Month: November 2015

Now it’s Christmas…Ish

/ Katy Tabero

The end is in sight! This week saw the last RocStock of term, my only exam of the term over and the end of my term as PhilSoc treasurer. Everything seems to be drawing to a neat close with only essays to finish off and a karaoke to get through next Monday;  not that this week went at all smoothly as our headlining band pulled out of our RocStock event a night before, typically the one thing I didn’t revise came up on my exam as the biggest question and, well, I still have three essays to finish. With this in mind, this week I will offer a little advice, or at least my experience, on surviving the final few weeks.

 

The last couple weeks of term can be considered the homeward straight where it becomes both the hardest and most important time to resist temptations of student life. This is especially the case for first term as, on the run up to Christmas, societies’ hold their special events, the execs want to have Christmas meals and campus has its Christmas market. The holiday season mood also gets people feeling frivolous and so impromptu drinks and nights out are even more tempting. For me the only way to handle this in previous years has been to essentially lock myself in my room and not come out until I’d done enough work to justify it (albeit this is a slippery slope given that I got to set my own standards, and I was incredibly lenient when it came to myself.) This year I will be trying something slightly different and working as if it was a 9 to 5 (maybe 7) job. Whilst this still means I can’t really go out of an evening or drink much more than the odd solitary ale, it may mean that I won’t be running about like a headless chicken come deadline day; I will let you know how that works out.

 

At the very least it should also help to save the pennies as all this extra socialising, on top of present buying, will leave your bank account in a sorry state if you’re not careful. One way to get around this is agree on a maximum cost for presents with friends or to agree to only get ‘silly’ presents so neither of you breaks the bank; similarly you could just make an agreement not to buy each other presents, but risk this getting awkward when one party decides to buy one anyway. The other way is to budget in everything so you know exactly what you will be spending, including ‘goodbye nights out’ and travel costs to get home, which are costs most easily forgotten yet some of the bulkiest. Having said that, budget a little extra to treat yourself in the final few weeks as a box of mince pies knocking around and maybe some sneaky mulled wine really can help to lift the mood and get you through to the end relatively unscathed.

 

 

 

Essays: Becky and Katie

/ Becky

Hello!

It has got to that time of year when essays are looming for us, so we thought we would write about how to deal with deadlines.

So..

In first year, each term you will have one essay per module that you take. Initially it is quite daunting as you have to really get to grips with time management as well as learning how to reference properly.

Once you have decided on your essay question (you are usually able to pick form a few) it is really good to meet with your tutor to go through your plan and to discuss how to write it in the best way. Tutors will always be happy to help you or to go through things with you, although they cannot read through your essay or tell you what exactly it is you should write – they will guide you in the right direction and you won’t feel completely in the dark.

When it comes to essays the first port of call tends to be the library. Your tutor will provide you with a reading list with useful books and they usually are really helpful so make sure you use them. The library initially seems a bit weird as it has a referencing system which, at first sight, doesn’t really make sense. However, after a while you really do get used to it and when you know what floor / section your modules books will be on you won’t have any trouble finding them.

Referencing is so important. Your tutors will go on and on about it but you have to make sure that you do it and do it properly, otherwise you will get penalised. It can’t be denied that it is tedious but as long as you make sure to reference as you go along, and not leave it until the last minute (a mistake we have both made) it will be much easier to do. Before starting university, you may hear  lot of talk about how difficult referencing is, particularly the Harvard style. However, referencing is actually fairly simple once you get used to it and if you do struggle with a particular style, there are others to choose from. Most tutors will agree that as long as you are consistent, you can choose whichever style suits you best.

Once you have written your essay and filled out the cover form (essays are handed in anonymously) you have to deposit your essay in a rather ominous looking postbox. It is really satisfying once you hand it in, and the fact that you can’t get it back once it’s gone means that you stop thinking about it. Just make sure you put it in the right box! You also have to upload the essay electronically onto the Department’s page. It is so important that you do this as well as handing in the hard copy because otherwise your essay won’t get marked!

