This week I have been meeting prospective students at applicant days and interviews. I still can’t believe I’m in my final year at University and am telling people, who frankly look older than me, about Lancaster and my experiences. I remember the mentors at my applicant day and how mature they seemed and then I realise that I have actually matured over the past three years. I am more confident both in myself and in my ability and feel proud to have nearly completed my degree.

I remember my first day very clearly. I was so so nervous. I have always lived off campus so I didn’t know the campus as well as my course friends. As the first day talks were in colleges, I made a few friends in my college but the friendships were short-lived as none of them were on my course. Getting into my car to go home that first day was a bit of a relief, I must admit, as it all seemed so overwhelming. However, once the lectures and seminars started I soon got into the swing of things. I remember feeling like I was starting high school all over again, making friends and not knowing where my lectures and seminars were being held and generally panicking about the unknown. But soon enough I felt like I’d been at University for years and couldn’t imagine being back in a classroom. University allows you to be more independent, both in your social and work life, especially if you live in. But there are still support networks present.  You get assigned an academic advisor who you meet up with and can email or see at any time if you have anything you’re concerned about. There are also wellbeing, counselling and mental health services which can help in a variety of ways. My college, Bowland, also offers its own welfare services and peer mentors which ensure you get the most out of your time at University. So even though at first it may feel like you are totally on your own in a whole new place, you’re not really and support is always there if and when you need it.

I get asked a lot about the collegiate system at Lancaster and whether it’s similar to ones at other Universities. As I can’t really talk about other Universities’ systems as I’ve never been to one, I can tell you that at Lancaster we have nine colleges, each with a distinctive character. The colleges are made up of people on different courses so it encourages you to make more friends with a diverse range of interests. Each college put on their own events too which enables you to make even more friends and really feel like part of a family. Each college have their own accommodation and this may differ slightly in each one, for example County offer townhouses which provide a different experience to the flats offered by the other colleges. It’s all about choosing a college which you feel comfortable in and which provides the accommodation that suits you.

I also remember being asked by one of my future lecturers on my applicant visit day what I liked most about Religious Studies and I have to say I really struggled with the question. I liked learning about ethical issues and the government and religious legislation surrounding them but I didn’t really feel passionate about anything. Now I struggle to think of things I don’t like about Religious Studies. There are so many interesting components to religion and connections between religion and the other areas of society which relate in ways I’d never considered before. Media and politics play a bigger part in the existence and nature of religion throughout the world and understanding religion as part of the bigger context has really helped me to better understand the world in which I live.

The place of religion in the world is better understood when studied from a variety of angles in a variety of contexts and I feel that the PPR department itself and the module system at Lancaster really allows you to do this.

So Week 20 has finally arrived! I cannot believe I have my last ever lecture and seminar this week! This week is a bit different to my usual last week of term when I am usually trying to get all my essays tied up and finished for the deadlines. This week I only have one essay due as my mini dissertation and dissertation are due after the Easter break. That doesn’t mean I’m not trying to finish them, but it is just not quite as frantic.

I’ve done my Christianity essay which answers the question, is the Christian Church an institution for women who refuse to submit to male authority and who seek a career on equal terms with men? Although it is similar to my dissertation, I have approached it differently and I obviously don’t have as many words to give as much of an in-depth discussion. I have assessed the biblical representation of women which provide a foundation for the Christian teachings. I then move onto Christian theologians who are predominantly male and examine their views on women. I then examine the feminist theologians’ arguments who largely argue that Christianity can provide women a religion where they don’t have to submit to male authority but that it needs a revision of its ideology. However other feminists reject Christianity altogether as irrevocably patriarchal and oppressive. This is because of the consistent masculine language and the prohibition of women from ordination. It has been really interesting assessing the justifications for the oppression of women in the Christian church and the feminist reinterpretation of them. One of the key parts of my degree has been assessing religion in the modern world and the religion/gender debate seems to be one of the most prevalent debates. It has provided much discussion both within the church and external to it and is very relevant to today.

My mini dissertation is about the secularisation and sacralisation debate which is also highly relevant today. Many people believe society to be declining in religious significance. However the New Age spiritualities are increasing in significance and this suggests that modern society is just as religious as it ever was. Berger’s works are particularly interesting on this debate as he changed his thesis from the secularisation of the 1960’s to the desecularisation of the 1990’s.

