Close
My experience of UCL’s 2020 Summer Schools
By Lauren Sandhu, on 15 October 2020
At the end of July we ran 13 summer schools for students in Year 12 (S5 in Scotland/Year 13 in Northern Ireland) online. Some of the students who attended kindly blogged about their experience. Today we hear from Sarah who took part in our Natural Sciences Summer School.
My name is Sarah and I am a current sixth form student, I started Year 13 in September. I am taking biology, chemistry and geography with my main interest being the sciences.
I was part of the UCL Natural Sciences summer school, which gave me a taster of a variety of different science subjects including astrophysics, molecular biology and coding. Over the course of the week I attended a series of virtual lectures with top academics, current Natural Sciences students and other Year 12 students.
One of my favourite parts of the week was the molecular biology session, where I explored the 3d structure of a protein using Pymol software. I followed a series of instructions that enabled me to observe the complex tertiary/quaternary structure of proteins. I also learned that using softwares like Pymol are common in biology, and that there are various other programmes used across the sciences, as technology becomes more integrated with the field. I also liked the ‘virtual café’ sessions, where I was able to talk to current university students. They were all extremely friendly and helpful and made me feel more confident in applying to University and clearing up any questions I had.
Finally, I really enjoyed the independent project work we had to complete. I spent several hours across the week learning about current scientific advancements and then consolidating the information onto a scientific poster. This experience allowed me to explore science outside of the curriculum and also gave me an insight into key university skills like researching and referencing.
I think other year 12 students should sign up for this summer school because it provides an insight on whether university is right for you on all accounts. The taster lectures give you an idea of what the subject you’re interested in is like at degree level, whilst the virtual cafes allow you to ask more specific questions, and the research project allows you to see whether you would enjoy the independent aspect of university.
Despite it being held online this year, I still felt extremely welcomed by all the UCL staff and students and enjoyed the social activities. For a first-generation student, the week was extremely beneficial and cleared up many doubts/worries I had in a manner that was fun and engaging.
My experience of UCL’s 2020 Summer Schools
By Lauren Sandhu, on 17 September 2020
This summer has been a busy one for the Access and Widening Participation team. At the end of July we ran 13 summer schools for students in Year 12 (S5 in Scotland/Year 13 in Northern Ireland) online. Some of the students who attended kindly blogged about their experience. Today we hear from Natalia who took part in our Languages and Cultures Summer School.
My name is Natalia and I live in Scotland. I have just moved into 6th year (my final year at high school). My favourite subjects at school are Music, French and Business Management and for my last year I have chosen to do Spanish, Administration and Advanced Higher French. At university I would love to study International business with Spanish because this gives me an opportunity to know the world of business as well as studying a language which I absolutely love.
I really enjoy studying languages at school because I have always wanted to travel. In the future, I would like to live in Spain. I have always loved Spain’s culture, the climate, and their attitude and dynamic and hence, this influenced my decision of applying to the Sutton Trust’s Summer School at UCL to study “Languages and Cultures”.
During the programme, we had a series of fun activities that we could complete on various languages such as French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch and many more. Additionally, we received talks from people who work at UCL who were able to give us advice and answer any questions which we had about university. We also had the opportunity to speak with current students at UCL who are studying languages and we had a Q&A session with them which gave us an insight into what university lifestyle really looks like and what studying languages also looks like.
I really enjoyed meeting people who work and study at UCL because it really gave me a clear insight into
this university. I have never considered studying outside of Scotland or at UCL before this Summer School, but now, this experience has opened my eyes to so many opportunities. It changed my view on what university looks like in terms of studying. Before this programme, I thought that once I start university it will be the same, plain things that will be taught to me and that once I go into the course, I will only be able to focus on studying and I will have to drop all of my hobbies to the side. However, to my surprise, I have found out that universities offer so many different societies and opportunities which completely changed my attitude towards going into university.
I really recommend this Summer School to everyone! Others should join this programme because you learn so much about university life and you get to meet so many lovely people. I have learned so much just in five days and this was done virtually this year – I can only imagine how much I would learn if I were there in person! It is such an insightful program and it was very enjoyable too. If I could, I would re-do that whole week again because I found it so fun!
