LSE Summer School '25 with Vlado Vodenicharov

Meet Our Scholar

"My name is Vlado Vodenicharov, and I am from Shumen, Bulgaria. I study Data Science at the University of Economics in Varna, Bulgaria. Right now, I am working as an intern data analyst for Coca-Cola Europacific Partners. In the summer of 2025, I had the amazing opportunity to take a course in Management Analytics in the Age of Big Data and AI at LSE Summer School. As a result, I spent some of my best 3 weeks of the summer right in the heart of London.

A Glimpse Through a Typical Day as an LSE Summer Scholar

I had a similar routine almost every day, however, there was still something new to explore or learn. My accommodation was Rosebury Hall, where all students had breakfast together in the morning, after which we headed out for the morning seminar. Seminars were very useful, because we could apply the knowledge gained from the lecture of the previous day. In the course I took, we practised statistical theory in software like STATA and Excel. The seminar took 1.5 hours and we had an hour break before the lecture. During the lunch break, you have a dozen food options to choose from, because the LSE Campus is right in the centre of London. The LSE organised SPARK classes during the lunch breaks or in the late afternoon, which are great if you want to network with other students or gain soft skills. Then the afternoon lecture is 3 hours long, but the engaging way of teaching that our professor had made it feel as if it was only 30 minutes long.

Academic Perspective & Course Application

Our course was mainly based on statistics, which I studied in my first year at the University of Economics, but in Bulgarian language. The course at LSE really showed me how statistics are used at the highest level of management, namely when taking strategic decisions in investments, hiring personnel, testing and etc. Back in Bulgaria we were taught to understand the formulas, but now I feel more confident in setting action thresholds. The biggest lesson I learned is that a single mean number does not imply anything unless you can prove that it is statistically significant and you can act upon it.

Cultural Immersion & Social Experiences

Moreover, I met some great people who became my friends. My closest friends are from India, and it was a first for me to get to know people from so many different cultures. For example, we went together to an Indian restaurant and they told me interesting stories about their cuisine. Similarly, I shared stories about Bulgaria with them. In addition, LSE provides so many social events like day trips to Oxford and Cambridge, parties, workshops and seminars that you can never be bored.

Vlado's Next Chapter After LSE's Summer School

Due to the reason that I started my bachelor's at a later age (22 years old), before the LSE Summer School I was thinking of quitting the idea of studying master's and focusing more on finding a job that is related to the Data Science/Analytics domain. The scholarship and the time spent at LSE, however, taught me that I still have so much to learn, and the more I learn and develop myself, the better opportunities I will have when looking for the right job. Currently, I am considering a master’s degree in IT Project Management in Sofia, which will be a great advantage to the technical skills that I have gained in data analytics.

Thinking of Applying Next Year? Read Vlado’s Advice:

Don't think twice and just apply straight away. My best advice is to make sure that the course you want to apply for is suitable for your academic and professional goals. This way, you have greater motivation to succeed during the interview and then at LSE."