My First Term at Oxford - Nayab
I am from Birmingham and I am studying Chemistry with Foundation Year at St Anne's College.
What aspects of the course are you enjoying?
I am enjoying the challenging aspect of my course the most. I enjoy the rewarding feeling I receive after understanding the difficult problems set in the tutorial sessions. This experience has frequently occurred during the Maths units. Topics are not entirely new to me but different perspectives are required to solve the problems we are set. This is helping me to develop the skillset which will be required for my degree.
The Inorganic Chemistry unit has been helping me to present my ideas in an organised and disciplined manner, where logical answers are necessary to demonstrate a deep understanding of the topic. Within the Physical Chemistry unit I have seen elements in the periodic table which I was not aware of, and I have been able to apply my current knowledge to an unfamiliar element based on its location in the periodic table. I have found all these aspects of the course to be both enjoyable and challenging.
What does a typical week in your first term look like?
Typically we have a practical lab session once a week (sometimes not if we have a lot of tutorial questions to be done). We also have lectures which are followed by classes and tutorials. This all adds up to around 3 lectures, 3 classes and 3 tutorials in a week.
How are you managing your studies/free time?
There is a lot of work to be done but we can always email our tutors with questions and they are happy to provide us with advice and guidance. This helps with getting through the work quickly. Despite the significant workload I have found that there is always time to get involved in other activities that are happening in my college or the wider university outside of the Chemistry course.
What have you enjoyed doing outside of your studies?
I have enjoyed attending cultural and social events open to students which explore the University of Oxford's history.
What do you think of Oxford as a city?
It's cute and small. It's nice to have everything available within walking distance.
What is your highlight of the first term?
A great lesson I have learnt during my first term at Oxford has been the importance of showing my work in logical steps.
What are you looking forward to next term?
My favourite topic Organic Chemistry is something we are starting next term and I look forward to increasing my knowledge in this area. I am also looking forward to seeing how much I have improved, compared to when I first started on the course, when tackling new problems.
