Posted 3 weeks ago
Tue 04 Nov, 2025 09:11 AM
Lights. Noise. Pub crawls at 9pm. Someone’s always asking where you’re from and what you’re studying. Freshers’ Week at LSE was sensory overload wrapped in FOMO. If you spent it hiding in your room or feeling completely overstimulated — hi, you’re not alone.
The Disclosure Question (Spoiler: I’m Glad I Did It)
I told LSE about my neurodivergence after I got in, and honestly it was one of the best decisions I made. They didn’t judge me, it didn’t affect my grades, and it opened doors I didn’t even know existed. Disclosure gets you exam adjustments, therapy, quicker support, and events made for neurodivergent students. Not disclosing basically means playing university on “hard mode.”
Getting Set Up
If you’re coming from abroad:
- Bring at least three months of meds and your diagnosis paperwork
- Step two: register with a GP as soon as you land, That’s how you’ll get referred to a psychiatrist for ongoing prescriptions.
- And yes, it’s worth letting LSE know about your condition
They have an entire system built to support you.
LSE Has Too Many Websites
Let’s be real, LSE’s online ecosystem is a maze. Moodle, Student Hub, Wellbeing… where does anything live? What saved me was making a document with all the links and quick notes. It sounds obsessive, but it saved me from rage-Googling at 2am. Tip: take one website a day. Explore it for 15 minutes. Build your digital map slowly instead of diving headfirst into chaos.
When the Library Is Too Much
The library is iconic, but also… a sensory nightmare. Try booking one of the small library booths (life-changing), or using your department’s study spaces. They’re quieter and less crowded. Plus, you’ll start seeing familiar faces.
Academic Survival 101
Link your Outlook, Google, Student Hub and Apple calendars so your week doesn’t sneak up on you. Take notes, tick things off, and break readings into tiny, doable chunks. No one actually reads for six hours straight (and if they say they do, they’re lying). AI tools can help you summarize readings when you’re behind. You catch up later or during reading week without guilt. Learning Labs are underrated too. They teach you how to actually read, write, and plan, not just panic.
Find Your People
There’s a WhatsApp group for neurodivergent students, join it. The community is small but mighty. I met my ADHD study buddy at one of those events, and now we “body-double” our way through deadlines together. Being around people who get executive dysfunction without needing to explain it? Priceless.
Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me
You don’t have to “network on day one.” You can say no to pub crawls. You’ll find your people eventually. Maybe over coffee, maybe in a quiet study room. Your pace is valid. Stop comparing yourself to neurotypicals running on four hours of sleep. Take breaks before you crash. Go outside. Visit a museum. The readings will still be there when you’re back.
You Belong Here
LSE is demanding. London can be loud and chaotic. Some days it feels like too much. But you got here, which means you’re more capable than you think. Your neurodivergence isn’t a flaw to fix; it’s part of how you move through the world. Build your systems. Find your people. Take up space.
Different isn’t less. It’s just different.
Resources That Actually Help
Disclose (if you're okay with it) to LSE about your conditions. Here's the detailed information on how to access support.
24/7 Support - when 3am hits differently
