LSE

Like most research universities, the LSE favors graduate students. The best courses and the most professor-student interaction are found in the masters degrees. That's not to say that undergraduates are short changed, but when you realize just how many courses are on offer for grad students, you do feel a little left out. As a case in point, there are over 50 full-year courses on offer to masters students in the International Relations Department alone; however LSE undergraduates have about 15 full-year courses taught specifically within the IR Department. To be fair, though, you are still allowed (and encouraged) to take courses otherwise related to International Relations, e.g. courses in the International History, Government, and Law departments.

Who likes exams? The LSE operates on a very rigid assessment system. Continual assessment is frowned upon because the undergraduate BSc seeks to achieve a breadth AND depth of knowledge within subject matter, and there's a general feeling across the school that mid-terms and continual assessment inhibit that type of learning. There are also concerns over plagiarism and favoritism. For these reasons, very few schools in the UK followed an American-style continual assessment system. Aside from these reasons, the LSE also hopes to hone its students' research skills. To that end, so much of the work throughout the year (e.g. continual essays, et al) is done independently. I'd say you definitely have to be mature and disciplined to succeed in this type of an environment because I have many friends who fell behind quickly - b/c they felt they could just study at the end of the year before exams and still do well.

The living cost.

Very strongly, it's not a secret that the LSE is a great school and getting in is even difficult and important than getting the master, the admission is known to be hard so if you get in, come and get the degree.

Flights London-Munich-London are cheaper than the other way round. Book your initial return flight for the end of the year and just book London-Munich-London flights to go home.

Inform yourself about the department you are interested in. Just because LSE has a good reputation doesn't mean that all departments are equally good!

London is a very expensive city. Even LSE accommodation is expensive in comparison to other cities, though its peanuts relative to private accommodation in London. For example, I paid under 100 pounds at Bankside House in my first year, and well over twice that in my second year - and that included sharing costs with a flatmate.

London is big, wet and lonely at times. But it can also be trully amazing, and living/studying here has made me grow up much more than if I had just stayed home

Shield yourself against the arrogant, pretentious brats by pointing at them and laughing. There is a lot of really friendly and interesting people at the LSE, though they aren't the loud ones and therefore can be a bit difficult to find at first. Academically, I thought LSE lived up to its hype and it is probably the best institution for international independent, strong minded students