Aishwarya Chidambaram

Course: Mathematics and Statistics

From: UK

Hi, I'm Aishy, a third year Maths student from London. As Final year hits, I'm focusing on my degree as well as keeping up with some of my activities. I am now the President of the Maths Society and I also take an interest in all things ICU, including my constituent union the Royal College of Science and sitting on council. I hope you enjoy my blog and do contact me if you have any questions!

Thank you Netball

Mathematics and Statistics

One of the best parts of my life at Imperial

ICUNC Committee 2018/19

With the Netball season coming to a close, I thought it was time to reflect on another year as a member of Imperial College Netball Club (ICUNC). If you’ve ever seen me around campus during the week, there’s a high chance I was probably covered head to toe in Netball Stash, but my love for Netball and the girls at ICUNC doesn’t end there.  As a girl at Imperial, it can be pretty lonely, but the saving grace has been the incredible girls I have met through Netball. Training together through the freezing winter, matches in the rain and Sports Nights going wrong has made me so close to all of the girls in my team and the rest of the club, and I have so appreciated always knowing that I have a whole team of girls to turn to.

Varsity 2019

Playing at Varsity 2019

The end of the sports side of the Netball season always means Varsity, where all IC teams take on their medic opponents. After an early start all the teams made it out to our home grounds at Heston ready for a long day of netball, cheering and of course a few pints. The whole club came together to make sure there was a crowd watching by the sidelines cheering on the teams playing throughout the day, however the highlight of the day was of course the 1st team’s showcase match. Crowds gathered in their hundreds, cheers got louder (and more aggressive tbh) and everyone was ready for a showdown. Our first team ladies did not let us down, winning the match and making it look easy!

Even if all the ICUNC teams didn’t win at Varsity this year, we had an absolutely amazing time showing off how hard we’ve worked over the year. Seeing how well my own team came together in the lead up to Varsity and then pulling together despite mid-match disaster when one of our shooters taking a tumble, made me feel so incredibly proud of them.

Annual Dinner

Team Awards at Annual Dinner

Every year all of the members of ICUNC gather to celebrate another successful year for the club. Having attended the event last year with only 4 other members of my team, I was absolutely delighted to have my entire team of 12 all coming along this year. Aside from the classic three course meal, we were treated to a slideshow of photos from the year, speeches from our club captain and award winners and of course plenty of fines. It was a chance for captains to give out awards to the girls in their teams and to just spend some much needed time with our teammates before Netball gets disbanded for exam season.  The thought of saying goodbye to people leaving Imperial and celebrating everyones awards left not a dry eye in sight. But they were happy tears, tears knowing what an amazing years it’s been for everyone.

I really cannot put into words exactly how much I have appreciated everyone in ICUNC. Especially our Club Captain Charlotte, who this year has massively respected all of the teams in the club, inspiring me to keep my team motivated and consequently given us some great wins, showing everyone just how much we’ve improved. Credit has to also be given to our coach Jackie. Her perseverance and patience with us throughout the year has allowed us to learn so much, try out new skills and ideas and have fun whilst doing so.

So much love for these girls

But most of all I really have to thank the girls on my team. I have been so fortunate to be able to captain you throughout this season. You’ve been so committed and tried your hardest at every single game and stayed positive despite losses. You’ve made netball so special to me this year and I am so grateful for that, I am so glad to have a friend in each and every one of you. Thank you so much.

Netball Love xx

Yes, I am a girl at Imperial

Mathematics and Statistics

And as International Women’s Day approaches, here’s my story

An All Girls Experience

Growing up I don’t think I was actually aware of the gender gap in STEM. Having gone to an all girls school, I grew up in this idealistic bubble where I thought I could do anything and be anything I wanted. I am glad for this bubble as it didn’t hold me back from trying to be the best at Science, Maths and Computing. However in yr10 this bubble was popped. No it wasn’t popped by some boy saying he was better than me or a teacher telling me girls couldn’t be engineers. Ironically, it was popped by an organisation trying to help girls into STEM, but it was my first exposure to the reality that there aren’t as many of us girls out here in science. This program gave me the chance to delve into a world of Science and Engineering beyond what my school could offer me, an insane opportunity I wouldn’t dare pass over.

