Naomi Ogunkola
Hi – I have written about tips that are non-physics student specific and some for-physics students based on my experiences as a WP student and Black woman in physics.
Tips for making the most of campus living and living with other students
1. Understand the Realities of Shared Spaces. First-year students are usually expected to live on campus, choosing from accommodations like Sherbourne (with en-suite bathrooms) or Rootes (with shared bathrooms). Shared bathroom accommodations often have misconceptions about cleanliness and availability. Having lived in shared bathroom accommodations three times during my four years at Warwick, I found that bathrooms and kitchens, although shared, are often cleaned once or twice a week. While they can get messy, especially towards the end of the week, they are generally manageable.
2. Choose your housemates wisely. When given the opportunity to choose your housemates, it's crucial to pick people whose values align with yours. Discuss important topics like how you'll share bills, the frequency of having partners stay over, and preferred noise levels. For example, in my final year, I lived with people who were reluctant to pay bills, which was quite challenging to navigate. Ensuring you're on the same page can prevent future conflicts.
3. Set clear boundaries early. At the beginning of your tenancy, sit down with your housemates or create a group chat to discuss everyone's boundaries and preferences. For instance, decide whether dishes should be washed immediately or if it's okay for them to pile up. Making compromises early on can prevent anger and resentment from building up later.
4. Consider Your Options in Intermediate and Final Years. In your intermediate and final years, it's typical to move off-campus to neighbouring towns like Coventry, Leamington Spa, or Kenilworth. While Leamington Spa is popular, students sometimes struggle with morning commutes due to the high demand for buses. However, multiple buses run in the mornings, so if you're patient, it can be a good option. If you prefer less hassle, staying on campus might be better, and it's possible to secure on-campus accommodation in your intermediate and final years, living with peers from those years.
Preparing for the BSc and MPhys Final Year Projects
1. Approach Based on Degree Type. How you prepare for your final year project can depend on whether you're pursuing a Bachelor's or an Integrated Master's degree. I completed a Bachelor's, so I can share my experience from that perspective. One difference is that Bachelor's students are typically informed about their project at the beginning of the second week of their final year, with an expectation to start immediately. In contrast, Master's students often know their project in the summer before their final year, giving them extra time to conduct literature reviews, additional reading, and learn new skills such as Python or C (or whatever programming language your project focuses on). I didn't have much time to prepare in advance, but while working on my project, I focused on advancing my Python skills. One crucial thing I
wish I had known earlier was the importance of managing version control and organising all documents efficiently. This organisation would have made accessing and writing my project much easier. Students are generally required to use OneNote for maintaining an online lab book to record notes and comments. Additionally, qualitative software such as NVivo and SPSS can be very helpful. These tools allow you to code and organise different papers related to your project, making it easier to reference them later. My project involved about 50 sources and organising them was challenging. Learning to use these tools in the summer before your final year can save a lot of time and effort during the project.
2. Balancing Lectures and Project Work. It's important to attend lectures even while working on your project. Although the project is a significant part of your final year grade, exams are also crucial. I missed about three weeks of lectures due to the pressure of project work, but in hindsight, balancing both is essential for overall success.