Helping your young person prepare to start at university
By Lauren Sandhu, on 9 September 2020
This series for parents and carers is written by Karen Roberts our Senior Access Officer for pupil engagement. Karen is a former teacher and has lots of experience working with young people. We will be posting on a regular basis so please check back for more tips and ideas.
So, the time has come. Your child has finished their schooling and is preparing to start university this Autumn. We recognise that A Level results day was difficult for many families, but now those young people who found a university place can get ready to move from secondary to Higher Education. Here, we provide some tips for parents on how you can support your son or daughter as they prepare for the next stage of their education journey.
-
Find out how your child’s university plans to teach students during the first academic term
At UCL, we have made the decision to offer a mix of teaching methods next term (September-December 2020), with most teaching and learning taking place online and some face-to-face teaching in small groups where possible (see UCL’s statement on our website). Many universities are going to follow a similar approach, but this will vary across the sector so we suggest looking into this for your child’s university if they’re going elsewhere. At the moment, universities generally do not yet know if there will be more face-to-face teaching in 2021 due to the uncertainty surrounding Covid-19.
In these circumstances, you and your child may decide that it makes most sense for them to live at home for all or part of the year and only travel to campus when they have face-to-face sessions. Of course, your child may want to live on campus regardless or they may not have a choice about living away from home if their university is too far away to commute to, in which case you will need to choose suitable accommodation (see point 4 below) and we would recommend reminding your child of the key ways to stay safe during this time (see point 2 below).
-
Make sure your son or daughter is aware of the safety basics
Universities have worked hard to put measures in place to keep students and staff safe in the coming year such as making sure rooms are large enough to allow social distancing, reducing the number of people who come onto campus at any one time and providing more bike racks to make cycling to campus easier.
However, individuals also need to play their part. So, we suggest reminding your child of the key ways to reduce their risk of Coronavirus infection i.e. staying 2m apart from others where possible, washing their hands frequently, wearing a mask in shops and on public transport and avoiding touching their face. UCL has produced some advice for students which you may find useful.
-
Talk to your child about finances
If your child has applied for Student Finance, they should have confirmation by now that their tuition fees will be paid and details of how much maintenance support they can expect to receive for this year. Once you know how much they’re going to spend on accommodation (see below), then you can talk to them about budgeting and whether or not you will be able to contribute anything towards their living costs while they are university. Remember to check if they are eligible for any bursaries or scholarships; this is money which your child will not have to pay back! Also discuss with your child whether they feel able to work part time to add to their income while they are studying.
We have included links below to details of the bursaries and scholarships which UCL offers along with some other websites related to student finance which you may find helpful.
-
Support your child to find suitable accommodation
Your child has three main choices in terms of accommodation while studying at university:
- Living at home
- Living in student accommodation (halls of residence)
- Living in private housing (owned by a private landlord).
If your child is planning to leave home, then you need to check the available accommodation and lockdown restrictions in the university location. UCAS has lots of useful information on this on their website. If your child is planning to live in university halls of residence, you should be able to obtain information directly from the university on, for example, whether masks will be mandatory in communal areas.
Most halls of residence offer single rooms, with shared kitchen and living spaces. Many have rooms with a private bathroom and others provide self-contained studios where your child would have their own bathroom and cooking facilities. Obviously, the more private space your child has, the more expensive the accommodation cost will be. However, many parents like this option for their child’s first year at university because halls offer a secure and comfortable environment with lots of facilities included. Living in halls could also be a good way for your child to make friends with other new students initially.
Private housing is usually cheaper than halls of residence, particularly if your child chooses to share with other students and it means they will live in a ‘normal’ house. If your child has decided to live in private accommodation, UCL has prepared some advice which may help even if your child is going to a different university.
-
Help your child to develop their cooking skills
Living on ready meals and takeaways might be appealing at first, but ultimately it will be cheaper and healthier for your child to learn to cook. This doesn’t mean they have to become the next Jamie Oliver! If they don’t already cook at home, then perhaps you could teach them 2-3 simple meals which they can practise by cooking for the family before they go to university. Even if they are not leaving home to study, this will be a good life skill for your child to develop as they become more independent.
