Student Thread

[Womble98]

I wouldn't go into teaching unless it was something I really wanted to do- it couldn't be just another job. The way things are going, teachers are going to be under more and more pressure, they already are.

 

[Pyeman]

If I get a job I will do.

Good luck with the job search.

I struggled for a while to get a job after my PGCE. I did a year's maternity cover but then had to settle for something education-related but not actually teaching. However I was looking for A-Level Sociology. I imagine there'll be more jobs available to you in the Primary sector.

 

[TomPNE94]

Still deciding between Aberystwyth, East Anglia, and Lancaster. Got offers from all three, unconditional from East Anglia if I put them as firm.

LANCASTER!

 

[blade1889]

Still deciding between Aberystwyth, East Anglia, and Lancaster. Got offers from all three, unconditional from East Anglia if I put them as firm.

id go for the one you prefer, regardless of the unconditional. From knowing people that just don't like uni as they don't feel like they fit in, its so important you go somewhere youd most want to go as youd live there for 3 years...just work hard to make sure ya get there...easy for me to say when I dont have to do it again haha

 

[hodge]

Still deciding between Aberystwyth, East Anglia, and Lancaster. Got offers from all three, unconditional from East Anglia if I put them as firm.

Depends what you look for in a uni, I'm currently doing my masters at UCLan but go up to Lancaster a lot as I'm a member of their uni archery club. Generally it does seem like a nice uni, if I'd done a course they offered I probably would have gone there, decent enough sports facilities by the look, good campus feel with the student bars etc and college system from what my sister told me. Only thing is if you're on campus its like its own town there and everything is there and town is separate, where as if you're in town then you need to treck to uni for it all if that makes sense. It just comes down to what you look for in a uni.

 

[TomPNE94]

Depends what you look for in a uni, I'm currently doing my masters at UCLan but go up to Lancaster a lot as I'm a member of their uni archery club. Generally it does seem like a nice uni, if I'd done a course they offered I probably would have gone there, decent enough sports facilities by the look, good campus feel with the student bars etc and college system from what my sister told me. Only thing is if you're on campus its like its own town there and everything is there and town is separate, where as if you're in town then you need to treck to uni for it all if that makes sense. It just comes down to what you look for in a uni.

You're at UCLan?!

 

[hodge]

You're at UCLan?!

 

[TomPNE94]

I did a term at Lancaster, quit, did a term at UCLan the year after and quit hahaha

 

[hodge]

I've enjoyed UCLan so far, shame I didn't get onto my undergrad course.

 

[Madejski]

Definitely planning on going back into University at some point. Messed up a lot originally and despite some great clawing back at marks only got me a 2.2 - Looking at the opportunities available for doing a masters starting in 2016. Only fear for me is how far down I may have to drop due to only managing a 2.2 as most further courses expect 2.1 / 1st's.

Would love the student life back, if only for a year.

 

[Ellis]

3rd year law student at Newcastle. Looking forward to graduating to be honest, pretty burnt out with education / studying. Hasn't helped that my semester 1 has been overloaded, five 5000 word essays and an exam. Pretty intense, I've had either an exam or an essay every Monday since the beginning of November.

Stupid thing is after next Monday I don't have any assessments until late April. Whoever designed this years timetabling deserves to be given very painful torture.

 

[Magic]

Exam today was fucking shit. Argh.

 

[Womble98]

I'm currently getting back my mock exam results. Not good...

 

[Aberstone]

I had the same problem as Ellis in my 3rd year, I was well on course for a 2:1 after my 2nd year but I was burnt out in my final year and instead of knuckling down and focusing on my dissertation I went out and got drunk instead. Ended up graduating with a 2:2. It wasn't the be all and end all but it meant I couldn't apply for certain grad schemes I was interested in.

As the representative for Aberystwyth, I've covered much of it already in the Shoutbox over the weekend. Public transport and the road network in Wales is unsurprisingly centred on South Wales and as such it really limits any away games you can do. However 99.9% of the people in the town are sound, it's full of students and is more or less crime-free. Considering there's only 2 clubs and the SU the nightlife is decent as well plus it has the best take-out Pizza place in the country imo. Aberystwyth is also home to the National Library of Wales and as such has a vast array of books and documents which are so useful when it comes to essays/dissertation work.

The open day there made my mind up for me. I also applied and received an offer from UEA but it was the only university out of the 5 on my shortlist that I didn't visit. Had I been applying today I'm not sure I would go to Aber, it's taken a nose dive in the university rankings in the past few years although that can all be attributed to the vice chancellor who took over in 2010/2011(?)

 

[Look Out There Are Llamas]

I had my graduation from King's College last week, nice MSc in Geography to go with my BA in History. Daresay at some point soon I'll end up going back to student stuff, debating a Phd in a few years.

 

[Alty]

Politics. In my final year, trying to write a dissertation and shit scared of graduating.

What's the topic?

