More Top Revision Tips from Elsie

Hi Guys!!!!!!!!!!! Possibly one too many exclamation marks in that 0_o forgive me. But this is my first EVER blog entry so I’m excited - and a little terrified - at the same time, so bear with me please. 

So it's exam period! And like that isn’t scary enough on its own, it’s my first year writing exams at the university, so as you’d expect, I’m a little freaked out! It’s weird, because I really shouldn’t be, because I KNOW I’ve put in the work, right from the start. Knowing how challenging an engineering course is, I tried to hit the ground running, so I really shouldn’t be worried right? Well, I wish my brain would listen to me and just calm down because apparently, it didn’t get the memo. Funnily enough, while you have people like me who worry about exams, you have other people on the complete end of the spectrum who seem so calm. It’s a bit scary really. Especially when the calm ones are the people you barely recognise because they’ve barely showed up to lectures… So confusing. Of course, there are other types of people as well the prepared calm ones, the unprepared freaked out ones, and of course - my personal favourite - the people who have made the library their second home, to try and make up for the fact that they haven’t opened a book since September. Seriously! I’m really not exaggerating! Our Information commons (that’s one of our libraries) has showers, toilets, comfortable couches, a café and central heating! What more could you need?! So yeah! People live there now and it’s quite ridiculous really. The university has so many resources to help you study, the lecturers are amazingly helpful and approachable, and you have problem classes with postgraduate demonstrators to help you with whatever problem you have. So there really is no reason for you to move into the library a week before the exam starts. But students will be students! Procrastination is just such an attractive concept, we can’t help it! But seriously though, when you go off to university (THE UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD!!!), don’t be a procrastinator. So here are some tips that I think would significantly lower the chances of you becoming a wreck when the exam period draws near: 

• Don’t wait for the exam period to start before you begin to prepare! This is an error so many people make and it’s quite ridiculous when you think about it! If you could really learn 8+ months’ work in 2 weeks, then it would be taught in 2 week, wouldn't it? Make a study plan and stick to it! Even if it’s just dedicating a few hours to go through your lectures when you get home. This makes a massive difference because if you encounter something you don’t really understand, you’re able to get help and move on instead of camping outside a lecturer’s office the day before the exam. 

• Do the work as it comes, don’t leave it till the last minute, no matter how badly you want to watch the next episode of revenge or breaking bad (I've been there too ;D) Now don't get me wrong, I’m not saying you shouldn't relax or go out and have fun, I’m just saying you’re a lot more relaxed and have a lot more fun when you’re not calculating how many hours of sleep you’ll have left if you stay up to finish that lab report the night before its due.

• There are so many resources at your disposal - problem classes, problem sheets, texts books, the library, personal tutors, demonstrators, and even the lecturers themselves - USE THEM!! You spend money on fees to give you access to help! They’re here for you, so take full advantage!

• Now, there’s a long time between resumption and exams, so when the exam period is almost upon you, don’t forget to go back and refresh your memory on the things you've learnt. But unlike the library dwellers, you’re not earning the material from scratch. You’re just hitting the refresh button on the web page that is your brain. So it’s a lot easier. Also, go over as many past papers as you can to familiarise yourself with the structure of the exams and to make sure you completely understand the materials. 

If you do these, you should be absolutely fine and if you do freak out, it’ll only be because you’re like me and just freak out over everything! Now while this method requires a bit more effort than just cruising through the year, it’s totally worth it, and you’ll still have time to have fun and relax, but trust me when I say, doing it this way is so much easier and you’re less likely to have a panic attack when the exams arrive. :)

Thank you for reading! Have a lovely day. xx

Meet our International Engineering Ambassadors: Sindoori Muhunthan

Name: Sindoori Muhunthan 

Course: Bioengineering

Nationality: Sri Lanka

A little bit about myself first! I am Sindhoori Muhunthan, currently in my first year of Bioengineering at the University of Sheffield. I have lived my whole life in the tiny town of Kandy, in Sri Lanka where I attended an international school that follows the British education system.

Choosing the correct university for yourself, is one of the most important decisions of your life. I found it to be one of the toughest too. So how did I decide? Since our school followed the British curriculum, we had annual visits and education fairs from some of the best universities in the UK. This was one of the main things that helped me decide which university I want to go to.

Before this though, I had to decide which course was the best for me. I knew I wanted to be a part of the medical environment and contribute to healthcare, however, I did not see myself working in a clinical environment for the rest of my life. This led me to Bioengineering. Bioengineering is a diverse field, though relatively new, which attempts to solve biological problems that have persisted throughout history using engineering principles.