-
Help your child to get their essential supplies together
UCAS has published a big list of everything your child will need to take to university which you may find useful. At the very least, your child will need:
- Towels and toiletries
- Bedding
- Some basic kitchen equipment (frying pan, saucepan, mugs, plates, cutlery, a tin and/or bottle opener, sharp knife, wooden spoon, chopping board, something to wash dishes with)
They may also want to take along some home comforts to brighten up their room such as a plant or two and some posters or photos, but they don’t need to go overboard as this will just mean more things to pack when they come home. Our advice would be to contribute whatever you can from home and only buy essential items new. There will be some things that your child uses at home which they can take with them (such as their bedding) and others which you should be able to buy quite cheaply. It’s a good idea to find out in advance what is already provided in your child’s student accommodation to avoid unnecessary spending.
Good luck to all of you and to your children who are starting as undergraduates in the next few weeks. If your child is coming to UCL, we look forward to welcoming them here. If they haven’t already, they may want to check out our Countdown to UCL which is on our website and available via an app. You – and they – may be anxious about the new life they are about to begin, but take it from us that you will all get used to it and it will be worthwhile in the end!
Some useful resources related to Student Finance:
My experience of UCL’s 2020 Summer Schools
By Lauren Sandhu, on 3 September 2020
This summer has been a busy one for the Access and Widening Participation team. At the end of July we ran 13 summer schools for students in Year 12 (S5 in Scotland/Year 13 in Northern Ireland) online. Some of the students who attended kindly blogged about their experience. Today we hear from Lena who took part in our English Summer School.
Who knew that in just one week you could acquire so much knowledge, have so many new experiences and forge so many new friendships virtually? I certainly did not. It is sufficient to say that the UCL English Summer School programme far surpassed and exceeded my expectations in every facet. As well as providing a jubilant, friendly and amicable atmosphere, the programme also allowed me to meet incredible faculty members and allowed me to forge deep ties with companionable, skilful, diligent students around the country. The balance of structured seminars/lectures, social events, and university prep/advice sessions was tremendously beneficial in rounding out my first experience of the ‘university lifestyle’ (for lack of a better word). I now feel that I have an advantageous awareness of myself, both individually and professionally, and I am excited to reveal that the UCL Summer School programme has helped me decide to go to university (preferably in central London) and to pursue an undergraduate degree in Journalism.
It is truly unbelievable how much one can accomplish within the span of a very strenuous, yet exciting week! In the English programme, we studied a wide variety of texts ranging from novels such as The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy by Laurence Sterne to also studying one of Shakespeare’s transgressive plays, Twelfth Night, arguably one of my favourite plays by this writer. However, one of the lectures/seminars that intrigued me the most was the very first one where we studied the historical context of the Harlem Renaissance. This lecture/seminar challenged my one dimensional and linear perspective of this historical period since I have never studied it before. It was an eye-opening session.
All the texts we studied centred on the notions of Chance and Accident and how these texts linked with the key themes. To summarise, we analysed theories, critiqued prose and verse, and took a more critical look at how these works link with contemporary and modern society. To finish off the week, we were put in groups of three and each student had to contribute to the presentation that they have set up with their group. I analysed the play ‘Twelfth Night’ with my group and did a critical analysis of Malvolio, linking it to not only the two key themes (Chance and Accident) but also interpreting how this character may link to contemporary and modern society as well. I took an unusual approach talking about the taboo topic of ‘Cancel culture’ and linking the construct Malvolio with modern TV shows such as Black Mirror and books like Trainspotting. It was a very enjoyable and insightful session!
Through the programme, I gained a better depth in pressing societal issues, collaborated with like-
minded individuals, and grew unbelievably as a person. The Student Leaders were so energetic and easy-going and their intuitive way of thinking always broadened my outlook. This helped me realise that I intend to go to university as, although I might be out of my comfort zone, joining a new, unfamiliar environment, I will also meet people from all walks of life and learn more than I would have envisioned!
I would recommend learners to sign up to the programme as not only would you have a taste of what university would be like, but you would be able to expand your knowledge thanks to professors and lecturers who teach passionately and effortlessly and involve viewpoints that span different cultures and world views. Thank you UCL for a lovely experience that I will not forget!
Lena
UCL English Summer School Participant 2020