Essays can be a drag and they make those last few weeks before the Christmas holidays extra slow, but you have to do them so you might as well try your best, put the time in and work really hard for the last few weeks and then your time off will feel even more deserved.

Saying this however, it is important to take breaks! Don’t stay up all night, every night, barely getting any sleep- trust us, it won’t be worth it. Essay writing is all about a good balance of work and rest. Your flatmates will likely be in the same position so you’ll all be able to help each other in maintaining this balance and then you can all celebrate well after.

They really are not as awful as they initially seem, just try your best and manage your time well and you will get the results you hope for / deserve.

Becky and Katie x

Not Quite Christmas Yet

/ Katy Tabero

This week Christmas has begun…apparently. Given that the only television I watch is replays on the internet and that I’ve been stuck in my room writing essays for the last few weeks, I’ve managed to miss the sneaky Christmas adverts taking over and decorations popping up in town, only for it to smack me in the face. Lancaster looks pretty in its new sparkly gear and everyone seems a little happier, although that may be something to do with the end of term fast approaching. Whilst week 10 of term see’s everyone at their most stressed it is also the point of most relief when that final essay is handed in and the holidays begin.

Having said that there is still a long way to go and my economics exam next week feels like a cruel reminder to that. With this in mind my blog this week will offer two bits of module picking advice which I wish I’d had known beginning second year.

Mid-term exams are definitely something I would advise looking out for when picking your modules. Whilst it seems counterintuitive to choose to have deadlines in the middle of term, instead of giving yourself more time to revise for one at the end, it works out much less stressful. Firstly they can only give you so many weeks worth of material as you haven’t learnt it all yet, so there will be less to remember. Secondly it means you spread out the intense work load that you would otherwise have grouped all at the end; whilst you are focussing on your exams your essays are sat non-urgently, humming along in the background. If you are doing Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) then make use of the flexibility that allows you to shift your workload in any way you want. For example this year several of my friends have taken on modules which allow you to write a 5000 word essay instead of an essay and an exam so as to cut down on their amount of final summer exams.

The second piece of advice is to have a flick through the material before hand to make sure it is something you are interested in and think you can handle. A lot of people end up picking modules based on their titles, or because their friends are taking them, but then get stressed when it turns out they can’t stand how the text they need to study is written or that it involves something completely different to what was expected. My mistake, having not taken A-Level maths, was to enter onto economics courses without checking what sort of maths I would need; I then found myself giving a 40 minute presentation on a linear regression model, a memory I’m still trying to repress. This year a little careful planning meant that any new maths I needed to know I could learn during the holidays or in my spare time in advance so that I didn’t find myself trying to catch up in the middle of term. I realise this sounds daunting, especially if you’re in the same maths-less boots as me, but genuinely the thing I have been most proud of in my entire University experience is that now I feel comfortable taking on maths that would have previously made me want to cry just looking at it. You get taught a lot in university but there is also a lot you teach yourself.

Lancaster’s Nightlife: Becky and Katie

/ Katie Work

Hello!

Since over the past few weeks, we’ve been talking a lot about the academic side of uni, we thought that this week, we’d discuss a more light-hearted topic and talk about Lancaster’s nightlife! Lancaster doesn’t have the best reputation for a good night out. For both of us, when we first said we were going to Lancaster, people’s responses were “the nightlife is going to be rubbish!” However, this isn’t really the case.

In freshers’ week going out is a big thing (although, if you are not a big drinker or don’t really like going out, there is still stuff to do!). Firstly, there are nine bars on campus (one in each college) most of which also have pool tables etc and are a good place to hang out. This means that for a good night, out you don’t even have to venture off campus into town – we both have had some good nights staying on campus!

If you do decide to go out, pre-drinks will probably be the biggest event – flats come together and it becomes a big mixture of people who you live with, friends of friends and also people from your course. Guarantee you will play some games which always end up being funny and a great way of getting conversations going and meeting people. In first year you will have freshers reps (second or third year students) who look after your flat on nights out. They will all be really lovely and will look out for you / stick with you when you go out.