My Further Maths Class of One

Heading into Sixth Form, now very aware that I was a minority as the only student in my further maths class whilst History and English classes had over 15, I was beginning to get an insight into what lay ahead of me in this treacherous path into STEM. I was constantly being compared to my counterparts at the boys school, with this expectation for me to be worse than them. Left in a poor situation by my school and ending up self teaching most Maths and Further Maths modules, I was beginning to feel like I was in a situation where I couldn’t win, whilst the boys were sailing through with their very experienced teacher.

Unfortunately the set backs didn’t stop there. I was then under predicted in Further Maths despite achieving near perfect marks in yr12. On questioning my prediction, I was told it was because of the “previous performances in the school”. Meanwhile all the boys, in the same situation, were predicted A*s, even though I had outperformed them (not that it’s a competition!). It’s important that students are judged based on their own performances and not that of others, as all students have different potential and work ethics. I was lucky enough to have a chemistry teacher and Head of Sixth Form who whole heartedly believed in me and reassessed my predicted grade to rectify the situation. From this I was left more motivated than ever to prove to my maths teachers and myself that I could get that A* in Further Maths, even if my ability was doubted and it was something that hadn’t been achieved at this school for a number of years.

A Level Results Day

A Level results day will forever be one of the best days of my life. The day I was able to prove my ability, show how hard I’d worked and most of all secure my place at Imperial, a university where I knew I’d be able to continue my journey in Maths. A part of me will always be grateful for the teachers who doubted me and the work I had to self-teach as it really did push me to try to achieve the best I could and show them that I could do it despite additional barriers. As women, we often undermine ourselves and doubt our own abilities, believing we are less than we actually are. Through this journey one of the biggest things I learnt was to have faith in myself. People tried to put limits on me, but what was important was for me to know my own limits and to push them, working to MY best ability not the ability that someone else thought I had.

Making the Most of Imperial

Whilst at Imperial I have met some amazing women (as well as men), my fellow students, lecturers and women in industry. I have been inspired and learnt so much about using Maths in a career and life as a woman in STEM. I’ve even had an opportunity to share my story here and through Her Imperial. Whilst being a woman is often viewed as a disadvantage, we should actually see it as advantageous, something my undergraduate liaison officer, Inkeri, has been trying to show us. Being a woman in such a male dominated environment as Maths just makes us all the more special. We stand out. We are smart, employable, hard workers and most of all, we’re just as good as the boys! We just need to believe it.

So from one young woman on this path to another, all thats left to say is: Be you, be proud and believe in yourself.

Happy International Women’s Day!

#imperialwomen

Already Halfway?

Mathematics and Statistics

How have I already reached halfway through my time at Imperial?

As we hit the middle of February there was only one thing I could really think about, coming to half way through my degree. All undergraduate Imperial students studying engineering and most science students are on 4 year programmes, however, breaking tradition, I have decided to only do the 3 year BSc. A lot of this is due to my focus away from research and towards industry as the 4th year of the maths degree leans towards research.

During my year and half here I have definitely made some incredible friends from all over the world, learnt so much – not only academically but also practically and also had some of my best memories. Here are some of the best things I’ve learnt over my time here and also some of my top tips to making the most of your first year or so here.

What I’ve Learnt:

  • Step out of your comfort zone: More than once I have slightly gone out of what I knew and looking back I’m so glad I did. One example is actually student blogging. I didn’t plan to keep writing when I came to university, however I stumbled across a flyer and I thought I’d just have a go. I was so sure I wouldn’t get selected to be a blogger that I didn’t tell anyone I had applied, not even my best friend at Imperial or my parents. Given the large number of applicants it was such a good feeling to be told I made it and made me so glad I tried something new.
  • If an opportunity comes knocking, take it! At the start of summer all Maths students were invited to apply to be induction ambassadors for the incoming freshers. I already had a packed summer of work experience and travel lined up so decided not to apply as I wanted to myself some time to relax as well. About midway through the holiday the member of staff running the selection programme emailed asking if I’d like to apply thinking the role would be a perfect fit for me. Although I had initially been hesitant I thought, why not? I had nothing to lose after all. Once again one the of the best decisions I’ve ever made. The opportunity to work with a completely new team on a project I was very passionate about gave me a lot more confidence in myself and left me feeling utterly grateful to have had the opportunity.
  • Don’t compare yourself: Imperial students have all come from similar backgrounds, being amongst the top in their schools. When all of these people come together at Imperial it creates an insane atmosphere where everyone is super smart and want to well. Given this, it’s easy to lose confidence in yourself by comparing your downfalls to other people’s successes. I have definitely been guilty of doing this! Coming into second year in particular what I have learnt is that everyone has different levels of success. Success should just be about doing your best and if you’re gonna compare yourself to anyone compare to yourself. See if you’re improving throughout the year. Everyone also has different goals for which they might need to have achieved different things.
  • Get involved! Imperial is is home to over 16,000 students. It’s easy to get lost amongst this and feel like you don’t matter. My top tip to overcoming this is to get involved. After first year I felt quite disjointed from Maths, as if I was just going through the motions. Through getting involved with Student Ambassadors, MathSoc Committee and Women in Maths, I’ve begun to feel like I’m actually a part of something and has definitely made me feel a lot more settled.

