Despite significant disruption due to COVID-19, the graduating students have all shown huge commitment to the programmes by taking part in innovative virtual activities and events over the past 18 months.
The LSE WP Team would like to sincerely thank everyone across the School for their continued support of these important programmes, which are key to LSE’s work to widen access to higher education for students from all backgrounds.
All three programmes have benefited greatly from input from colleagues across LSE, including: Undergraduate Admissions, LSE Life, LSE Careers, the Financial Support Office, EDI, the Department of Law, the Department of Finance, the Department of Accounting and the Department of Anthropology.
Here’s what some of the participants said about the impact of the programmes:
LSE CHOICE
LSE CHOICE is an 18-month programme for 180 Year 12 and 13 students from under-represented backgrounds, supporting them to make successful applications to LSE and other highly selective universities. Students specialise in one of five subject choices and take part in a week-long summer school, followed by 16 Saturday masterclasses. Several former CHOICE participants also spoke at the graduation, including LSE student Derome Robinson, Cambridge student Helena Abena Boateng and Tashan Nicholas, a senior consultant at Ebiquity.
All the participants were encouraged to enter a creative feedback competition ahead of the graduation event. Sociology stream student Rumaysah Khan, 18, painted the joint-winning entry.
"This painting is a metaphor for how my sociology classes have made me feel. Whilst I feel so small in such a big world that is full of diverse people, backgrounds and cultures, there is a darker side to the world (as the wilting flower represents). Despite a sky of knowledge to discover, it is always important not to dwell on the terrible aspects of life where there are prejudices, injustices and misrepresentation around the world. This was the best way to express how my LSE CHOICE experience impacted me."
Joint winner Armin Rahmatpour, 18, created a collage about his experience on the Economics stream and said:
“I enjoyed creating it and going through all the spectacular memories we had throughout the months. It has been unquestionably an opportunity in a lifetime to be a part of this experience.”
Commenting on the programme, CHOICE Government and Politics student Sharon Adebola, 18, said:
“I’ve enjoyed learning a range of political concepts and discussing social affairs, and speaking on many topics I don’t usually get the opportunity to talk about in school.”
Pathways to Law and Pathways to Banking and Finance:
Pathways to Law and Pathways to Banking and Finance are run collaboratively with a social mobility charity, called the Sutton Trust. They support Year 12 and 13 students from backgrounds currently underrepresented at LSE who are interested in studying or pursuing a career in law or finance. The programmes involve a range of activities, including academic taster lectures, skills and university guidance workshops and work experience insight weeks and placements.
135 students attended the graduation events, which were an opportunity to celebrate the fantastic achievements of the students and their dedication to the programme in what has been turbulent year. The events featured speakers from the Law Society and Deutsche Bank, as well as previous Pathways participants who are now studying at university themselves.
One Pathways to Law participant said:
“This experience has taught me how to work in a team with like-minded individuals, have the ability to voice my opinion and become more confident in my arguments. It also provided [the Pathways cohort] with access to parts of the profession that were beneficial in understanding whether want to pursue a career in law, and I believe this programme has done just that.”