Tag: Moving

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Expectation(Uni Life) ≠ Reality…

Photograph of Morgan… by Morgan / from Fraserburgh / MMath Mathematics / 3rd year (UG)

Hi, I’m Morgan and I’m a 3rd year Maths student at the University of Edinburgh. So far, I’ve really enjoyed my time at university; however we all know no tale is without its adversities. It’s perhaps a little cliché to say that “the transition from school to university is so difficult!” but that saying wouldn’t be repeated so frequently if it weren’t true (although my statistics lecturer may tell me that I’m a victim of observation bias…)

Continue reading “Expectation(Uni Life) ≠ Reality…”

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If I Could Talk to my First Year Self…

… 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. Continue reading “If I Could Talk to my First Year Self…”

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Why I chose to study Maths at The University of Edinburgh…

A photograph of Fionnuala… by Fionnuala / from London / BSc Mathematics / 1st Year (UG)

Choosing which university to apply to, firm or insure on UCAS can be a very daunting experience. I can remember submitting my application, which I had spent ages preparing, to then realise there would be harder decisions to make once I had received answers from my five options.

Choosing a university is a very personal decision. What one of your best friends at school might love when choosing somewhere just might not do it for you. There may be something small, but which will be really important for you during your time there so my main piece of advice is to make sure you don’t base your decision off somebody else’s. The two biggest factors which affected my decision were; the degree programme itself and the city which I would be living in.

Continue reading “Why I chose to study Maths at The University of Edinburgh…”

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The Flat Hunt…

… by Benedicty / from Romford /
BSc Computer Science and Mathematics / 3rd Year (UG)

What I did right, the mistakes I made and what you can learn from it.

Finding a flat in first and second year was pretty much a piece of cake. Barely any work was put in and I always seemed to manage to find a flat that I liked.

Third year was where the trouble began, as I found myself in quite an awkward and unusual position. After complications with my year abroad, I had to find somewhere and someone to live with over the summer, before I went back up to Edinburgh for Year 3. Here are some things I learnt whilst attempting to secure my third-year home: Continue reading “The Flat Hunt…”

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Edinburgh Global Undergraduate Mathematics Scholarship: A Student’s Take…

… by Emma / from NJ, USA / BSc Mathematics / 1st Year (UG)

Each year, the School of Mathematics gives international applicants the opportunity to apply for the Edinburgh Global Undergraduate Maths Scholarship. As a part of the application, applicants are encouraged to discuss why they are essentially seeking the scholarship and how they think it will help them throughout their University career. Continue reading “Edinburgh Global Undergraduate Mathematics Scholarship: A Student’s Take…”

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Life as a New Postgraduate Student…

… by Anvita / from Allahabad, India / MSc Computational Applied Mathematics / PG (2018-19)

My name is Anvita and I am one of the new postgraduate blog writers for this academic year. I am doing a Masters in Computational Applied Mathematics. I did my undergraduate in engineering, more particularly Mechanical Engineering. I enjoyed the computational and mathematical aspects of it the most and that is why I opted to change my career path and go into more mathematical options. Continue reading “Life as a New Postgraduate Student…”

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Finding Your Friends at University…

… by Susanne / from Amsterdam / BSc Computer Science and Mathematics / 3rd Year (UG)

Let me first introduce myself; my name is Susanne and I am currently a third-year Computer Science and Maths student at the University. I was born in Germany but have spent all of my youth in Amsterdam, so no, I unfortunately do not speak German. Growing up I never saw myself leaving the comfort of that rainy cold country until I started to look into the options for universities. The thought of not only moving out of my parent’s house but also moving to a completely new country where I knew no one frightened me but also excited me, as it gave me the opportunity to study at such a wonderful university in such a vibrant and cultured city. Continue reading “Finding Your Friends at University…”

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2+2 and Masters degree applications…

… by Jialu / from Foshan, China / BSc Mathematics and Statistics [2+2 programme] / 4th Year (UG)

