How can we get the student board Bumpin?

right now i am freaking out....will i be able to understand my professors?  what if i get english/american confused and make an ass of myself? i will be the oldest person in my class!!! (only 25 though, but still...)

ack.  I will be glad when I am sitting in class and the wait is over!!!

Don't worry, you won't be the oldest one! There were 29 year olds (and older) in my class. In fact, I was one of the youngest ones, which was strange because back in the US I was always one of the older people. It seems like people start university later here. What are you studying? That would determine how different it would be. Yes, the system here IS very different. A little more formal and more strict (you aren't as chummy with your professors), and alot of VERY formal essay writing and fewer assesments that count for more. In my experience, anyway. 

yeah, I am studying law.  most of my professors in pre-law were pretty unattainable.  always adressed me as Ms. Lastname

does anyone have any experience with taking notes on a laptop during class?

Is your real name Trillian?  By now, there must be actual kids out there named Trillian . . . thanks Mr. Adams!

As far as taking notes on a laptop . . . it is a good idea on "paper," but depending on how many words/minute you can type, it will end there.  A good way to be successfull is to develop your own "shorthand" notation.  Also, there are programs that sense what you have typed in a document, and recall words you use a lot.  One that comes to mind is Open Office.  It is an opensource Office suite with word processing, spreadsheet, etc.  I remember trying it out and noticing how nicely it remembered words I used often in that document . . . could save time.  I am not sure how programs like Dragon Naturally Speaking will translate speech into text in a classroom setting.  Then there is the voice recorder route, but this can be time consuming later on. 

Have you tried this before?  What has worked well for you?

If only...but my name is Trisha - I borrowed the nickname from Hitchiker's

Also, I am a legal secretary at the moment and can type as fast as you can talk.  I also find that it's a good idea to have your word program recognize shortcuts.  For example, you can have "/p" be automatically corrected to "Parliament".  Those sort of shortcuts certainly make my typing much more efficient at work.

Also, I bought Microsoft Student/teacher edition for Mac.  It has a neat note taking view in the Microsoft Word program and I like the planner that is bundled with it.  That said, I kind of wish I would have paid for WordPerfect instead.  I could use it in my sleep...

Also, my iBook comes with a built-in microphone.  If I have some difficulty understanding my professors at first, I should be able to record their lectures with no problems.  I only really had a hard time with yorkshire & scottish accents (esp. Aberdeen) the last time I was there.

I'm a student!!!  I'm coming over to Lancaster for 6 months (Jan 06 to Jun 06) to study abroad and be with my DF.  Hopefully my experience will help me get a job in the UK?! 

I'll help ya get this board going 

Also, my iBook comes with a built-in microphone.  If I have some difficulty understanding my professors at first, I should be able to record their lectures with no problems.  I only really had a hard time with yorkshire & scottish accents (esp. Aberdeen) the last time I was there.~ Trillian


Never thought of recording the lecture w/ my powerbook - what a good idea!!! I may just try that

I'm a student!!!  I'm coming over to Lancaster for 6 months (Jan 06 to Jun 06) to study abroad and be with my DF.  Hopefully my experience will help me get a job in the UK?! 

I'll help ya get this board going 

Your situation sounds so similar to mine! What college are you currently at?

Your situation sounds so similar to mine! What college are you currently at?

Michigan State University.  I'm just going to do my last semester abroad to get some experience in the UK (I wanted to spend some time over there even before I met my DF.)  Can't wait!

If I have some difficulty understanding my professors at first, I should be able to record their lectures with no problems.  I only really had a hard time with yorkshire & scottish accents (esp. Aberdeen) the last time I was there.

I doubt accents will be an issue for you, trillian! Most of my profs have had quite posh accents which have been quite easy to understand. The only one I had trouble with was Dutch and everyone on my course had issues understanding her!!! You may want to brush up on your English spelling before writing papers, though - I know I'm not the only one who has had to re-learn how to spell since starting a course over here!!! 

aww, man I'm so jealous of you guys...I just returned from my semester abroad (which I wish was longer, but oh well.)  If all goes well with my boyfriend I may consider going to grad school in a few years (when I qualify for home student tuition!) 

aww, man I'm so jealous of you guys...I just returned from my semester abroad (which I wish was longer, but oh well.)  If all goes well with my boyfriend I may consider going to grad school in a few years (when I qualify for home student tuition!) 

Just as a heads-up, you do know that you have to have 3 years of continuous residence in the UK to qualify for home student status, right?

Just as a heads-up, you do know that you have to have 3 years of continuous residence in the UK to qualify for home student status, right?

Yup, I know...if we end up getting married it'll be 3 years after that before I apply anywhere 


(edited for clarity)

Well, I guess I'll post my 2 pence here.  You know-- for the good of the forum! 

I'm currently filling out applications for a January '06 start at Uni. in London.   I realise it's been (gulp) NINETEEN years since I first had to do this!  My goal is to get a degree in Social Work, but I can't get into any of the programmes until next September.   So instead I'm looking to get into a Sociology program and perhaps transfer from there.  Crazy?  We'll see!  But right now I'm stuck in upstate New York, living off a rapidly dwindling severance package from the company I worked for that went under recently, and pining for London! 

I've got to say, this board has been such a great help to me the past couple of months!  Like an old auntie who'll bake you cookies when you're down but give you a much needed kick in the pants when you're slacking off.  And I mean that in the nicest possible way  !

Marybeth
 

This might be the right place and time to share my thoughts, too:

While I've not posted much, this board has been my favorite (and most valuable) resource! Each step of the process (What is a British degree, how is it different, what school to chose, housing, VISA process, and now, how best to transfer money) has been addressed here. Everyone has held my hand each step of the way through posts, old and new.

To date all has been fairly painless: I arrive in London for a PhD program at Kings College, London, and will be a TA at Birkbeck. I'll commute up from Brighton. Received my VISA two weeks ago without a hitch thanks to the great information I read here on this board.

The big focus now is financial. This board has helped with that, too. I will come with a letter of introduction from my American bank (account left open) to facilitate opening a Brit account. I've opened an account with an FX brokerage for better exchange rates. So far all ideas and decisions have only been possible with feedback from others who have gone through it already. In other words, all based on discussions from this board.

Thanks to everyone who participates and I hope to contribute to the knowledge base too, once the dust settles.

Your friendly Old Dawg
52 years old next month: definitely recognizable as one of the oldest students around!

dlaffert,
you rock!  I just wanted to say, I read a few of your other posts and I wanted to commend you for pursuing American studies at Kings College.  I'm sure you will learn a great deal as well as impart invaluable knowledge and perspective to your future students. 

And you I think you set a great example to everyone that education can me a life long pursuit -  more power to you! ;-)

I, like you, have found this site profoundly helpful.  I just hope more people find it, because I can't imagine trying to move without it!  It would have been extremely difficult.  I've also checked out American Ex-pats in the UK site, but I don't find it as helpful.

Best of luck to you, and I hope to hear more.
-Grant