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College Students

Here are the day in the life guides by college students. Feel free to add your own following the existing template.

College Students studying toward A-Levels

A day in the life of outlaw-torn

Year of Study: A2, Year 13

Subjects of Study: Double Award Art, History, and Health and Social Care

Tell us a bit about your daily preparation and morning routine: I woke up late at about quarter to 8. Rushed about getting ready for 10 past 8, packed my bag with the stuff I needed today, had a quick breakfast and then set off. I go to my best friends house then we walk up Got to college about quarter to 9. No form period so we weren't really late.

So what did you do today? I didn't have form period because of staff briefing - so I just hung around the common room for about 10 minutes until the bell went. Double History first, which started off with us all being locked out of the classroom, so missed about 20 mins of the lesson. Finally went to History, made some notes on the Religious Settlement of Elizabeth, and got our essays about Mary Tudor back. I got 37/45, a B, which I was okay about but I could of done better. We then got set an assignment to research an individual that had an impact on Elizabeths government or her life. So we didn't really have a taught lesson, we were sent to the library to do research and create handouts that we can give to the rest of our class. Then starts the double free period of boredom - went to the study room, did bits to my personal statement and finally pasted it into UCAS. Read my reference from my History teacher, happy with that. Stressed over uni choices.. then I had to finish up some coursework about investigating diseases for Health and Social Care - this bits about statistics. I was on a roll so was happy. Went to the Art room for fourth period in my free, did some work on photoshop for my russian culture unit. Dinner - didn't really do much. Double Art in the afternoon, did some more work on the iMac for my different units of work, got set targets for the next couple of weeks. Prepared work for when we have to exhibit at the end of the week for half term assessment.

How do you finish the day after returning from college? I went home at the end of the day, practised driving theory questions for a while, and also did some hazard perception because I'm absolutely shocking at it. Did some more of the Health and Social Care work, and some more Art stuff on photoshop that I can print out tomorrow.

And finally, can you tell us the best thing about day to day college life? INDEPENDENCE - your given more independence from teachers who send you away to the library or something to research, and they actually trust you not to go fooling around. It's good having free periods (as long as there not double like I had today) It's more interesting than GCSE, and I really enjoy it. Can't wait to leave and go to uni though, exciiiiiiited!

A day in the life of Ladipidoo

Year of Study: 2nd year at college - A2

Subjects of Study: Art, Psychology, Physics and Critical Thinking

Tell us a bit about your daily preparation and morning routine: Normal day: Wake up, brush teeth, have a shower, get ready, drink warm milk/tea, put shoes on, pick up my bag, leave the house, run for the bus, miss the bus, wait 15 or so mins to catch the next one, reach college quite late without a sufficient excuse, but usually don't get told off.

So what did you do today? I went into Physics 30 mins late and was greeted with a smile from my teacher and wasn't told off. I haven't done my Art hmw, so I'm currently skiving. I'm going to give it in on Thursday. And since I have a free before Art and 2 frees after, I decided to come home. I met my friend before coming home, though, and we just talked about...stuff. I'm gonna go back in a bit for Critical Thinking.

How do you finish the day after returning from college? It's not finished yet but I usually stuff my gob first, then switch the laptop on, and let it waste away my life. Update: Yep, I stuffed my face after I reached home and now I'm on the laptop...

And finally, can you tell us the best thing about day to day college life? Hmmm, there's quite a lot. Firstly, the atmosphere at college is a lot better than secondary's since everyone's more grown up and mature, and there aren't little year 7s/8s doing your head in. Also, I quite like my subject choices and I'm not regretting picking them, so that's a plus. My teachers this year are also pretty cool. The free periods I get are so cool and you can get quite a lot of work done, if you're not messing about. You get treated more like an adult at college, rather than a kid, and you usually don't get told off for something minor, like, wearing your coat/scarf in class. Plussss, I don't have to wear uniform. And last but not the least, I get to see my friends most of the days.

A day in the life of xxstace123xx

Year of Study: AS year (1st) in college

Subjects of Study: Psychology, Sociology, English Lit and Biology

Tell us a bit about your daily preparation and morning routine: I get up at 6am, actually thats a lie, my alarm goes of at 6, i wake up at 6.27 (sounds strange but my alarm goes of in snoozes of 9 min intervals)... I then get up and get ready, normally fall in my wardrobe whilst trying to find something to wear, I then put all my books in my bag, eat some breakfast, and leave for the bus at 7.28- the bus then comes at 7.35, I get in to town for 8.35 and walk to college which takes twentyish minutes, normally get there for 10/5 to 9. Long Journey!