Two years ago, I had a chance to join the School of Mathematics’ 2+2 programme with the University of Edinburgh and my Chinese mother university, South China University of Technology. Even now, I still appreciate that I seized this opportunity and it has become one of the most important turning points in my life. Continue reading “2+2 and Masters degree applications…”

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Moving to Study in Edinburgh: 5 Reasons…

… by Lauryn / from Ndola, Zambia / BSc Mathematics / 1st Year (UG)

So, Edinburgh is a long way from home… I had to take 3 planes and all that thinking time can be an opportunity for doubt to rear its ugly head. Going to a different continent and losing the steadfast direct support of your family is a really big deal. The university experience is a massive step into your future and your choice of university is one of many consequential decisions. As teenagers, we often feel too unprepared to make such a big choice and with numerous factors like ranking, where our friends are going, how far we’ll be from home, what’s the weather like, what degree options are available and every other little detail, it can be a literal assault on our mortal minds. I remember applying to universities in South Africa, Canada and the UK while still considering studying in the US. And each of the schools I considered were absolutely amazing! I dreamt about the kinds of experiences I would have at each and every one of them. Now, I live out this Scottish adventure and I really wouldn’t change it for anything. I thought I’d share my 5 reasons for choosing to leave my home and study abroad.

Continue reading “Moving to Study in Edinburgh: 5 Reasons…”

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Why I’m doing an MSc…

… by Lydia / from Birmingham / MSc Operational Research / PG (2017-18)

Hey everyone! My name’s Lydia and I am one of your new postgraduate blog writers. My friend Jack will also be writing posts where we are going to discuss postgraduate study and everything that comes with it. Below is a lovely picture of the two of us celebrating having a little break during Innovative Learning Week…

So first of all… Why am I doing an MSc? Am I crazy? Probably. Continue reading “Why I’m doing an MSc…”

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An International Perspective on University Life…

… by Tanya / from Bangalore, India / MA Economics and Mathematics / 2nd Year (UG)

Being an international student can be a daunting experience. While most European or British students know what they’re getting into before coming to university, international students do not have this privilege.  As an Indian student, I couldn’t visit the University because it just wasn’t financially feasible. All my perception of the University- the city, the teaching, the buildings and everything was built on what I saw on Google, University ranking pages and most importantly, the Student Room. Despite having an image built into my mind, I was scared to walk into university. Somehow, along with the excitement, the idea of moving to foreign land with a culture extremely different from mine and being all alone was extremely scary. What if I hated the city or the university even worse, the course? What if everyone was unfriendly? At school, I had known everyone for the last nine years and now I wasn’t just moving to an unknown city but an unknown country. But as it is for international students, we have to blindly walk into it. And I did as well.

Continue reading “An International Perspective on University Life…”

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Looking After Yourself at University…

… by Benedicty / from Romford /
BSc Mathematics / 1st Year (UG)

I’ve always pictured myself as an independent person, and never thought I’d have much of an issue transitioning from staying at home with my family, to living self-reliantly at university. This is because my mum never babied me much whilst I was at home: I occasionally helped her cook, I cleaned the house without help and I had a job, so felt like I could budget my own money. However, this self-reliance at home didn’t mean I would have self-reliance once I set off in the world on my own. This is due to my major character flaw – I am extremely lazy. Continue reading “Looking After Yourself at University…”

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The Local Student Experience: Not so far from home!..

… by Tom / from Edinburgh / BSc Mathematics / 2nd Year (UG)

‘Uuugh, why would you want to do that?’ This was definitely the most common response I got from people when I told them I was off to study Mathematics at Edinburgh. We all know that maths doesn’t have the best reputation. However, I will say that I have always been a fan of the subject.  Throughout my time at secondary school, I really enjoyed most of my time in maths lessons and, as a result, I’ve ended up here – at Edinburgh – still trying to ‘find x’. Continue reading “The Local Student Experience: Not so far from home!..”