Blog posts

How the Grinch failed to steal Christmas in London- He’s been scrooged

Marine Coispeau

Biotechnology

Just about a year ago, I was an anxious fresher leaving home with my pots and pans, duvet and towels. I was ready to trade my cherished baguette and cheese for tea and scones. I was a fearless soldier ready to survive at Imperial. Here I am a year later after having proudly honoured that red lanyard and currently on my way home for Christmas. On top of the smell of mulled wine and roasting sweet nuts, there definitely is something magical in the London air around Christmas. Magic that is definitely worth sharing.

Christmas mingling at Imperial

For many students at Imperial, the weeks leading up to Christmas are associated to exams and coursework deadlines but are paradoxically not restrained to indulging endless cups of coffee at the library.

London vs NYC: how do they stack up?

Emma Tipton

Enviromental Technology

In the 3 months since I moved to London the number one question that I’ve been asked by everyone from classmates to relatives to strangers is how it compares to New York City, my hometown. Overall, I think the two cities have very similar vibes but some aspects I just can’t help but compare. So, for the curious, I’m pleased to present the definitive comparison list:  

 

Subway System: Londoners are shocked when I proclaim my undying love for the Tube, but it’s true. The NYC subway may run 24/7 (ostensibly) but you lose a little piece of your soul every time you miss your train and see that the next one isn’t for another 18 minutes.

Coping with low marks

Charlotte Day

Civil Engineering

Moving to uni I’ve already had a lot of good and bad experiences. But I’ve never experienced a really low grade before. At least, not until today! As a first year, I had my first progress test to check in on how I was doing a week ago. Hours of library work, vigorous note taking, answering tutorials etc went into studying for this test. Despite all of my best efforts, when I went into the room and looked at the paper, I really froze up. I haven’t done an exam in 1.5 years and had forgotten the exam room atmosphere and dreaded clock counting down every second.

Mascotry: Scientists vs Engineers

Mathematics and Statistics

Just another one of Imperial’s old traditions

A few weeks ago, I was sat at home trying to digest some of my Stochastic Simulation course when I received a phone call from the RCSU President, Alex, asking me to come back to campus at 10pm to help steal a giant spanner and bolt from the CGCU office. Now let me provide some context to this.

Most of you will know that Imperial is made up of Constituent Unions (CUs). They are:

  • Royal College of Science Union, RCSU (This is the one I’m in and is made up all science students)
  • City and Guilds College Union, CGCU (This is the one with the engineers)
  • Royal School of Mines Union, RSMU (Materials, Geology and Geophysics students)
  • Imperial College School of Medicine Students’ Union, ICSMSU (The medics)
  • Graduate Students’ Union, GSU

Each of these CUs has it’s own mascots.

Is Summer a Holiday?

Mathematics and Statistics

The exciting things Maths students get up to over Summer

The summer before your final or penultimate year is often quite important. It could help you decide what your future holds, or give you a chance to explore something you’re very interested in. This summer, some of my friends and I embarked on internships and research opportunities all over the world! Although we may not have had much time to sleep, relax or enjoy the sun, we definitely got a lot out of the opportunities we had and made our final summers at uni incredibly useful. I hope this post gives you a good idea of how being a student at Imperial opens up so many doors and how not everyone ends up being interested in the same thing.

2 weeks in 2nd year!

MEng Civil Engineering

When I was on my first year, I remember every single second year people said, second year is gonna be tough. Two weeks in, and I feel great, I feel better than ever.

You know why I feel great. I spent my first year, trying to figure out the person that I wanted to be, doubts and all. In the process, I jeopardize my academic record, and I had to push so hard a week leading to exam week, that I felt like my body are disintegrating. I slept in one of the exam room, during the exam. The worst thing that could happen on exam week happened to me.

second year in five words

MBBS/BSc Medicine

My 2nd Year of Medical School was a rollercoaster to say the least.  I’m going to use a couple of words to describe what was probably the most interesting year of my life so far.

hectic.

2nd Year was such a blur to me. I remember starting the year off by becoming a ‘medic parent’ to my lovely children who were 1st Year medics. It’s a great tradition we have here at Imperial (and quite a few other unis) where you’re given the option to have parents in the year above you who guide you through the year and can act as a support system especially in those first few weeks of university.

How to Survive Freshers Week

Mathematics and Statistics

Welcome to Imperial!

For all of you freshers settling into life at Imperial, it’s a very important and busy few weeks! First of all congratulations on getting here and I hope you have enjoyed your first 24 hours in halls! Starting at Imperial can be a very exciting time, filled with so many different emotions. Fear of the unknown, excitement for the adventures to come and nervousness about meeting so many new people, followed by a touch of homesickness too perhaps. Having been in your shoes two years ago, it’s fair to say I know a thing or two about negotiating Freshers week, which I hope to share with you!

I SURVIVED MY FIRST YEAR AT IMPERIAL — here is the ups and the downs

MEng Civil Engineering

Coming to Imperial was honestly surreal for me, it felt like a dream, and when I woke up it was exam time, and I had to fought tooth and nail to survive. Until I was actually in London, there was always a possibility at the back of my mind to back out. I wanted the easy path, the “I know I can ace every single class”, which was why Imperial was sort of my second choice. Yes, you heard me, it was my second choice, despite the fact that tons of people are dying to get in.

I know from the beginning, that Imperial would be hard, so I lost hope since the beginning.

Hakuna Matata! What a wonderful term…

MSc Science Communication

And just like that third term is over! In keeping with my previous end of term blogs I thought I’d stick to tradition, but this time use songs from some of the best-loved Disney films to round up my final term at Imperial.

Reflection (Mulan)

We finally reached the practical option term of the masters course and I chose to take courses in radio and documentary. For radio, I produced a short piece about cultured meat and together with some course mates, produced a short documentary called ‘the sun shines for everyone’. It was an incredibly busy term with not much time for reflection as it progressed, but looking back on it now I learnt so much and gained experience to aid me in the future.

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