Navigator Winter 2008 by James

Navigator WINTER 2008

Your complete guide to going to university

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Medicine is as rural as it is urban — as local as it is global. To prepare students for a world where doctors from the suburbs of America treat the same diseases as those in the deserts of Africa, St. George’s University has created a new universal language for medicine. Students and faculty have come from over 140 countries; they’ve gained unique insight into a variety of cultures, ways of thinking and an understanding of how medicine evolves on a global scale. Clinical training in the United Kingdom and United States $200+ million technologically advanced campus One of the most accredited and approved medical programs in the world 7,300 graduates pursuing careers in over 45 countries

www.sgu.edu/som

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27/11/2008 12:07:46

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our finest

A shining statement

Student life in Leeds

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Which degree is best for you?

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Course guide; music mag; activist rag... Navigator spans the breadth of university campuses to bring you the full whack of student life, never before seen in the offices of your careers adviser. Tuck in

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top stories

All the news from UK campuses

Editor Francis Andrews • Head of Design Kathleen Rayfield Navigator is published by Educate Ltd, 91-93 Southwark Street, London SE1 OHX, 020-7902 1200. The opinions in the articles are those of the individual writer and not necessarily of Educate Ltd or any associated personnel. Educate Ltd, the Editor and Publishers of Navigator do not necessarily agree with the views expressed in this publication and do not accept responsibility for any personal opinions therein. The paper used for Navigator is made from sustainable wood pulp.

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DEGREES

CULTURE SHOCK

IT’S TIME TO SHINE With record numbers of people now attending university, you’d be forgiven for questioning what the value of a degree nowadays really is. LUCY TOBIN puts university to the test

Lucy Tobin, aged 22, graduated with a First in English Language and Literature from Lady Margaret Hall, University of Oxford, in 2008

“The days when you could walk out of university and pick any job are now over”

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degrees depression

Culture shock

s I stood at my graduation ceremony, ensconced in a billowing black gown, and grinned at my family as their cameras flashed around me like paparazzi, all the hard work seemed worthwhile. I’d had a brilliant time studying English at university, and along the way I’d made new friends, worked hard and had amazing experiences. And now I had a stiff white certificate to show off my achievement.

a first is not enough But once the sprays of champagne had died down, a less sunny reality emerged, because I was one of nearly half a million final-year university students to receive a degree this summer. More than double the number of 25-year-olds currently hold a degree than the number of 18-year-olds who held A-levels 40 years ago. The degree didn’t seem so special after all - because I was reminded that the days when you could walk out of university and pick any job you wanted have now passed. And not even my First could put me ahead

of the crowd: more students than ever before are achieving degrees with first-class honours, leading to the media to accuse universities of ‘grade inflation’ - the idea that it’s easier to achieve a high degree now than it has been in past years.

changing realities Certainly going to university has never before been more popular. This September saw record numbers of freshers at universities across the UK, with registrations up 9.1 per cent on 2007 figures, according to statistics released by University and College Admissions Service (UCAS). At the same time, research on longer-term records, looking at 2006 graduates’ recruitment levels, found that a third of graduates took home no extra money in their pay checks as a result of their degrees, according to professors at Kent University. According to the research, getting a job straight from school, and avoiding being saddled with decades of student debt, would not have deterred employment prospects.

WINTER 2008 5 AUTUMN 04-06 Its worth money.indd 5

04/12/2008 07:34:46

degrees

university of life

choose wisely

University has far more benefits than just Degrees with the highest salaries include graduate earnings: I learnt how toCulture cook a three- shock medicine, dentistry, engineering, veterinary course meal for £1; survived an 8am tutorial medicine and maths. Regardless, I knew all when I hadn’t yet been to bed from the previous that when I applied to read English: it’s crucial night, and generally discovered how to live to pick a subject that you enjoy. independently. A couple of my friends ended up switching But the rising cost of achieving that degree degrees whilst at university, which involved - with current freshers paying more in tuition a waste of time and money. Someone at fees than any other generation - means that my college was studying maths, but after we cannot ignore financial considerations spending a year unhappily sitting through and the impact on earning power. Graduate lectures that he wasn’t interested in - and salaries rose last year by only 1.8 per cent – the then receiving a poor mark because of it - he smallest increase in years – while the new switched to study languages. He’d wasted £3,000-per-year tuition fees mean than some more than a thousand pounds on an extra students from middle-income families will leave year’s accommodation and living costs, plus university with debts of more than £30,000. new books. These scary sums leave more and more schoolBut he was not alone: a fifth of students leavers questioning the value of a degree. at Russell Group universities (which includes A key phrase that crops up in this debate Oxford, Bristol, Cambridge, Warwick and is the ‘graduate premium’, that’s the pay Imperial) told surveyors that they thought difference that graduates can expect to receive they had chosen the wrong degree course, over non-graduates. For many subjects, this while ten per cent also believed they would is still significant. Research carried out last have preferred to study at another university. year by education body Universities UK found The statistics highlight the importance of prethat those who studied medicine or dentistry application research. Don’t just take the glossy could expect to receive £340,315 more, but the prospectus at face value: visit the university, respective figure for students leaving university and take a list of questions to grill a current with an arts degree, in subjects like English or student -that way you’ll be able to find out as history, could expect to receive only £34,494 much as you can about what it will actually be more over their working career. like to live and study for that course.

Student debt has become an expected part of life, and even the introduction of student tuition fees resulted in only a temporary decline in applications. Potential students are focusing on the many ways that attending university can improve your life. So when thinking about the ‘value’ of a university education, don’t focus exclusively on future earning power. Instead, think in depth about the subject and institution you choose, and how much you will enjoy and learn from a particular course and university. As for me, I’m currently working as a journalist. I don’t think my degree helps me with my day-to-day work, but it helped me to get here, by impressing employers who looked at my CV. Just like those friends who looked for work straight after school, some of my fellow graduates have had job success, others haven’t. The economic situation at the moment is pushing some towards further education - Master’s courses and PhDs - as they look to add even more ‘value’ to their CVs and work experience. At that further education level, too, the ‘value’ debate rumbles on. Meanwhile, if one day in the future I manage to get a job with my own office, the first thing I’ll put on my wall will be that framed graduation certificate, to remind me of the work I put in to get there, and the fun I had on the way.

Building blocks: higher education provides strong career foundations

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27/11/2008 12:17:08

As the world’s borders fade, exotic becomes indigenous. To prepare students for the ever-evolving field of Veterinary Medicine they face upon graduation, St. George’s University has created a unique educational experience. With clinical training opportunities in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Ireland and Australia, students learn how to treat whatever wanders across their path. $200+ million technologically advanced campus Faculty, students and animals drawn from around the world On-campus Small Animal Hospital and Farm.

www.sgu.edu/svm

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Grenada, West Indies

27/11/2008 12:19:20

Applications

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The first hurdle of higher education can be the hardest. For many, the application process is strewn with potential hazards. But if you relax and seek advice, the trip will be a smooth one, says CHERYL PENNANT-JONES

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APPLICATIONS

CULTURE SHOCK

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pplying for university is a daunting experience. Even if you’ve got a strong idea of what you want to do, typing the course into Google and being bombarded with a thousand possible institutions is going to throw you a bit. So how do you make those all important decisions?

ROUTE FINDER

Cheryl Pennant-Jones, 21, studied Television Production at UCLAN and now runs her own television and film production company

Start at the beginning – where do your strengths and interests lie? Is there a subject you’re particularly interested in, or a career you hope to have? A quick visit to Careers Advice (careersadvice.direct.gov. uk) can help you to assess your skills, and Prospects (www.prospects.ac.uk) will let you see what careers any specific degree can lead into. Consider your future, but not at the expense of the present – if there’s a career you really want to be in, think about all possible routes into it. Remember, a course that looks like three years of hell is unlikely to get you where you want to be; take on something you don’t enjoy, and you’re far more likely to fail or drop out altogether. If you’ve got an idea, but you’re

not totally set on it, consider some work experience in the area, or find and contact someone with the career you’re aiming for – there’s no substitute for being completely sure that you know what you’re getting yourself into before you go and get yourself into it!

STEPPING STONES You’ve got an idea for a degree course? Well, at least you’ve done the easy part. Every single course is different, even if they have the same name. Your best indicator, to start with, is whether the course is a BA or a BSc (in short, an art course or a science course). BA courses are likely to contain a lot of theory and written work, whereas a BSc course will be more practical, technical, and (unsurprisingly) scientific. Course content is key; every university teaches different things, and most will have a small rundown of their modules on their website – look into these in detail. If you want to study medieval history, ensure that the history course you select gives you that option, and if you want to work as a film editor, don’t pick a film course that doesn’t touch on post-production. The last thing you want is to reach the end of your degree and find that you don’t have the knowledge or the skills to be where you

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xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Applications

“Leave no stone unturned, and don’tCulture stopshock until the hosts of the open day have lost their voices” “xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx”

want to be. Scour the websites, and any course-related PDF files in detail – and if the website doesn’t make it clear which modules are compulsory and which are optional, be sure to e-mail and ask.

are you experienced? Still with us? Then there’s more to think about! Accreditation and work placement opportunities are two more deciding factors for some courses. How important, to you, is the chance to get some real work experience as part of your degree course? Remember that it’s not a necessity (you can always find your own work), but to some it’s an all-important chance to put their knowledge to the test – plus, it can lead to a job upon graduation if you perform well. Courses which are accredited have an industry seal of approval - a guarantee that what they teach is relevant, and of a high standard. Whilst, again, it’s not vital to have accreditation, it can offer security to you and a promise to employers that you know your stuff. Not all courses have a body to accredit them, but look out for NCTJ accreditation on a journalism course, and Skillset accreditation on a media course to start you on your way. With so many things to keep in mind, it’s a good idea to keep yourself organised. We’d suggest starting a folder to help you whittle things down. Type your course name into Google, or the UCAS website, and

look at the websites in detail. If you like the look of the university, examine the course in more detail. If you like what the course has to offer, print the page off and move on to another university. Fill your folder with potential places to apply, and once you’re happy that you’ve considered all your options the brutality can begin. Look through all of your printed pages in more detail, and slowly but surely you should be able to find yourself filling the bin with pages that don’t sound quite as perfect as the others. If you’re still struggling, you could always visit www.thestudentroom. co.uk, where you can speak to current students about their experiences.

trial and error Once you’ve left yourself with a reasonable number of universities, it’s time to think about visiting them. A prospectus can give you the cold, hard facts, but there’s nothing like walking around a university and speaking to staff and students to make everything click into place. Check the facilities, and speak to lecturers and students who can tell you far more than any website about the course you’re hoping to apply for. If you’re a fan of American politics,

ask just how much they’ll feature in your history and politics course; if you’ve got slightly vampire-like tendencies, find out from a student how often you can access the relevant buildings for 4am study; if you intend to live in university halls, be sure to consider their location, their standard, and whether you’d be happy in them for a year or more. And don’t forget to ask about everything else the university has to offer in terms of clubs and societies, and a students’ union to protect your rights. What support can the university promise to offer if things do end up going pear-shaped? Leave no stone unturned, and don’t stop until the hosts of the open day have provided you with everything you need to know.

well-trodden By the time you’ve examined universities, examined courses, and travelled the length of the country ten times over, you should find yourself with a much clearer idea of where you do and don’t want to be. Now it’s time to hit the apply button.