 

[Tilbury]

What's the topic?

EU immigration and the economic impact. Still looking to hone in on something but will see how it goes as I progress.

 

[Alty]

EU immigration and the economic impact. Still looking to hone in on something but will see how it goes as I progress.

Great topic. Really interesting. You'll be doing well to condense that into 10,000 words though!

 

[Tilbury]

Great topic. Really interesting. You'll be doing well to condense that into 10,000 words though!

Yeh having something you're into and enjoy is key. With the amount of stuff you read I couldn't think of anything worse than having write about political ethics or some shit like that.

 

[blade1889]

I had the same problem as Ellis in my 3rd year, I was well on course for a 2:1 after my 2nd year but I was burnt out in my final year and instead of knuckling down and focusing on my dissertation I went out and got drunk instead. Ended up graduating with a 2:2. It wasn't the be all and end all but it meant I couldn't apply for certain grad schemes I was interested in.

would recommend a gap year for that reason, even though I just worked full-time instead of doing any fancy travel it definitely gives you the break from education you need. You can honestly tell the people who've had gap years to not really obviously, not least as we tend to be able to 'cook' more than pot noodles...and worryingly actually know how a bank works. I kid you not I lived with one girl last year who when we were on about loans coming in replied "I don't know if I've got one", we told her to check her bank statements as that'd say if she'd had one previously...apparently she never opens those as she doesnt like to know how much she's spent, nor does she get a receipt from the cash machine (one of those metal things that gives you money we explained) to find out how much is in her bank. Like, seriously, WTF?

 

[hodge]

I'm burnt out doing my masters, I want to be motivated but every time I go to do work it feels like a struggle. Only problem is I'm not sure where my qualifications will land me next year for a job. The idea of a PGCE is in the back of my mind so I have a job while gaining more experience in the fields I want to do.

 

[Aberstone]

would recommend a gap year for that reason, even though I just worked full-time instead of doing any fancy travel it definitely gives you the break from education you need. You can honestly tell the people who've had gap years to not really obviously, not least as we tend to be able to 'cook' more than pot noodles...and worryingly actually know how a bank works. I kid you not I lived with one girl last year who when we were on about loans coming in replied "I don't know if I've got one", we told her to check her bank statements as that'd say if she'd had one previously...apparently she never opens those as she doesnt like to know how much she's spent, nor does she get a receipt from the cash machine (one of those metal things that gives you money we explained) to find out how much is in her bank. Like, seriously, WTF?

I refute that comment. I knew how a bank worked (and still do) but that might be because I've worked for one of the main four since I was 16.

 

[This Charming Mike]

Out of interest, how do people afford to do masters degrees with no help from student finance? I'm a 2014 graduate hoping to do one but have no where near enough money saved up yet.

 

[Tilbury]

Think you can get sponsorship from companies can't you? Knew a girl last year that was doing one and she solely relied on the bank of mum and dad.

 

[blade1889]

I refute that comment. I knew how a bank worked (and still do) but that might be because I've worked for one of the main four since I was 16.

well aye, I don't mean everyone obviously...there was just often a divide of how well people could look after themselves but obviously doesnt mean they were set groups

 

[Aberstone]

I know, my response was tongue in cheek.

 

[blade1889]

I know, my response was tongue in cheek.

Fair enough...as a general rule I'm awful with sarcasm/tongue in cheek comments over the internet, but quite happy to dish them out myself.

 

[jimmy whistle]

Out of interest, how do people afford to do masters degrees with no help from student finance? I'm a 2014 graduate hoping to do one but have no where near enough money saved up yet.

Would recommend looking at studying in Europe somewhere. Germany, Scandanavia, Belgium and the Netherlands (and others, probably) do English language courses with fees ranging from nothing up to about two thousand euros a year depending on the country, I think. The last two of those countries seem to have the greatest variety of English taught courses - or at least they do in my field of interest, I daresay it depends what you want to study.

Not sure on the dealio with all those places, but definitely for the Nether regions at least, you can get a loan from the Dutch gov't for the tuition fee (you do need to have a dutch bank account to get it paid into, and, you have to pay the fee up front and then get the loan in 12 monthly installments, and, i think you have two years before you have to start paying it back ... overall seems a pretty sweet deal), so you should only need to save up enough for a years worth of rent and pasta, which is not an inconsiderable amount, but, do-able.

 

[Van Der Graaf]

It's official, I'm on leave. Going back in September to do History & European Studies, can't wait. All the fun of first year, without the awkwardness of not knowing anyone/the city.

 

[SUTSS]

Out of interest, how do people afford to do masters degrees with no help from student finance? I'm a 2014 graduate hoping to do one but have no where near enough money saved up yet.

The government are bringing in a postgrad loan system at some point. If not there are a few ways to get scholarships/bursaries but they are very competitive. There is a bank loan you can take out as well but I think that is primarily aimed at phd students.