News from our Sixth Form leavers
This piece was written by one of our former students having completed one year of her university course.
Hi, I’m Lucy and I have just entered my second year at Chichester University near Portsmouth. I am studying music. I play piano and trumpet. I chose music because I love playing my instruments and writing music.
Because of my eye sight I applied for a DSA which is a disabled student’s allowance. And with this they brought the equipment I needed and they give me support with my studies, for example I have a note taker for my lectures so I can concentrate on the lecture and not what notes I’m suppose to be making.
To get my loan I had to have a Dyslexia test, where they give you lots of puzzles and ask lots of questions and for my visual impairment I just had to send a certificate off for being registered visually impaired. (They are a little slow at getting organised).
I got lots of pieces of equipment which included lots of magnifiers and I find this my most useful bit of equipment, as I can just throw it in my bag to take where ever I am going.
In my first year I lived in university halls which is a great way of moving away from home, as there are lots of people about so you make lots of friends and I was in catered halls so I did not have to worry about cooking and bills were included in the rent, so there was nothing to worry about. This year I have moved into a house and it makes you more aware of what you need to spend your money on and how to budget.
There is a lot of university life that I enjoy. I like my practical side of the course which involves practising for several hours a day. But the socialising is great!
My advice to any student considering for university is get your application in for funding as soon as possible! Save as much money as possible before you go! And on the first day just talk to everybody, and have fun!
Another student also in his second year wrote the following in answer to a questionnaire.
Was University life what you were expecting? Why? / Why not?
Yes, it is much more liberal than school life as you would expect. It is very much up to you to attend lectures etcetera.
How did you choose where to study?
I attended several university open days. These are great for having a look at what is on offer and to get a feel for the place.
Why did you choose to study Biology?
I chose Biology as it interested me and I thought I would stay interested for the three years of the course.
Have you changed courses at all? Why?
Yes, at the end of last year I changed course from Biology to Microbiology as it contained some more interesting units. Both courses are run within the same department and many of the units shared so in most respects it is just a title change.
Did you have any exams last year?
Yes, you will have exams every year at university. The type and length of assessment varies from course to course.
Do they count towards your final degree?
In my course the first year units were pass or fail but do still count toward my degree. This year and the next assessments are marked and you receive a percentage of the marks.
Do you have more lectures this year?
This year most lectures are two hours instead of one and there are a few more of them.
Is the work more difficult?
I’ve already noticed this year that much more is expected of you. You are expected to know certain pieces of information, and more personal study is required.
Where did you live in your first year?
In my first year I lived in halls like most first year students.
What were the advantages / disadvantages of this?
The advantage is that when you start you don’t know anyone it gives you an opportunity to meet people, however at the same time you can’t choose who you are living with.
What about such things as food, internet access etc.?
Some universities offer a choice between self catered and catered halls. I chose catered halls myself. Internet access and other bills are usually included in the price of halls.
Where are you living now? Who with?
Most universities only allow you to stay in halls for one year, so I’m now living in a student house with friends I made in the first year.
What has this taught you (about budgeting etc.)?
Once the student loan arrives you have a nice big number sitting in your bank account. Then you work out your rent for next few months and that halves your money already, just be aware of what you have to pay for and how long your money has to last for.
How are you coping with preparing your own meals?
Cooking is a skill you learn very quickly once you start doing it, and it is mostly common sense. We don’t cook anything too complicated as we don’t have the time.
What would your advice be for students thinking of going on to University?
Make sure you actually want to go and will be interested for the three or however many years the course is, as it is a big investment of time and money on your part.
What advice would you give students once they get to University to make the most of the experience?
Take advantage of opportunities offered to you and make sure you go to your lectures.
Have you any idea yet what you might like to do when you finish your degree?
I would like to work somewhere within microbiology but I don’t know exactly where yet.
Because of my eye sight I applied for a DSA which is a disabled student’s allowance. And with this they brought the equipment I needed and they give me support with my studies, for example I have a note taker for my lectures so I can concentrate on the lecture and not what notes I’m suppose to be making.
To get my loan I had to have a Dyslexia test, where they give you lots of puzzles and ask lots of questions and for my visual impairment I just had to send a certificate off for being registered visually impaired. (They are a little slow at getting organised).
I got lots of pieces of equipment which included lots of magnifiers and I find this my most useful bit of equipment, as I can just throw it in my bag to take where ever I am going.
In my first year I lived in university halls which is a great way of moving away from home, as there are lots of people about so you make lots of friends and I was in catered halls so I did not have to worry about cooking and bills were included in the rent, so there was nothing to worry about. This year I have moved into a house and it makes you more aware of what you need to spend your money on and how to budget.
There is a lot of university life that I enjoy. I like my practical side of the course which involves practising for several hours a day. But the socialising is great!
My advice to any student considering for university is get your application in for funding as soon as possible! Save as much money as possible before you go! And on the first day just talk to everybody, and have fun!
Another student also in his second year wrote the following in answer to a questionnaire.
Was University life what you were expecting? Why? / Why not?