Looking at these issues of religion helps me to understand the society I live in and the societies throughout the world and the place of religion within them. When someone asks me why I’m doing religious studies when it is so irrelevant today, I say it is as relevant as ever. It is unusual for religion to not be in the news. Being able to understand these issues in more depth is invaluable not only to my degree, but to my own understanding.

Now that my coursework is nearly done, I am looking forward to a bit of a break before I start my revision. I still cannot believe that this will be my last exam period. Let’s hope it’s a good one!

I am now fully in the swing of lectures and seminars. But I have done something slightly different this week. Not only am I a mentor for applicants, hence why I am writing this blog, I am also a mentee for the Career Mentoring Programme.

The Career Mentoring Programme pairs you up with a working professional, usually suited to your career interests or your degree. My mentor also did Religious Studies at Lancaster and now works for Lancashire County Council. He has been so helpful for me, in helping to update and change my CV. He has also given me invaluable tips on how to perform in an interview, the most significant being that just because you don’t get a job doesn’t mean your interview went badly. It all depends what the employer is looking for and doesn’t make you unemployable, only that that job isn’t right for you at that time. He drew on his own experience when he discussed this with me. He is now in a job which he feels suits him perfectly and one which he would not have been in had he succeeded in every job interview.

This week I shadowed him at his workplace, at County Hall in Preston. This was a really insightful and rewarding experience. I had never been in an office setting before. I have previously done work experience in schools as I originally wanted to be a teacher but have since decided to change my career path and I work part time in a bar, so this was a totally new working environment. I got to oversee what he does day to day, but as a policy officer, this changes week by week. At this point he was editing a visual diagram to be used in a presentation and booklet on the procedures for homeless teenagers. It was great to see how varied his workload was and how interesting each case is. I also got to speak to an apprentice who had been at County Hall for six months and really enjoyed her job and had learned so many skills in such a short amount of time.

Without the mentoring programme, I wouldn’t have had this opportunity to get a real insight into what working in the local government is like. Lancaster University has so many opportunities to enhance your career prospects, from the Career fairs, study abroad, Richardson Institute Internship Programme and the mind out programme. They care not only about you getting a good degree, but also making the most of your time here and ensuring that your time spent after university is best suited to you.

So, make sure that when you do get to Lancaster University, make the most of the extra opportunities available and make yourself the best prospective employee you can be.

The last week of first term is always the most awkward one for students; stuck in a kind of limbo between meeting deadlines and getting into the Christmas spirit. I am currently putting the finishing touches on my last essay. I Cannot wait to finish and then properly get in the mood for Christmas. I did manage to have a break yesterday and I went to the annual Christmas market on campus. The market is great. They sell lots of Christmassy foods and really cool Christmas jumpers; I still wear the one I bought in first year.

Next week is the last week before I go home. I am looking forward to spending Christmas with my family. We all have a big get together on Christmas day in one of the local pubs. Then the rest of the day is spent with my parents watching Christmas films in front of the TV. I am also really looking forward to seeing my dog Flynn, who I always miss when I’m at uni.

I do have a lot to think about over the break. I have decided to apply to do a Masters at Lancaster. I am also applying for PhD funding; which means I have to start thinking about a research project. This is quite difficult and I need to make sure I make the right decision first time around, as should I be accepted, I will be committed to the project for four years. I have a rough idea of what I want to do. My main interests are in ethics and political philosophy, so I’m thinking of some way in which to combine the two.

I will also need to do further work on my dissertation. I am writing a critique of John Rawls’s  A Theory of Justice. It is a really interesting book. Rawls attempts to reason his way to the correct principles on which to organise society. He thinks that the best way to do this is by imagining that we don’t know our place in society (our social class, identity etc.). He thinks that by doing this we will not make a biased decision based on our own individual preferences. I agree with much of what he says, but my argument is that some of our intuitions may be undermined by Evolutionary pressures and historical influences. I am also going to argue against his view that morality is a contractual agreement among rational people. I think we have strong reasons to care about future generations, more so given the environmental ramifications of our actions. As it is difficult to see how we can have an implicit contractual agreement with such people, I think Rawls’s theory fails here. I will try to put forward a theory which resolves these problems.