Imperial is such a great place to study at, make sure to make the most of it!

Netball does Charity Week

Mathematics and Statistics

Cancer Awareness in Young People Week (CAYP)

This coming week, Imperial College Netball Club (ICUNC) is set to bring you a charity week, hoping to increase cancer awareness in young people and also raise money for charity. Fil, our 1st team captain, has written an incredible article about our vision for the week in Felix.

The charities we are supporting include:

During the week we will be working with a number of other societies to host a variety of events that you can get involved in, from talks to netball, ACC and more. There has always been a certain taboo surrounding cancer, we hope that during the course of the week people can come along to some our the talks we have planned and learn about cancer symptoms,  how to check for them yourself and when it’s a good idea to speak to your GP. Through talks being delivered in a lighthearted manner, we hope to remove the idea that talking about cancer is scary, we just hope that everyone is able to take something away from the week being more aware about cancer and spotting signs, as it is scientifically proven that for many types of cancer, the earlier it can be diagnosed, the survival statistics greatly increase. This is something very close to our hearts at ICUNC and we hope to do it justice, raising some money for charities who do so much for young people with cancer and most importantly hoping to educate on cancer, stamping out the taboo and all in hope of increasing awareness in young people.

So how can you get involved?

Chats About Cancer

  • Tuesday 29th January, 6pm
  • SAF Lecture Theatre G34

Come along to hear a little bit about cancer symptoms in a talk give by some of your fellow students. We’ll also be talking about how to check for symptoms and knowing when to speak to your GP. This is something that all young people should be aware of and can really save lives.
Bring all of your friends and everyone you know!!

On Wednesdays We Wear Pink – ACC

  • Wednesday 30th January 8pm – late
  • ACC – look out for the union adorned in pink!

This ACC we are going full out in pink, like even more than usual!! (like even more than our committee tops in metric?) Come along for some snakebites in your favourite mean girls attire. A sports night raising money for charity it doesn’t get better! See you there – look out for the girls in pink!

Netball Funday

  • Saturday 2nd February, 12:30-15:30
  • Kennington Park
  • £3 per person (all for charity!)

Get yourselves into a team of 7 and come along to have a stab at Netball. No previous experience required, don’t worry if you don’t know the rules! Fancy dress and some beers are strongly encouraged for the full experience! Check out our Facebook event for more information!

I will also be taking over the Imperial College Instagram account on Saturday to share all the fun! Stay tuned!

We hope to see you at some (or all!) of these events. We want to people feel more comfortable talking about cancer, as talking about cancer can ultimately save lives.

New Year… New Me?

Mathematics and Statistics

Looking back and Looking forward

So Long 2018

Covering Open Day on Instagram

As 2018 draws to a close I have been reminiscing about some of the amazing opportunities I have been given this year, as well as some incredible projects I’ve been a part of and of course all the fun with my friends in between! Coming into this calendar year I would never have imagined that I’d currently be as involved

with life at Imperial as I have been. I’ve been fortunate enough to feature as part of the Her Imperial Campaign, go on holiday with my best friends that I met living at Beit Hall last year, moved into my first flat and got to take over the Imperial College Instagram account more times than I can count! Given all of these things and more I can say without question, that it has been one of the best years of my life and I can’t wait to see what 2019 has to offer!

The Her Imperial Campaign

Hello 2019

For me the weirdest thought about 2019 is that, in February, I will be halfway through my degree and time at Imperial. It seems to have gone by so quick. Finishing first year and now thinking about the career path I might like to pursue, has crept upon me. I guess time really does fly when you’re having fun, yet there’s still so much I’d like to do and accomplish in my time at Imperial and I hope 2019 is the year to do these things.