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27/11/2008 12:22:46

READY TO

UP?

RISE

Set in the heart of north London, we offer a range of world-class undergraduate courses to give your prospects a real lift. So if you want to stand out in the capital, visit our website to see the full range of courses for 2009. And you still may be able to start in January! Benefit from the ÂŁ100m invested in new learning and leisure facilities at our Hendon campus, or enjoy the beautiful country park setting at Trent Park. If your focus is art and design then our Cat Hill campus, also close to Trent Park (near Oakwood and Cockfosters Piccadilly line stations), will be your destination. Courses include: Accounting and Finance, Art and Design, Biomedical and Biological Sciences, Business and Management, Complementary Health, Computing and IT, Criminology, Dance, Music and Theatre Arts, Economics, English Language and Literature, Environmental and Public Health, Film, Television and Media Arts, Human Resource Management, Languages and Translation Studies, Law, Marketing, Media, Culture and Communication, Nursing, Midwifery and Health, Philosophy, Psychology, Social Science, Politics and Development, Social Work, Sport and Exercise Science, Statistics, Teaching and Education, Tourism, Veterinary Nursing, Work Based Learning.

0800 923 3937

or email enquiries@mdx.ac.uk for a Prospectus Open Days in 2009: 14 January, 4-7 February, 11-14 March, 29 April - 2 May, 10-13 June

www.mdx.ac.uk MIDDLESEX UNIVERSITY IN LONDON

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27/11/2008 12:24:47

LEEDS

THE CITY COMES ALIVE Leeds is one of the UK’s thriving student hubs, catering well for the young at heart. It is home to both the University of Leeds and Leeds Metropolitan, between them spewing out over 45,000 students onto the city streets. ELISE JACKSON, who studies at the University of Leeds, gives us the lowdown

“On any given day you can see countless creative costumes walking down the street”

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LEEDS

Elise Jackson, aged 23, is a budding photographer and studies German at the University of Leeds

eeds is densely populated with students, with its two universities and several higher education colleges giving the town a whopping total of over 200,000 students - just under half of the total population of Leeds. This no doubt contributes to the youthful, vibrant feeling of the city, making it a very exciting place for anyone to live, particularly students. The city no doubt has the young student in mind, effectively catering to our needs and whims with a vast array of shops, clubs, bars and cultural attractions. Millennium Square is a hub of activity, with different exhibitions being staged there. The Ladyboys of Bangkok (a cabaret act) have just done a stint there, and come the end of November, the German Christmas market will be providing mulled wine and merriment, along with the annual outdoor ice rink.

FESTIVE SPIRIT The Christmas market is definitely one of the highlights of Leeds for me, not only because I study German and am a self-confessed Germanophile, but also because it captures the spirit of Christmas and has a diverse selection of stalls, each with their own treasures. One of my favourite bars is the Dry Dock - an old barge, as the name suggests, docked on dry land, just opposite Leeds Metropolitan University. Tuesdays mean £1 a pint, which means good times. Invest in a Yellow Card too and you can enjoy discounts on drinks any day of the week. North Bar is also a great venue, with a selection of international beers - a fine choice for any beer connoisseur, or anyone who generally dislikes generic lager. Leeds also has the infamous Otley Run, which is much less a run than a drunken stumble. To the untrained

non-Leeds ear, the Otley Run sounds like some sort of charity run. It is, in fact, a pub crawl along Otley Road, spanning a distance of about 2.5 miles with around 20 pubs on its route. Fancy dress is of course obligatory, which is why on any given day in Leeds you can see countless creative costumes walking down the road, or hopping onto the number 96 (although this is technically cheating). Examples from just this last week include a herd of cows, Wonder Woman, Jack Skellington, Pac Man, and all of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. One thing Leeds students are not lacking is imagination and one thing that never fails to amuse and baffle anyone that visits me in Leeds is how we Leeds students seem oblivious to the fact there is a giant panda walking down the road.

VIVACIOUS ATMOSPHERE The International Film Festival descends upon Leeds every November, bringing with it over 200 films from all corners of the globe. It’s a fantastic opportunity to see films that wouldn’t usually be screened, and a great way to spend an evening or two. Another attractive aspect of Leeds is its proximity to the countryside. Leeds’ vivacious city atmosphere means that it’s easy to become wrapped up in city life and forget how close you are to stunning landscapes. Even if you don’t fancy trekking out as far as the Yorkshire Dales, Eccup Reservoir and Roundhay Park are both within easy reach and well worth a visit. I’ve been a student in Leeds for four years now, yet I’m still discovering new places. I’ll be graduating at the end of this academic year, but I don’t think I’ll leave Leeds then. The place has so much to offer everyone, not just to students, that it would be crazy to leave.

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ID CARDS

this is big brother In 2004 a senior government minister warned that Britain was “sleepwalking into a surveillance society”. Now the government wants to retain information on every phone call, email and website visited in the UK. FRANCIS ANDREWS examines the creation of the surveillance state

n October this year a furore erupted over government plans to create a database holding information on every phone call, email and website visit made in the UK. Labour’s latest attempt to tackle crime and the threat of terrorism was attacked from all angles: the Lib Dems labelled it ‘Orwellian’, while Tory Shadow Home Secretary Dominic Grieve said that such an increase in the powers of the state needed “convincing justification.” So why have the government’s plans, argued to be “vital” in the fight against terrorism and serious crime, split opinion so sharply?

fall-out Concern over the emergence of terrorist cells in the UK has dominated the Home Office since September 11 2001. The political fall-out from the collapse of the Twin Towers was staggering, and the world’s media sparked a frenzy of paranoia akin to the Cold War climate. Yet where has the UK government stood in all this? The US unquestionably paved the way in the so-called ‘War on Terror’. It was they who led coalition troops first into Afghanistan and then Iraq; they who immediately earmarked a whole state department aimed at ‘homeland security’; and who turned Guantanamo Bay into the world’s most controversial prison. Many of the robust statements since September 11 about the threat of terrorism have come from the Bush administration. And in all this, the UK has seemingly stayed in the passenger seat. Blair was repeatedly cast as Bush’s lapdog;

newspapers mocked the ‘slavish’ support the US received from the UK; and even the Saudi King claimed in an interview with the BBC, in the wake of the July 7th London bombings, that Britain was being too soft on terrorism. Yet the recent controversy of the government’s National Identity Scheme may suggest otherwise. When it comes to monitoring the movement and activities of citizens (and non-citizens), the UK has raced ahead with the torch. Richard Thomas, the government’s information commissioner, warned four years ago that Britain was in danger of “sleep-walking into a surveillance society.” Two years later, he confirmed that his fears had become a reality with evidence that, with 4.2 million CCTV cameras in operation - one for every 14 people - Britons were the most surveyed population in the Western world.

under cover Much of this has happened covertly. While the US has hogged the limelight for antiterror legislation, the Blair administration passed on average 2,685 laws every year over its decade in power - almost seven per day, a 22 per cent increase on the ten years prior to that. The area most marked was criminal law, with 40 new criminal justice acts introduced between 1997 and 2007. One of the most controversial of these developments erupted recently. Plans to create a database holding information on every phone call, email and internet visit made in the UK met widespread condemnation. Lord Carlile of Berriew QC, a member of the House of Lords, labelled the

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ID CARDS

idea “awful” and called for controls to stop the government using it to conduct “fishing expeditions into the public’s private lives”. This came on top of the already contentious introduction of biometric identity cards, expected to be introduced “in significant volumes” in 2011/12. As it stands, the cards would see basic details - a photograph, full name, gender and date of birth - alongside a microchip linking to a biometric database holding the person’s fingerprint. All form part of the National Identity Management System. Views from the general public have been mixed. Opinion is split between those who claim variously that “only those with something to hide should be concerned”, and those who see ID cards as an infringement on civil liberties. A poll on The Student Room (www.thestudentroom. com) asked 112 students what they thought of the cards: 49 per cent thought them to be a “very bad idea”; 23 per cent a “bad idea” and only 21 per cent a “good” or “very good” idea, with six per cent “indifferent”. NO2ID, a campaign group challenging the proposals for the database, argues that “monitoring your communications is more intrusive than searching your home. It should only ever be done under warrant, with good reason.” The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has said the database would “undermine the British way of life”, while Lib Dem home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne said that the proposals “are incompatible with a free country and a free people.”

GOVERNMENT BLUNDERS Still fresh in the minds of many is the fiasco over lost data that plagued Gordon Brown last year. The most significant of these happened in November last year, when the details of 25 million people receiving child benefit were lost. Shortly after, David Cameron, who has been a critic of the ID cards, said people would “find it frankly weird” that Brown still wanted to go ahead with the scheme. NO2ID claim that the proposals would allow data-sharing between organisations “on an unprecedented scale”. One Student Room member said: “The government, its departments and its staff have shown themselves catastrophically inept when it comes to data protection. This would be an unqualified disaster.” Others have pointed to the project’s cost. The Identity and Passport Service has put the overall figure for introducing ID cards at

£4.57 billion. Yet with an economic recession in the UK now a dead cert, questions have been asked as to whether the economy can support the venture: as it stands it will cost every taxpayer £200 to develop the scheme, and then another £93 to purchase the card. There is also an issue over who will bear the brunt of the scheme. Under the latest plans, the ID cards would first be introduced to non-European immigrants. The Joint Committee on Human Rights warned that this may lead to “racial profiling”, and questioned whether black and minority ethnic communities will be “disproportionately required to prove their immigration status.”

AMBIGUOUS LAWS But if we have nothing to hide, why should we be concerned? Another member of The Student Room, who have conducted a debate on the issue, said this argument assumes that “privacy is about hiding bad things” whereas in fact “it is about whether we should allow the Prime Minister to engage in such activities in secrecy, without accountability to the people.” The real question then lies with the trust we place in our government to protect our details, and to make transparent the extent of surveillance and the ambiguity of such laws. While there is an obvious consensus that terrorism and serious crime need to be tackled, it is the methods used and the degree of interference that is worrying. The police powers under the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 have already proved arbitrary: famously, the MP Walter Wolfgang was arrested under anti-terrorism laws for heckling at a Labour conference, and the government slapped a ban on protesting outside parliament without permission. So will government’s plans snowball, and are we heading towards a 1984-style dystopia, or will we really see a nationwide reduction in crime and the threat of terrorism? And furthermore, will the government remove these powers if the scheme is successful? It would seem that past security blunders have pushed public opinion against the scheme, and Labour’s barrage of ‘security measures’ have been criticised for the extent of their interference in private life. The government, regardless of its intentions, risks not only alienating its people, but provoking a backlash. This scheme is ostensibly aimed at allowing people the freedom to live, but the effect could be to only fence them in further.

