Keep Your Ion The Prize | Shyleen’s Second Year University GYG | 2023 - 2024

Reply 20

The_Lonely_Goatherd

20

Zomg, CREAMS :coma:

Sounds like a good start, hope the remaining two flatmates are nice and considerate people :hugs:

OP

Original post by The_Lonely_Goatherd

Zomg, CREAMS :coma:

Sounds like a good start, hope the remaining two flatmates are nice and considerate people :hugs:

E.

Exactly.

OP

Original post by TypicalNerd

Brilliant. Hopefully that marks an auspicious start to the year.

And hopefully you also have a great week. Mine will be chaotic as I scramble to get the last things sorted before I go off to uni myself.

Thank you. Good luck with your move to university. :yep:

Original post by 5hyl33n

Thank you. Good luck with your move to university. :yep:

Thanks… dear God, that’s only in 3 days

OP

Update 2 - Fresher's Week/Enrolment Week

This update is a day in advance because I'm uncertain about having enough time tomorrow to post it. :curious:

As I'm sure everyone has heard countless times now, this past week marked Fresher's week/enrolment week. :laugh:

This year I opted out of the traditional fresher events, instead organising our own smaller gatherings with flatmates and course mates. :yep:

My induction day was on Wednesday, 27th September. We somehow arrived thirty minutes early and so spent the time saying hello to other course mates and lecturers. I also briefly spoke to my personal tutor, who appeared momentarily puzzled, mistaking me for a third-year student rather than a second-year student. :lol:

I asked for a meeting (on Thursday, I think) because I'm feeling overwhelmed about the present and the future, which I'll explain more about below. :cry:

The enrolment lecture itself proceeded smoothly, led by the head of second year. The discussion mainly around the significance of second year, modules, the importance of staying up-to-date with content, assessments, considering future career paths and potential shifts in degrees (BSc, MSc, year in industry or year abroad).

The last part of that lecture has left me feeling quite inundated. :erm:

Firstly, while I performed okay in first year, I knew I had the potential to excel. And now with talks of progressing to the MSc, year in industry or year abroad, I'm questioning whether I have the competence to consider these options since the degree will only get harder from now on. My second concern revolves around post-degree plans. Currently I'm interested in pursuing a career in cosmetic chemistry, but I lack a clear understanding of what it entails and how to adequately prepare for such a career path. :banghead:

I'm hoping my personal tutor will be able to guide me or at least convince me I'm not completely stupid. :sadnod:

In terms of student mentoring, I've reached out to my mentees and pencilled in our first meeting for Thursday. Now I need to finish off the last slide on the PPT and book a space where I can host the meeting.

So much to do. :argh:

On a happier note, all my flatmates have arrived (including the mystery one!). They are all lovely people and we have made a plan to go bowling followed by dinner tomorrow night. :woo:

Wishing everyone an excellent week.

TAG LIST (DO LET ME KNOW IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE ADDED OR REMOVED)

OP

Original post by 5hyl33n

Update 2 - Fresher's Week/Enrolment Week

This update is a day in advance because I'm uncertain about having enough time tomorrow to post it. :curious:

As I'm sure everyone has heard countless times now, this past week marked Fresher's week/enrolment week. :laugh:

This year I opted out of the traditional fresher events, instead organising our own smaller gatherings with flatmates and course mates. :yep:

My induction day was on Wednesday, 27th September. We somehow arrived thirty minutes early and so spent the time saying hello to other course mates and lecturers. I also briefly spoke to my personal tutor, who appeared momentarily puzzled, mistaking me for a third-year student rather than a second-year student. :lol:

I asked for a meeting (on Thursday, I think) because I'm feeling overwhelmed about the present and the future, which I'll explain more about below. :cry:

The enrolment lecture itself proceeded smoothly, led by the head of second year. The discussion mainly around the significance of second year, modules, the importance of staying up-to-date with content, assessments, considering future career paths and potential shifts in degrees (BSc, MSc, year in industry or year abroad).

The last part of that lecture has left me feeling quite inundated. :erm:

Firstly, while I performed okay in first year, I knew I had the potential to excel. And now with talks of progressing to the MSc, year in industry or year abroad, I'm questioning whether I have the competence to consider these options since the degree will only get harder from now on. My second concern revolves around post-degree plans. Currently I'm interested in pursuing a career in cosmetic chemistry, but I lack a clear understanding of what it entails and how to adequately prepare for such a career path. :banghead:

I'm hoping my personal tutor will be able to guide me or at least convince me I'm not completely stupid. :sadnod:

In terms of student mentoring, I've reached out to my mentees and pencilled in our first meeting for Thursday. Now I need to finish off the last slide on the PPT and book a space where I can host the meeting.