The most popular place to go in Lancaster as a student is Sugarhouse – the club run by the student union. You can’t really describe a night out in sugar until you go but; cheesy music, cheap drinks and loads of people are a guaranteed. There are Sugarbuses that run from campus to the club and also back home, so you never need to worry about getting there or back or paying for taxis because these busses are free and reliable.

There are other clubs too, such as Hustle (lovably horrendous), Dalton rooms and a number of bars ranging from Spoons (cheap for a pre-drink) or Study Rooms (bit more sophisticated with really good cocktails). As a student town new bars and clubs are always opening up. Lancaster is tiny and it can’t be compared to anywhere such as London or Manchester for a night out, BUT, as long as you go out with the right people you will have a good time.

We know that this probably sounds a bit daunting and that you will get lost / not have a good time but we guarantee, once you know your way around and where you like to go, you will have a really good time. Your student reps will help you by showing you around the campus bars and clubs and pubs in town, for example, in the form of a bar crawl! It’s also cheap which is obviously no bad thing. (If you’re from down south guarantee you will never have had such a cheap night out before!)

One thing that we found different about uni is how often you can go out in the week, rather than just the weekend. Who knew it was okay to go out on a school night?! The biggest night out of the week is normally Sugarhouse on Wednesdays; this inevitably means that it becomes socially acceptable to turn up to your Thursday 9am hungover, possibly looking and feeling a little worse-for-wear. Thankfully, many of the bars on campus serve some good hangover food. Fylde bar is a personal favourite of ours for its chip butties and a brew.

If you do fancy a change of scene and perhaps a bigger city for a day out/night out, Manchester is hour’s train ride away, and Leeds isn’t too far either. This means that even though you may be going to a campus university, this does not mean you don’t have access to cities and the outside world.

Basically, ignore the rumours that Lancaster has no nightlife and rest assured that you will have a good time. Ask most people, some of the funniest stories you’ll have from uni are from nights out, either at pre-drinks or that one drink that turned into twenty.

Becky and Katie x

Big Decisions

/ Katy Tabero

Hello again,

This week seems to be the week of big decisions. Not only must I start to give serious attention to my application to do a masters degree but I am also currently on a train to find a place to live after my time here ends. This has made me reflect on how quickly my time at university has passed.

It’s not uncommon for people to tell you that university is your first taste of independence or real adult life, and whilst this is partly true, it is also a bubble. You live in a strange world where stress builds in 10 week blocks, in which weekends no longer seem to exist as you’re expected to go out in the middle of the week and then catch up with work on a Saturday and your versions of old and young refer to being first year or third year, instead of children or the elderly (which you barely see on campus and sometimes forget exist).

First year is spent being bewildered and trying to fit in, in my case badly, under the belief that if you don’t live the university life portrayed to you in American Pie then you’re boring. I quickly gave up when I realised that I liked my solitude and a night in gaming with just a few close friends was not only preferable but much cheaper than spending every night jiggling awkwardly in a club.

Second year is more about time management than anything else. Once you have settled with a constructed family of friends your main concerns are finding ways to spend any time with them, a luxury which rapidly diminishes after first year, and orchestrating a full day on campus without a cosy room to retreat to between lectures. Second year is also where you begin to think about what you want to do, but only very loosely, as it’s likely to have changed or developed since you picked your degree. As opposed to thinking of job titles or companies you ask yourself much broader questions. What are you interested in? Do you want to work in that area? What type of lifestyle do you want after university?

Third year comes along and dangles a huge needle over the bubble and all you can do is attempt to work out what bit of real life you will cling to when it bursts. Then the specific questions get asked and you are expected to have an answer. What job in what company are you applying for? Where and how are you funding your masters degree? Have you found a place to live or even already put a deposit on it?

At this point I am grateful for the occasional meetings with my academic tutor who has really helped me to focus on what I want to do and how to do it, a task that otherwise felt daunting and would have been put off until much too late, hence why I find myself applying for a Masters Degree in Philosophy and Economics and on a train to look at housing. My advice is to really make use of the resources and opportunities you are given at university, there is always some lecture or workshop going on that will help you with these big decisions so that when the time comes you have a strong direction.

Settling into the PPR department: Becky and Katie

/ Becky

This week we thought we would talk about what it was like in the PPR department when we first started uni.