“Will the government then remove these powers if the scheme is successful?”

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02/12/2008 12:42:58

revision

Easing the pain Revision can be one of the most agonisingly tedious tasks you’ll ever have to face. But if you have your sights set on university, there’s no escaping it. MATTHEW HANNAM shares a few tips on which websites help to ease the pain

evision isn’t just about reading: the internet is a great way to make your revision active and keep your mind focused. When revising, many students rely heavily on their notes taken during class. But if you often find yourself unable to read what you wrote, or can’t make sense of a particularly hard topic, then the internet is your one-stop source for guidance. Online revision can be excellent; however, this doesn’t mean you should throw away your notes and put down the textbook. The internet is a helpful way to aid revision, but A level students shouldn’t rely solely on it. Avoid navigating through all the junk websites and instead look at the following. They are some of the top revision sites on the web and are definitely worth a look. Just be sure not to neglect the textbook!

AQA www.aqa.org.uk/admin/qp-ms_library.php There is no better way to prepare for your exams than visiting this site. There are hundreds of past exam papers to download or print and you can check your answer with the mark scheme online. If you struggle with time management you can practise an entire paper or you could just apply your revision to a certain topic. Becoming familiar with your exam paper will give you a huge advantage. A word of advice though: avoid the older exam papers as the syllabus and course content is

most likely to have changed. Stick with 2005 and beyond.

S-Cool www.s-cool.co.uk You may remember S-Cool from GCSE revision. It’s a favourite among teachers and lecturers and is definitely worth a look. It contains a QuickLearn section where you can revise from a slide-show of notes, and there are plenty of multiple choice questions to break up all the reading. It’s a handy site worth visiting during the final weeks before your exams, but don’t use S-Cool as the foundation of your revision.

Revision World www.revisionworld.co.uk Revision World has information on 12 A level subjects and is particularly good for humanities and sciences. The site contains Quick Revise sections that are similar to S-Cool. The information is presented in small chunks making it easily accessible and you have the chance to test yourself with examstyle questions. Be sure to check out some of the links too. The majority of them offer extra knowledge outside of the syllabus that will wow the examiner. Although not part of your course content, it is easy to relate it back to your exam. It’s easily navigable, and is a very useful site if you want to revise specific topics of your course.

Revision Notes www.revision-notes.co.uk/n Notes This site is compiled entirely by students. You simply click on your subject and view revision notes that other students have uploaded. it can be beneficial for you to upload your own: not only will this help other students, but retyping your own notes onto the computer will enable you to learn the material. This site caters to a very particular learning style and there aren’t any fancy pictures or diagrams to break up the writing. If you want your revision simple then this site is for you.

Coursework.info www.coursework.info Coursework is a great way to get marks before you’ve even entered the exam. To ensure you make the most of this, coursework.info has published nearly 150,000 academic essays and coursework examples. The catch though is that it isn’t free. No student wants to spend £4.99 a month on coursework; especially since you may only have one piece to do throughout your time at college. A way around this is to submit your own work and if it passes the plagiarism test then you have unlimited access for five days. Use that time wisely and view and print as many examples as possible. For some, looking at other students work prompts them into writing their own, while for others it be difficult not to copy ideas. Depending on how you work, coursework.info may not be for everybody.

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XXrevision

Matthew Hannam, 18, is a budding journalist and studies A2 English Language, Psychology and Sociology at Yeovil College, Somerset.

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04/12/2008 07:46:24

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20 AUTUMN 2008 18-21 Internet best.indd 20

03/12/2008 18:45:21

GRADUATE FASHION

WEEK

EDUCATION DAY JUNE 11 2009

Earls Court 2, London A brilliant day out for students interested in a career in the fashion industry! Meet 50 of the best universities from around the country Watch the fabulous Gala Fashion Show featuring the best collections from the weeks shows Join one of the Careers Clinics and listen to top people in the industry talk about how they got their job! (You can ask questions too!) Talk to some of this year’s graduates Visit the River Island stand and learn about a career in fashion retail

Gala Fashion Show Careers Clinic

£20.00 £15.00

www.gfw.org.uk (click on the Education Day page and download the Booking Form) Further information Zoe Shore or Louise Hague on 01903 885930 Jennifer Jarvis De Montfort University Photography Chris Moore www.catwalking.com

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MUSIC

“It’s been payment in free music and gigs rather than hard cash that kept me in it”

“xxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

XXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX

FRANCIS ANDREWS xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxcxxx

Nu-folk duo Coco Rosie have in the past contributed articles to Lost At E Minor

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music

lost in sound

xx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxx”

Being a music journalist is surely in most people’s Top Ten list of dream jobs. But does the reality match the reputation? We asked ZOLTON ZAVOS, editor of two leading music websites, whether the hype was justified. The answer was, well, of course!

To young ears your career may sound like a job utopia. Is the life of a music journalist all it’s cracked up to be?

of your time for a precious copy of the new King of Woolworths album.

Sure is. Free CDs, free gigs and a perpetual ringing in my middle ear. I’ve written about music now for around 12 years, so I’ve had the pleasure of discovering a lot of good bands before the rest of the music fans out there get to hear them. The downside is that for many of those years, I did it for love and not money, as most music journalists do. Music magazines in general tend to be a labour of love - and the ones that are worth reading/writing for are often the ones that have the least commercial appeal. So it’s been payment in free music and gigs rather than cold hard cash that kept me in it. It always seemed like a fair trade though...

There’s music up to my eyeballs (earballs?) Literally, a stack of cool CDs, many of which, in all honesty, go unlistened to. But the ones with the catchy cover art and the slightly recognisable name generally get a good working over. I’ve interviewed a lot of my favourite musicians over the years too, which was fun. I even once got to leave a message on the voice mail of Anthony (from Anthony and the Johnsons). Now that was a trip. The guy had one hell of a husky voice.

What about the journey to get here? Was there a lot of hard-grafting, butt-kissing and working for free? No butt kissing. I would never stoop that low (metaphorically speaking). But plenty of hard graft, seeing noisy bands in smoky venues and lots of working for free. Music has a way of doing that to you - you’d gladly trade an hour

The perks must be unparalleled then?

Did you ever get nervous or star-struck? No, I generally just roll with the flow. Interviewing one half of Coco Rosie while she was strolling the streets of downtown New York was interesting, though. She’d had one hell of a night the night before, and you could hear every minute of it in her voice the next day. The only time I got kind of nervous was when I heard I would be interviewing Jonny Lydon (Sex

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make the right choice •The top university in the UK for the help and support offered to students* •Ranked within the top 10 in the UK for overall student experience* •One of the best university locations in the UK - a student-centred city on the North Wales coast •Low cost of living - rated the second least expensive place in the UK to be a student •Over £2.5m in bursaries and scholarships available, including £5,000 Excellence Scholarships in a range of subject areas •Guaranteed accommodation for first year students •New courses include Cancer Biology, Electronics for Business, English with Songwriting, Marketing, and Zoology with Animal Behaviour. * Times Higher Education

FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: THE STUDENT RECRUITMENT UNIT, BANGOR UNIVERSITY, GWYNEDD LL57 2DG Tel: 01248 382005/382015 e-mail: marketing@bangor.ac.uk www.bangor.ac.uk 24 AUTUMN 2008 22-25 Music website chap.indd 24

03/12/2008 18:51:25

MUSIC

Pistols frontman). He’s a smart, snarky bastard. That would have been testing. Unfortunately the interview fell through though. Damn!

GIVEN YOUR PASSION FOR POPULAR CULTURE, WHY THE HISTORY DEGREE? Good question. I did well at history in school, and when I went to university there weren’t all the options that are available now. So it was an Arts degree, with a major in history, which has proven useful over the years - you never know when you’ll be required to bring up some obscure fact about the Vietnam war in casual conversation. Also, it instilled in me a real appreciation for the history of music and those who create it. So I’ve managed to read a lot of biographies on those artists whose life and work have interested me.

SHOULD PEOPLE WORRY ABOUT THEIR COURSE CONSTRICTING THEM LATER IN LIFE? No. Do what you enjoy and then make your hobby your passion, and potential career.

WERE YOU ABLE TO GET INVOLVED IN JOURNALISM AT UNIVERSITY? While I was doing my Masters Degree, I took on the role of Music Editor at the University newspaper, which was my first real foray into that side of journalism, having previously worked as an editor at the Australian travel magazine, TNT.

exclusively without any other distracting content around it. And it seems to really be exciting people so we’re very happy about that.

TELL US A BIT ABOUT THE WEBSITES YOU’VE STARTED. Along with my brother, we’ve started Lost At E Minor, an Australian-based online publication of inspiring art, music, fashion, film, and more, featuring our latest discoveries in the everchanging world of contemporary pop culture; The Roar, a sports opinion website; and My Secret Playlist, a music discovery website and weekly email publication where we invite our favourite bands and musicians to give us the rundown on their eight favourite songs or albums right now. We take submissions from any young writer looking to get their work and name out there. In fact, one of our unique points is that a lot of our content, across LAEM and The Roar in particular, is generated by our readers. They seem to be more in the know than we are!

WHERE DID THE MY SECRET PLAYLIST CONCEPT COME FROM? Just from my own interest of knowing what my favourite musicians are listening to. I know they enjoy sharing these things from my time working as music writer, so there was a need to fill a gap in the market by serving these up

DO YOU SEE A LACK OF CONNECTION BETWEEN FAN AND ARTIST, AND DOES MY SECRET PLAYLIST BRIDGE THAT? No, I think people these days probably know more about their favourite musicians than the musicians themselves. Connections with bands needn’t be about personal correspondence; that’s improbable to expect. It’s more about feeling like you have a direct route to their story and to their inspirations. So yes, My Secret Playlist goes some way towards doing that, I believe.

WHAT ARE GENERATION Y NOW AFTER WHEN TRYING ACCESS DEVELOPMENTS IN POPULAR CULTURE? Choice! They want lots of options for interaction from mobile to online. Speed is another priority. Everything needs to be delivered fast and made easily digestible.

GIVE US A RUNDOWN OF YOUR FAVOURITE ARTISTS AT THE MOMENT Rufus Wainwright (love his album Want 2 in particular); Susumu Yokota; The Ting Tings; Kings of Convenience; Yeasayer; Laura Veirs ...

