I graduated from the LSE (LLM) a few years ago. The article is right where it asses the excellence of the research at the LSE. In each class, the Professors are among the best in their subject and have written the standard reference book on which you work.
Back home the LSE brand has been very useful to me and helped find a job as a lawyer.

However, it must be noted that giving the high fees, I would have expected more involvement of the professors and staff with the students (in one course, we were more than fifty, and had little opportunity to be in touch with the teachers).

Also, there is no campus atmosphere, and this is a pity, at least among postgraduates, the only meeting point being the library. The idea is not to socialize but to cope with the hundreds of reading materials you must get from the library (sometimes a difficult task)

Apart from these elements, the LSE, as one of the best universities in the world, is obviously an asset in one's academic background

aurelia, paris, france

LSE is a great school and now that we have also started an active alumni network, it can only go from strength to strength to rival the likes of Harvard.

Sanjay Mazumder, LSE Alumni Mentoring Committee, Palmers Green, London, UK

LSE is a very good school, at least as a Master's student. Worth investing time and money.

Some says that the feedback is poor, intellectual discipline is less. From my experience, I always got feedback with good advice on more than half page of A4 paper. if you are not lazy enough to visit office to see professors to ask further advice or feedback, they will take as much time as they can (I still remember that my supervisor took 1 hour for feedback and to explain to me about theory I struggled). If you see the public lectures, many big names are on the list and the contents themselves are quite intellectual and high. Students are eager to get together to form a study group too.

The only thing I thought it is good to be cautious is that, if you are international students, try not to flock with the students from your home country all the time. It's nice to have someone who shares your culture, feeling with your language but it prevents from making friends from other countries.

Sai, London,

I'm an alumni and I got to say this school gives you so much free time that you have lots of chances to have fun. It can be a party school but during exam period everyone works hard in order to get flying colors grades.

Q Choi, HK,

How impressive LSE is up close may depend upon whether you are/were a graduate student or undergraduate student, and whether you are from the UK or US or elsewhere. For the undergraduate from many equally good US schools LSE offers less professorial contact, little or no opportunity to do research with/for professors, little feedback, and consequently less intellectual discipline. True, it is in London, but for the 12,000 pounds foreign students pay (not including room and board) you could do lectures on tape, have your papers marked by an offshore group of e-tutors and perhaps get the same academics with far less self congratulation. Let's face it, many of the "centres" that LSE is proud of are significantly inactive shells, perhaps started to snare grants, but not producting much. The library is good, but depending on subject matter may have less than many foreign libraries. In short, it should consider using the sharp analysis it applies to other bodies to itself.

USAgina, Dearborn, USA

The LSE is a great school. There are a few things that I did not agree with in the article: finding seats in the library can be extremely difficult, even outside of exam time. The artsy staircase in the middle of the library takes up prime real estate that could have been used for additional desks.

Relative to an Oxford or Cambridge, the LSE lacks a campus, so the article rightly acknowledges London as the campus. It is expensive to attend uni in London; the cost/benefit of living around campus as opposed to saving on rent only to pay for the tube or bus is a choice facing many students.

With that said, you could not ask for a better academic experience. Having done the MSc, I was constantly impressed with tutors, classmates, and the school's impressive list of speakers every term (a clear advantage of the location). The reputation continues to pay dividends and relative to a 2 year Masters in the States, the cost is competitive. If you get the chance, don't pass it up!

Matt Klusas, Boston, USA

I am a grad student joining LSE this year. I completely agree with the suggestion that LSE does pose lot of academic challenge given the difficult admission criteria. But I assume, its all worth the effort.

Sheharyar Malhi, Lahore,

I totally agree with David.The article is spot on.Lots of hardwork and competition.And for non-smart cookies like me it seemed everyone in my class knew more than me but then thats an illusion.
I joined LSE last year as an international student.The best thing for me was the freedom to complain and then actually get answers a luxury that I never had back home.
The support network is fabulous except for the medical side.I would like to mention that if an LSE student is dying then the hospital on campus might help.

On the whole LSE was an enjoyable experience and im back for the next year.

michelle, london,

I graduated from the LSE (Law) this year and must say that this article is pretty much spot-on. There is a very high perecentage of postgrad (i.e. older) and international students, and it does NOT feel like a cosy student campus. I previously studied at Manchester, and would say that if you want to go to university for fun and social life, LSE is not the place for you. If you want a world-class degree that will take you anywhere, come here.

All in all, LSE is what you make of it. If you get sick of all the wannabe investment bankers and politicians at the 'London School of Geekonomics', you can make plenty of friends off campus instead. If you go thinking positively, you'll have one of the most amazing times of your life, but make sure you come prepared to work!

David, London, UK

The article does provide a very balanced view about LSE. I must admit its exactly a decade ago that I graduated from LSE, but I still have very good memories. My only advice to new students joining is that what you make of university life is completely up to you. You will find most people in a similar boat to yourself...dont be shy, go out, make friends...there is enough diversity at LSE to definitely offer like minded individuals to yourself. Your years here will probably be the best three years of your life...so ENJOY and make the most of it!! aLL THE BEST

Hassan, London, UK