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Studying and surviving at LSE
Friday 15 October 2014 Wolfson Theatre, 3.30
Adam SandelsonLSE Student Counselling Service
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Aims
Common challenges in starting at LSE
Practical tips for dealing with transition
Stress management skills Sources of advice and help
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Settling in: The Academic side
New level of study Previous standards Reading strategies
Use SQ3R: Scan, Question, Read, Review, Recall
Presentations, essays and exams Academic adviser relationship
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Academic challenges
Overwhelmed with material New style of learning Independent critical voice Anxiety can lead to procrastination
We may disguise avoidance by being busy We may find things to do that are interesting,
but don't contribute towards the main goal
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Settling in - the Social Side
Meeting new people New contacts through
shared activities Keeping contact with
people from home Balance of work and
leisure
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The challenge of transition
Loss of familiar home, friends, family, routine
Coping with loss, after initial excitement subsides
Depression and anxiety Cultural isolation Relationships and Identity Financial difficulties
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Feeling Homesick
There is a natural grieving reaction associated with
change extremely common often in first weeks can occur when
leaving home, but also later (eg after Xmas break)
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Homesickness is associated with
distance from home high expectations/ sense of anticlimax time to adapt to culture, language,
lifestyle work overload and low control over it most people come through
homesickness and go on to do well and enjoy their time
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Initial impressions
Why did you choose to study at LSE
What are your initial impressions Academic Social Cultural
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Settling in Tips
Talk to someone - others feel the same Call home but also get involved here
It’s not disloyal to to enjoy yourself! Be realistic about what to expect
Balance work and leisure Time to adjust You don't have to get everything
right straight away Food and sleep
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Underlying dynamics Trying to please others Being a perfectionist
Feeling under pressure to do everything right
Setting yourself impossible targets
Repeating anxiety, stress, fear of failure …
The family/ historic context for your success …
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Dynamics of study, work, life ...
Pastrelationships
Relationshipwith LSE or
course of studyor work or …
Currentrelationships
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Under Pressure?
What pressures are you under as a student coming to LSE
From others From yourself
Are these pressures realistic or excessive?
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Practical approaches Revise study skills
see LSE Learning World on Moodle Time management skills Set realistic and achievable goals Short term targets, longer term
strategies Recognise your achievements Talk to others, ask for help and support
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Focussing on the task
Concentrate on the task, not the outcome
Break down huge activities into small manageable tasks
Remember past successes Time for breaks
space to breathe and think mind maps, scribble ideas go for a walk, talk out loud
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Stress Management Skills
Physical, behavioural, cognitive… Regularly switch off
Schedule some kind of physical activity
Good self care Sleep, diet, caffeine, alcohol and
nicotine Time out without guilt Acknowledge anxiety, rather than
denying it. Ask: ‘are my negative thoughts
realistic?’
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Challenging negative thoughts
Imagine them under test in a Court of Law
Identify the negative thought (I can’t do this course, I’m going to fail…) Ascertain the evidence For
and Against Am I making a ‘thinking error’ Propose a more reasonable
alternative thought
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Thinking errors
All or nothing thinking
Discounting the positive only seeing the negative side
Over-generalizing ‘If it happened before it will happen
again’ Believing a catastrophe will happen Emotional Reasoning
‘If I feel it then it must be true’
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Sources of advice and help
Academic Adviser Departmental StaffDisability and Wellbeing Service Student Services
Centre TLC study skills advisors Learning World Student Union and Advice Centre Medical Centre
Mental Health and Wellbeing Advisors Deans
Don't wait until problems have grown impossibly largeIt’s OK to ask for help earlier
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LSE Student Counselling Service – KSW.507
Free and confidential Mainly short term counselling Book appointments in advance See Website for
Stress management handouts Self help resources Relaxation MP3’s
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Future Workshops
Good Writing Psychology Wednesday 22 October, 3:30pm – 4:30pm: TW1 G.01Friday 7th November, 3:00pm - 4:00pm: CLM G.02 (repeat session)
Managing study related stress Wednesday 29th October, 3:30pm - 5:00pm: TW1 G.01
Adapting to Life at LSEWednesday 5th November, 12:00pm - 1:45pm: CLM G.02
Groups
Stress Management Group (3 weeks)
Self Esteem Group (3 weeks)
Bereavement Group (7 weeks)
PhD group
24+ Group
Places on all groups need to be booked in advance. Please see the website, Call Ext 3627, visit KSW.507 or email [email protected].