Lost at E Minor - www.lostateminor.com My Secret Playlist - www.mysecretplaylist.com The Roar - www.theroar.com.au

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02/12/2008 13:14:56

finance

“Top-up fees and higher living costs mean that today’s graduates might have more debt than any other generation ”

student breadline Poverty is as much a part of student life as the study itself. Life needn’t be that desperate, however. LUCY TOBIN gives some tips on how to stay afloat using the web

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finance

tudent life was once a time of poverty. The average student ate cheap baked beans and drank supermarket vodka; ‘dining out’ meant jacket potatoes at the campus canteen. But help is at hand, despite the fact that the last few years have had even more of a kicking on student finances – top up fees and higher accommodation and living costs mean that today’s graduates might have more student debt than any other generation. Luckily, there is a myriad of websites out there to help you get student discounts on anything from computers to haircuts. Here’s a few of them.

General Use these sites as springboard for student moneysaving – you’ll find a mixture of financial advice and budgeting tips, and discount offers that you can print off and use in shops and restaurants www.studentbeans.com - the king of student discount sites. Sign up for a free account and print off a voucher before you go out for a meal, into a hairdresser’s, or to Thorpe Park. www.studentdiscounts.co.uk - money-off at retailers including Domino’s, and Body Shop. www.nus.org.uk/NUS-Extra - the National Union of Students’ £10 discount card offers discounts at places like Amazon, McDonalds

and Three mobile. www.studentcalculator.org.uk - use this site to make a student budget

Travel Students rarely have to pay full whack for transport. Find out how to get discounts on these sites, but also look out for local offers – students at London universities, for example, can get discount Oyster cards to save money on bus and tube journeys. The Liftshare site will show you how to save money on petrol bills or grab a ride in someone else’s car on your way to or from university, for example – but remember to take precautions to stay safe. www.firstgroup.com/students - bus discounts for student travellers on a number of campuses including York and Manchester. www.16-25railcard.co.uk - sign up, pay £24 and receive discounts of up to a third on national rail services. www.nationalexpress.com/coach/offers/ students.cfm?CFID=28574829&CFTOKE N=16651669 - buy a young person’s coach card for £5 for up to 30% off travel on National Express coaches. www.statravel.co.uk - students (and travellers under 25) can book bargain holidays, flights and accommodation around the world and in the UK here. Requires ISIC student ID.

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finance

“Cook for yourself with friends to make the most of bulk buy bargains”

www.liftshare.org - register (it’s free), then enter your journey to find someone to share it with – either in their car or your own (you could get a petrol contribution).

Eating food makes up a big proportion of total outgoings while at university, so remember the importance of planning ahead. Cook for yourself with friends to make the most of bulk buy bargains, and use the following discounts to save money while you’re eating out. www.studentrecipes.com - find thousands of quick and cheap recipes written for students, by students. www.mcdonalds.co.uk/pages/whatson/ studentcard.html -cheaper eats at Maccie D’s for students. www.bitecard.co.uk - 20% discount on food and drink from railway stations, including Burger King, Ixxy’s and Millie’s Cookies.

Computing/technology Few students survive university without a laptop, so make sure to get a cheap deal when you buy one. Other student must-haves include iPods and a mobile phone: these sites will show you how to pick up cheap deals. Using an internet telephone service like Skype, listed below, will lower your monthly mobile bills, especially if you encourage friends and family to download it too, so you can speak for free. www.misco.co.uk/content/student08/ homepage.htm?sourceid=3060 - special student deals on IT essentials like laptops, printers and digital cameras. www.journeyedeurope.com/home - get student discounts on software like Microsoft Office. http://store.apple.com/uk/browse/home/ education_routing - student deals like get a free iPod when buy a Mac, or discounted iMacs. www1.orange.co.uk/service_plans/ paymonthly/student_overview.html most of the phone providers give student discounts – this is Orange’s offering: 1000

free texts a year for students who sign up online, (plus eligibility for half price cinema on Wednesdays). www.Onecompare.com - search for bestvalue mobile deals, including pay as you go and contracts. www.skype.com/intl/en-gb/download/ skype/windows - download Skype to make cheap calls to UK and foreign landlines and free calls to other users – get your friends to download it too to save money on your mobile bill. www.saynoto0870.co.uk - avoid running up a huge phone bill: if you need to call expensive numbers like 0870, use this site instead to find a local-rate alternative. www.thephonebook.bt.com - don’t use pricey directory enquiries (even more expensive if you only have a mobile) – log into this site for free instead.

Media and reading Book and newspaper bills can all add up, so read newspapers online, or hunt down student offers to buy them at a discount. Join your university library but also local ones, to borrow fiction to read for free. www.timesonline.co.uk - get The Times newspaper for 25p a day. Other papers offering student discounts include The Guardian, Daily Telegraph and the Financial Times. www.readitswapit.co.uk - write down all the books you have but don’t want on this site for free, then search their listings of more than 20,000 books to swap your unwanted reads for something more up your street. Includes some course textbooks, so check here first.

Earning money online The net isn’t just about savings. These sites will help you to earn money while surfing the web. www.studentgems.com - list your skills and desired fee and small businesses or individuals will find your details for work. www.yougov.com - sign up to be paid to fill in online surveys.

28 WINTER 2008 26-28 money management.indd 28

03/12/2008 18:55:53

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26-28 money management.indd 29

Your way

03/12/2008 18:56:06

societies

ODD SOCS Societies are the cornerstone of student life at university; so integral to the ‘well-being’ of this species that they are forced down many a throat at freshers’ week. Some of them are plain bizarre, however, and will certainly raise a few eyebrows

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SOCIETIES

“Come rain or shine, the Pimms O’Clock Soc stick steadfast to the bottle”

hether it’s the lack of sleep, the copious amounts of alcohol or other extra-curricular activities that make students so loopy is up for debate. But regardless of the cause, the result of life at university is that its inhabitants like to experiment with all manner of things. Where this is perhaps most evident is in the corner of the Students’ Union dedicated to societies, originally designed as mere focal points for socialising but now accommodating the weirdest and wackiest of students’ creations. Take Durham University for example: a clique there has taken it upon themselves to sacrifice orthodox academia and instead spend their time spreading the scared word of Neighbours (www.dur.ac.uk/neighbours.society). Nope, this isn’t an attempt to pick up where God left off and encourage people to love the fruitloop next door. Here we find Durham students, who have spent countless thousands of pounds and shed countless thousands of tears to get into university, dogging off the library to worship that vacuous Australian soap opera, and indoctrinating others to do the same. And that’s just the start. Here, Navigator takes you on a whistle-stop tour of the UK, through our universities’ more eccentric side.

GOG MAGOG MOLLY First stop is the hallowed University of Cambridge, where we find the supposed brains of the country gallivanting around on Tuesday evenings under the pretence of the Gog Magog Molly Society (www.societies.cam. ac.uk/molly). The what, sorry? You heard. The ancient dance, originating from East Anglia, was supposed to have died out in the 1930s. Apparently not. Here we also find the Guild of Change Ringers (www.cugcr.org.uk/), a society that “caters for all abilities” of...church bell ringers. Don’t make the mistake of thinking this group have been relegated only to the archaic traditions of Cambridge: universities across the land have their own bell-ringing societies. The sunny seaside town of Brighton, which plays host to the wonderfully liberal University of Sussex, the “Berkeley of England”. So one can only imagine what a society dedicated only to “propagating academic traditions” gets up to, or how loosely the term ‘academic’ is used. Or even why they call themselves the Black Dolphins (www.ussu.info/traditions)? Further along the coast you’d be forgiven for thinking that Southampton was sun-kissed all year round. Perhaps that’s how its students cope with the onslaught of a winter by the sea, snuggled up and shunning the mandatory hot chocolate for something a little less seasonal.

The Pimms O’Clock Soc (http://socs.susu.org/ socs/list?socid=79 ) are dedicated individuals: they’re the sort who’ll take one for the team and force a few ice cubes down their gullet in the harshest of blizzards. Come rain or shine, they stick steadfast to the bottle. Good on you lads.

STEAMY NOTTINGHAM Lancaster University students are no less hardened, though perhaps wise beyond their years. The Real Ale and Cider Society (www. realaleandcider.co.uk/) is a crucial pillar of the north-west, celebrating the cornerstone of true English life. Our country was founded on the appreciation of a good beverage, so thumbs up to the Lancaster bunch for carrying the torch forward. Likewise to the good people at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) who regularly celebrate the finer points of Port, Politics and Stilton at their societal meetings. Things take a turn for the worse when we hit Leeds. Upon arriving at the gates of the University of Leeds you may be asked whether you fancy “hunting down your given targets and eliminating them.” The Assassins Society (http://www.luuonline.com/studentactivities/ generalinterestactivities/assassins/ ) is unique in the UK, “a game played 24/7 where you have to ‘kill’ your opposition.” Let’s hope the quotation marks around ‘kill’ are observed by newcomers. Thankfully, the dark clouds disperse on the grassy campus of the University of Kent, where the final push for essay deadlines apparently isn’t providing enough of an adrenaline rush. The Theme Park Society (http://www. themeparksoc.co.uk/) whisks students off to Europe’s finest rides for fun-filled weekends. But things get a bit steamier up north. Somewhere deep in the recesses of the University of Nottingham lurks a pole. Even better, it’s surrounded by dancers. Yes, it’s pole-dancing and, yes, there’s an indefatigable society - real philanthropists these - working hard to maintain the condition of the pole and ensure its usage. God bless them (www. su.nottingham.ac.uk/studentgroups/society/ PoleDance). But the final thumbs-up goes to the tip of the nation, to the colder climes of Edinburgh. University students there have shunned all sense of embarrassment, all sense of pride and fear of prejudice, and formed FARCE (http:// farce.eusa.ed.ac.uk/). The Formal Attire Running Club of Edinburgh is far from what its acronym would suggest. Its aims are simple: to increase the percentage of good looking runners, and to raise money for charity. And their events consist of “lots of drinking and incredible banter”. Now that is ridiculously good looking.

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02/12/2008 14:22:33

UNIVERSITY REVIEWS

the best of both worlds Students hailing from England often forget about our close neighbours when deciding on a university. Indeed Scotland and Wales offer some of the best student life inthe UK, and these three universities are amongst our best-kept secrets

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Aberystwyth has combined small town charm with the energy of city lifeâ&#x20AC;?

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university reviews

University of Wales, Aberystwyth Any university next to the beach is bound to be a winner. When it’s on the shores of the windswept Cardigan Bay on the Welsh coast, the promise of graduation that drives so many others through university suddenly isn’t so appealing. From no other lecture hall window can you gaze out and watch bottlenose dolphins teasing you from the Irish Sea (well, almost). Furthermore, you’d be wise to shed your backward image of Wales – there is entertainment other than sheep – because the social scene is surprisingly lively. Aberystwyth has successfully combined the charm of a small town with the energy of city life. When asked where they would choose to study if given another opportunity, 94 per cent of students chose Aberystwyth. And there is some serious fun to be had, from cosmopolitan eateries (French, Spanish, Greek, Chinese, Indian, Turkish, Italian, etc) to over 50 bars, pubs and clubs. The majority are generally cheap, making Aberystwyth a miser’s paradise, and giving it one over on the pilfering likes of London and Brighton. All this, and the relative isolation of the town, mean students rarely find the need to go elsewhere, leaving the place humming 24/7. There are also opportunities for the restless ones to break out of the bubble and get involved with some volunteering. A student community action group, Dim Prob, works with children, elderly and people with varying disabilities. The university is highly rated among many subjects and is particularly strong in the international and

environmental fields. Sixty per cent of students emerge with a 1st or 2.1, and only six per cent find themselves jobless after six months. So, at the end, if you can bear to leave your little pad on the Welsh coast to seek your fortune elsewhere, statistics show it’s unlikely you’ll need to return for that Masters.

