Blogs

The one activity I didn’t mention in my previous article that I would be doing this summer was Dorm Crew Clean-Up. Reflecting on why I had not mentioned dorm crew, I realised that I was embarrassed by the fact I would be kick-starting my jam-packed summer by sweeping, vacuuming and mopping college dorms. 

Choosing a university is a big decision. I am from Belarus and I decided to study in Lithuania. I enrolled at Vilnius University as a bachelor’s student and now continue my journey as a master’s student. 

Lithuania is a popular place – if you go to the old town in the evening, you will hear at least five different languages. Many international companies have opened their offices here, such as Booking.com, Google and Nasdaq. 

These days you can study pretty much anything at university. Harry Potter fan? There’s a course for that. Want to learn more about Jedis? There's a course for that. Want to get your academic Game of Thrones fix? There’s a course for that. 

This holds true if you fancy learning more about your favourite musicians and their work. Some of the most influential artists have inspired university courses, whether they are a straight-up analysis of their music or a look into their influence on society and culture. 

As someone who grew up in London, when I moved across the country to do my undergraduate degree in English and creative writing at Manchester Metropolitan University, I was apprehensive. The campus that I was going to be at was the Cheshire campus in Crewe (now sadly closing down) which was a completely different world to the one that I was used to.

Social class differences and money problems are both issues that have long affected university students. I dealt with these issues as an undergraduate and they have been widely reported in the media, sometimes in terms of explaining the increased rate of mental health problems among students. This has made me reflect on my time at a Russell Group university. 

James Culley, BA business and management student, Henley Business School (final year)

As a final-year student, being involved with the Reading careers services has substantially improved my skills – with a place in the Teach First graduate scheme being a direct result.

Why are Dutch staircases so perilously narrow? How come most Italian students live at home? Is there really a curfew in Bulgarian student residences? When I embarked on my own Erasmus exchange, moving from Glasgow to student halls in sunny Toulouse, in France, my biggest problem was working out how my wall-bed worked.

Dear Friend,

I have been worried about you since you mentioned that you felt stressed about getting good grades while you’ve been at university in America. I have been researching this issue because I will also be an international student next year.

For all international students, it is essential to deal with the stress from studying, otherwise we will be exhausted and will find it difficult to adapt to our new environment. It is just as important to enjoy your time at university than it is to achieve good grades.

As May comes to an end, my time in London is almost finished. I only have a week left here – how bizarre that feels.

Coming to Harvard University has certainly changed me. I have had both positive and negative experiences, which have helped me to grow and progress. 

The highs

Building strong friendships