Category: 2017

After the attacks…

Paula Rowinska profile

Mathematics of Planet Earth

We were celebrating my friend’s birthday in a pub, when someone mentioned that “something happened on London Bridge”. Soon I got a message from my mum, who wanted to make sure I was fine. Not much later the news were getting more and more upsetting. A van? A stabbing? How many victims?!

When we were going back home, some random people approached us on the train station to check if we were aware what happened  (because we were actually heading in Vauxhall/Borough Market direction). I think only then I realised how serious it was. I felt safe-ish only when I finally made it to my room…

Many of you might have had similar experiences last night.

To PhD or not to PhD

Paula Rowinska profile

Mathematics of Planet Earth

You have your undergraduate degree, you’re about to finish your masters and you aren’t sure what to do next. Get a proper job or maybe become an eternal student and apply for a PhD? I opted for the latter and so far I don’t regret (ok, I do regret sometimes, but more about it later).

Doing a PhD is something between studying and working, which surprised me. I expected a similar experience to my previous degrees. I thought I would still study, just the subjects might get harder and more detailed. I was so wrong!

If you want to pursue a PhD in order to explore your area, then I’d discourage you from this decision.

on the flipside.

Andrew Wang profile

MSci Immunology

Being able to pursue higher education in London has always been one of my objectives on my ever-growing to-do list and quite frankly, I believe the same for many of you guys reading this too who are considering to undertake a degree in London!

It’s very true when they say living in London is costly. But that’s not the point of this post and in fact, it’s quite the opposite. It’s going to incur some unexpected expenditures, and for me, that is *cues drum rolls*…..

FOOD!

Yes, you heard me right. Food glorious food! I mean, do I even need to introduce this to anyone at all?

Studying in English – a nightmare or an opportunity?

Paula Rowinska profile

Mathematics of Planet Earth

Soon you’ll be studying in the UK, but English isn’t your native language. If it’s something you’re worried about, this article is for you.

First of all, if you’re able to read this text without major problems (and dictionaries), you should be fine. To study maths or engineering you don’t need tricky sentence constructions or sophisticated vocabulary. Communication is the key! As long as you can read a textbook and take notes during your lecture (not necessarily understand it, because the content might be the obstacle, not the language itself!), you shouldn’t struggle too much. It doesn’t mean you’re not encouraged to improve your language skills!

Adventures of a Year Rep

Abigael Bamgboye profile

MEng Materials Science and Engineering

One of my highlights this year at Imperial has been the honour of holding the role of Year Representative. All in all, it has been a lot of work. But it has been immensely rewarding nonetheless.

Here’s the actual job description for a Year Representative:

  • Act as a voice for your Year Group in Staff-Student Committee Meetings
    • Collect feedback from your year group
    • Inform your year group of the department’s response
  • Liaise with lecturers about tutorials and any other matters
  • Organise summer revision sessions

Your reward: Free Lunch during Staff Student Committee Meetings (Twice a Term)

Here’s what I’ve got up to, with the help of my fellow Year Rep, Anthony (AKA A Bold Ant):

  • The actual roles stipulated above and…
    • Setting up in an informal events committee
    • Starting a Weekly Update (newsletter featuring tutorial work, exam dates, social opportunities, puns + a fun picture showing what members of our year have got up to that week)
    • Obtaining content for the weekly update
    • Emailing the Student Office
    • Visiting lecturers officers if they haven’t replied to an email
    • Messaging MatSoc Committee members to check when events will be happening
    • Creating polls to help MatSoc know which events our year are interested in
    • Promoting said events via the Weekly Update

The truth is, you put in as much as you get out.

Take Charge

Abigael Bamgboye profile

MEng Materials Science and Engineering

Everyone has a to do list.

A list of dreams, ideas, and tasks that just have to get done.

But we rarely finish our lists? Why?

Some goals are not SMART? They’re not Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic or Time Framed. But some goals are SMART and we fail to achieve them anyway, or we achieve them inefficiently.

Today I’d like you to stop. Stop making excuses for why you haven’t progressed on the side project you started a few months. Stop deliberating about how to start a dream – just start. And stop doing things just because everyone else is; nobody ever changed the world because they did what everyone else did. 

Instead take charge.

Graduation (Volunteering at the Post Graduate Graduation Ceremony)

Abigael Bamgboye profile

MEng Materials Science and Engineering

Despite having taken many pictures outside the Royal Albert Hall, I’ve never once been inside (the auditorium). It’s such a beautiful and iconic venue to study and live right next to, so I can’t wait to actually see the main hall, where concerts, the BAFTAs and Imperial Graduations take place. 

Yes, that’s right, Imperial Graduates trace the same paths as red carpet walkers 😆.

Outside the Royal Albert Hall on Commemoration Day 2016

Undergraduates also, rather unusually, graduate in the October after they finish their degree, rather than that summer. Since Imperial’s student pool is so international, it will be lovely to see everyone when they return for graduation.  This October graduation also has a special name: commemoration day, and during my Fresher’s fortnight, it also had a snapchat filter 😁 

Princes Gardens on Commemoration Day 2016

I’m not graduating for another few years, but I will be volunteering at the Post Graduate Graduation Day this May.

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