Swansea University Any university voted the “Best Student Experience” in the UK by the 2005 Times Higher Education Supplement is bound to draw attention. Swansea University offers excellent study programmes to complement a lively campus life. The university is located between the city of Swansea and the beautiful Welsh coastline. Students therefore can to-and-fro between the stunning Gower peninsula and a thriving community of pubs, theatres and restaurants. Swansea student union is very active in and around campus. A variety of clubs and societies help draw students into university life and provide a good place to meet new people. Awareness of life outside the UK is promoted through popular social events such as fairtrade fortnight and African party. The university newspaper, Waterfront, is open to contributions from everyone so any budding journalists or culture extraordinaires can showcase their talent. Indeed, several exWaterfronters now work for the BBC! The students themselves are very positive about their life at the university. First year

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university reviews

Nursing students at the University of the West of Scotland’s Hamilton campus

“The Gower Peninsula offers some of the best surf in Britain”

Mathematics student, Sam Morgan, said: “The university has a close-knit community as I have found from living in the Student Village. It has a lively atmosphere and a stunning location. The Maths Department is very welcoming and Swansea has a perfect balance of work, sport and social activities.” Keen surfer, Neil Cook, who studies Biological Sciences, said: “Swansea is a great place to be at university. The nightlife’s great, the people are great and the lifestyle is great. The Gower Peninsula offers some of the best surf in Britain. Definitely a fun place to be!”

The University of the West of Scotland (UWS) With over 18,000 students and 1,450 staff, the University of the West of Scotland is Scotland’s largest modern higher education institution, formed from a merger between the University of Paisley and Bell College. With campuses in Ayr, Paisley, Dumfries and Hamilton, students can expect a real mixture of environments to choose from. Across the full range of subjects, specialised facilities and equipment enable students to develop their skills and gain practical experience to supplement their theoretical knowledge. Helping students deal with issues

including accommodation, student finance and welfare, the Students’ Association also provides a collective voice for our student population and is the recognised channel of communication between students and the University. Each of the four campuses caters for student needs with an assortment of bars, cafes, shops and sports facilities. The University has invested £14 million in campus facilities in recent years, and earmarked more than £160 million to continue this over the next five to 10 years. UWS is already developing a £1 million Employment Centre, alongside the new £75 million Ayr Campus development. The University currently has seven academic schools, the largest School of Health, Nursing and Midwifery in Scotland (with 2,500 students alone) and attracts 1,350 international students. Aside from its academic attributes, UWS is very accommodating for the social student. Cost of living is cheap – average rent per week is £50 and the average pint costs no more than £2 - and Glasgow is only eight miles down the road. Paisley, where the bulk of students reside, also has a huge annual beer festival. Campus bars a few and far between but what’s there is good, in the past playing host to comedy nights, local bands and other thrills and spills.

34 WINTER 2008 32-34 Student written.indd 34

04/12/2008 12:52:13

AT THE UNIVERSITY OF GREENWICH WE’VE INVESTED £50 MILLION IN LABS, LIBRARIES AND RESEARCH FACILITIES TO OFFER YOU A TOP-QUALITY EDUCATION. BEST OF ALL, WE’VE CREATED A SPACE FOR YOU. (3&&/8*$) t "7&3: )*-- t .&%8":

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A brand new university. With a stunning location. And an unrivalled track record of turning degrees into jobs. Best of all, you already know us. Up until just recently, we were known as Swansea Institute. And, of course, we’ve a reputation for quality education that stretches back some 150 years. Now, with a new name, Swansea Metropolitan University, we’re able to offer a whole lot more. And it’s all focused on getting you to where you want to be. To find out more please call 01792 481010, visit www.smu.ac.uk or email enquiry@smu.ac.uk

ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE ANIMATION ART AND DESIGN AUTOMOTIVE BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT CONSTRUCTION/ BUILT ENVIRONMENT COMPUTING AND IT COUNSELLING DIGITAL MEDIA ENGLISH ENGINEERING ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES FINE ART GLASS

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32-34 Student written.indd 36

04/12/2008 07:26:51

personal statements

selling yourself The personal statement is your chance to show universities that you are what they’re looking for. But there’s a few things you should be careful of, according iris ka-yang ng

he moment of panic will come for every sixth-former when they realise that their university applications depend on something called a “personal statement.” Or at least that’s what the teachers tell you. So, how do you actually write a personal statement? It is helpful to write as though you were the tutor himself – think what you would want to read about. Read through your chosen university’s website for applicants; universities often provide useful and practical information on what they’re looking for. Do remember to read between the lines, however. Beyond the average level of guessing at the minds of admission tutors, here are some practical guidelines.

Talk about your qualifications, but only in relation to your chosen course:

Lying on a personal statement can land you in hot water

The admission tutor is not interested in what A-Levels you are doing if it does not concern his course. He will not care that you have completed several successful experiments in chemistry if your chosen course is English Literature. It is, however, always possible to relate your subjects to your course – you simply have to think beyond what it is that you get taught, and rather think of what skills you have acquired through the course. If you had lead a debate in RE, it might be an idea to talk about organisational skills and your ability to focus – and if your chosen course happens to be Politics or English, you can expand on this,

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02/12/2008 15:38:12

PERSONAL STATEMENT

Iris Ka-Yang Ng, 21, studies History of Art at the University of Nottingham, and is a keen artist and writer

EXTRA-CURRICULAR While a personal statement is the opportune moment to sell yourself and make yourself shine, it is not the most important factor in your application. Extra-curricular activities are brilliant, and when a tutor decides between two applicants with the same grades, these activities will set you apart. That, however, does not mean that tutors would overlook your grades in favour of what level of Duke of Edinburgh Award you’d achieved. It won’t matter whether you’re the president of the debating society in school and managed to get yourself Gold in Duke of Edinburgh if your grades are CCC when the university wants AAB. Resting and having fun is an integral part of success in your studies, but just be sure that you’re not using “extra-curricular activities” as an excuse to neglect work.

and mention that you have learnt to look at things from different perspectives, and you are able to formulate an articulate argument. For humanities at least, they are very much into discussing the various interpretations and perspectives that exist within their academic field, and across related fields. If you’re applying for more than one course, don’t make it too obvious unless there’s no way of avoiding it. Otherwise, consider applying for a joint honours. Tutors passionate about their subject will not want to admit someone whom they think might lack the dedication to their course. If you are applying for single honours only and there is more than one course you want to apply for, try to relate them. For example, with English and philosophy perhaps talk about how the study of literature raises questions about morality and social structures, and so on. However, it might simply be an idea to apply for joint or combined honours, where you are able to specialise in two different subjects.

NEVER, EVER LIE It will become a tempting prospect for all of us to lie about some insignificant detail. Despite the nagging doubt at the back of your mind, you tell yourself that no tutor will ever ask you what won you the competition you said you’d won, when in fact you’d only come fifth. There have been instances in the past where tutors have asked specific questions, and the applicant could not offer an answer in return. Think about it: if it was important enough to lie about, then you already know that it is something the tutors will look at. It is simply not worth the risk. And if it truly is a very trivial detail, then why lie about it? Do not damage your integrity and

impression because you were too afraid: if one university rejects you, there are plenty more.

MAKE IT INTERESTING The admissions tutor will have already gone through goodness knows how many personal statements when they finally come to yours. They are not interested in your personal life, or that your favourite pastime is football. They are interested in just one thing: are you suitable for their course? Start your personal statement with talking about your course or how you’re suited to the course. Never start with your personal life. Once you’ve written it, be sure to read it through. If you get bored of it, or you can’t be bothered to read through it, then you have your answer. Your personal statement is not good enough yet to be submitted. If you, the person who cares about this personal statement the most, find it boring to read, then what are the chances of the tutor actually being interested?

DON’T BE AFRAID TO BRAG If something is true, then state it. This is your moment to shine. The tutor does not know you, so if, for a Maths course, all you tell them is that you taught 11-year-olds Maths, and never once mention that you find it interesting to discuss mathematics and have often impressed your teachers, your tutor will not know the extent to which you are suited to their course. And lastly, ask for advice. Talk to your teachers, and talk to your librarians. They do this every single year – you’ll be surprised at just how much they can offer. I had applied to five different biomedical courses in one application and received five offers, and half of it was thanks to my school librarian.

“Tutors will not want to admit someone they think is lacking dedication” 38 WINTER 2008 37-38 Statements1.indd 38

03/12/2008 19:08:27

Profiles

OvercAme the odds Kit mead’s first visit to the university of cumbria did not go smoothly but the warm welcome he received convinced him it was the place for him it here. Firstly the fine art campus is set in an old Victorian building that has high roofs and is spacious and light, which gives all students great studio spaces to work in. This builds on the atmosphere of the place which has an incredibly warm and welcoming vibe and is a place; I find an absolute joy to work in. The facilities are fantastic and readily available to anyone who wants to learn about those particular media.” For more information about the range of courses at the University of Cumbria – and a warm welcome - go to www.cumbria. ac.uk or call 0845 6161144.

wenty-one year old Kit Mead is originally from Cambridge but is study fine art at the University of Cumbria – a long way from home! “People keep asking me - why travel up from Cambridge to come and study in Carlisle at the University of Cumbria? It’s a long story and actually I was on the way to Glasgow! However, overcoming the trials of bricks on the A1(M), flat tyres, ill-equipped repairmen, phones in need of charging and finally, turning up on the wrong day for my interview, was just the first step. I could easily have given up but the warm welcome I received from everyone here – nothing was too much trouble – along with the great facilities and amazing studio space convinced me that this was the place to be. “Fine art is always going to be an interesting course to study but there is most definitely something special about studying

BORN TO BE WILD St. George’s University veterinary student commits to working with wildlife animals

ohn Clark was born in Malawi, Africa, after his parents relocated there in the 1960s to help with the development of the country when it achieved independence from the British. While John completed his senior school and undergraduate studies in the UK, he attributes his desire to care for animals in the wild to his early years spent in Malawi. “It is hard to actually pin down specifically where my passion comes from,” John remarked. “Anyone who has stood in the wilderness watching a herd of elephants drift by as the sun sets would understand.” John spent quite a bit of time working before he made the decision to attend the School of Veterinary Medicine at St. George’s University in Grenada, West Indies. It was during that time that he realised that he needed to commit himself to work that

would be rewarding. “Veterinary medicine will allow me hands-on experience with both animal- and human- related problems,” John stated. “That idea of ‘one medicine’ is very important in today’s shrinking world and will be most fulfilling for me to study.” John plans to return to Malawi to practice once he completes his degree – “there is much to do!”

