Neurodivergent socials and the N.D. SAM scheme for freshers!

In addition to the well-known Student Academic Mentoring (SAM) scheme for first-years within their departments, LSE Life now also offers a neurodivergent SAM scheme. The incoming neurodivergent student gets assigned a neurodivergent mentor who provides them with advice and support about studying at LSE, work-life balance, where to find support and their personal experiences.

No diagnosis or declaration of neurodivergence is needed for this scheme; you can apply to be a mentee or a mentor by just self-identifying as neurodivergent.

Mentors and mentees are matched by their answers on the sign-up forms, including issues mentees need help with and what issues mentors think they could help out with. You are also matched with a mentor/mentee after completing a questionnaire about communication styles, which in my experience was amazing as that really helped me connect with my mentor easily.

More information about the scheme can be found here.

✨For people wanting to be mentees✨

All you need to do if fill out this very short form and then you’ll be sent an email to fill out the communication style questionnaire. That’s it! You’ll be assigned a mentor by the time autumn term starts and you will meet them around 3 times per term, but that’s completely flexible and you can discuss what kind of communication and how many meetings work for you with your mentor.

❕For people wanting to be mentors❕

This scheme is only two years old and they are always on the lookout for more mentors. If you would like to sign up to be a mentor, you can fill out this form which is mostly short-form questions and one long-form one about why you want to take part.

If you were a mentee on the scheme in the past, that would be even more incredible, as you could use both your experiences as a neurodivergent LSE student and as a mentee to help guide your mentee better.   

A training session is held for all the mentors before you meet with your mentee where you’ll be taught essential skills such as active listening, effective communication, maintaining boundaries and signposting to other LSE support services. You will meet with your mentee about 3 times per term but that is flexible according to what your mentee wants.

🧶Neurodivergent socials🧶

In addition to the N.D. SAM scheme, regular neurodivergent socials are also held by LSE Life. Mentors, mentees and other neurodivergent people not on the scheme, can come together and meet other neurodivergent people who share similar experiences and challenges as them. These include beginning and end of term socials, and there has been talk of holding more regular socials if there is enough demand!

I absolutely love these socials as there is no pressure to talk to people. There are usually art and craft activities like beading, origami, making pom-poms, etc. laid out so you are free to engage in these activities or socialise when you feel like it. This makes conversations a lot easier, and you can give yourself breaks in-between socialising if you ever get tired.

Also, this year, pre-arrival familiarisation sessions called ‘Landing at LSE’ are being held for incoming neurodivergent students to help them settle in. The online event will be held on Wednesday, 17th September and the in-person event on Friday, 19th September (with lunch!). More details on these events will be released closer to the time!

This scheme was started in light of an LSE Changemakers report about improving neurodivergent students experience at LSE. The report highlighted the importance of support and understanding, and it emphasises the unique potential and strength of the neurodivergent community. Hence, it would be great to have more people involved in this scheme!