LSE access programmes help open doors to success

A record number of students who attended LSE access programmes in 2012-13 will be enrolling at the School in October. LSE's two flagship Widening Participation programmes, LSE CHOICE and Pathways to Law, are proving a success, with 30 sixth form students who attended one of the programmes last year set to join in October. Both programmes aim to provide students from disadvantaged backgrounds with the tools and confidence needed to successfully apply to a top university. LSE CHOICE is an enrichment programme aimed at the most talented young people from London state schools who have no parental history of higher education. Participants are able to study economics, government and politics, history, maths or sociology, and attend both a week-lond Summer School as well as 16 Saturday morning sessions. Grisilda Duli, LSE CHOICEGrisilda Duli (pictured right), who completed LSE CHOICE last year, will be coming to LSE to study BSc Mathematics with Economics in October. She said: "Having parents who have not obtained a degree can make you feel as if you are at a disadvantage, and LSE CHOICE was instrumental in giving me the confidence, knowledge and belief that I would be able to cope with a maths-based degree. During the Summer School I particularly enjoyed learning about the mathematics of the debt crisis and going through STEP papers on the Saturday sessions was a huge help. "The teachers on the programme were hugly inspiring and the programme really motivated me to work hard. I now have a place at LSE to read Mathematics with Economics and I'm really exited about starting my course. LSE CHOICE was extremely worthwhile and I am glad and grateful to have been part of it." LSE has been running Pathways to Law, the Sutton Trust's flagship access programme, since 2006, with the aim of widening access to the legal profession. LSE delivers a varied programme of lectures, seminars and university advice sessions to students on the scheme. It also runs careers information events, mock trials and students are offered a work placement at a leading law firm, all of which are designed to inform students about a law career as well as equip them with the skills they need in order to successfully apply to, and thrive at, university. Sneha Kumar (pictured left) completed the Pathways to Law programme last year and will be studying for an LLB Bachelor of Law at LSE. She said: "Pathways to Law has provided me with opportunities which would have otherwise been unavailable. Through the academic sessions at LSE, I was able to explore areas of law such as human rights and family law, while visits to the Supreme Court and Inner Temple were vital in giving me a first-hand insight into the legal world. The work experience at Edwards Wildman that I agined through the programme gave me the practical insight I needed to decide whther or not a career in law was for me. During my preparation for applying to university, my student mentor was on hand to guide me through the university application process and provided vital support by proof-reading countless drafts of my personal statement! It's great that the programme includes a residential conference which gives a taste of university life as well as the chance to meet like-minded students from across the country. Pathways to Law was instrumental in guiding me on my route to unviersity and I am excited to join LSE and become immersed in student life!" Samantha Paxton, Widening Participation Manager at LSE, said: "We aim, through these programmes, to raise the aspirations of bright students from disadvantaged backgrounds. We are delighted that students have completed the LSE CHOICE and Pathways to Law programmes with the desire and confidence to apply to the School. We look forward to welcoming them again in October, as well as to meeting the next cohort of students for LSE CHOICE and Pathways to Law, who we hope will be similarly inspired to go on to higher education." Source: LSE