Transition at UCL - Student Blogs
David - Before Coming to UCL
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What are you most looking forward to about university? Being stimulated both academically and emotionally, meeting interesting individuals who have the same interests as myself, forging friendships and relationships with other people, tackling texts I’ve been longing to look into but never particularly had the chance to and developing and maturing into a more confident, forthright person. What are your main concerns about starting university? Being overawed at the workload, feeling isolated, not settling down in London and not getting back into the idea of academic life after a year of selling televisions. What do you expect will be the biggest challenge in adjusting to university life? The biggest challenge overall will be readjusting to academic and educational life after a gap year of having my brain go slightly stale from selling televisions and iPods and also trying to break out of my introverted shell and be more profound and approachable towards other people. However, confidence is also an issue and I need to dispel ideas that I will be moribund and remarkably dumb in comparison to other students. In addition, trying to settle down to a Southern, London way of life; after all, it’s grim up North. |
First Month at UCL
Startled, yet excited. Apprehensive, yet thrilled to be here. My first two weeks here have fuelled me with optimism for what the next three years could hold. I have settled down remarkably quickly in my halls; being very pleased and somewhat elated with the people that for the next year, I’ll be conversing with, drinking with and sharing my most intimate and pointless thoughts. Well, possibly.
The University Campus itself has been surprisingly easy to get used to, and I feel somewhat self-sufficient about navigating myself around the campus.
The course is taking a bit of time to get used to; especially after being out of education for a year. I’m still coming to terms with trying to acquaint myself with all the people on the course but with a bit of perseverance, it’ll come true.
Overall – feeling buoyant, independent, and sensing a very prosperous, interesting and life changing period.
Second Month
Ok. Things seem to be toddling along fairly well at the moment. I have the odd bout of worrying and nerves and there has been an incident where I threw my Old English book at my door - resulting in the glossary dislodging itself. However, after my first two essays, Ive managed to attain marks equivalent of a 2:1 on both of them which cant be a bad start.
My tutor is incredibly constructive, direct and extremely encouraging. For example, after comparing Satan to the trade union movement in the 1980s in relation to Paradise Lost (Dont ask how I thought of it), he laughed and said it was extremely fresh thinking. When we both go through my essay at tutorial, he's been impressed with my knowledge of theory and has commented on how pleasurable my essays are to read. He also has an incredibly good taste in music. Although, he's not the biggest Belle and Sebastian fan.
Yet there have been times where some of my concerns have come true. I didn't expect the workload to be quite as intense as it has been, but I think it's just a case of being accustomed with getting back into academia. I'm still incredibly sheepish when it comes to seminars as well which I need to rectify. I always feel I have something valuable to say, but once people start spouting off their views (most of which, get me incredibly annoyed), I seem to enter into my shell.
However, I've met some wonderfully pleasant people on my course, and I feel that already, I have made some friendships which will develop and become very close in time. On the more recreational side, I'm trying to get used to the music side of London; finding out all the best indie discos and nights (One I've found it quite possibly my dream night), where to buy records and Ive joined Rare FM - UCLs very own radio station. I have my own show every Tuesday at 7pm!
Third Month
This is a monumentally frustrating essay...The material culture you wish to discuss is clearly evident on Belindas dressing table: it is clearly not evident in the sun shining through a curtain. If you had cut those passages, your mark would have been considerably higher.
This will probably be something that will stay with me during my time here at UCL. I still got a 2:1, but this certainly gave me a kick up the back side.
Still, my tutor seems to enjoy what I write, but I seem to infuriate him with some of my readings. This month has made me realise that whilst I am here to do work, and work hard and well, I can take things a little too seriously. One of the things I have worked out with studying English here at UCL is to get the balance between stating the obvious, and being a tad adventurous but by gosh, not too adventurous. My tutor is nost one for psychoanalytic readings of Jonathan Swift.
I am balancing social life and work quite well, I think. Although, this has always seemed to be one of the few good characteristics I hold. I am up to date with my reading and getting the work done on time, yet still managing to go out and partake in various social activities such as going to the pub, going to various music-fuelled nights in London and on the cultural side, spending lots of time on Londons South Bank.
The NFT is going to be my second home. The end of the term has been a tad stressful with essays due in and Old English to translate, but I now feel like I am slacking as I am not up until some stupid hour listening to Radio 3 trying to find the meaning of the word Hwaet (It means Behold!). I will be grateful for the rest, however.
Fifth Month
I hold power within the realms of UCL. Well, not exactly. I am Head of Programming (Elect) for Rare FM after being the only candidate who stood. Still, I got elected unanimously so that was encouraging. I even had people praise my manifesto. From August, Ill be in control of who gets a slot, the schedule itself and what is broadcast. I feel like Alan Yentob.
Ive been working quite hard recently if I dare say so. Shutting myself up in my room and reading until silly hours and spending a ridiculous amount of time on essays. It seems to be reaping the awards as Im in the realms of high 2:1s now and I even got my first...well, first on a piece of practical criticism. I feel a lot more confident about my writing even though its still disheartening to see a barrage of comments all over the pristine Georgia font the essays are composed in, but still theyre helping me.
I have a new tutor now which (if I dare say so on here for risk of controversy) seems to be a lot more encouraging and positive about the work I produce. Whether I've got better at writing or its due to a different tutor I'm not sure. He just complains whenever I hand in an essay which is too long. He's beginning to help me with how I should try and restrict what I write which I feel is beginning to work and make my writing more concise. He said that its my essay length which prohibits me from getting firsts so its something I need to work on.
Scarily however, is that Ive now subconsciously begun starting to think about what books to revise. This year has gone so remarkably quick its ridiculous. I've found people to live with now which is a relief, and I can't wait until the end of term where I can have a week of rest back home before I start remembering which book a particular quote comes from in Paradise Lost.
Page last modified on 21 nov 06 17:04 by Ian C Bartlett
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