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Asked by snacks to Joe on 25 Mar 2010 in Categories: About.
Question: I hope to study at UCL next year, could you give me an insight into what it's like working/being there please?
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Joseph Devlin answered on 25 Mar 2010:
Hi Snacks,
How cool! UCL is a pretty great place. There are tons of amazing things going on in the university scientifically because of the sheer numbers of internationally reknown academics here. In fact, sometimes it can be a little overwhelming cause there are too many options. But it does mean there are tons of opportunities to get involved in most anything that interests you.
Socially, it’s a fun part of London to live in. It’s basically West End — a short walk from Soho and lots of amazing food and fun pubs, shows, etc. I guess the down side is that the campus is pretty urban and I think that limits the sense of a UCL community among our undergrads. Most people form fairly large and strong groups of friends, but it’s not like you’d always be seeing the same people from the uni like if you were someplace with a more defined campus.
The students I teach seem to really enjoy it here. Good lcuk!
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Comments
Nick commented on :
Ahh you don’t want to go to London – its expensive and smelly. You should go up North, or even better Scotland!
Carolyn commented on :
Hi Snacks
I think you’d get on really well at UCL, though the lecturers might be scared of all those clever questions you’ve got up your sleeve! Here’s something I wrote to another student who asked about the pros and cons of studying in London:
Pros:
1. It’s a fantastic city – now I’ve got used to all the variety of things to do in London, I’m going to find it hard to live anywhere else (except maybe NYC…that would be fab)
2. The academic environment is amazing – so many colleges, so many great researchers.
3. I guess job opportunities are probably slightly better in London?
Cons:
1. Expense!
2. It’s a big place and probably can be a bit overwhelming at the start. I moved here for my PhD so I was a bit older and more independent. I’m not sure I would have found it so easy when I was 18.
3. There’s a lot of travelling. It’s probably easier to meet up with friends as a student in smaller cities and towns. On the other hand, it’s just so much more exciting here!
Also, students in London are really stylish – I’m amazed when I see all the UCL lot trotting around Bloomsbury! Is that a pro or a con??
Joe commented on :
Scotland?! No, no, no, no. Y’all eat haggis and drink irn bru — gross. At least in London you can eat well! 😉 [I’m kidding — Edinburgh is one of my favorite cities and Univ of Edinburgh is world-class all the way]
Nick commented on :
Joe, I’m with you with the Irn Bru (foul stuff), but haggis is really very nice (I actually had in for breakfast almost every Saturday for anbout a year and a half. Then I had a baby and didn’t have time for any more than toast)
Nick commented on :
And seriously UCL is a very good univeristy. Just a shame its in London…
Joe commented on :
I had haggis at a friend’s place in Inverness which was cool because it was homemade and all, but it took a lot of whiskey before I could eat it…
Nick commented on :
I’m worried by the “home made” bit. I looked up a recipe once and it began with “Take one sheep…”
snacks commented on :
I haven’t ever had haggis… :(. whats it like?
Joe commented on :
I think Nick is right person to answer. He apparently likes it enough to eat it for breakfast (*shudder*)
Nick commented on :
Its relly nice (well I think so), its basicly meat but has got a slightly spicy taste to it. Best seved with mashed turnips, potatoe and prefereably a glass of whiskey. Haggis and potatoe soup is also very nice.
Joe commented on :
Snacks, if you do come to UCL next year, you must come by and say hi. And I apologize in advance for calling you “Snacks” for the rest of your life. 🙂
snacks commented on :
ok 🙂 I will do! … I can cope with being called “snacks” 😀 I have a ski hoodie with it on the back…