So what did you do today? First Lesson I had Psychology which is 9-10.30, the longest lesson of the day- we just worked on our assignment thats in in a couple of weeks, was alright. Second lesson 10.45-11.45- I had a free this lesson, from 10.45-11.30 I went to the library and did my sociology homework that is in tommorow so I didnt have to do it tonight, good times. I then went and got a can of cherry coke and headed up to my next lesson. Lesson three, 12-1, was biology, it was quite good, my teachers become obsessed with these new 'reward card' things, I learnt about lungs! she then told us we had another test on monday though *sigh* LUNCH- lunch is 1-2 ... I went to the canteen and had a tuna jacket potato, it was nice, I finished doing all that at about twenty past and headed up to student services to get my new ema slip thing. I then had double english from 2 - its meant to be until half 4 with a half hour break at 3, but we worked through it so we could go early- good times ... OH actually, at about 2.20 there was a fire alarm test which was annoying as it was raining outside, and then I had to walk back up to 9th floor again. In the rest of the lesson we did our plan for our 1st peice of coursework.

How do you finish the day after returning from college? I generally dont have that much homework at the moment- because i always do it in my free periods, but sometimes I have some, but ill generally do it on the bus home anyway :P. Im not much for preparing either- I basically have a box with all my college books and then in the morning i just look at my timetable and put in what I need, its a good system for me

And finally, can you tell us the best thing about day to day college life? Well at college I meet new people every day, friends of friends and talking to new people in my classes and its really interesting.

A day in the life of Adam92

Year of Study: A2 - year 13

Subjects of Study: Business, Economics, Maths and Further Maths

Tell us a bit about your daily preparation and morning routine: Well, I set my alarm for 7 o'clock, which is when I should ideally wake up, however I always end up pressing the snooze button (damn, why did they invent that?!) until at least 7:30! This gives me little time to do anything, but I make sure to pack my bag the night beforehand so all I need really need to do is brush my teeth and wash, etc.

So what did you do today? Today, I got the bus up to college and went straight into my double economics lesson where we had an enthralling talk about cost curves! Period 3, I had to go to a meeting regarding my EPQ which lasted roughly 0.5 minutes because the teacher just gave me my form back and told me to go I dislike short days, they seem pointless on the whole. I'd rather have a full day in college with a few frees inbetween, so I actually learn lots.

How do you finish the day after returning from college? Whack my laptop on, go on facebook for a bit, go out/stay in (obviously, I can't do anything else), ponder whether to do my homework, decide against the idea of doing homework and then eat and sleep! I love my days.

And finally, can you tell us the best thing about day to day college life? Of course: the atmosphere in comparison to my old school is immense. I love how everyone is laid back, but we always do the work set and don't mess around, like schoolchildren. Being treated like adults tops it off.

A day in the life of DoubleReedFreak

Year of Study: 12- AS

Subjects of Study: Music, English Literature, German, Biology and Extended Project

Tell us a bit about your daily preparation and morning routine: Check that I look super cool for college. Well, brush teeth and stuff, eat an apple or something because I don't like breakfast. Get bag ready and walk to school.

So what did you do today? Went 6th Form, got some coffee, registered, had a double period of Literature, break, then 2 frees but I organised my Saxophone lesson then and then my Bassoon lesson after. Dinner time. Eat. Student council. Double German. Time to go home.

How do you finish the day after returning from college? Come home to quickly eat and rush a bit of homework. (Of which there is lots!) Then go to bassoon group and Orchestra. Get home from that and try to finish more homework.

And finally, can you tell us the best thing about day to day college life? Err, it's nice to just have a laugh with friends by going chippy or dossing in common room. Nice to do subjects that you want and no more IT and rubbish stuff. It's not amazing but some parts are ok really.

A day in the life of Chilledice

Year of Study:13

Subjects of Study: Human Biology, Chemistry, Maths, General Studies (AS's in Physics and Critical Thinking)

Tell us a bit about your daily preparation and morning routine: I wake up at 6:50, get breakfast and get dressed, put my lunch in my bag (which I made and packed the night before) leave at 7:20 for the bus, get the 7:50 bus to college, my college day usually starts at 8:30, if I dont have any lessons I'll usually do some independent work

So what did you do today?well, it was an open evening today, so college was shut, but on Monday I came into college at 8:30, went to the biology workshop (where students can drop in for help) and was a student mentor, teaching respiration to other students and doing my own work when there was no-one around untill 10:20 (break), spent my break with my friends in the common room, at 10:40 I went to double maths (1:50 long) which took me up to lunch which I again spent in the common room for a while as well as in the radio studio (I am a producer for my college radio station, and so spend some time in there working with presenters) after lunch (at 1:50) I had a single human biology lesson, and then went home by bus.

How do you finish the day after returning from college? eat, relax, sleep

And finally, can you tell us the best thing about day to day college life? The depth of study, the breadth of activities and people, the relaxed but hard-working atmosphere, the teachers that care about their subjects and the fact that everyone is there to learn.

