By Neha Naeem, MAM2026
From Lahore to London: Finding My Way to LBS
If someone had told me two years ago that I’d be studying at London Business School, I would’ve laughed and said, “Yeah, right.” Not because I didn’t dream of it (I did), but because I genuinely thought LBS was way out of my league (self-deprecation: my toxic trait).
Falling for London (and accidentally changing my life)
It all started in 2023 when I was selected, after a rather competitive and nerve-wracking process, for an international exchange semester in my final year at Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) back home in Pakistan.
It was my first time in London. And before that, I had always envisioned doing a master’s in New York, because that’s what everyone around me seemed to do. But even after multiple visits, I could never quite see myself living there long-term. London, on the other hand, had always been that city I wanted to see. And from the moment I arrived, it was love at first Tube ride.
Four months of living here, not as a tourist, but as a local navigating grocery stores (I have a favourite from each grocery store at this point, but that calls for a separate blog post), Tube strikes, and 3 p.m. sunsets, made me realise I wasn’t done with this city. I told myself, I am coming back, properly this time.
Taking the Leap (and leaving my job to chase a dream)
After graduating in 2024, I moved to another city and started working full-time as a strategy consultant in Pakistan’s public healthcare sector. I genuinely loved my work. It was meaningful and exciting, but I also knew I wanted to move back to London and build my career here.
So, I started researching top business schools in the UK. Unsurprisingly, London Business School kept topping every list, every YouTube video, every article. I’d heard of LBS before, but always assumed it was too ambitious for me. Still, my heart was set.
The only problem was that I realised (a little too late) that two application rounds had already passed. I had exactly one month to prepare for the GRE and make it in time for Round 3. Cue dramatic music.
At that point, I made one of the biggest (and most terrifying) decisions of my life — I quit my job. Everyone told me not to: “You can’t leave before completing a year!”, “It’ll look bad on your CV!”, but my gut told me otherwise. I knew I couldn’t manage 16-hour consulting days, travelling between three cities in a week, and still give the GRE my all. So, I packed my bags and moved back home to my parents, leaving behind my independence and a little bit of my ego.
Looking back, I am so grateful I did that. Not only did I study 8–10 hours a day and end up with a score well above LBS’s average, but I also got precious time with my family and friends before moving abroad. My biggest lesson from that phase: you do not have to stretch yourself thin to achieve your goals. You just need to prioritise what matters most in that moment.
The Application Marathon (aka 10 essays and an existential crisis)
Once the GRE hurdle was crossed, I moved on to everything else: IELTS, recommendation letters, networking, and the dreaded essays.
Here’s the thing about LBS applications: there are a lot of essays. I remember opening the portal and thinking, ten? TEN?! I was this close to giving up. It felt like a sunk cost problem. I was doing the mental ROI calculation of my effort before even starting (thank you, Management Sciences undergrad).
But then I realised it wasn’t fear of effort, it was fear of rejection. So I started writing. Slowly, awkwardly, one paragraph at a time. And that’s when it clicked: these essays were not a test; they were a conversation. A chance to tell my story, to show who I really was.
With the help of some wonderful friends who proofread my drafts and pulled me out of self-doubt spirals, I finally found my voice. My advice: Be authentic. Don’t try to sound like what you think a business school wants to hear. Write like you are telling a friend your story. That’s what makes you stand out in a sea of applicants.
Oh, and one more thing, please don’t let AI “smoothen” your essays (yes, the irony isn’t lost on me). When 5,000 people do that, they all sound the same. You, however, are not like everyone else. Your unique story is what stands out.
Timing Matters (apply early if you can!)
Here’s something I wish I had known sooner: apply as early as you can, ideally in Round 1 or 2. Not only does it give you a higher chance of securing scholarships, but successful early applicants also get to attend exclusive LBS admit events and webinars that begin as early as December, months before the term officially starts.
This is such a great way to start building your network early (and avoid the stress of last-minute document chaos).
Networking, Coffee Chats, and Real People Who Helped Me Get Here
One of the most valuable things I did was reach out to LBS alumni and current students. I cannot recommend this enough. Coffee chats (virtual or in-person) gave me a real insight into the culture, community, and expectations at LBS.
I reached out on LinkedIn, connected with student ambassadors via the official LBS website, and even spoke to an LBS professor who had graduated from my undergrad university, all of whom were so generous with their time and advice. Many of those conversations even helped me refine how I positioned my goals and experiences in my essays.
These chats made my application stronger and gave me a sense of belonging even before I hit “submit.” So if you’re reading this and thinking of applying, start building those connections now. The LBS community genuinely wants to help.
A Twist of Fate (and how I got my dream course after all)
Here’s a funny thing: my dream programme was actually the Masters in Analytics and Management (MAM). I loved its focus on analytics, machine learning, AI, and strategic management. I knew I wanted to continue working in consulting, ideally within the public-sector, social impact, or healthcare/HealthTech space, and help leverage data to make decisions that could impact millions of lives.
But I convinced myself that I didn’t have the right background for it since I didn’t have a STEM degree or data-intensive courses in my undergrad (do you see the pattern where I kept downplaying myself to prepare for the worst? Yeah, don’t be like me. I am laughing at my past self writing this right now).
So, I applied for the MiM instead, thinking it would be safer, especially since I was applying late in Round 4 and the MiM had the largest cohort every year.
But would you believe it… I got waitlisted for the MiM because it was full, and then offered a place in the MAM, the programme I had wanted all along. Talk about the universe having a sense of humour.
Now that I am in the programme, I can’t imagine being anywhere else. It truly aligns with everything I wanted to learn and has greatly helped me polish my data literacy.
Lesson learned: don’t downplay yourself. Go for what you truly want. LBS doesn’t care whether your background is a perfect “fit” on paper, they care about your genuine passion, potential, and how clearly you can connect your goals to what the programme offers and what you want to do post-graduation.
The Moment I Said “Yes”
When the offer letter came, I was in disbelief. Yet I knew instantly. Even though I had admits from my backup schools, LBS was it. I said yes, teared up thanking God, and started packing.
Fast-forward to now, I have been in London for two months, and every single day feels like validation that I made the right choice. Orientation feels like it was yesterday, when they told us we had “301 days to make the most of our time here”. Now, with only about 250 days left till graduation, it feels absolutely surreal. Time really does fly when you are living your dream.
Paying it forward
I became a Student Ambassador because, when I was applying, the ambassadors I spoke to made all the difference. They helped me feel seen, guided, and reassured. Now it’s my turn to do the same — so if you’re reading this and need advice, encouragement, or just someone to talk through your LBS application fears, feel free to reach out on LinkedIn or at nnaeem.mam2026@london.edu.
Because if there is one thing I have learned through this journey, it is this:
Believe you belong, even before you get in.
London will change you, LBS will challenge you, and both will feel like home faster than you can imagine.
See you on campus soon!