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What’s on my bookshelf?

Wed 28 August 2019 - 10:55

By Coral Kim in International students

Spring is a good time to refill my bookshelves. Fall is great for cosying up with a book and a cup of tea. Winter should be spent reading inside with a warm blanket. Still, summer wins when it comes to being the best season for reading, not just because of the dizzying heat outside, but because it’s an excellent time and opportunity to catch up with some reading before heading off to uni.

So, what am I reading this summer? In this post, I want to give you a look at my bookshelf: what I’ve read, what I’m reading, and what I plan to read.

1. What I’ve read:

Lolita (Vladimir Nabokov). Hilarious. Tragic and creepy, but still hilarious. Along with Nabokov’s America, the mind of Humbert, Humbert was too fascinating; I’m afraid I completely forgot to engage in any academic or critical thinking, so this one is definitely re-read material, but I’ll gladly open it again!

Balancing Acts (Nicholas Hytner). This book...

Why, How, and Then What: Applying for English as an International Student

Wed 17 July 2019 - 09:13

By Coral Kim in International students

Before I begin, here’s a bit about me: I’m an incoming fresher with a confirmed place to study English at a British uni. I love Shakespeare, Thomas Hardy, and Kazuo Ishiguro. Oh — I’m also from Korea. South.

1. The Big Question: Why?!

It’s a question everyone seems to ask me—and one I’ve asked myself so many times. Yes, I’m American through dual citizenship. But let’s be honest: I’m not a native English speaker and probably never will be, no matter how much I try. Then why English? Why not Korean?

Let’s go back a few years, when I was a new kid in an international school in France. I didn’t speak a word of French, and for obvious reasons nobody knew Korean. But we all knew at least abit of English — and speaking in English helped me ease myself in. Make friends. Keep up in class.

So I clung to it—started loving the way its words sounded and its grammar worked. English classes, in which we read Michael Morpurgo and recited silly poems, were my time to...

Do’s and dont’s of applying to uni as an international student

Mon 15 July 2019 - 10:11

By UCAS in International students

Applying to university can be stressful at the best of times, but when you’re an international applicant, it can feel impossible to get that Ucas application right! As an applicant from the Netherlands, I know how tricky it can be, and I made plenty of mistakes along the way. Here are some of the things I wish I’d known before starting my Ucas application.

  1. DO communicate with your school.  Make an appointment with your careers advisor or head of year to discuss your application a couple of months before the deadline. Many schools that aren’t based in the UK are unfamiliar with how Ucas works, so be clear about what they are expected to provide, like references and predicted grades.
  2. DO your research.  Even if you can’t visit the universities, there is plenty of information online to help you make an informed decision. Make sure you know exactly what you’d be studying at each university, as the course will be very different depending on where you...

University Interviews for English: My Experience

Thu 30 May 2019 - 11:26

By Coral Kim in International students

I had written and submitted my UCAS application. I had taken an admissions test (and still had no idea how it had gone). Now it was time for the next step – the thing I dreaded most – the interview.

Unlike many other international applicants, I flew to the UK for my two interviews, both at the university I’m headed to this October. I wasn’t very comfortable with skyping, I guess… and I really wanted to visit London. Yep, I wanted to go to London.

Since a month or two before the trip, I’d been doing some light prep. I re-read books I’d

mentioned in my personal statement, such as Thomas Hardy’s “Far from the Madding Crowd” and Charlotte Bronte’s “The Professor.” I’d read online that they would give me an unseen poem for me to analyse, so I worked on timed analysis with some poems I wasn’t very comfortable with, especially modern ones.

On my flight, I worked on my laptop, on which I had downloaded a bunch of PDF files of research papers and academic...

The Long Gap Before Uni

Tue 7 May 2019 - 09:19

By Coral Kim in International students

The following blog may or may not apply to you, depending on which country you’re from and what your school’s term dates are. But if you’re like me, and your last high school year has
already ended, you may be wondering what to do with all your free time during these long, unnamed months before University.

I’m from Korea, so that means my high school graduation was back in March. It also means that I’ve already achieved the grades I need for my uni offers (although this, of course, may not be the
case for every Korean). So what do I do with all my seven(!) months before I finally catch that Heathrow-bound plane?

I’ve had highs and lows. I’ve spent entire productive days studying a new language and mealprepping; I’ve stayed all day in my room, listening to Pet Shop Boys and cuddling with my dolls. Mostly, though, I’ve been trying to make the best of all the opportunities and resources that this sort-of-gap year (I still can’t think of a good name for it)...

An International Student: Why I Decided to Apply to UK Universities

Wed 27 February 2019 - 14:21

By Coral Kim in International students

Moving to another country is a big leap. Moving to another country when you’re still a teenager and your adulthood has just begun – that’s an even bigger one. So applying to an overseas university is a difficult choice to make, and honestly, not for everyone.
 

But, as a Korean American faced with multiple options (Korean, American, and overseas unis), that’s the choice I made when I opened my UCAS account and applied to schools in England and Scotland. And maybe the one you will make as well. Here’s why.

 

1. The Degree Structure – What and How I Will Study
 

In some countries, notably America, going to university doesn’t always mean you will pick a course and study it for three/four...

Tips for international students studying in London

Mon 27 November 2017 - 16:10

In International students

Rachel Yohe is an American student studying Marketing Communications and Spanish in New York. As part of her degree, she did an internship in London. Here are Rachel’s top tips for international students coming to the capital.   

“Start budgeting ahead of time. Sort out what you’re willing to spend on rent, groceries, and living expenses before you get to London. If you have friends coming with you, decide on roommates and work with their budgets as well.
 
If you want to do a work placement or internship, you may also have to spend a bit of money for a work visa. London is an expensive place to live, so check out what areas are cheapest and closest to your classes....

The Application Process: An International Student's Perspective

Sun 22 January 2017 - 22:46

By Charlotte Stevenson in International students

Laura Klepeisz graduated secondary school in Austria and is currently applying to university in the UK.

 


1. What most made you want to apply to university?

Firstly, because I don't want my education to be over yet. I feel it will be an opportunity to further enhance and develop the skills I have already gained. In addition to this, student life is full of enriching experiences. Not only does it present new opportunities, but it also broadens my outlook on life in general.

2. Of the application process, which element did you find most difficult?

The personal statement!  It is the...

Five money tips every international student should know

Thu 19 January 2017 - 15:48

In International students

Studying for a qualification in the UK could be the start of a fantastic adventure, but there are a few things you need to sort out first. Here are five financial tips to help you make the most of your studies.

1. Set up a bank account
Setting up a UK bank account gives you more security and control over your money. You can still spend it when you like, and
it’s much safer than keeping it in your pocket or hidden under your mattress.

When you open a bank account, you’ll need to show the bank or building society two types of identification:

• your passport
• proof of your address in the UK

Depending on the bank or building society you choose, the proof of address you need could differ – so ask before you apply.

2...

Do you need to take an English test to study at university in the UK?

Tue 6 September 2016 - 13:45

By UCAS in International students

By Petra Olsson from Cambridge English Language Assessment

In 2015, the UK’s Visa and Immigration service (UKVI) changed its rules affecting the English language tests needed to work or study in the UK. Many students have found the new rules complicated and are not sure if they need to take a Secure English Language Test (SELT) or another kind of English test. This quick guide outlines the key facts about who needs to take a SELT and, more importantly, who doesn’t!

What are the different types of English...

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