Once you get used to your timetable and knowing where your lectures are (which you quickly do) you really get into the swing of things. The first few lectures you have tend to be introductory, outlining the course and what you will be doing over the next term. The way you learn in uni is different to how you learn at college and school and initially finding your feet can be a bit daunting but honestly, after a while you really get used to it. You’ll find a style of note taking for lectures which best suits you.

Explaining seminars: Along side lectures you will have seminars for all your subjects. These can be quite different to what you have experienced before. Depending on the size of your module, seminars can have from around 9-20 people in them, lead by a tutor from the department (in second and third year seminars are usually lead by your lecturers). They are usually discussion based, going over topics which you will have studied in that week’s lecture, as well as going over the weeks reading for that topic. Even though it can seem like a bit of a drag sometimes, it is so important to do the readings as they really do make a difference to your learning and understanding. Everyone is usually quite quiet as it can be quite intimidating talking in front of everyone, especially when you might be with people who you have never seen before. However, you should bite the bullet and if you have something to say then just say it because 1) someone else will be thinking what you’re saying and 2) usually if one person speaks, it gets the ball rolling and other people start to contribute too which makes for a good and more interesting discussion. Tutors will be willing to help where they can, especially around the time of your essays and exams however, just worry about that when it comes to it.

As well as seminar tutors you will have an academic tutor in the department and student reps. You will meet up with your academic tutor once a term and discuss how you are finding the course / any issues or questions you have and how you are in general – they are usually quite informal meetings and academic tutors really will help you all that they can (they also are the ones who will write your reference so it is worth keeping in touch with them). Also in the department there are student reps who nominate themselves, from your course, in your year (it could be you!), to represent all the students on that course – if you have any problems but don’t feel your academic tutor / seminar tutor is the right person to talk to about it then your student reps will be the best people to talk to and they can give advice and pass on information to higher authorities if necessary.

As well as getting used to your new home, social life etc, you have to get used to the work load and managing your time. Doing three subjects in your first year really is not as daunting as it sounds – as long as you manage your time correctly then you really will be fine. Generally: for each subject you will get one reading per module per week as well as a essay at the end of term. Balance is key here but, it really is possible. Everyone is in the same position as you and so many people will be willing to help if you are struggling, so don’t panic at all.

If you have any problems at all, in regards to your course, changing modules or anything else, there are so many people who you can go to so don’t be afraid to speak up. Your lecturers, tutors and everyone in the department wants you to do well but most of all, want you to enjoy your time at uni – so they will do all they can to make this happen.

Becky and Katie x

Blog: Week 6

/ Yasmin Burton

As this is my first blog post, it seems fitting to provide a short overview of who I am and the intention of my blogs, which will be published on a weekly basis. My name is Yasmin and I am in my third and final year, studying Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) at Lancaster University. Over the coming weeks, I am hopeful that, via this blog, I shall be able to provide an insight into aspects of both social and academic life at Lancaster University. The focus will be, in particular, on the Philosophy component of my course and sharing any amusing or interesting anecdotes that demonstrate what it is like to study, live and socialise in Lancaster.

As is always the case at Lancaster, Michaelmas term passes by in a veritable flash; week six already and I can barely believe it! Already this term I have covered a diverse range of academic material. From Health Economics to Logic and Language and Game Theory modules; if there is one thing I love about my course, it is the diversity and variety it offers. Learning economic models, exploring philosophical theories and engaging in political enquiry is a fascinating mix- albeit a challenging one! Already, coursework deadlines and end of term tests are fast approaching and the pressure is on. As week ten nears, a period of frenzied revision, essay writing and time cloistered in the library ensues. Life at Lancaster University is not, however, without its social entertainments.

The fast paced nature of academic work is (thankfully!) offset by the large range of social events on offer, which often provide a much needed break. Just last week, I went to the University firework display, held in Lancaster square. Despite the drizzly cold and windy conditions, there was an impressive turnout and it was absolutely packed. Clearly, a small thing like the weather was not enough to dent our excitement! Refreshments, such as warming mulled wine and burgers were readily available for purchase, and many clutched paper cups of steaming tea amid a sea of umbrellas and raincoats. There was also a range of live music acts, including University pop and brass bands which proceeded the fireworks.