Between applying for internships, considering my career prospects and completing the year on my various committees, I have also been left thinking about what extra curricular activities I’d like to be a part of in my final year as elections for committee positions will be starting in March. However another big part of this year will be facing the tougher academic requirements with exams counting 4 times more than in first year. This leaves 2019 set to be an incredibly busy year!

Venice with my friends

New Year’s Resolutions

As per usual, I will start this year off attempting to follow a few simple rules that might try to improve my life, both academically and personally.

  1. Sleep more – I have noticed that the amount I sleep has been slowly decreasing. When I joined Imperial, I was easily sleeping 8 hours a night, however as the terms have gone by this has slowly gone down to maximum of 6 hours a night, often less during the week. In order to address this, I’m going to start working earlier in the morning that way I can go to sleep sooner, and not get stuck in the rut of sleeping late and trying to wake up early, and thus being incredibly unproductive.

    Highlight of 2018
  2. Degree >> MathSoc – Being on MathSoc committee has been absolutely amazing, although it has taken up a great deal of my time. I occasionally (okay I do this a lot :/ ) do any MathSoc work, like making posters, planning events and calling up venues, before I do my academic work, meaning my problem sheets gets done later in the evenings. In 2019 I’m going to try to get my degree work done first and then enjoy working on MathSoc events at leisure afterwards.
  3. Reviewing notes more – Although the maths department gives us weekly tests in most modules, coming into the Christmas holidays, I have found that I have been more unprepared than expected. During term time, I tend to make flashcards with all the proofs, definitions and examples before each test. When reviewing these this week, I realised I had left quite a few gaps which had to be filled. In the coming year I hope improve this process by dedicating more time to reviewing notes and making flashcards during the term time, so it doesn’t pile up to the holidays.

I hope to keep you updated on the (lack of) progress of these resolutions and see if there are any positive outcomes in 2019!

So all thats left for me to say is have a Happy New Year! All the best for 2019!!

 

 

 

 

MathSoc Committee

Mathematics and Statistics

Who would’ve thought I’d be a social sec?

After plenty of support and encouragement from my peers and some members of staff, I decided to run for a committee position in MathSoc, Imperial College’s Mathematics Society. In the past the society hasn’t had the best social events, and as this was something I worked on at school, I thought this would be a good position for me to run for. (definitely one of the best decisions I’ve made!)

Last year, MathSoc faced heavy criticism (see Imperial College Secrets/Exposed) for not having enough social events so I was so excited to be able to try and change the way people perceive MathSoc by throwing some fab events and revamping our social media platforms, including setting up an Instagram account. (@icmathsoc)

Halloween

Mummy Wrap

As soon as I was elected in, I was thrown straight into the deep end and tasked with organising a Halloween social. Given strict guidelines and less than 4 days, we somehow managed to pull off ‘Huxley Haunting’, one of the most successful campus based events the society has had recently! By encouraging people to come with their Mums and Dads families, we had 50 people split into groups ready to compete in challenges including toilet paper mummy wrap, cake decorating, transporting (chocolate) eyeballs with chopsticks and a horror quiz.

The Pub Crawl

Pub Crawl vs Physoc

With new found confidence in the new social secs, MathSoc set about creating a load more socials than we’ve ever had before. Teaming up with PhySoc, we organised a pub crawl around some of our favourite watering holes in South Kensington, aiming to count the number of members of each society that managed to make it back to sports night. Although, I must admit that this didn’t go quite to plan with half of the MathSoc committee bailing to Tesco and no one remembering to count people upon arrival at the union. I will therefore just say MathSoc won!

Ice Skating

Ice Skating at NHM

After a successful pub quiz, with free pizza and drinks, hosted by one of our sponsors, we were soon in the lead up to Christmas. Copying nearly every other society we decided to run an event to go ice skating at the Natural History Museum. (A great £9 student deal including an hour skating and a free drink incase you haven’t been yet!) Our initial batch of 30 tickets sold out so quick and there was such a high demand for this event that we ended up having to purchase 20 more tickets last minute. The event itself was so much fun and with MathSoc subsidising tickets down to £5, it as a steal of an evening.

