agree with them all (except the ones about Scots being biased against Americans. Never got that.)

I note that you mention, OP, that your DD is seeking a "vibrant undergraduate experience." I'd just suggest that she and you really think specifically through what she is picturing in her head as being that type of experience. There's no right or wrong to what she wants for herself; she just needs to do some research to ensure she ends up wherever she will get what she really wants.

As PPs have accurately noted, the LSE itself has all of London to offer, but that is not at all the same as being in an undergraduate school where the school itself has a focus on undergrad activities, social life, etc. that build a school identity and experience; instead, kids get out and make whatever they find in London to be their main undergrad experience. That's fine---London is wonderful, fun, exhausting!--but it is absolutely not the same as what some Americans might mean when they think about an undergrad experience. Of course there are student clubs and activities there and there's a school sense of identity! But she really should look at what she'll be doing with her down time and where and how she'll meet people, both there and on an American-style campus.

Like I said before -- love the school, love the city, just advising some real thought and definitely a visit with an eye on what it's like to be in a city center 24/7.

[Anonymous]

^^ she will be fine, when did you attend PP, about 15 years ago? Things have changed and many efforts are made - gigs, bars, events within the student union and nearby. She will find her people.

When my BF was at UCL his friends were from many different places, Germany, other parts of the UK, the USA. He was from London but he still found his people from all over.

And the experience was pretty "vibrant" as I remember it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^ she will be fine, when did you attend PP, about 15 years ago? Things have changed and many efforts are made - gigs, bars, events within the student union and nearby. She will find her people.

When my BF was at UCL his friends were from many different places, Germany, other parts of the UK, the USA. He was from London but he still found his people from all over.

And the experience was pretty "vibrant" as I remember it.

No need to be so defensive. I never said there was no undergrad life. Yes, there are (and always were) things to do and people to meet. It's absolutely "vibrant" but we don't know what that means to OP's kid. I'm just saying that even now, any undergrad experience in England is going to be different from what most -- not all, but most -- American teens think of as undergrad life. That's all.

And we don't know if OP's daughter has ever lived for any time in a city center--whether that's London or NYC or LA or anywhere that huge. I loved it; I knew people who hated it.

I agree with the earlier post that put it like this: There's a difference between going to London (or any large city) for college and going to a college that happens to be in London. That's why the OP's DD should visit if at all possible.

Clearly understanding and being ready for the fundamental difference in the academic structure is still the most important factor, much more so than whatever social life goes on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^ she will be fine, when did you attend PP, about 15 years ago? Things have changed and many efforts are made - gigs, bars, events within the student union and nearby. She will find her people.

When my BF was at UCL his friends were from many different places, Germany, other parts of the UK, the USA. He was from London but he still found his people from all over.

And the experience was pretty "vibrant" as I remember it.

No need to be so defensive. I never said there was no undergrad life. Yes, there are (and always were) things to do and people to meet. It's absolutely "vibrant" but we don't know what that means to OP's kid. I'm just saying that even now, any undergrad experience in England is going to be different from what most -- not all, but most -- American teens think of as undergrad life. That's all.

And we don't know if OP's daughter has ever lived for any time in a city center--whether that's London or NYC or LA or anywhere that huge. I loved it; I knew people who hated it.

I agree with the earlier post that put it like this: There's a difference between going to London (or any large city) for college and going to a college that happens to be in London. That's why the OP's DD should visit if at all possible.

Clearly understanding and being ready for the fundamental difference in the academic structure is still the most important factor, much more so than whatever social life goes on.

Note: when someone disagrees with you and questions you, it does not make them defensive. get over it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:3 years vs 4 years, a little bit more flexibility with course choices in Scotland. English unis are very fast paced, esp the top 5. Yes to classes, hw, tutorials and assignments in Scotland. Final exam is between 50-100% of the grade depending on a course. Read syllabuses for 2 similar courses at LSE and Edi to get a feel for the differences.

I hate to say it but in Edinburgh your child will face a great deal of discrimination (for being American) from the general population who hate the English anyway. Especially on a weekend night when they are drunkenly running through the city streets. In London, its far more of a melting pot and no one will care, either way where you are from.

What a load of nonsense. After two years at Edi, my kid has never been subjected to any discrimination. She has a lot of friends from the UK, and has no intention of transferring to the US.

+1 DH, an American, went to University of Edinburgh and experienced no such discrimination. I would send my kids there in a heartbeat.

[Anonymous]

Wow, Congratulations, OP. What a fantastic and amazing college experience for your daughter!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:3 years vs 4 years, a little bit more flexibility with course choices in Scotland. English unis are very fast paced, esp the top 5. Yes to classes, hw, tutorials and assignments in Scotland. Final exam is between 50-100% of the grade depending on a course. Read syllabuses for 2 similar courses at LSE and Edi to get a feel for the differences.

I hate to say it but in Edinburgh your child will face a great deal of discrimination (for being American) from the general population who hate the English anyway. Especially on a weekend night when they are drunkenly running through the city streets. In London, its far more of a melting pot and no one will care, either way where you are from.

What a load of nonsense. After two years at Edi, my kid has never been subjected to any discrimination. She has a lot of friends from the UK, and has no intention of transferring to the US.

+1 DH, an American, went to University of Edinburgh and experienced no such discrimination. I would send my kids there in a heartbeat.

There won't be discrimination AT THE UNIVERSITY, but IN THE TOWN. To clarify.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:3 years vs 4 years, a little bit more flexibility with course choices in Scotland. English unis are very fast paced, esp the top 5. Yes to classes, hw, tutorials and assignments in Scotland. Final exam is between 50-100% of the grade depending on a course. Read syllabuses for 2 similar courses at LSE and Edi to get a feel for the differences.

I hate to say it but in Edinburgh your child will face a great deal of discrimination (for being American) from the general population who hate the English anyway. Especially on a weekend night when they are drunkenly running through the city streets. In London, its far more of a melting pot and no one will care, either way where you are from.

What a load of nonsense. After two years at Edi, my kid has never been subjected to any discrimination. She has a lot of friends from the UK, and has no intention of transferring to the US.

+1 DH, an American, went to University of Edinburgh and experienced no such discrimination. I would send my kids there in a heartbeat.

There won't be discrimination AT THE UNIVERSITY, but IN THE TOWN. To clarify.

Nope, not in the town or anywhere else. Scotland is awesome.
~ Edi Parent