‘Anyone who has stood in the wilderness watching a herd of elephants drift by as the sun sets would understand’ WINTER 2008 39

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XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

FILM HITS AND MISSES Rating: 12A Runtime: 102 mins

Students are known for their close relationship with the TV set. That’s why we thought it high time to give a heads-up and a thumbs down on the flicks to hit, and those to miss. The following are courtesy of ANDREW KANE

GHOST TOWN “Breaking America” has long been deemed a career milestone for Brits yet the accolade has proven elusive for most. However, The Office star, Ricky Gervais. has now added another string to his impressive bow, making his debut as a Hollywood lead (a romantic one, no less), in Ghost Town. He plays Bertram Pinctus: a middle-aged, misanthropic New York dentist, who suffers from excruciating constipation. After some cynically amusing exchanges with hospital staff, he is sent-in for a routine endoscopy. The procedure goes wrong. Pinctus dies... for seven minutes (“a little less” as the hospital attorney is keen to point out). Side-effects soon become all-too apparent for the dentist when he starts seeing the supernatural. Any fear, however, soon develops into annoyance, with Manhattan’s dearly-departed pestering him to pass on messages to loved ones, especially chief ghoul Frank (Greg Kinnear). Frank died an untimely death and is eager to ensure his long-suffering widow - Gwen (Téa Leoni) - doesn’t remarry. Pinctus agrees, providing that the supernatural disappear from his life when done. Inevitably, Pinctus falls for Gwen but the conventional storyline can be overlooked thanks to the laughs along the way. Ghost Town is a promising start to Gervais’ Hollywood career.

“[Disaster Movie’s] title acts as an apt disclaimer for comedy fans”

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04/12/2008 12:20:46

DISASTER MOVIE

RAINDANCE FILM FESTIVAL Despite being overshadowed by its big brother, the BFI London Film Festival, the Raindance Film Festival was awash with the usual indie treats this year. The 16th version of the UK’s premier independent film festival took place in October around various London cinema spots, going from strength to strength after another year of “record breaking crowds, sold out screenings, live music, raucous parties and great films”, the latter of which were certainly aplenty. The Blue Tower, a gritty and cross-cultural British-Asian drama,

picked up the Best UK Feature award, beating Samuel Holland’s brilliant and realistic portrayal of teenage life in South London estates, Zebra Crossings. Pictures from abroad also proved popular at the festival. Goran Markovic’s The Tour - a story charting innocent Serbian actors as they become caught up in the infamous 1993 Krajina conflict - proved a big audience pleaser, narrowly losing out on the Best International Feature award to Brazilian Estomago, an excellently-photographed portrayal of convict-turned-crook Raimundo Nonato. The film charts how he uses his kitchen skills to cope in an unforgiving jail. Richard Ayoade proved his directing mettle with Arctic Monkeys At The Apollo, an intense capture of the Sheffield indie band’s sell-out 2007 show at the Manchester Apollo. Animated and live action short films went down well. Red Sands, a British look at the contrast between animal cruelty, elegance and tradition in bullfighting, was a powerful and well-shot lo-budget film, scooping the Film of the Festival award, in a competitive and promising year at Raindance.

Rating: 12A Runtime: 89 mins

It is rare, if not unprecedented, that a film’s title has so accurately described itself, but the latest pseudo-spoof film from panned movie-making duo Jason Freidberg and Aaron Seltzer - Disaster Movie - does exactly that. Since first introducing cinema-goers to their unintelligent and immature brand of humour back in 2000 with Scary Movie, the pair have been desperately scraping the bottom of the barrel of laughs with the likes of Date Movie, Epic Movie and Meet the Spartans. Date Movie is the latest instalment in the series and the latest flog to an already very, very dead horse. There is no real plot to the picture, with a tornado here and there loosely creating a ‘disaster’ theme for Carmen Electra, Matt Lanter and other Hollywood Z-listers to play with, further tarnishing their mediocre careers. As with Friedberg and Seltzer’s other gross-out comedies, the film sets out to parody recent boxoffice smashes and pop culture: Iron Man, Juno and Sex and the City are notable cinematic targets of satire. Still, Carrie Bradshaw and the girls shouldn’t worry too much about getting hit by any spoof-arrows, as Friedberg and Seltzer repeatedly (and unsurprisingly) fire so wide of the target. The film’s title acts as an apt disclaimer for comedy fans and it would be cruel to wish anyone to sit through this painfully unfunny cringefest. Avoid like the plague (if you’ve been lucky enough not to see it yet!).

WINTER 2008 41 40-42 CD-film reviews1.indd 41

02/12/2008 15:48:54

HIDDEN SECRETS Some great music has been released in the last couple of years, despite the tripe that has made the headlines. FRANCIS ANDREWS takes you on a tour of the top under-achievers

PANTHA DU PRINCE

THE DODOS

RICHARD SWIFT

I’ve yet to find out what they put in the water in Germany that generates such a consistently rich stream of good electronica. Carrying the torch at the moment is Hendrik Weber, aka Pantha du Prince, whose early 2007 release, This Bliss, is an absolute gem. The album builds and builds, from the stripped-down and steady opening of Asha, through the ambient Saturn Strobe and upwards. It’s all fairly minimal yet distinguished by the expanse of sound and exquisite production that stands him apart from contemporaries in the genre.

Their album, Visiter, is packed full of taut, snappy percussion and hypnotic vocals. They’re like Animal Collective at the wind-down hour - slightly more stabilised and with the psychotic fits tempered into a soothing, tranceinducing pace. Somehow it’s also immediately catchy, laced with subtle hooks and soaring backing vocals. It’s the sort of sound that sucks you into their warm world, likely to cause you to miss your bus stop if your mind sinks too far into the rich chasm of tracks like Red and Purple or The Ball.

For real musical indulgence, let the trembling rhythm and howling vocals of Would You wash right over you. Plucked straight from the Motown textbook, the music cuts deep. There’s so much soul coming out of this guy it’s alarming, seemingly so many years carried on his shoulder you’d expect him to be old and wrinkled by now. But he’s far from that: the lyrics are quirky, the music is mature yet so fresh and lively, and he has an almost unparalleled ability to glide across genres. Check out his EP, Ground Trouble Jaw.

AMADOU AND MARIAM Their 2005 album, Dimanche a Bamako, bordered on exceptional, if not for its songwriting then for its sheer diversity. You’d be forgiven for approaching cautiously an album that draws its influences from Syria, Cuba, Egypt, India, and Colombia, as well as its own country, Mali – much like a restaurant that offers every cuisine on the planet: choose one and do it well, you’d argue. But the album is fantastic: so full of life, so catchy and so accessible. The simple riff on Beau Dimanche is irresistible, as is the rhythm of the vocals on Senegal Fast Food. They’ve just released a new one, Welcome to Mali, and teamed up with Damon Albarn on opening track, Sabali. Whether it can pip the first album is an ambitious goal, but so far the reception has been good.

RATATAT I love the blissed-out electro funk of New York band Ratatat. They’ve been kicking around for some years now, and toured with the likes of Mogwai and Daft Punk, but only now are getting attention on the UK festival scene. Why they took so long over here, it’s hard to say. The music is perfect for those heady summer days, clutching a can of cider and wistfully mincing around in a field: just two (sometimes three) guys, a guitar and some heavy synth. The recent album, LP3, takes a slightly more ambient turn but still retains that f-ing cool swagger so addictive on many of their past releases.

THE CHILD BALLADS Part time poet, part time musician, Stewart Lupton fronts surly New York rockers The Child Ballads. Their latest release, the Cheekbone Hollows EP, is a mesmerising, at times powerful trip through Lupton’s lyrical wanderings, backed by some great songwriting. There are moments in the music reminiscent of the intensity of Nirvana’s Unplugged in New York sessions: the vocals often carry the same agonised weight to them, the sound of someone perhaps too bent on introspection and escaping into their own world. Their performances are often interspersed with readings of Lupton’s poetry, just to lighten the mood. Ahem.

42 38 WINTER 2008 40-42 CD-film reviews1.indd 38

02/12/2008 15:54:34

How do I choose which uni and course to apply to? Get advice from the UK’s largest student community

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04/12/2008 10:52:59

VOLUNTEERING

VOLUNTEER VIETNAM Record numbers of young people are busting a gut to volunteer abroad. But is it all it’s cracked up to be? JONNY PLATT spent two years on a Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) programme in Vietnam, and shares his experiences here

fter a lengthy application process with Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) I was offered a position as a Fundraising and PR officer in a school for street children in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), Vietnam, and was sent a full job description outlining my tasks. It was a little overwhelming – how could I do so much in one year? Nevertheless it seemed like a great opportunity for me, and genuinely matched my strengths in event organisation, promotions and, although I didn’t realise until later, telesales!

CULTURAL DIFFERENCES I flew to Vietnam with another volunteer in August 2005 and met four more volunteers who had arrived the day before. We spent four weeks training in Hanoi to ensure we understood the cultural differences and had a basic grasp of Vietnamese, so we could work effectively without clumsily upsetting people due to cultural insensitivity. It was impressive how comprehensive the preparations were – not just so I could get the most out of the year but to ensure that VSO and the partner organisation also achieved their goals. It was also slightly frightening – it was the time of the bird flu crisis which originated in Vietnam, and while we felt supported by VSO we had to frequently write up and re-assess

plans for what would happen in the event of an evacuation, or what would happen if all air traffic was suspended in the event of an outbreak – where would you go? It didn’t help that whilst exploring Hanoi in the first week I met a nice man on the street who offered me some of his pudding. It looked a bit like pink Angel Delight, topped with peanuts, herbs and a twist of lime – it was only as I put the spoon in my mouth and he started gesturing how good it was for my strength and my heart that I realised it was Tiet Canh – raw, congealed duck’s blood soup. It didn’t taste too bad, slightly metallic, but it didn’t stop me imagining horrible things happening to my insides for the next week or two. Arriving in Saigon to start work was thrilling but a real shock to the system. Here I was, a country lad at heart, in a city whose population is between 7 and 11 million people, surrounded by six million motorbikes who seemed to have a deathwish, countless building sites, all kinds of great food and drink sold by vendors on every corner. And very, very few trees! The work at the school was overwhelming at first – unlike most VSO placements there was little time to find my feet before launching into organising a big fundraising event, due to the school having lost several of its staff over the previous summer and not having enough funds

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02/12/2008 15:59:59

volunteering

“Arriving in Saigon to start work was thrilling but a real shock to the system”

WINTER 2008 45 44-47 VSO.indd 45

02/12/2008 16:14:16

VOLUNTEERING

“I enjoyed the work so much I opted to extend my placement and spent two years in Saigon”

to hire more. As a result I was asked to take on a bigger role than I had expected, and as a result I began managing a lot of the extra curricular activities at the school and coordinating the activities of the short term volunteers. However, as time progressed I fell into a more comfortable rhythm. I got to know the children living at the school well through organising birthday parties and trips out to the park or a local pool, and very occasionally to the beach. My roles were multiple at the school. I booked and organised large fundraising dinners at hotels, made countless phone calls, emails and meetings with potential sponsors, and attending business networking functions organised by the foreign embassies. I also investigated out new leads for sponsorship, helped to ensure that we received plenty of coverage in the local press for our efforts, and managed and recruited short term volunteers. On the side I organised art and vocational classes and, of course, spent a good amount of time with the children.