But that’s all for later. In the meantime, I want to finish my work and have some time to relax. My girlfriend is visiting at the weekend and we’re going out for a Christmas meal at Greaves Park in town. It is a really nice place with a nice outdoor seating area surrounded by greenery. I also have my last pool match of the term on Tuesday. I said in one of my earlier posts that we got off to a great start. Unfortunately we have struggled in our last couple of matches. But hopefully we will finish 2016 with a win!

After writing my last post about the academic side of university, I have decided this week to talk about a more light-hearted subject. This post is about Lancaster’s nightlife. Lancaster is a great place for a night out. As you will find when you arrive, there is a wide variety of bars and clubs that can accommodate the tastes of everyone. Whether you’re into clubbing or just having a quiet drink with friends, Lancaster has something for you.

Your first experience of Lancaster’s nightlife will come in Fresher’s week, during which you will be accompanied by your reps on various social nights in town and on campus. One of the first nights is the campus bar crawl, which will see you frequent all of the university bars. All bars have pool tables and dart boards, for those of you who enjoy bar sports. As you will find, each bar has a unique character. Graduate bar is perfect for people who enjoy having a quiet and sociable drink, and they have a fine selection of ales. If you want something a little more upbeat, then Pendle and Lonsdale are safe bets. Pendle bar also hosts live music on Thursdays, attracting talented local musicians, as well as an open mic for those who want to showcase their own skills.

During your first week there will also be plenty of opportunities to venture into town. The most popular place for students is the Sugarhouse nightclub, which is run by the University’s student union. Sugarhouse (or sugar, as it’s known to students) has a large capacity which includes two dance floors. When you arrive at Lancaster, you will be given the option to purchase a purple card. This gives you discounts in various shops in town, as well as cheaper entry into sugar. Also, once you have been stamped by the bouncers upon entry, you can use this stamp to access the “sugarbus”, which will take you back to campus and save you having to pay for a taxi.

There are many other places that are popular with students. Hustle is good particularly if you like cheesy music, among which you can almost guarantee some Wheatus and Busted. I remember once dancing away to the theme song from the opening sequence of Friends, as bizarre as that sounds. If your tastes are a little more sophisticated then I would recommend either The Sun Hotel or Mint Bar. Mint bar has a great selection of Cocktails and I would highly recommend the Godfather Sour. These two places are, as to be expected, a little more expensive. If you are sticking to a budget then you can’t go wrong with Wetherspoons which is just next door to Hustle, or the Crafty Scholar, near the cinema.

We all know that a takeaway is a sound way to end a good night out. There is a variety of different takeaways in town to suit your fancy. There are pizza places, a McDonalds and if you like Chinese cuisine, there is a place called Wok Inn that serves great food. Some of the on-campus food outlets also stay open till late, such as Pizzetta and Sultans, so there is no reason to go hungry. My advice is, if you are hungry on a night out get a takeaway, because you don’t want to be the inebriated student who sets the fire alarms off in an attempt to make a stir fry. Cooking whilst drunk should be strictly avoided!

Hello!

This week we thought we’d talk about what to do after university. There are of course many options for what you can do. Whether you want to apply for graduate schemes, postgraduate study or just do your own thing, it’s always good to plan ahead. For example, when applying to jobs, particularly graduate schemes, application deadlines can close up to a year in advance, so it’s always good to have in mind the kind of thing you’d like to do before you start your final year at university.

However, having this said this, it can quite often be the case that you just don’t know what to do which is also ok!

There are plenty of options and opportunities which arise at uni, as well as careers advice and help. This is definitely worth taking advantage of because they really are so useful and happy to help with suggestions and mock interviews.

The PPR department will also offer a lot of support when it comes to thinking about applying for a Masters/PhD. There are plenty of people you can talk to about the courses available to you, how to apply and any funding options available to you.

By third year, most people don’t actually know what they want to do so if you have no idea what your future plans are when you arrive at uni then don’t worry – chances are most other people won’t either. It is good to come to uni with an open mind and to see where your degree takes you, so many opportunities arise and you meet so many people who will influence you and so by the end of your time at uni, some ideas will have fallen into place.