 

Christmas Dinner

Our favourite lecturers

The highlight of my term has of course been the annual Christmas Dinner. In previous years this event hasn’t quite gone to plan, with formal dress codes being reduced to casual and the event ending as early as 9:30pm. Bearing this in mind, we were set to create the best black tie Christmas Dinner MathSoc has ever seen, this year featuring an inaugural afterparty to be hosted at the union.

 

Speech Speech Speech!

After six weeks of planning, selling out all 170 tickets in a few hours and fixing menu choices for a variety of peculiar dietary requirements, it finally came around to the big day. We were lucky enough to have 12 of our favourite lecturers sitting at the tables with us during our delightful three course meals (plus the standard half a bottle of wine). Following a speech from our President Hitesh, and a short quiz featuring funny stories from the lecturers, we headed off to end the night with free drinks and an abundance of cheesy pop music at Metric. It was great to see some of our lecturers, who shall remain anonymous, partying with the freshers into the early hours of the morning, definitely a surprise!! After an obligatory rendition of Mr Brightside at 1am it was time for everyone to go home from what was, certainly for me, the best night of the year and a perfect way to celebrate the end of term.

 

Grateful for new friends on this committee

I have so enjoyed my first term as part of this committee. Not only have I learnt a great deal about the way a committee works and plenty of skills to include on my CV, but most importantly I have felt like I am a part of something bigger, and ultimately making a difference to people’s university experience. MathSoc has improved so so so much this term and I am so incredibly proud to be a part of it and to have made some amazing friends along the way. Thoroughly looking forward to the rest of the year!

So Far in Second Year

Mathematics and Statistics

My busiest term at Imperial to date

It’s fair to say that this term has been the most enjoyable term I have had so far at Imperial and I can’t wait to tell you all about it. It’s been super busy, I’m not sure how I managed to keep up with everything and still not skip any (most) lectures! Alongside juggling my degree in maths, I’ve also spent this term applying for internships, being on a few committees and running events as a student ambassador.

Netballin’

Often when people think about studying at such an academic university as Imperial, their immediate thought isn’t about all the extra curricular activities they will be able to take part in. However for me, being in these committees and societies has become such an integral part of my life. Everyone will always talk about how great being on a committee looks on your CV and sure, that’s true. But for me getting involved so much has allowed me to feel more settled and feel like I’m a part of something important. I’ve enjoyed helping make a difference to people’s university experiences for the better.

In this post I will  briefly talk about the various opportunities I’ve had this term and promise to dedicate my next few posts to expanding on some of my favourite of these opportunities!

What have I been up to?

  1. As a part of the student shapers programme, I was lucky enough to be selected to be a Mathematics Student Ambassador. Working with 4 other Maths students, we created a scavenger hunt, not in halls event and student panel for the new freshers. Although we had to come in to work during the last few weeks of the summer holidays, we had a lot of fun creating clues and activities for the scavenger hunt and trying out our ideas on our friends. The freshers enjoyed all of our events and it’s been great seeing a change in the maths department resulting in more cross year mingling following our efforts.

    Slumber Party!
  2. As I mentioned last year, I am also a member of the committee for the Imperial College Netball Club. As a team captain I have been a part of selecting players for teams, writing match reports and working closely with coaches on strategies as well as organising plenty of socials for our team to bond. This term, we’ve had a variety of socials including team dinners, going to sports nights together culminating with a whole club Christmas dinner and a team slumber party!
  3. After missing out on being elected in by a few votes last year, by chance the position of social events officer on MathSoc committee became available and I created a campaign to run for the position. It was a tense week as voting opened and I found out I was running against 5 other candidates but to my delight people voted for me and I was elected in! So much has happened since I joined the committee, we’ve organised numerous socials including pub crawls, ice skating an of course a Christmas Dinner, but most of all I’ve really enjoyed working with the rest of the team and making some great friends.

    A successful campaign
  4. I have always wanted to promote better wellbeing care within my department so when the year reps elections came around, it seemed like a no brainer to apply to be my year group’s wellbeing rep. Over the past few weeks I have enjoyed the insight I have gained into what goes into making changes and decisions within the department. We have also held a number of events with the aim of just giving people a break from the stresses of daily life and coursework. In out most popular event people came along the the study room, the heart of the maths department, and helped us put up the Christmas tree, adorn the MLC with tinsel and consume nearly 15 boxes of mince pies!
MathSoc Committee 2018/19

Being a part of all of these amazing things has meant that I have made so many new friends and had plenty to keep me busy where last year I didn’t really feel like I was making the most of my free time. I will however warn everyone in saying that I wouldn’t recommend taking on this much all in one go. Over the course of the year I have sometimes found it difficult to prioritise and have definitely had to make sacrifices including missing out on seeing my friends outside of maths from time to time. However the feeling of creating a successful event or having a good time with my netball team or the MathSoc committee has made it so worth it. This term has been absolutely phenomenal and can’t wait for what next term has to offer!

