LSE

LSE is not a school for the sports-type. It's a very academic school, and LSE students tend to be very active in politics, both on and off campus. It's a school for activists, really. There are certainly a wealth of sport opportunities, but these are generally outweighed by the wealth of student societies devoted to international relations, the UN, global development issues, et al. World leaders are constantly dropping by, and there are numerous lectures and speeches given by major academics. Add to that London nightlife, and you will have a blast - but there's not a huge campus environment (outside Houghton Street). LSE is an urban university.

You really cannot ask for more. You will not be living in a palace, but LSE accommodation is very good compared to most university standards. Bankside and High Holborn are especially laudable given that both are within walking distance of the school, and are widely regarded as the best vis-a-vis facilities, cleanliness, proximity to major amenities, and room sizes. LSE accommodation is also quite inexpensive. You will likely pay 100 pounds or more per week, but this is peanuts in comparison to what you would have to pay to live independently in London. Accommodation in London is extremely expensive, and the LSE does a great job in subsidizing student housing.

English is my native tongue, and it is the language of instruction at the LSE.

It's all relative. London is an expensive city, but in order to get the best out of the city you're going to have to spend some money.

It's a great school, and you'll have a great experience - with a few big caveats. LSE is not for everyone. It's very independent and research-focused. If you're used to a system where you're given constant access to professors and are, for lack of a better phrase, 'spoon fed', you will not be happy at the LSE - or anywhere in the UK, for that matter. There's fierce resistance to this approach within the LSE. On top of that, the grading system is quite strange. If you get a 68 or above in an International Relations course (and many other courses, for that matter), you're doing exceptionally well. Very few students get to that level, and anything above that is truly exceptional. LSE is quite rigid in this way, and often times you're not entirely sure what it takes to get a top grade like that. You really have to do it by trial and error - and keep pushing yourself harder and harder. You'll get there, but it might take some time (especially if you're from an inflation-heavy school like some sister schools of Columbia I need not mention here). You can attending office hours of both teachers and professors, but they rarely give you past papers as examples. Certain degrees can be seen as very theoretical and abstract. This is often a shock to American students (like myself) who study subjects like International Relations. In the USA, IR tends to be quite behavioralist/scientific and policy-focused, whereas at the LSE it tends to be very historical and theoretical focused. Either way, it'll certainly broaden your horizons and introduce you to a new way of thinking. Bottom line: do a fair amount of research before you go - speak to students who've attended the LSE both full-time and for a year abroad. The more views you collate, the better prepared you'll be for the LSE's strengths and weaknesses - which are, as always, all relative.