Once I knew which course of study I wanted to pursue, I had to find the best place for it. After a lot of research and tough decision making I decided on the University of Sheffield, and I am happy to say I have not had any second thoughts about my decision after arriving here. The most exciting thing about my course is the diversity of it. One minute you will be sitting in an electronics lecture, and the next you will be examining cadavers in the anatomy lab. We also have talks from guest lecturers who are a part of the bioengineering industry. This is one of the most valuable aspects of my course as it helps us stay in touch with the current trends and progress within the industry. Some of the main things prospective students should think about before picking their major would be to choose a subject they like and can see themselves working on for the rest of their professional career.

I must admit, leaving home and learning to live by myself for the first time scared me! I did not know what to expect since I am from a country with a completely different culture and different traditions. However, after coming here I realized that it wasn’t as scary as I expected and the transition was not too challenging. There is also an active Sri Lankan society here that helps me to stay in touch with my culture and makes me feel at home.

University work can be really challenging at times, but there is an abundance of things you can do here to relax when the work load gets a little bit too much! Joining societies and meeting new people is always a stress- reliever! You can make a trip to the Peak District and do a little bit of hiking and walk along with nature, or watch a movie at the Students’ Union (which is THE place to go to if you want to just grab a quick bite to eat or hang out with your friends) or maybe even engage in some sort of sports. However, you never need to worry too much about not being able to catch up with your studies. The Information Commons, which is a library, is open 24/7 and also, the lecturers here are always willing to help.

I am really happy I chose Sheffield and got accepted here! The city is lovely and safe and also an ideal place to do all your shopping. Living costs are also much lower when compared to other major cities in the UK. Overall, the experience I have had at the University of Sheffield have been amazing so far and I cannot believe I have already completed one semester here! Time sure flies by fast when you’re having fun! Honestly, I cannot think of a better place to live! 

What does the University offer?

Written by Birju Galaiya

In this blog I will explore into what the university offers in terms of the facilities and support for students. It is really important for all the students to be satisfied with the services provided to them- whether it is directly related to their studies (e.g. library resources) or help them undertake activities outside their course (e.g. sports). I have been impressed by the facilities available to us- it just makes the university experience complete!

As always, with studying being a priority for all students, the University has 3 libraries that students can use for their study time. The biggest of them is the Information Commons that delivers high quality IT-enabled study spaces and 24 hour access to student materials. Having 6 levels, it has study desks where students can read or plug in a laptop, soft-seating areas where students may work informally or relax and specially allocated space for silent study (too silent for my liking!). It also has a 24hour café to cater for those students who are lazy to go back home. Being up to date with technology, the computer system allows you to book computers, group rooms and text books in advance. There are plenty of text books available in all the libraries allowing you to refer to them during revision.

There is a dedicated team of staff that provides computing facilities for students to meet all their learning, research and development needs. It maintains over 1400 computers across the campus together with the printing machines, ensuring they are functioning at all times. With their Laptop Loan Service, students can borrow laptops for free. Also, students are also allowed to borrow creative media equipment such as video cameras which students can use for their society events or even module assignments.

If things are not going right for you, there is always someone you can talk to in the Student Advice Centre. Whether it’s something personal, course related or accommodation problems, you can always count on their advice. It’s all fun and games when you’re healthy and keeping well until you hit rock-bottom. I experienced that during my first semester in second year when I fell ill for more than a month. You feel weak, miss home and a lose appetite. Frustrating as it may be, you have to attend lectures so you do not miss out on topics. Thankfully, the University’s Health Service really assisted me during this rough time. Booking for appointments to see a doctor was not too much of a hassle and you do not have to wait for a long period of time for you to get an appointment. I had a blood test taken at a nearby hospital that gave doctors more information about my condition. The doctors were very understanding and gave me advice and prescriptions on how to get better quickly. Overall, I was pleased by the services they provided.

Being a sport fanatic, I was hoping for great sporting facilities that I could use and yes- Sheffield delivered. The University’s own centre for sports- Sport Sheffield has a lot to offer including several floodlit football and hockey pitches, a swimming pool, state of the art gym, badminton courts and a bouldering wall for the daredevils. You can join the different intra-mural leagues where teams compete against each other while also getting a chance to have a break from studies. Sheffield, known for its hills, has been a brilliant place for me to explore my running- I enjoy running in the numerous parks, hills and get a chance to see some beautiful scenery Sheffield has to offer. If not Sport Sheffield, Sheffield offers other venues such as the Ponds Forge International Sports Centre which as an Olympic-sized 50m swimming pool. Whatever sport you are interested in, you won’t be disappointed.

These are just some of the things the University offers. There are loads more!