… by Rory / from Peebles / MMath Mathematics / 5th Year (UG)
I am about to enter my 5th and final year of an MMath degree, with the start of the semester only a couple of weeks away. I thought it might be interesting to cast my mind back to this time four years ago and examine how my approach and preparations for the semester have changed over the years. Hopefully this will be a useful reference for those just starting out and on a personal level I am curious to see what I’ve done differently and why.
Accommodation
For most students this will be (hopefully) all done and dusted by now, though I certainly know a few people who are still frantically scrolling through Gumtree and the like. In first year, the process is a bit different, you will probably have been assigned to one of the numerous student accommodations. In later years, chances are you will need to participate in a flat hunt at least once. This can be an exciting process, with the change of scenery at the end often a welcome one, but can also be quite stressful. To try and mitigate this I suggest two things. Firstly, start the search early! This may seem obvious, but many students start as early as Jan/Feb. There is less competition around this time, and it is certainly nice to get it all out the way before exams come around. Furthermore, don’t be disheartened if you don’t succeed in your initial applications. There will be many groups interested, meaning it often takes several attempts. Rest assured you will find a place – I am yet to meet any student who hasn’t – but it may just take a little time.
Societies
For many students, this is perhaps their favourite part about joining university. The sheer number of options can be overwhelming at first, but soon you will start to love the opportunities offered to you at Edinburgh. Not just for the variety: the accessibility was a complete game changer for me. Gone are the days of relying on parents to drive you to tennis lessons, just roll out of bed and the chances are the meadows courts are right there. I’m sure this will not be news to anyone reading this but try out as many things as you can! It’s a great way to meet new people and potentially discover a lifelong passion. I settled into some societies in first year and kept these going through second, third and fourth year. However, now that I am entering into 5th year, I suddenly feel I have been missing out and am determined to make the most of my remaining time here by trying as many new clubs as I can manage.
University Work
Finally, we come to the heart of it all: the maths itself. After all, this is why we are here in the first place and is certainly an unavoidable part of any maths degree! In terms of prep for your first week, there is no particular material you need to look over as the lecture materials are very comprehensive. However, the summer between finishing school and the start of uni is a long one. Because of this, doing something to stay mentally active and keep the maths part of your brain ticking over is certainly recommended. I started doing this for each summer after first year, but at the same time it is important to give yourself plenty time off to rest and relax. This summer I was lucky enough to work for the maths department so should be well prepared to hit the ground running when classes return!