I have just completed my first week studying in the UK and I have to say…it is nothing like Hogwarts. The only connection is that my uni’s online platform is called Minerva (only true fans will know)! Harry Potter references aside, my first impression of studying in the UK is that it is going to be a very difficult year.
I would be lying if I said I wasn’t intimidated. Mostly about the fact that the majority of my classes are based off one final exam worth 100% of the grade. In the US, the closest thing I had to that was two exams each worth 50%, and they were open notes. On top of my classes I will also have to write a dissertation on everyone’s favorite topic, accounting and finance!
The structure of classes is also very different from what I’ve had in the past. Each module has a two hour lecture with a one hour seminar the following week. So essentially, you listen to the theory in lecture and then have questions to answer before seminar, where you apply the theory. I think I am going to like this model because I do best with structure, otherwise I am a huge procrastinator. So even though the assignments won’t be graded, because apparently nothing is other than the final exam, I’ll have to stay on top of the work.
Probably the best part so far are the professors’ English accents, which are amazing! I don’t know about you, but I feel like an English accent just makes a person sound smarter (as silly as that is). Interestingly enough, I am not surrounded by as many British students as I would’ve thought. Most of the students on my course are international students, and I think I am the only American. I guess if I wanted to be around more Americans I wouldn’t have moved to the UK.
One week down, ten more to go. Oh and no breaks until Christmas because obviously they don’t celebrate Thanksgiving here. Wish me luck, I will definitely need it!
