Blog posts

Obesity, Twins and Space…

MBBS Medicine

I am PLODDING through revision. I looked over a lecture today on obesity and it discussed obesity in twins…

It got me thinking about an investigation NASA has planned to do with twins in space which you may/may not know about. NASA will embark on a year- long mission in March 2015 when they send Scott Kelly to the International Space Station and his twin brother Mark will remain on Earth. As a medic (who is currently revising genetics…) I find this really interesting as they are going to be studying the effect of different environments on two people with the same genes for a whole year.

Physics Physics Physics!

MSCi Physics

I am now one week into my Easter Holidays, and deep into revising quantum mechanics. Those of you who are hoping to study Physics at university are probably a bit confused by my constant moaning about it. Quantum, after all is a strange and enticing subject, the topic of many interesting popular science books and promises to provide deep insights into the counterintuitive and fundamental nature of everything. 😮 I can empathise. I too was super excited to learn about quantum, but it turned out not to be really what I was expecting, especially last year when learning all the names and equations without really getting into it left me completely baffled.

Oxbridge vs Imperial…take two!

Jelle profile

BSc Biochemistry

At Imperial, almost everyone you meet has tangled with Oxbridge at some point. The students are Oxbridge rejects, the faculty is largely composed of Oxbridge old boys/girls, and the hall subwardens are imported directly with their shiny Oxbridge diplomas clenched in clever hands for some good old Imperial postgraduate work.

Oxbridge is the elephant in the Imperial room. Almost to a one, we were crushed by our rejections, and some of us felt we were “settling” for Imperial. So when I claim now that, were I to again have the choice before me, I would choose Imperial over Cambridge, it might sound slightly insincere and revisionist to the discerning ear–but I promise I’m telling the truth!

I’ve got SOLE.

MBBS Medicine

SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED SINCE I LAST BLOGGED.

I’ve actually been a bit scared to do this blog post because I have so much to talk about and it has scared me thinking about writing it. It was like a terrifying to do list that had slowly started to build up:

–          Having 2 Exams…completing around 40% of my year!

–          Being stressed about how the exams went…

–          Being elected as one of two ICSM (Imperial College School of Medicine) Union- Social Secretary’s

–          Watching the amazing UH Win! (Yay Sherry and Super)

–          Varsity Win (You go, Netball!)

–          My new found addiction to Salsa Music

–          Being given an iPad by the MedSchool (best few days EVER)

–          Easter Revision

But I have decided that I will not base this blog on any of the above.

partying partying HARD

Isobel profile

BSc Biology with a year in Europe

Ok I didn’t actually party that hard buuuuut TERM IS OVER! I’m making use of this time before an incredibly busy 4 weeks of holiday where I won’t be able to blog much, if at all, to spam all of you with the thrilling details of my life. So what happened this week.

On Monday I handed in my final essay of the term which was on the origin of HIV/AIDS in humans. It was actually very interesting to write but maaan was I glad to submit that. I had to read a lot of papers to understand this particular topic and I still find reading journals quite difficult!

End of term activities!

MSCi Physics

Happy last week of Imperial term! Aside from my lab report deadline on Friday, a lab interview and some assessed problems that I almost forgot existed somehow (although we have them every week) the end of term for me has been pretty free of the language exams and hideous coursework deadlines that a lot of my friends have been plagued with.

It’s quite sad to say goodbye to E&M and Sun Stars and Planets, though I am not sure I can say quite the same for Solid State. Next term promises Optics and Particle Physics, both of which I am a little bit hesitant about declaring my love for yet, but hopefully Optics will be a continuation of E&M properties of lenses and things (maybe?)

#AgainstActon

Isobel profile

BSc Biology with a year in Europe

Both the Felix and the Tab today released an article stating that after a year of open opposition from the Union and most of the student body, all halls in Evelyn Gardens will be closed down at the end of next academic year.

I for one am absolutely gutted by this news. I have loved living in Evelyn Gardens so far this year and for people who want to live close by but can’t afford Prince’s Gardens, it’s the perfect place to live as it’s only a 20 minute walk away. Imperial will be moving all of this accommodation to Acton, 30 minutes away by public transport and over an hour to walk, meaning that students will need to shell out quite a lot of money in tube/bus costs whilst living in halls of residence.

Why You Will Want to Live in Halls

Isobel profile

BSc Biology with a year in Europe

1. Guaranteed that you have friends waiting for you there, you just need to find them.

2. Great way to get to know the area and the university before you start lectures.

3. When it’s 1am and you’re coming back from the Union and you don’t want to go to bed yet, you can always find someone to have late night chats with.

4. Movie nights.

5. Hall organised events such as ice skating, musicals, Easter egg hunts, bowling, meals out and formals.

6. Feeling lonely? Make dinner then text everyone you know. Chances are at least a couple of people will come and eat with you.

Anatomy of the Student Week

Jelle profile

BSc Biochemistry

Well, bloggies, here we went again. I’ve been a horrible blogger and quite neglected to share the sordid details of my March so far… let’s fix that. And if you’re in the (un?)enviable position of having to choose a uni, and Imperial is one of them, and for some strange, unusual reason you’re not already convinced Imperial is the best place on the planet, then you can read about my last week and see if it’s your thing.

[Author’s note: This was hell week. This was the lowest point. Work out the wazoo, serious lack of free afternoons, and mind-twisting lectures…usually uni is way better.

Why I’ve Been AWOL – An Update on the Izzie Life

Isobel profile

BSc Biology with a year in Europe

I think the last couple of weeks have been some of the busiest I have experienced so far at uni! It feels like it’s been a never ending stream of essays, deadlines, coffee dates, lunch dates, train journeys and pancakes (ok I won’t complain about the pancakes). There’s no hope of things quietening down before the end of term and I’m not actually going home properly until two weeks in to the Easter holiday so apologies to everyone that it’s taken me so long to update, life has been horrendously busy! Here is a run down of how Imperial life has been since I last posted:

1 – A week and a half long lab was completed. 

Learn more about life at Imperial

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