Hannah, 2023 Summa Cum Laude in International Development Dual Degree with LSE

Staying focused on what really matters, prioritization. Sometimes it is a good idea to take a step back, breathe, and ask yourself: of all the things I am supposed to, or encouraged to do, this week, what is the most important one? Not everything that screams loudly for your attention deserves it. If you have to manage a lot at once, you need a healthy dose of pragmatism. I also juggled my studies and a part-time job, which forced me to use my personal resources mindfully.

I would say adaptability, the ability to quickly find your way around in a new environment. Coming to Sciences Po brought many changes at once: living in a new country and city, studying in English, switching from the German to the French university system, meeting new people from all over the world.  It's never easy, but it gets easier with practice and now I can look forward to future changes more confidently.

Going to a highly respected elite university can be intimidating, depending on your own personal background. Maybe you think you're not cut out for it, or that you can't live up to the standards. And indeed, I sometimes felt out of place, or couldn't identify with certain rituals. But when you look behind the scenes, you quickly realise that everyday life at these universities is not that different from any other university. So don't make yourselves small!