Sunday 30 November 2014

Lincoln, Lights and (contemplating) Life

Hi!

I am writing this with a looming thought in the back of my mind which is "history essay". But blogging seems FAR more appealing, so here I am. Ta Daaaa.

I survived my Lincoln interview! *round of applause* 
Despite getting a tad lost upon arrival and having a mini heart attack when I thought I was in the wrong place (I wasn't), it was all fine and dandy. First I had an "interviewing skills" workshop, in which we asked the person we were sat next to a few questions, and addressed them as "my new friend". Aah. 

-Side note- The man who lead the workshop was so fascinating, one of those people who has endless interesting stories to tell. His "unusual fact" was that he is an avid collector of Soviet watches. DOES IT GET COOLER THAN THAT? I felt very boring.

We then went on to a radio workshop, where we worked together to create a news bulletin, which was super fun and I got to interview one of the course leaders. I felt all important holding a microphone a little bit too close to his face. Oops.

Lastly we had a general knowledge test. As soon as I heard the words "general knowledge", I knew that I was doomed for failure. Call me a pessimist, but as I predicted I failed miserably with a feeble 4/10. *Bring out the violins*. 
What was especially embarrassing (mainly for the football lovers in my family) was that I had NO IDEA who the England football manager is. Soz Roy. 

We finished on an interview (which I realised I had to ACE given my (lack of) general knowledge. No pressure) It went really well, the interviewer was lovely and he suggested lots of ideas for the Sixth Form Magazine, which was great. He also said "You can look back at this magazine when you're the editor of Vogue and say "This is where it all started"; cue me dying inside. 

Overall it was a wonderful day and definitely not worth all the stressing. Walking out of the Media building and hearing people chattering, feeling the wintry breeze and seeing the bustly restaurants and lights of the city really made me think "I can totally see myself here."
-Having said that I'm a total sucker for pretty lights so maybe it didn't tell me much. Who knows.

Anna x

Monday 17 November 2014

Pressure, Places and "WHAT A PALAVA"

Hiya!

Hope everybody's UCAS applications are going well, power through guys! When I say that the pressure is relieved when you've sent it off I mean it..

A few weeks ago I got an offer from the Uni Of Sheffield (yay!), providing I get ABB in my A-Levels. I was on my own at the time so after shouting "WHAAAAT" multiple times at the computer I rang my Mum, who was in the middle of a meeting at WeightWatchers..you can imagine the looks she got when she responded with lots of jumping, shouting and singing (maybe).

I've also had interview requests from Lincoln, Gloucestershire (remind me never to try spelling that word without auto correct) and Leeds Trinity. It's exciting but also scary because the word interview makes me think "PRESSURE", "QUESTIONING" and "INTIMIDATION". I don't like those things. 

On the plus side, it is comforting to know that even if all of my interviews go disastrously wrong, I've got Sheffield (which is my possible favourite anyway) to fall back on. I'm slightly (majorly) torn at the moment between Sheffield and Lincoln, they're both amazing in different ways...plus everyone who knows me will say that I am the worst decision maker EVER. (They wouldn't be lying.)

Hoping that my Lincoln interview will help me come to a decision..but then I'm naturally going to favour the place I've seen more...WHAT A PALAVA.

Anyway, if you're in the same boat as me then I welcome you with open arms (we can row away to a land of no decisions and stress if you'd like)..and if you're still applying to uni, remember to keep breathing and keep...the faith, like that Bon Jovi song.

Anna x

Sunday 2 November 2014

Applying, Waiting and Hoping

Hey!

I'm Anna and you are currently exploring my rather sparse UCAS blog. Sparse, but not for long. I'll be a new regular in the blogging world posting about...applying to uni. Some of you may now be tempted to run for the hills in fear, but bear with me. Applying to uni is scary, I can't pretend it isn't, but maybe just not as scary as everybody makes out (honest). 

So if you're at the stage of applying to uni right now your head is most likely ringing with the words "personal statement", "choices" and "UCAS" and your response is probably "WHEN CAN I GO BACK TO SLEEP". Unfortunately, not yet. I think at one point I started reciting my personal statement in my dreams (nightmares). What's the good news then? Well, as soon as you get it sent off you can breathe a (momentary) sigh of relief, and a personal statement-sized weight will be lifted right off your shoulders. Yay!

I officially applied to University to do Journalism on the 20th October (hurrah!). It all seems very serious and occasionally I have heard people say "I think I have just signed my life away"...(Or maybe that was just me, hmm). All in all it's better to get it out of the way. So, like me, you can find yourself a few weeks later getting an email from UCAS saying "Dear Miss Whittaker, something has changed", and consequently screaming at the computer "BUT WHAT IS IT???". Fingers crossed it will be an offer, and then you can dance around happily and post your wonderful news on Facebook (to get lots of 'Well done's' from that Great Auntie you haven't seen in 10 years).

More soon,

Anna x