What our students say

Why did you choose to come to Nottingham?

I was really attracted by the sports societies, particularly hockey, where I play in the Nottingham ladies hockey team. The gym, sports hall and engage facilities and programmes are great for getting involved at all levels. I also really liked the campus feel to the uni, it’s still really close to town on the tram but it’s nice to have all your lectures and halls together in one spot!

Why did you choose to study Natural Sciences?

After finishing school I found it really hard to narrow down my A levels to just one subject as there were aspects of Geography and Chemistry which I really enjoyed but would struggle to incorporate in a single degree pathway, Nat Sci was a great opportunity to study them both! 

What advice would you give someone starting university?

I think going from a really small town to a huge university was a little daunting but you get very quickly integrated into uni life, there are so many events going on in freshers week so I would definitely recommend getting involved; societies are a great way to meet like-minded people! My best advice would be to get stuck in, it can be pretty scary to start with, but everyone is in the same boat so don’t worry about feeling a little lost at first, you’ll soon find your feet.

What aspect of the course do you enjoy most and why?

I really enjoy the lab work in chemistry, it’s a great way to get hands on experience using and understanding chemicals under necessary lab procedures. I also love the theory of organic chemistry; it really takes another step on from what you learn at school. I loved combining all three subjects in the first year as I never got bored!

What do you do outside of the course and how has this impacted your university experience?

This year I am taking French evening classes which I absolutely love and it’s a great way to mix with mature students/adults and just try something a bit different and more interactive compared to lectures. I also act as a peer mentor to new students; I found this scheme really useful for settling in when I was a fresher so it’s great to be a part of this now. I also play a lot of hockey for the Ladies 2nd XI which is really good fun on and off the pitch, from nights out to laser tag and Nando’s! These activities have definitely broadened my university experience, exposing me to so many new people and opportunities.

What are you thinking about doing when you finish?

I am still somewhat undecided; I am thinking of switching up to the MSci course with a year in industry to give myself some hand on working life experience. I’d be super interested in jobs with respect to climate management and mitigation so that’s something I’m looking into. It would also be great to take some time out to travel now that I am a lot more independent!

 

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