London School of Economics:
Name: Nayonika Nair
Year: 1st Year
Course: Law
Email: n.nair1@lse.ac.uk
Hi, I’m Nayonika and I’m a first-year law student at LSE. LSE has an incredibly diverse student body with a high percentage of international students, which creates this an atmosphere that is very international with focuses on the wide range of perspectives. I have also found that the lecturers are all extremely experienced, sometimes they’ve literally written the book on the topic, and this provides acute insight into particular subjects.
A few other things that I think are important when picking what university you want to spend the next 3+ years. LSE does not have a ‘campus’ as such but all the academic buildings, including the library, are in central London. As a law student, the campus is right by the Royal Courts of Justice and the Inns of court which is really cool. Also, as the uni is situated in London, there are a lot of fun places to explore: from Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park to the light show at Canary Wharf. I particularly enjoyed watching a lot of musicals at the West End as well as some really good movies at BFI Southbank. There isn’t the same sense of community as in a campus university but there is community nonetheless particularly if you are staying in university accommodation.
Another great way to be part of the LSE communities in to join the many societies and clubs. From Amnesty International to Anime and Manga, there are many cultural, sports and special interest societies at LSE. There is something for everyone. For example, I am the future treasurer of the tabletop games society where we basically meet up every week and play board games (more than just monopoly, I swear). I have also joined the Law Society who not only host amazing events, such as the legendary law, but also many careers fairs and similar opportunities. This last term, I had the opportunity to sit in on a panel discussion about pro-bono work in law.
Kings College London:
Name: Ishita Uppadhayay
Year: 1st Yr
Major: English Literature
Contact info, my email: ishita.aqua@icloud.com
UCL:
Name: Laxmi Indrayani Poy Raiturcar
Year: 1st year
Major: History
Email: ZCRALPO@ucl.ac.uk
Hi everyone, I’m Indrayani. I’m a first year History student at UCL.
During IB, I devoted my self to my academics. It was a really strenuous 2 years but I realised that I was able to get through it, not only because I worked hard, but because I had a great student life. That brought me to the conclusion that I wanted to be at a place where life was more than just about studying. I needed to be somewhere where I could feel inspired and motivated to study as well as have experiences that would help me grow as a person. And UCL has become that place for me.
Here are some things about UCL:
-One of my top deciding factors was the ranking of the colleges. UCL is ranked as one of the top 10 universities in the whole world (Times Higher Education, QS world rankings and The Complete University Guide). With staggering job prospects and world class teaching, I knew that I would be guaranteed a world class education.
– As a prospective student,I remember being dazzled by the list of famous alumni- Alexander Graham Bell, Rabindranath Tagore, G.K Chesterton, Christopher Nolan, Chris Martin, etc. UCL really is an inspiring place to be. Being on campus, I am always surrounded by blue plaques commemorating such famous figures. Although it sounds clichéd, it makes me feel like I’m here to become a significant part of history myself.
-Everyone here is motivated, ambitious and insanely intelligent. This was a bit overwhelming during the initial few weeks, but I got used to it. At every turn you make, there is a highly intense debate taking place. This was something that I was really pleased to discover. In high school, having an intellectual debate meant having to go easy on your friends because everything became an emotional fight. Or they were simply unaware. But I’ve realised that my entire degree is based on re defining terms and debating concepts. The experience is so unlike school because you don’t have to accept the information you are provided with, but rather argue with it.
-There is an abundance of resources and opportunities. UCL is a part of UoL (University of London) which consists of many universities including LSE, KCL, QMUL, etc. This means that in addition to UCL’s 17 libraries, you have access to resources from several other colleges as well. In fact, you can even take classes at other universities that are a part of UoL. The biggest resource is the city itself- London. I’ve had several classes at museums and the experience has been incredible. UCL is right next to The British Museum and The British Library and I usually find myself there during lunch. UCL also has its own museums that are open to the public. UCL has its own hospital- UCLH- which is a great resource for med students. There are incredible opportunities for students who want to intern at companies or even carry out their own research. UCL funds every aspect of your work that you choose to carry out in any place in the world. This is an amazing opportunity that most colleges don’t have and definitely sets UCL apart from most universities. Furthermore, the various clubs and societies allow very useful networking across the entire city. This is particularly helpful when job hunting and many head hunters themselves are at UCL on a daily basis.
-The location was my deciding factor for college. Its easy to forget the importance of location while picking colleges but I always knew I wanted to study in London. I’ve lived in some of the most global and dynamic cities in the world but none as amazing as London. The city has so much to offer. From some of the best restaurants in the world to huge museums and the exciting Theatre scene, London is a city for everyone. I still have a long list of places I need to visit and things I need to do but I’m pretty sure that I’d have to complete my degree 5 times over if I hope to do all of it. London is a city where you can never get bored. College life can get stressful but at UCL, the city is the best escape. If you follow my Instagram, then you probably know that I’m absolutely and irrevocably in love with London.
Its been hard not having the comfort of TISB’s familiar surroundings but college has been too exciting to want to look back. To whoever is reading this, I hope you have a fantastic time at the college you choose but I know that if you pick UCL you definitely will.
Good Luck!
-Indrayani
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