Women in Maths

Mathematics and Statistics

And my experience at Imperial

Studying Maths at Imperial does not only mean living in one of the most vibrant cities in the world, but also being a part of a top world ranking Mathematics department, boasting two field medalists. However as a woman in this department what I have appreciated the most is having female role models such as Professor Emma McCoy. Through lecturing me in first year, she not only taught me statistics in such a thorough and engaging manner, but who has also inspired me to focus my studies on statistics. By bringing in real life scenarios, including her own passion for cycling statistics, marathon times and rather controversially road traffic accidents, McCoy managed to convince my entire cohort that statistics was one of the most enticing areas of mathematics with countless applications in the real world.

Professor McCoy is just one of the amazing women in the department, something that is highlighted by our biweekly “Women in Maths lunches” where we have already heard from four fascinating women working in the department including McCoy this year. At these events, all members of the department regardless of gender, are invited to hear female alumni, current PhD students or lecturers speaking about their research at the university or how they have applied knowledge from a degree in their career. Speakers are always willing to answer questions at the time or in the future, many offering to mentor and advise students on finding jobs and progressing in careers. For more information, to sign up to the mailing list or if you’d be interested in giving a talk at this event, please contact Women in Maths’ expert organisers and third year maths students Alma Fredriksson and Manlin Chawla.

Whilst walking around Huxley, it becomes apparent that there is a slight gender gap however our undergraduate liaison officers create a friendly environment in which we are encouraged to speak out about issues affecting us and suggest improvements for the department, including events to bring together the community of female home students, the smallest minority. Through outreach programmes including visiting schools there is a strong focus to bring more women into the department.

Being a woman in a field dominated by men has never deterred me from pursuing a degree and a career in mathematics, if anything, it has motivated me as there is something special and more unique about studying such a fundamental subject when perhaps people don’t expect you to be able to. It’s so empowering to see a new generation of mathematicians more equally split in gender than ever before as it proves how there is nothing stopping women from excelling in this subject. Everyday I am surrounded by some exceptionally talented young minds, people who one day will be world leading researchers, thriving in finance or generally excelling in their field. But for now they are frighteningly intelligent and hard working peers who make up a community that I am thrilled to be a part of. 

Given my overwhelmingly positive experience, the advice that I would give to any young women keen on studying Maths at a higher level is that loving maths will be enough to carry you through your degree regardless of whether there is a gender gap because, at the end of the day, it is your passion that is most important. But most of all, be proud to be a woman in STEM.

Making the Most of an Open Day

Mathematics and Statistics

My Top Tips for getting the most out of your visit

In all of the chaos it’s easy to get lost and forget about what you need to find out from open day. Here are some of my top DOs and DON’Ts, that helped me to get through countless open days when I was in yr 12 and 13.

Before the Open Day:

  • DON’T attend with people who you feel might try to influence your opinion of a university, at the end of the day, you will be the one studying at the university and so it’s important that you feel comfortable at the university, not your friends or family.
  • DO write down a list of questions in a book or on your phone so that you can tick them off as you find out the answers during the course of the day. This will also help you decide what to see during the day. If you don’t hear the answer to a question, ask a student or member of staff, they are always willing to help!
  • DO plan your whole day in advance. Think about how you will travel to the open day. Will you need to book tickets or accommodation? Can you share costs with a friend? What do you want to see during the day? Make a timetable so you know exactly where you need to be at what time, and can book any talks in advance.

At the Open Day:

  • DO try to visit accommodation. Remember that academia is only one side to university life. Make sure you get to know the location of your university. What is the accommodation like? Is it affordable? How will I get to university from my
    halls? Would I like to live here?
  • DON’T rush your visit, try to make enough time to look around the university and the town or city it’s in. Make sure you get a proper feel for the place, as this could be where you live for 3/4 years or longer.
  • DO ask current students a
    bout what their experience has been like. After all their response will be the truth and might effect how you feel about the university.
  • DO take note about exam or coursework structure of a course as if exams are your thing you might like to consider whether a coursework heavy course is right for you and if you will enjoy the constant assessment.
  • DON’T only consider just one course. Many courses share similar components and first years, then allow you to specialise in second year, for example most engineering programmes at Imperial or the similarity between the Maths and Physics courses.