LANGUAGE BARRIER Whatever I was doing it never seemed to stop, and it wasn’t unusual for me to spend six or seven days a week at the school. Fortunately I still managed to arrange a trip out of the city for some fresh air and to remind myself what hills, trees and greenery looked like every couple of months – and Vietnam is an exceptionally beautiful country to explore. Language was always a significant barrier and it wasn’t always possible to work with a

translator, complicating work in the office, but with the students this never really mattered. It was great seeing the facilities and opportunities available to the kids increase as we worked, but it was even better when we had funds left over to take the children off to the water park. I enjoyed the work so much I opted to extend my placement and eventually spent two years living and working in Saigon. Living in a foreign country for such a long time was a very strange experience, as you go from the shock of the new sights, sounds and experiences to eventual familiarity – the city became my home away from home. It was fascinating and often shocking to meet a whole section of the overseas business community working in the developing world. Many were good, caring people and I made many friends. At the same time it was inspiring to see the efforts of the many small Vietnamese organisations working to improve conditions for the less fortunate and meet the passionate, committed people working in them. Of course, there was a lot more I enjoyed – I came to love my little motorbike and adore the food. Most of all I developed great relationships with the children I worked with, who I miss terribly now. Over the two years I got to see them develop into mature, kind and delightful young people, and I know that whatever the future of the school they were living in, they are bright and independent enough to go far in life.

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02/12/2008 16:16:10

VOLUNTEERING

CHOOSING A PLACEMENT... More and more people wish to do something constructive in their gap years – they love the idea of travelling the world yet don’t want to just be tourists to poverty. I was exactly the same when I planned my gap year, and yet I found the whole experience very disheartening and frustrating: I felt the ‘gap year experience’ organisation had misled me. It was my frustration with the gap year project I worked on that lead me to apply to VSO. BE REALISTIC: you aren’t going to change the world. It’s also unlikely that as an untrained volunteer you will be of more help as a teacher, nurse or vet than a qualified local professional, so don’t be surprised if you sign up for such a project only to arrive in country to find there is no work for you. Instead, think about what skills you have to offer and what position would suit you, and apply for a relevant role. For example, instead of teaching, perhaps you could organise extra-curricular activities or work as a teacher’s assistant? Could you assist the organisation in the office, doing fundraising and PR work, helping build a website or some other work you have past experience of? Consider as well the responsibility of the gap year organisation – is it really ethical to send people without skills to do work that most would spend years in training to achieve? DO YOUR RESEARCH: I know in retrospect I was lazy in organising my gap

year – I liked the idea of letting someone do everything for me, and for that I paid a hefty price, all of which seemed to go to the UK office rather than the project I was working on. Thousands of local NGOs worldwide look for volunteers, and if you spend a bit of time looking on the internet you’re bound to find one that suits you. GIVE YOUR TIME: it can be a big shock to the system adapting to a new country, let alone new working practices and a new job. Allow time to settle in before expecting to be able to fully apply yourself, and expect to commit for at least six weeks to be of any use. Don’t approach organisations asking to volunteer for ‘one or two days’ or a week – they are likely to reject you. GET EDUCATED: learn about the country you will be living in before you visit – it will greatly enhance your experience and help you uncover a lot more while you’re living there. If you choose to organise your placement through a UK organisation, make sure you pick one that gives you training to prepare you for everything you’ll experience. ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS: is the organisation or company a registered charity? If there is a fee, what does it go on: supporting the local partner organisations, or the volunteers themselves? Or just marketing? Try to find out what percentage of the money is actually used on the ground and how much is spent on the organisation’s overheads.

WINTER 2008 47 44-47 VSO.indd 47

02/12/2008 16:18:53

OPEN DAYS

EYES WIDE OPEN You won’t get complete picture of university life from a prospectus. Some tend to stretch the truth a bit, so don’t put your full trust into them. Instead make sure you visit on an Open Day. ALICE WHITAKER HUGHES shares tips on making the most of your day

espite being constantly bombarded with endless nagging on the subject, until about three months ago, I gave as little thought to university as I did my funeral arrangements. The idea of university was, to coin a phrase, “academic”. Until, that is, I went to my first open day. But with numerous glossy brochures downloaded and umpteen ‘Good University Guides’ weighing down your bookshelves, the big question about open days remains: what is the point?

UNIVERSITY GLOSS Not only are you choosing a place to study, you are also choosing a place to live. But in the same way you wouldn’t decide on a new flat just from the estate agents’

details, don’t be taken in by the glamourised university prospectus. It is funny how even the most northerly universities appear, in their prospectuses, to have a positively Mediterranean climate. And what about the students? Judging from the smiles on the front cover they are all on Prozac. At least one university has admitted to using models to pose around the campus for the prospectus. Another has the same tree in every photo, a phony which is no doubt wheeled around to create an illusion of divine scenery. First hand experience is always the best and there is no substitute for sampling the mood of the place yourself. But with hundreds of universities on offer, some a long distance away, how do you decide which are ‘must sees’ and which to give a miss?

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02/12/2008 16:28:16

OPEN DAYS

Fun in the sun: students take their learning to the outdoors, a sight typical of university campuses in the summer

“You wouldn’t decide on a new flat just from the estate agent’s details, so don’t be taken in by a glossy prospectus ” Draw up a list of 15 universities based on area, reputation, layout (campus, urban or collegiate), place on the league tables and entry requirements, and cross them off one by one until you have around five left. From the information given to you on the websites, plan on which university to visit by how it suits you. Think, for example, about the kind of environment you like. I am a city girl at heart so reckon that the intimate cloisters of Durham, for example, probably won’t suit me. That’s one expensive rail fare and hotel bill saved!

BASIC RESEARCH But always remember to do your homework. Once, I decided to visit University of Bath on my way home from Bristol. I went to the reception and asked them to show me the way

to the Philosophy or English departments and was answered with a kind but pitiful smile: “Bath does not do those subjects”. A bit of basic research will save your blushes, not to mention time and expense. Train tickets cost a lot of money and you need to set aside at least a whole day to visit the university, sometimes two if you are travelling a long distance. This is where the parents come in handy. I made an important discovery during my visit to the University of Manchester on my father’s preferred method of transport, while I sipped on my complementary coffee in first class before hopping in a taxi to avoid queuing for the university transport. If you flatter them enough, luxury travel could be yours too, or if not, a lift or a simple contribution may not go amiss.

WINTER 2008 49 48-50 Opendays.indd 49

02/12/2008 16:28:59

open days

DON’T

• Attend!

• Leave it to the last minute to organise

• Bring your parents. For numerous reasons, money issues including the fact they may buy you lunch! They may offer to give you a lift which would also save you time, but best of all, they can add in their own experiences, and may ask questions you haven’t even thought about

• Let your parents rule the day. Speaking from experience, some parents have been known to ask all the questions and do all the planning and thinking for you, meaning that you may be just tagging along and not taking in the full picture of the university.

• Visit the town/area

• Just turn up and not get involved in discussions or tours

• Set your alarm

• Let your parents do all the planning

• Travel with friends

• Daydream and forget the reason why you are there

“Parents can add in their own experiences, and may ask questions that you haven’t thought of”

• Take notes • Wear inappropriate shoes • Organise a place to stay if it is a long way away • Keep an open mind

• Go completely unprepared. Think about some useful questions to ask in advance

• Grasp every opportunity

• Get no sleep the night before

• Talk to the students

• Be too modest or confident

• Make sure the university offers the subjects you want to study

Once you have found a date for the open day you would like to attend, be sure to go on the university’s website and plan your day. You will find that there are numerous talks and tours that you may want to go to. Subject talks are useful as you will gather an understanding of what approach the course takes and gives you an idea on the work load. It may be a good idea to attend a few sample lectures. Often too they include presentations on personal statements which gives you an insight into exactly what the university is looking for. Remember to leave time to wander around the campus and absorb the atmosphere and attend accommodation tours. After all, that’s where you will be spending most of your time. Once you are there you may find it useful to look at the facilities the university has to offer. If you are a keen sports fan, check out the sports hall and gym; if clubbing is more your scene, have a peek at the Union bar. Check the price of a pint. Is this really where you would want to spend your valuable drinking time?

extreme ironing If you have a strange hobby which you would like to carry on pursuing, check the Student Union. Some Universities have societies to cater for your every need, from water skiing to extreme ironing! And if nothing tickles your fancy, there is usually the opportunity for you to create your own society. I met a girl on one of the university tours who had just created a chocolate appreciation society in order to pursue her delicious passion! Don’t be afraid to ask the students their honest opinion about the place: what they don’t like; what was different to their expectations; how they are coping with the finances and in general what the people are like. Remember, they are there to help and will hopefully give a non-biased account of their experiences there.

student paper Another alternative to the ‘gospel according to the prospectus’ is the student newspaper. That’s where you’ll read what the university doesn’t want you to know. I found an article

in one questioning the university’s selection policy, which gave me a sneak insight into the kind of people who study there. On the train home be sure to jot down your initial impressions of the place. You will need to look back on these later on once you are deciding on where to apply. Then take time to reflect. Can I imagine myself here? Would I be able to cope on a rainy Sunday afternoon with three essays to write whilst feeling homesick? But remember to be rational. I distinctly remember being put off a well respected university by one of my guides due to a simple clash of personalities. And remember, if it’s raining, don’t hold it against the university. Your appreciation of the place may also be affected by the people with whom you visit it. You will have a very different experience going with friends than with your parents At the end of the day, if you like a place, go back at least once to check your gut feeling. And try campus tours: you wont get the official line but you can snoop around and check whether that phony tree really does exist.

