Study Abroad

Application to study abroad

Keele give all students the chance to take a semester out during the second year to go to an International University to Study Abroad for one semester a completely unique experience that would look brilliant on a CV

I've started begining my application, I've been doing loads of research into the 7 Universities I have availible to me and I have managed to limit these down just to 4, for my application however I  need to limit it down to 3 so to make that descision as the 4 universitites I have now I like alot I have to look at each universities courses they are offering and ensure that they more or less match the modules I would be taking in the First Semester of the second year

As well as all of that I need to get an Academic Reference, I am going to find this difficult as my academic interaction so far has been very limited due too the fact that mainly I have been doing Lectures which is simply just listening to the lecturers. My personal tutor however is the head of the Cell and Molecular biology module and we have had some interaction in lab classes when he's been going over pratical questions so I'm going to send an email off to him later today and we will see how it will go from there!
Maths
In maths I have got back my Assignment 2 marks, there has been a massive improvement from the assignment 1 marks I think this is due to the fact that I put more effrot and managed to take the assignement much more seriously this time, In my Maths assignement 2 I achieved an overall average of about 75% on my assignment 1 the overall average was about 45% so a massive overall improvement I've been set an Assignment 3 now (Last of the year finally!) to be due in for next monday hopefully that will see good marks as well although it may be harder due to the fact complex numbers are included which I really need to do more revision into as I do not understand them that well!
Biology
In Biology Cell and Molecular as well, we've been set a paper on a PCR Practical we did in class, me and my partners pratical did not successfully work, so didn't most peoples to be fair! but it was familiarising me with the pippette and giving me some much needed pratical lab skills, That lab paper is due in for about the 19th so 2 days before we break up so I have a fair amount of time too write it, although I don't like leaving things till last minute so i'll probably start tomorrow. As well as that I need to organise my 6 minute presentation to a small group on the Golgi Appratus luckily it is not assessed but i'd imagien we'd get into alot of trouble if we didn't put our all into it!

In Introduction to Human Physiology, we've been set no work so far really it's just been hard lectures which i really need to put more revision into as there is so much content in that module!

6 more days!

University!

Hello There! I promised you a post every week and that is what I will do, In 6 more days I will be leaving Burton upon Trent behind and will be departing for Keele university!, obviously I've had to prepare myself with equipment and such but I don't want to be boring you guys with details so I will just make a short list!

• Students Account- Santander had some good interest rates & a free rail card!!!
• Laptop- Obviously for educational pruposes! (PC World)
• Stationary- All bought from Asda
• Cooking and dining stuff- all bought from Asda
• Linens, Pillow covers & Shit- All bought from Dunelm Mill
• Also Alarm Clock & Tuppel wear boxes from Asda!

All of that was not as expensive as I thought it would be, I mean I pride myself in that I managed to find 4 knifes, 4 forks, 4 tea spoons & 4 table spoons for £1.50!, even if I did get asked for ID!, I mean how much damage could one do with a dinner knife! and of course the friend (Nick) whom I went with had no ID meaning I had to go back later but it was worth it for that crafty £4 saving!, such a beautiful saving that I felt compelled to add a picture of them on the left.

Worries

I figured for a future blog I would address all the worries that I am feeling now to give you guys a reference to what university is like in comparison to my worries:

• Will I be able to make friends at university?- I mean the people I hang around with in this area I've been hanging around with since Primary school and the new people i've known have all been an addition too my primary/senior school friends, will I be able to start from scratch?

• Will the course be too hard for me?- Now my A Levels were hard for me, I understand some people say they're easy but I've always been an average student at AS I achieved E D B causing me to have to do 2 years work all in 1 year, I did pull it off but one year later I wouldn't have been able too (Since the stupid conservative plan to scrap janurary resits), I will not be able to experience similar hartships at university I need to work good straight away

• Will I be able to cook myself meals?- My parents, brother and sister went away for 2 weeks in August and I managed to survive for myself but it was stricly on a diet of pure rubbish, Microwave food and finger food, so perhaps at university in the long term i'll die of poor diet!

• Will I be able to keep track of my finances?- I've had jobs in the past and as soon as I get money into my account I cannot help but spend it all!, I am a frivolous spender! and with my student loan I want to save it only for the essentials but I am not 100% sure if I will be able to do that

• Will I lose contact with my friends?- Now some friends have already gone of to university most of which I have not heard much from, I presume they are busy or enjoying their new social life. Point is will we remain in contact?
  
  

  Current Situation

  Alot of my friends have gone off to university, meaning I certainly don't go out as much next week it will probably be about 3 times I will go outside the house for my friends, I have stopped playing football (One of my favourite hobbies!) due to lack of players & I have stopped working for a plumbing company meaning my source of income has been reduced and I am living of my savings, it certainly is a depressing time at the moment and the only thing keeping me going is the fact i'll be going off to somewhere different in about a week,
  
  
  I'd like to thank you for reading this! and hope I haven't bored you to much, I'll post again next week!