So much to do. :argh:

On a happier note, all my flatmates have arrived (including the mystery one!). They are all lovely people and we have made a plan to go bowling followed by dinner tomorrow night. :woo:

Wishing everyone an excellent week.

TAG LIST (DO LET ME KNOW IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE ADDED OR REMOVED)

Definitely talk to your personal tutor and assess which option you think would be best. There is no shame in sticking with the BSc if it turns out to be the best option and there is very little in the way of solid, objective proof you couldn’t handle an MSc - whatever the case, I’m sure you will do exceptionally well.

Furthermore, given you know you had the potential to excel in the first year, it is strange you could possibly think you are even remotely stupid - chemistry degrees are not easy and you did better than “okay” in the first year.

It’s brilliant that you have met your flatmates and you all seem to get along - hopefully the bowling and dinner go down very well. I wish you an equally brilliant week, too.

Reply 27

Muttley79

20

Your timetable is very civilised - no 9ams!

A BSc = a year in industry might be your best option but do talk to your tutor. There are good websites to search for placements ...

OP

Original post by TypicalNerd

Definitely talk to your personal tutor and assess which option you think would be best. There is no shame in sticking with the BSc if it turns out to be the best option and there is very little in the way of solid, objective proof you couldn’t handle an MSc - whatever the case, I’m sure you will do exceptionally well.

Furthermore, given you know you had the potential to excel in the first year, it is strange you could possibly think you are even remotely stupid - chemistry degrees are not easy and you did better than “okay” in the first year.

It’s brilliant that you have met your flatmates and you all seem to get along - hopefully the bowling and dinner go down very well. I wish you an equally brilliant week, too.

Thank you. :hugs:

Original post by 5hyl33n

Thank you. :hugs:

You are most welcome.

I was contemplating doing so, but I doubt it would gain sufficient attention and also I expect the workload to mean it’ll just die off. I may reconsider, though.

OP

Original post by Muttley79

Your timetable is very civilised - no 9ams!

A BSc = a year in industry might be your best option but do talk to your tutor. There are good websites to search for placements ...

Apparently the PhD students (of all the students!) expressed dissatisfaction, finding it challenging to wake up and arrive at the university. I wonder how they will manage a 9-5 job in the near-future... :laugh:

Thank you, I'll search around. :biggrin:

Reply 31

Muttley79

20

Original post by 5hyl33n

Apparently the PhD students (of all the students!) expressed dissatisfaction, finding it challenging to wake up and arrive at the university. I wonder how they will manage a 9-5 job in the near-future... :laugh:

Thank you, I'll search around. :biggrin:

I had 9am lectures every day at uni ...

Here's one to start you off: https://www.ratemyplacement.co.uk/

OP

Original post by TypicalNerd

You are most welcome.

I was contemplating doing so, but I doubt it would gain sufficient attention and also I expect the workload to mean it’ll just die off. I may reconsider, though.

Of course though I'm sure it will gain sufficient attention. :yep:

OP

Original post by Muttley79

I had 9am lectures every day at uni ...

Here's one to start you off: https://www.ratemyplacement.co.uk/

I had those during my initial year, though not every day. Sounds painful. :frown:

They modified the timings in the previous academic year, however, 9am lab sessions are still scheduled.

Thank you for the link.

Reply 34

Muttley79

20

https://www.gradcracker.com/ is another one

The uni should have more contacts :smile:

Original post by 5hyl33n

Of course though I'm sure it will gain sufficient attention. :yep:

I suppose I can give it a go…

Reply 36

The_Lonely_Goatherd

20

It can be quite overwhelming when a lot of different options are presented to you! :eek:

Good idea to speak to your personal tutor. You're not stupid at all - far from it :hugs:

YAY for nice flatmates. What a lovely idea to have your own freshers' week events :h:

Hope you have an excellent week too :moon:

Reply 37

Plantagenet Crown

20

Good luck for second year Shyleen! If you want an industrial career in chemistry (which is what a cosmetic chemist would be) then I would strongly recommend doing an industrial placement because there is no better way of getting first hand experience of what it's actually like to work day to day in a chemical/pharmaceutical company...it's extremely different to working in academia.