Second semester – hectic, or just a pleasantly busy schedule?

Whereas my former assumption may apply to all other students, things are different for me and my European Management schoolmates. We are the only students at this university who have one year to manage what others have an extra year, or even two extra years, to do. Sometimes it’s really funny listening to your friends who complain of having to take three final exams in June, with some luckier ones having to take just one or two. When I say I have to take six it gives them a kind of solace, but it really scares me. And to make sure that no one calms us needlessly by saying it won’t be that bad after all, the lecturers made sure to assign a lot of work now so that we get used to it. We have three weeks for two management reports, six essays on economics and one essay in French; it may seem impossible, but crying will not help us.

But during my studies to date, I have come to grips with all kinds of equipment available to us and the various types of study assistance that make the packed schedule a bit easier on me. For example, I found that even after the university building is locked at 8 p.m., all you have to do is use your chip-enabled student card and the entire building with the required amenities will open for you. The business, employment, and future career center offers various tutorials on how to write the right motivational letter or English CV and where to look for hands-on experience. College tutors offer aid in writing essays, developing the right learning habits, and managing your time the best possible way. The Student Union provides financial backing of up to 1,500 pounds if a student opts to conduct business and if the committee acknowledges the project as eligible with the potential to succeed in the market. So if you decide to make use of the university to the maximum, you will understand why its school fees are as high as they are and why they will to increase soon.

But as I said in my last post, the approach in the U.K. is that if a degree is the only thing the university gives you, then the university has failed. This is why I continue trying to live an active student life and get involved in various activities. I consider it my major success to be promoted from the Student Council to the Economic Committee of the Lancaster University, where I still represent first year students but have a greater chance to promote my and others’ positions, since the committee interfaces directly with the department management. I am still a member of the “International Business School Partnership” group, where I met my current closest friends, and I also pursue various one-day activities organized by the university.

The execution of an accommodation agreement for next year is another big achievement for me this semester. The university tries to make as many students as possible live in the city so it has room enough for first year students here in the campus. So about twenty friends and I asked the university to help us to find five houses close to each other. And we were more than lucky because the university bought a villa that can accommodate twenty three people and was willing to rent it to us at the same price as other apartments and houses. None of us hesitated - we signed the deal and we can move in in September :).