After the display, me and my housemates went to one of the college bars, where a charity auction was being held. There we bid for a chef to cook our house dinner the following night and all the proceeds went to charity. All in all, it was a very enjoyable night and the three course meal of the following evening definitely lived up to expectations!

The First of Many

/ Katy Tabero

So here is my first blog post and I guess introductions are in order; my name is Katy and I’m a third year PPE student at Lancaster University. I am also the treasurer for Lancaster University Rock and Metal Music Society (RocSoc) and Lancaster University Philosophy Society (PhilSoc). My intentions for this blog are to reflect on a few key thoughts or events throughout the week which I believe will give you a little insight into life as a student here, so without further ado on with the show!

One of the more interesting tasks of being on the exec for a society is persuading the fresh-faced and party hungry undergrads to replace you. You have to convince them that what they really want is to take on more work for free and be one of the few sober members at big socials. Despite this we had three people run for our bi-election to take the role of second DJ for RocSoc. Given the position, each candidate creates a DJ set-list lasting 15 minutes and then makes a short speech (we try to keep the speeches as early as possible otherwise they tend to be a little slurred…). Somehow all three of them managed to have picked the same bands, and even songs, for two out of four songs in their set-list so it was down to a popularity contest. The speeches were entertaining at least; we looked on disapprovingly as they made promises we know they couldn’t keep but said it in such an enthusiastic way that the crowd lapped it up and jeered on. As Treasurer I had the job, along with the President, of counting the votes which meant they floated around me nervously trying to pry information. Finally it was time to announce the winner, silence filled the room and then cheers as the winner took the stage only to be made to make another speech, poor guy. As it turns out the runner up was a single vote behind and had voted for the other candidate meaning that if they had voted for themselves it would have been a tie, luckily he didn’t seem too bothered.

Given the looming essay deadlines this has been rather an uneventful week aside from the bi-election. Most of it has been spent squirreling away on whatever sofa in the University I can find with a radiator and a plug socket trying to break through a bit of Nietzsche. I will admit I maybe snuck off for a coffee once or twice because after so long, words seem to stop meaning anything but otherwise I’ve been pretty disciplined for once. The main highlight of my week was the firework display on Saturday. A lot of people worry that given the size of Lancaster they will miss out on events that some of the bigger cities may hold, this is not the case and I would argue it can be even better as you do not have to compete with millions of people to get exclusive tickets or good seats. Lancaster laid on a fantastic firework show emanating from the castle which could be seen for free from all around. It made for the perfect evening with a few pints in a quaint little pub beforehand and stuffing ourselves too much in an expensive restaurant afterwards. Student life isn’t all work, no play.

Our first weeks at Lancaster: by Becky and Katie

/ Becky

Hello!

We just thought we would share some of our initial thoughts and experiences of our first few weeks at Lancaster uni and with the PPR department.

Lancaster university has nine different colleges (a bit like Hogwarts) and you become a member of one of them. Being in different colleges obviously our experiences aren’t exactly the same, however we both lived in the halls of our colleges in first year and so our situations were quite similar.

Becky: I was really excited to start uni but obviously nervous too and the thing I was most nervous about was who I was going to live with. When I first arrived everyone was really nice and I just kept on telling myself that everyone else was in the same position as me. After a few days everyone ‘came out of their shells’ and we started to become more comfortable around one another. Fresher’s week was full of activities and talks and me and my flatmates attending pretty much everything together. Even little things like cooking together in the shared kitchen helped friendships to develop. It was so important that everyone was just themselves and put themselves out there, even though sometimes it was quite daunting I feel that participating in as many things I could with my flatmates made a difference to my overall experience of first year. It was good to know that at the end of the day I could go back to the flat and feel comfortable around people. Obviously not everyone gets on with everyone but, if you are yourself, the chances are you will make friends really easily and click with people who you never thought you would click with.