A day in the life of Emsybean

Year of Study: A2, 13

Subjects of Study: History, Media Studies and Government & Politics

Tell us a bit about your daily preparation and morning routine: I wake up between 6:15 and 7:15 before getting up and having some breakfast. Then I brush my teeth, get dressed, put my books and folders in my bag and usually set off about 8:00. I get the college bus outside the pick-up point at about 8:15, then everyone's stuck in a huge traffic jam for about 30mins (there's only one main road out of our town) before arriving at college at about 9:45 and going to the LRC (Learning Resource Centre) for a quick go on the computers before lessons start.

So what did you do today? I only have 2 lessons on a Friday, Media and Politics, with a three-hour free in between. This isn't so bad because the A2 workload means that I can get a lot of my homework done in frees like this, leaving me free for the weekend. In Media we started to storyboard for our coursework, with mine being an advertising campaign for a soft drink. I put down my own little idea that didn't really match with what the girl I'm working with has in mind, so most of the lesson was pretty much spent trying to reach a compromise. After Media I went up the LRC to put the finishing touches to my History coursework and have a chat with one of my classmates about how we're getting along with it. Then I checked my UCAS and went to town to buy my dinner. After this I went to Politics, where we were learning about the minor third parties of the United States. I love studying American politics, the class are just so noisy that it means I don't really look forward to it. Despite this, I got my National Conventions essay back - I got 35/40, an A (woo!), then after class I filled in and posted my Parents' Evening form before getting the college bus home.

How do you finish the day after returning from college? Usually I check on our puppy, Oscar, then I have my dinner and finish any spare work before going on things like TSR.

And finally, can you tell us the best thing about day to day college life? You have so much more independence and choice than at high school, the tutors actually trust you to get on with your work sensibly and see you as a whole-rounded person, rather than grades on seats. It just makes me feel more free to do what I want in general, knowing that I'm going to have a lot of support from my tutors in whatever I choose to do. Oh, and you don't have to wear a uniform :D

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College Students studying for vocational qualifications

A day in the life of xo-Heva

Year of Study: First - at college.

Subjects of Study: Nursing (Health care)

Tell us a bit about your daily preparation and morning routine: My daily preperation is fairly laid back. I find now I get extra time in bed since college starts later than school. I also am able to walk to college due to having extra morning time and I've noticed an improvment in my health because of this. I don't have to prepare much for college, I dont find I need to take a ruck sack either. A handbag, folder and a couple of quid in my pocket is suffice. The atmosphere at college tends to be much more laid back because everyone there want sto learn. There are no time wasters or anymore to make you feel uncomfortable, and if there was an issue, everyone is very mature about the situation and sorts it out with no fuss.

'So what did you do today? This week I'm on a 'reading week,' which is awesome. Basically working from home. It can be easy to forget to work however, you need to keep motivated. Routine at college is very laid back. Classes aren't dead on and finish early constantly. There are lots of free periods and the common room is well equiped with sky TV, games consols, computers, a reading area, an eating area, vending machines, pool tables and a casual comfy area.

How do you finish the day after returning from college? Normally, I'd finish up be coming home and using the college website to access any slides or handouts we’d used within class that day. I type up my notes and I file anything I need to. Homework is not common but when we get it, its usually an essay with a long time limit. I make sure any required work is done before checking if I need additional books for the next day. Easy.

And finally, can you tell us the best thing about day to day college life? The time off! My weekend begins on a Thursday at 12.00. I get Thursday afternoon and Friday off. Also, I like being in classes full of different people of different ages and backgrounds. You really learn a lot. I much prefer this way of life to my previous years of school.

A day in the life of Gemma16

Year of Study: 2nd year at college

Subjects of Study: Childcare Level 3 and GCSE Maths

Tell us a bit about your daily preparation and morning routine: well night before i 99% of time get my clothes and bag ready in a morning i get up between 6 20 and 6 45, depending if its placement or college. Do my sandwiches if its placement, dress casual for college, uniform for placement. have a cup of tea or water, and obv all the other stuff you do in a morning.. go for bus about 7 50- 8 05

So what did you do today? today was placement day, im in a reception class, helping them with their work, making resources. Joined in with p.e, did set activities, made snack, tidy up etc

How do you finish the day after returning from college? Well on a placement day, sometimes do my placement folder, where i write what ive being doing in detial, activities, stories, observations etc. tea, bath, on computer, or a friend comes round visa versa. After college, i do the same, but do college work, such as assingments, research etc.

And finally, can you tell us the best thing about day to day college life? SOMETIMES treat like adults, its more independent, laid back, your there for you wanne do! and i like different hour days, instead of the set 8 30 - 9 00 to 3 00 to 3 30 stuff! but i have that on placement week, but placement is every other week so x