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02/12/2008 16:30:29

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04/12/2008 07:21:18

downloading

a CRIME of convenience A dilemma is afoot: do the moral and legal consequences of downloading music outweigh the sheer convenience of it? GLEN PAWSEY takes the issue personally

hen I was younger, maybe eight or nine, I’d sit at home on Christmas day with my two older siblings and my mother would make us take it in turns to open our presents. At that age, of course, I wasn’t interested in their teenage gifts: clothes, fishing rods, deodorants, CDs, and so on. All I was interested in was remote controlled cars and action figures. I thought CDs were a waste of money; a little disc that just plays music? How ridiculous! Yet, as I got older, and the power of music dawned on me, those Christmas days changed. Yes, we still sat there taking it in turns to open gifts, but it was I who was now unwrapping CDs. I can’t tell you how old I was the first time I got a CD (I would guess about twelve) but I can tell you what it was: Blur: Best Of. That was the start of something that would become very important to me.

progression Now my CD collection spans a vast area of my room at home, racks and shelves brimming with cases containing these little music discs. There’s something about having such a large collection staring back at you. It’s comforting, in many ways. Have you ever looked at your CD’s and thought, ‘How have I got from Craig David to Korn?’ Have you ever attempted to remember the order in which you purchased or received those CD’s? I have. At the end of my first year here at Leicester, with all my excess cash from the final instalment of loan, I went on a shopping spree, and spent £70 on nine CD’s. I know what you’re all thinking. ‘Why would you do that?!’ Well, aside from the comfort that CD’s can give you, at least if you’re slightly neurotic like me, CD’s trump music gleaned in downloading sessions for numerous reasons. There’s the satisfaction that you’ve gone out and gotten something for your money, not just some songs on iTunes, but an actual physical aspect, which builds up into a personal representation of you and your tastes. I’d like to know what people would think of me simply by them

looking at my music collection. They’d be way off. You get the artwork in those neat little booklets, even better if it’s folded obscurely and takes ten minutes to put it back the right way. Often you get the lyrics, which is a big thing for me. Not because I like to sing along, but because it’s a little bonus. It’s like a nervous-anxious moment, opening that booklet. Will I get lyrics, pictures of the band, fan-mail addresses, or a really boring empty booklet? Who knows what you’ll get. That’s part of the excitement. And if that’s exciting, just wait until you put it on.

hidden gems Have you ever bought a CD by a band you’ve never heard of? I have, because some album covers are so good, or the band name is so unique. It sounds silly, probably, but you don’t get that with downloads. You can’t spend an hour or more browsing CD shelves, looking for what you want: with downloads you know what you want and you get it. Where’s the fun in that? Where’s the satisfaction of finding that really obscure b-sides’ album you’ve spent the last year looking for? Where’s the fun in finding something you didn’t even know you were looking for; something you’ve never heard of, and taking it home and thinking ‘Wow. This was so worth it.’ It’s not there at all. Downloading leaves you empty, metaphorically. One click and your shopping is over. Maybe I just like the thrill of shopping, but I think it’s more than that. All I know is that there’s something in CD’s: the search, the anticipation of taking it home, the reading and the listening, the artwork, and the memories. And at the same time you know you’ve helped the band. Sure, CD’s are slightly more expensive, but in the long run buying CD’s ensures the band producing the music can keep going. Sure, downloading is cheaper, quicker, and easier. I understand its appeal. But by downloading you’re ripping them off more than the record labels are; enjoying what they do at a cut price or even for free. Where’s the fun in that?

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04/12/2008 08:11:33

DOWNLOADING

DOWNLOADS vs THE INDUSTRY Metallica, the group once synonymous with crunching heavy rocks riffs and growling vocals, branched out in 2000 with their attack on the then giants of downloading, Napster. Drummer Lars Ulrich launched a court case against the website - later settled out of court - claiming that the company encouraged piracy by allowing users to download copyrighted tracks free of charge. “It is sickening to know our art is being traded like a commodity rather than the art it is,” said Ulrich. In the US over 30,000 people have been sued by the Recording Industry Association of America for alleged use of music ‘file-sharing’ software. Famously, a mother of two forced America’s biggest record companies into a costly legal battle in 2007 after refusing to pay $220,000 in fines for downloading. In the UK alone, 6 million people each year are estimated to downloading illegal files, and earlier this year a government draft consultation announced that UK residents who illegally download music and films may have their internet service cut off. Last year Radiohead booked themselves a place in musical history by releasing their album, In Rainbows, independently and allowing fans themselves to decide how much to pay for it.

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02/12/2008 16:40:37

NEWS

Navigator

top stories 2008 Collecting together the big news from the UK’s campuses, uncensored and undiluted

NUSU MEMBER IN RACIAL CONTROVERSY Nottingham University Union education officer Craig Cox sparked controversy in August after holding up a sign a sign at NUS training seminar saying ‘Bring Back Slavery’. The Nottingham University Conservative Society’s president claims the act was intended to “wind up” participants in the seminar. The response by the Union President of York University - where the seminar was being held - also came under fire for its perceived laxity towards the comment. “The student involved was frankly poking people to see if he could get a response which worked - but I don’t think there was any malice involved,” said Tom Scott. In the same seminar one union officer is alleged to have said that the rise in the number of black students at UK universities would “increase gun and knife crime and so require more security.” North Yorkshire Police have stated that they are investigating both incidents as race-hate crimes.

UNIVERSITY OF BATH SAYS NO TO NO PLATFORM The controversial No Platform policy debated across the land was rejected in March at the University of Bath. The policy, aimed at banning extreme views from being publicly voiced at universities, was designed in the wake of the controversy surrounding BNP leader Nick Griffin’s appearance at various UK universities. Griffin had been invited to speak at Bath in 2007. After huge pressure from student and the Union, the speech was cancelled. No Platform, advocating an almost blanket ban on giving voice to extreme views, was rejected at Bath due to concerns that it would give the university executive too much power. Student members of campus media felt that the current students’ union Media Code of Conduct offers sufficient protection from extreme voices. The President of the Students’ Union, David Austin, was disappointed with the result of the vote questioning ‘whether a diverse university

No Platform is aimed at banning extreme views from being publicly voiced at universities population should tolerate the views and give a platform to the views of an organisation like the BNP.’ He also said that this would now force the union to decide in a cumbersome process on a case-by-case basis, as was the case when Nick Griffin was invited to speak last year.

GLOUCESTER STUDENTS IN NAZI-STYLE CEREMONY In October the BBC released footage of University of Gloucester student involved in a concentration camp-style initiation ceremony. The video shows a group of students wearing plastic bags over their heads being led around the streets of Gloucester by someone dressed in a Nazi uniform. A formal enquiry has been launched by the University. University spokesman Paul Drake told the BBC: “We are shocked by the content of this film and take the issue of intimidation and bullying during initiation ceremonies extremely seriously.” The students are believed to be prospective members of the University’s sports

society, traditionally known throughout UK universities for holding fraternity-style initiation ceremonies. In this incident, students are being told to drink alcohol by the uniformclad leader and then are seen vomiting. Such initiation ceremonies have made the headlines before, most notably in 2006 when 18 year-old Gavin Britton attended a golf initiation ceremony at Exeter University and died of acute alcohol poisoning.

HEALTH AND SAFETY GONE TOO FAR? The National Student reports that Anglia Ruskin University has asked students not to throw their mortar board hats in the air at their graduation in case someone gets hurt. The university stated that the corner of a mortar board could hit and injure someone as it fell. Officials said: “It is requested that graduands do not throw their hat up into the air. This not only causes damage to the hats but it can also cause injury if the corner of the hat hits the graduand or others who may be nearby.”

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02/12/2008 16:44:17

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XXX BCFS BD VL

t t t t

6OJWFSTJUZ CZ UIF TFB (VBSBOUFFE GJSTU ZFBS BDDPNNPEBUJPO 4BGF BOE GSJFOEMZ QMBDF UP TUVEZ 7BMVBCMF BXBSET CVSTBSJFT BOE TDIPMBSTIJQT

We offer the following courses - many combinations are available:

"DDPVOUJOH 'JOBODF "HSJDVMUVSF "NFSJDBO 4UVEJFT "OJNBM 4DJFODF "SU "SU )JTUPSZ "SUJGJDJBM *OUFMMJHFODF 3PCPUJDT #FIBWJPVSBM #JPMPHZ #JPDIFNJTUSZ #JPMPHJDBM 4DJFODFT #JPMPHZ 4QPSU 4DJFODF #VTJOFTT BOE .BOBHFNFOU #VTJOFTT *OGPSNBUJPO 5FDIOPMPHZ $FMUJD 4UVEJFT $PNQVUFS (SBQIJDT 7JTJPO (BNFT $PNQVUFS 4DJFODF $PVOUSZTJEF .BOBHFNFOU $SFBUJWF 8SJUJOH &OHMJTI $SJNJOPMPHZ %SBNB &DPOPNJDT &EVDBUJPO &OHMJTI

&OWJSPONFOUBM &BSUI 4DJFODF &OWJSPONFOUBM 4DJFODF &RVJOF )VNBO 4QPSU 4DJFODF &RVJOF 4UVEJFT 4DJFODF &VSPQFBO )JTUPSZ &VSPQFBO -BOHVBHFT 'SFODI (FSNBO 4QBOJTI &VSPQFBO 4UVEJFT 'JMN 5FMFWJTJPO 4UVEJFT (FPHSBQIZ (FOFUJDT (FOFUJDT )VNBO )FBMUI )JTUPSZ *OGPSNBUJPO -JCSBSZ 4UVEJFT *OGPSNBUJPO .BOBHFNFOU *OUFSOBUJPOBM 1PMJUJDT *OUFSOFU $PNQVUJOH *OUFSOFU &OHJOFFSJOH *SJTI -BX .BSLFUJOH .BUIFNBUJDT .FEJB $PNNVOJDBUJPO 4UVEJFT

.FEJFWBM &BSMZ .PEFSO )JTUPSZ .JDSPCJPMPHZ .PCJMF 8FBSBCMF $PNQVUJOH .PEFSO $POUFNQPSBSZ )JTUPSZ .PEFSO (FSNBO 4UVEJFT .VTFVN (BMMFSZ 4UVEJFT 0QFO 4PVSDF $PNQVUJOH 1FSGPSNBODF 4UVEJFT 1IZTJDT 1PMJUJDT 1TZDIPMPHZ 4DFOPHSBQIJD 4UVEJFT 4PGUXBSF &OHJOFFSJOH 4QBDF 4DJFODF 3PCPUJDT 4QPSU &YFSDJTF 4DJFODF 4VTUBJOBCMF 3VSBM %FWFMPQNFOU 5PVSJTN .BOBHFNFOU 8FMTI 8FMTI )JTUPSZ ;PPMPHZ

* Available at HND, Foundation Degree and BSc.

For a copy of our prospectus please contact: 3FDSVJUNFOU BOE "ENJTTJPOT 0GGJDF "CFSZTUXZUI 6OJWFSTJUZ 0ME $PMMFHF ,JOH 4USFFU "CFSZTUXZUI 4: "9 5FM 'BY &NBJM VH BENJTTJPOT!BCFS BD VL

56 AUTUMN 2008 54 Big Stories.indd 56

03/12/2008 19:05:28