After the Open Day:

  • DO make notes of how your day was, once you visit a few different open days you’ll forget which was which. Write down the pros and cons of the university. How did the niversity make you feel? Did you feel like you would fit in? Can you imagine yourself there?
  • DO think about whether you can achieve the academic standards required for the course at the university. Set yourself goals to make sure you can reach the academic standard required before exam season.
  • DO get in touch with the university if you have more questions, it’s best to find out what you’re getting into before committing to anything!

 

Life at Beit Hall

Mathematics and Statistics

Everyone from the West Ground Corridor

It’s Beit as in bite not Beit as in bait

Don’t worry, I was calling it “Bait” right until the moment when my hall senior greeted me on move in day and I’d just made a fool of myself by pronouncing it wrong for months! My time in halls this year has absolutely flown by. Do I feel like I made the most of my time here? Probably not, but with 3 weeks left I look forward to enjoying the benefits of living in such a prestigious and lively area in the heart of London. I’ll split this post into 2 sections what I’ve liked and disliked about Beit, and what to consider when choosing halls.

I am in love with the life at Beit because:

  • It’s on the main South Kensington campus2 minutes away from most departments, including campus eateries and the 24/7 library. Short commutes mean a better chance of getting into lectures even after a night out and thus more productive use of time
    • Convenient to get to Ethos, Imperials onsite gym, pool and sports hall
    • Ability to use the library through the night and not worry about getting home
  • Location
    • Hyde park (our extensive back garden) is super convenient for a quick walk or run, or even a picnic in the summer
      Evenings at Hyde Park

       

    • The hub of South Kensington is just a five minute walk away, whether to use the station to get into town, or to get food from one of the many cafes and restaurants in the area
    • Museums on our doorstep meaning you can visit throughout the year and by getting there early can avoid queues
    • great night bus connections into/ out of central London after nights out (the N9 is a saviour)
    • Bedrooms on the east floors have views of the Royal Albert Hall, so you get a front seat to all of the red carpets of the awards
    • and film premiers
  • Union in our building
    • Having the union in the same quad means you’ll never have to worry about how to get home after sports night
    • Convenient access to curly fries (strongly re
    • commend) and plenty of other good but not money burning food
    • Many societies are based out of the union so its always quick to get somewhere
    • Feel at the centre of life at Imperial
Lunches at the Union
  • It’s one of the largest halls
    • Plenty of people to meet means you have ample opportunity to find “your people”
    • Flats of 10-12 people means you don’t always see the same people but it’s also small enough group that you all become
      genuinely good friends
    • It’s a very social hall with two large common rooms that can be used, and many hall-organised predrink events with free alcohol
    • Lots of events including BBQs, free cake, ice cream and film nights, karaoke and free breakfasts every Sunday
    • Offers 4 types of rooms: single and shared ensuite and single and shared with shared bathrooms
  • My only qualms about Beit would be:
    • noisy on sports nights till 2am, so often you have to se the library to work on louder nights
    • It’s not one of the new purpose built halls, but still much nicer than other halls I’ve visited in Imperial and other universities

 

What to remember when choosing accommodation

  • Price – Consider what you can actually afford, as on top of halls you’ll have other expenses such as food, clubs and societies, going out and travel. For halls that require a commute it’s worth considering the cost of taking the tube each day.
  • Sharing a bathroom – Bathrooms get cleaned nearly everyday so would it be that bad to share a bathroom?
  • Whether you’ll have the motivation to commute in or will you only come in if you live next door
  • If you think you’ll do a lot of clubs, especially sports or performing arts its great to be near the main campus so you can get back easily after training/matches which can end late
  • Do you want to get some fresh air and exercise and walk through the park each morning? If yes then consider Pembridge and Wilson in Notting Hill and Paddington respectively as commutes both involve a short 15 minute walk through the park

Wherever you get to live next year I’m sure you’ll enjoy it as everyone I know has enjoyed their halls this year, whether it was their first choice or not!

I’ll leave you this ridiculously cheesy welcome video to the life at Beit from this year’s Hall Seniors

 

Learn more about life at Imperial

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