Monday, September 17, 2012

Why LSE?


           Packing up and moving from a place where one has settled down, found a job, made genuine friendships, and been part of something larger such as a campus society/organization is never easy. But, for me, the choice was a no-brainer. Not because I have been moving around the world from a young age and personally liked to travel, but because, as an economics major who aspire to make important policy decisions back at home (Sri Lanka), the math-heavy LSE economics courses and the specialized faculty in developmental policy will be invaluable stepping stones in pursuing my career ambitions.

            Frankly, I am overjoyed by the range of new economic-related courses that are available to me at LSE. Two courses that I am already eager to start are “Economics in Public Policy,” and “Foundations of Social Policy.” The former examines contemporary, global growth, and evaluates current tensions in the international financial and political system. The latter examines the nature of social provision in different policy fields and for different groups of people. LSE courses, however, have less lecture time than those of Clark; there is a lot more self-study and time spent with teacher assistants (TA). Personally, I am not looking forward to working in that condition, as I best learn through close attention to lecturers and through in-class discussions. Nonetheless, you can expect me to step up to the plate, and be committed!  

            Last but not least, I am anxious to be in London! Those who know me as that city-kind-of-guy can guarantee that I’ll dive into the cosmopolitan, history-filled, vibrant city with passion and excitement. I hope to take the best out of my time in London and well-utilize the resources in the city; may it be the multiple Theaters around London or the various lecture halls that Nobel laureates such as Amartya Sen attend on a regular basis. Moreover, you can count on me to recollect my experiences right here on this blog!