We are both staying on at Lancaster to do a MA in religion and conflict, something which neither of us thought we would do when we first arrived at uni. It definitely is nothing to worry about as many opportunities will arise and something will definitely fall into place for you!

Becky and Katie

It is now not long until the end of the Lent term, which means only one thing: it will soon be Easter and a frenzy of exam revision will shortly ensue. This week I thought I would write a short blog on revision tips. Of course many of you looking to attend Lancaster University next year will be no stranger to exams and revision. However, University exams are a far cry from A-level exams and new tactics often have to be employed in order to successfully revise.

The first piece of advice I would give is to always start revision well in advance of the exam. There is no way that you will be able to clinch a 1:1 by pulling an all night revision session the evening before the exam. It simply does not matter how bright you are, this just will not happen. University modules are often densely packed with difficult and challenging material that cannot easily be grasped in one sitting. Instead, the optimal technique is to try and revise as you learn the course. Don’t leave the difficult material to later; tackle it as soon as you are faced with it.

Lecturer’s office hours are much less busy towards the start of term as opposed to the couple of weeks preceding the exams. At this time, they’re usually inundated with stressed out students all trying to squeeze in last minute questions, so lecturer’s may not have as much time to spend answering your queries. Therefore, my second piece of advice would be to take advantage of lecturer’s office hours at the start of the term.

Thirdly, I would seriously recommend group revision sessions. The newly refurbished library has bookable group work spaces which are ideal for revision purposes. Although it may not seem quite as appealing, I have found that revising with those who are not necessarily close friends, but who just happen to be on your course is a far more effective method of consolidating your learning. You are less likely to be side tracked and lose focus on the task at hand if you have fewer things of a social nature to discuss. Group study is invaluable when it comes to bouncing ideas of each other, confirming you have grasped concepts correctly and identifying areas of a module that are difficult and in need of practice. Going over past exam papers with a group is also very helpful as answers to the online past papers are not available online.

My last tip would be to devise a revision timetable and more importantly to stick to it! There are very many websites from which one can create such timetables which accommodate time slots for working interspersed with slots for relaxing, eating and other activities. As long as you create a balanced and realistic timetable there is no reason at all why this shouldn’t be a useful revision tool.

I realise this blog has been a little late coming but I have been ill recently so I’ve playing catch up on everything. I’ve had some good news in that my application has been accepted to study for a Masters Degree in philosophy and economics. For me, choosing to apply for a Masters Degree was a much harder decision than choosing to go to University in the first place. At that point it feels like going to University is the normal thing to do and the debt is less worrying as everyone you will come to know will be in a similar situation. By choosing to do another year of education and take on that extra little bit of debt it brought up a lot more worries about whether it would be worth it or whether it would put me at a disadvantage later.

One of the biggest concerns is how to fund an extra year at University. The main way would be to apply for as much funding as possible or to look for any scholarships that are applicable to you; one of the better options is to continue at the same University as they often offer discounts to their undergraduates. This is not always possible, in my case Lancaster University does not offer the specific Masters Degree I wanted so I will have to move. The next step is to find a part-time job to fit around your studies or to take a gap year to make up some of the funding before you start. Fortunately Masters Degrees (at least the ones I have been looking at) tend to be cheaper than a year studying an Undergraduate Degree and recent changes have meant that an extra loan is available to students hoping to go on to postgraduate study.

The other question is whether you truly want to carry on in education or not. It can be hard to decipher between wanting to actually study more and being too uncertain to come out of education. After three years in the student life bubble one of the most terrifying things is it ending and suddenly feeling the need to be a responsible proper adult, even though you don’t really have to. You also may have still not really decided what you want to do but instead of investing that much more into education it makes more sense to go out and trial different jobs until you find something you do like. I decided that what I really loved doing was my degree and so I knew if I didn’t continue to study it then it would be something I would slowly become out of touch with.

I guess the point is that studying for another year shouldn’t be the default option if you’re uncertain. It is a risk financially and if you love the subject then it matters less if the risk doesn’t pay off, if you were only uncertain then that risk matters a lot more.