BSc Physics, 1st Year
I come from a low-income area, with low rates of young people going into higher education. When I was in sixth form, I was stuck in the crossroads between going into university or applying for an apprenticeship or job, as many of my friends from the area were doing. I am so glad that I chose the university route. There are a lot of opportunities, both in my course and outside of it, via societies and career events. I feel like a lot of doors are opened for me.
My experience at UCL has been great so far. The department has loads of professors who are leading in their fields, which I find really inspiring to be taught by them. The mix between lectures, problem-solving tutorials and the post-COVID-introduced informal problem-solving sessions means that I get taught really effectively. UCL has a variety of support services, as does the department, so I can get any form of help should I need it, whether that be for academic reasons or more personal reasons such as mental health. This safety net makes me feel supported and has been super helpful moving into such a big city like London.
Speaking of London, this city is so inspiring. UCL is at the heart of Bloomsbury, the intellectual centre of London. Knowing that each park and every street corner is filled to the brim with history, which makes up such an international and dynamic city, is motivating and is one of the main reasons why I love this city. London is a mix between the old and the new: what other city has the gigantic skyscrapers of its financial hub be the backdrop to an 11th century castle, the Tower of London? London is the amalgamation of 2000 years of human history and is a testament to the sharing of ideas, the trading of goods, and the diversity of humanity. The empowering, yet humbling feeling you get as a student in London is like no other.