Author: Elizabeth Do | Major: Biology | Semester: Summer 2025
Highland cows at the top of a hiking trail in Edinburgh
As I write this, I’m currently situated in the heart of London, England, in the midst of completing my six-week summer program at the London School of Economics and Political Science. Here, I stray away from my main biology pathway and delve further into the world of management. As an aspiring optometry practice owner, this is a perfect way to get a better understanding of managerial concepts.
At LSE, I am taking courses MG106, Strategic Management, and MG110, The Science and Art of Decision Making, which will allow me to fulfill six of the credits required for my management minor while also gaining an invaluable global perspective.
My decision to study in London was an easy one. Having already been to London once before with my family, I completely fell in love with the city. From the historical landmarks to its strong global pull, I could easily imagine myself studying there. And, not only is the London School of Economics and Political Science—otherwise referred to as LSE—a world-class leader in the field of management, but it’s also located directly in the center of London, a booming business hub. It was the perfect choice.
Our courses were structured in a way that allowed everyone to immerse themselves in the material in such a short period of time, with only three weeks per course. My first session was for Strategic Management, and we had three-hour lectures with one-hour discussions from Monday to Friday. Our lectures were huge, with over three hundred students, so the smaller discussion groups were a helpful touch to personalize the learning. There, our TA guided us through multiple case studies, meant to give us a better understanding by applying the theoretical concepts to real-life situations. My discussion table had students from England, Singapore, India, and even someone from the opposite side of the US. It was fascinating to hear about all the cultural differences from each country as we dissected companies like Zara, Apple, and Uber.
In my current course, The Science and Art of Decision Making, we have a much smaller lecture, so it’s more interactive. I’ve been enjoying engaging in thought experiments and discussions as we look at a more psychology-focused side of management.
Every weekend, to take advantage of the central location of London, we went on smaller trips to other countries or other places in England. Of all of them, there are two trips that really stand out—Paris and Edinburgh. Although our time was short, there was still so much we were able to do in Paris. The architecture was breathtaking, and the museums were absolutely fascinating. My favorite moment has to be arriving in Paris at night and running to catch the Eiffel Tower as the sparkling lights turned on. Walking the streets in Paris along the Seine, with the stunning city lights under a full moon, felt like a dream—the most picturesque scene I could ask for.
As for Edinburgh, this was actually a solo-trip, my first solo-trip, in fact. The time leading up to the trip was nerve-racking, but now I can’t imagine experiencing it any other way. I was able to explore at my own pace and spontaneously find new things to do, not to mention all the interesting people I had the fortune of meeting.
For any other students interested in studying abroad, I cannot recommend it enough! Whether it’s for a semester or a shorter program like mine, any opportunity to study internationally is one that you need to take advantage of. It is such a transformative experience, and you’re challenging yourself in such a unique way.
From the academic perspective, studying something back at your home university can’t compare to the experience you would have overseas. It adds new perspectives to your learning and something invaluable you shouldn’t miss. Based on the difficulty of the course, be sure to dedicate enough time to not only take in the city but also fully engage in the material to get the most out of your experience.
As for my overall biggest piece of advice: take the solo trip. If you’re ever debating traveling outside your base city, I would say to go for it, even if you’re doing it solo! It can be hard to align schedules with friends, but don’t miss out on a trip just because of that.
In the end, I’m grateful for this incredible experience to study in such a wonderful city and meet so many people on this adventure. Once the program ends, I know I’ll always look back fondly and treasure the memories I’ve been able to make, and carry everything I’ve learned into my future.