Katie: For me, I had felt ready to move to university for a long time. However, it was only when my parents pulled onto campus that the nerves hit. Who would my flat mates be? What if my flatmates don’t like me? Will it be awkward? But as soon as I started meeting everyone I was going to be living with for the next year, I soon relaxed. Everyone there was as apprehensive as I was, and also as keen to make friends, so instantly we all had something in common. Plus, I don’t know why I was worried about it being awkward because there’s so much to talk about! The first few hours of conversation in the flat was about whee everyone was from, what they’re studying, what they did that summer, etc. It’s natural to be nervous, but rest assured that once you get to your new flat, it will soon feel like home. Your college will also play a major role in getting you settled in. Each college will hold events throughout Freshers’ week, and during the whole year, which are great opportunities to get to know other people in your house and college. In my Freshers’ week, we had several fancy dress nights including animal safari (I was an elephant) as well as events during the day.

Both of us settled in well, despite initial worries and it seems as if this is the case for nearly everyone we have met.

As well as settling into our accommodation, we also had to settle into our courses too. After having initial talks from the department and meeting the lecturers some faces became familiar. At Lancaster, in the PPR department, you have to do three subjects in your first year (1 major and 2 minors). This seems like a lot but it really is very manageable. The subjects don’t have to be directly related to your Major which leaves you the option to explore other avenues if you wish.

As faces became more familiar we gradually began to feel a part of our subjects and the department. Whenever we were struggling everyone was willing to help whether it was other students, our lecturers or our academic tutors. Facebook groups were made so that people in our subjects could talk to each other and ask each other questions – neither of us ever felt like we were stuck and alone. As we started to get used to the style of teaching in the PPR department, everything seemed less daunting as it was a big transition from sixth form. Everyone in the department was so friendly and you could ask anyone anything, and if they didn’t know the answer they would direct you to someone who would.

This week’s little piece of advice: be yourself. Uni is such a great opportunity, both academically and socially so don’t waste time hiding who you are: put yourself out there and you will make friends and meet some of the most amazing people. It is okay to be nervous of course but, after a while these nerves will shrink and you will look back and wonder what you were ever even nervous about.

Just don’t worry!

Becky and Katie x

An Introduction…

/ Katie Work

Hello!

Before we start writing about our experiences, let us introduce ourselves.

We are Becky and Katie, both third year students in the PPR department. I, Katie, am doing a BA hons in Religious Studies and I, Becky, am doing a joint BA hons in Religious Studies and Politics. We have taken many modules together over the past three years and now have a close friendship within university, as well as outside.

We are writing this blog with the aim of informing you about what the ‘real’ university experience is like. We will cover topics both academic and social, including things such as life within the PPR department as well as life in Lancaster as a city.

Each week we will write about a specific topic, covering various aspects of our time at Lancaster University. We will cover most things, from our first day of moving to uni, to essay deadlines, picking our modules and friendship gains and losses.

A big part of life at uni is all the opportunities Lancaster and the PPR department have to offer. This summer, through taking the ‘PPR in India’ module, we were able to spend two months together studying in, and travelling through, India. This experience was literally life-changing and we will be sharing many of our stories (both good and bad) which will show that anything is possible when you’re thrown in at the deep-end!

University has definitely expanded our horizons, both socially and in terms of our plans for the future. We both feel we have made a friend for life in one another, as well in others from our colleges and from our courses.

We will be writing this blog together with the aim of giving an informative and well-rounded view of student life in Lancaster.

Each week we will share one small piece of advice that we wish someone would have told us when we were new to student life. This week’s little piece of encouragement is – simply do not worry. You may feel out of your depth and like you’re not ready to live away from home or to start student life, but firstly, you’re not alone. We guarantee everyone else is in the same boat as you. And secondly, as long as you keep an open-mind and always be yourself, you’ll soon find you fit in very well and will wonder why you ever even worried! Basically, don’t worry – everything is always fine in the end.

Next week’s blog will be about our experiences within the first few weeks of university when we started in first year and how we dealt with all the new things which we had to adapt to and understand.

We hope our posts will be helpful and informative, and that you find some of our stories as funny as we do…

Catch you soon,

Becky and Katie x