This is the second instalment in my University Application Diaries, where I share the thoughts and experiences I had in the run up to starting University in September 2016. In this 'episode', I went to York University's Applicant Day, and learnt that non-stereotypical student types like me are more common than you'd think!
[Note: Extra comments I've made since writing are like this. 'X' refers to the University I actually attend, which I keep private]
[Note: Extra comments I've made since writing are like this. 'X' refers to the University I actually attend, which I keep private]
17/01/2016
So after a long trip to York and back I thought I would reflect on my time at the applicant day and how I feel about the university, having been to it twice (on the applicant day and the open day last summer). Until X and my AS results came along [for reference, my AS Results were ABCC], I was dead set on going to York. Despite not being able to study ancient history there, it was my favourite campus (bar Royal Holloway’s accommodation) and I felt at home there - probably helped by the fact that I picked up navigating round the main part of the campus pretty easily. I loved how you had to cook at weekends despite being catered, meaning that I was able to have access to a full kitchen still (yey for baking!). However, my disappointing AS grades came along and I began to doubt whether I could get in. Luckily, my teachers were happy to alter my A2 predicted grades to give me a chance of getting in, and I have been offered a place there (if I manage to get AAA in June dundunduuuuurn...).
So off I went to my applicant day to see what I would think of it after these mishaps in the past few months. The journey there and back was long, but the smoothest journey to a university so far, taking 3 hours (meaning 5:45 wake up, yawnnnn). We arrived with 45 minuted to spare so wondered round campus and chatted to the accommodation team, finding out (slightly worryingly) that they don’t offer much help for people going into the private sector anymore :( [to read my advice finding second and third year private sector accommodation, click here] . In the morning we went to central hall [pictured] (which FYI looks like a spaceship), and my parents and I sat in on a talk about the university in general, accommodation and student life. We then went to a lounge area/Costa (side note I swear Costa is taking over the uni scene haha) near James College and ate our lunch, mmmmmm food. We also reminded ourselves of what the beautiful library was like (I love love LOVE their library. So modern. And it was nice to see all the students looking so studious at their desks haha).
THEN THE PANIC KICKED IN.
I am not a sociable person and that afternoon I was scheduled to leave the parents and venture into a room full of prospective students and *shock horror* mingle(!) until we were called in to attend a talk about the history course (which was interesting despite having read it all before on their website or heard it at their open day). What most intrigued me was the thought of helping with lecturers research etc in seminars. Anyways back to le mingling. I was super panicked when I got to the entrance and had to get Mum to stand with me until I felt ok to go into the room. Then I turned around and before you know it I was talking to the girl behind me (Laura I do believe...or Lauren...or I don’t know it was an L_____ I’m bad at names ok! I've been helping at a ballet class for young children for a year and still only know a handful of names...). Anyways, I was relieved to have found someone to talk to so quickly and we ended up sticking to each other all afternoon. She was so similar to me (not a big drinker, quiet, taking exactly the same A2 subjects as me - I mean how often do you find someone taking Classics for A levels?! And biology with 2 humanities subjects?!! MASSIVE stroke of luck), and if she ever reads this I want her to know how thankful I am that we met yesterday as she’s made me feel so much happier about finding people like me at University!! One thing I wish I’d done is taken her name/number so I could have added her on Facebook or something, so if we do both go to York in September we could meet up and know someone straight away. #findlaura2k16 haha. So basically to anyone having to go it alone at one of these events just start talking to someone you’re sitting/standing next to and you’ll be fine :D There’s nothing to panic about even if you’re shy like me :)
ANYWAYS back to the talk.
At the end, some current students talked to us about their experience so far, one was a bit annoying and kept going on about how much drinking he was doing cause of the freer schedule (good luck in your exams mate!) but on the whole it was interesting to hear what they had to say. We then went on a tour of Campus where we were warned not to go to Derwent which is a bit run down in places (it just needs some TLC and paint TBH), and saw a slightly less fancy and new block of flats at James College (which before seeing that and hearing it was the sporty *shivers* college, I was set on applying for. Vanbrugh is the artsy college so might look there. Edit: I looked there, they have limited catered accommodation :( May apply as backup accommodation though hehe). To finish we chose one of two lectures to attend. We went to one on witchcraft - or at least the briefest overview ever as even the lecturer admitted that he’s still trying to get his head round it and he’s a professor in the subject haha 😂. The main thing that this clarified was that I would enjoy the lectures if I went at York. This is of great importance to me as I hated the ones I went to at a history taster day at Cambridge which seriously knocked my confidence that I wanted to and would enjoy studying history at University. (I may do a post about them one day)
Anyways, my final thoughts on York post Applicant Day:
- I still love it there
- The library’s fab
- Shy, non partying types of people like myself do exist and are easily found (what were the chances of finding people like myself so easily - I only spoke to Laura !?!?!! As my Dad said, 100% success rate haha)
- Witchcraft is a fascinating topic, put me down to take it as a module [I've since written an essay on Witchcraft - it is a FASCINATING topic, would recommend!]
- Still want to do ‘Languages For All’! Cause I apparently want to learn German despite being terrible at trying to learn French haha
- Bit annoyed they don’t do much to help find housing in second and third year. Ah well they seem to have lots of housing fairs etc so should be ok (touch wood)
- I need to find out where they bought the cake for us from! The lemon cake was sooooooooo good mmmmmmm.
I think that’s all, just so glad I survived bwahaha. Honestly I almost cried when I had to leave the parents. The stress of the situation got too much okayyyy! Don’t judge me!! I’m a child not a 17year old !!!! (Such denial haha).
TTFN
June
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Want to come back and read this at a later date? Pin me for safe keeping!
