All of my professors portray their excitement for their subject in their lectures, which makes learning from them much easier and more engaging. Discover Celia's journey at Warwick and what led them to apply for BSc Physics with Astrophysics.

How did you find out about Warwick?

I wanted to find a Bachelor degree that had a bigger focus on the Astrophysics rather than on Physics purely because this was the area of this science that I had enjoyed the most at school. A friend who had a similar interest in Astrophysics therefore suggested I looked at the degree at Warwick, which was one of the only universities in the country which offered this option.

Did you consider studying anywhere else? What made you choose Warwick?

What stood out most to me about Warwick was the importance it gave to maintaining a very diverse and international environment on campus. Despite the difficulties that have been presented this past year, Warwick has managed to welcome a large amount of international students, creating a culturally enriching atmosphere for the growth of its students.

How did you feel to be awarded a scholarship?

I remember the exact moment I was awarded the scholarship. I was returning home and was seated in the subway, looking at my phone. Suddenly, a notification titled ´Scholarship application, offer enclosed` popped up, and my heart started beating intensely. Once I read the email, I felt a rush of excitement, happiness, satisfaction and nervousness all at the same time. It was. overwhelming, but in a good way, because I finally knew I would be able to study at Warwick.

Who was the first person you told when you received the news about your scholarship and how did they react?

Once I read the first sentence of the email confirming my scholarship, I immediately rang my parents. I was so excited and shocked that I didn´t realise I was speaking very loudly, so their first reaction was to tell me to calm down and speak slowly because they couldn´t understand what I was saying. However, when I was finally able to deliver the news, they were in disbelief. I felt their excitement across the phone as they congratulated me for the scholarship. A big hug followed as I finally arrived home and saw them waiting for me in the living room.

How did you apply and did anyone help you with your application form and visa application?

I did receive some guidance for my scholarship application. We had to write a few essays, so I went to my University Counsellor, who had been very helpful in giving me feedback for previous university applications. However, the essay questions were written to make you reflect about your future at Warwick, what you had to offer and what it had to offer you. Hence, I did thorough research about the university, which made me even more eager to study there.
As for the visa application, I had my parents' help, who made sure I filled everything correctly so I didn't have any problems when receiving a response. Fortunately, everything went smoothly and I received my visa 5 days after submitting the application.

What was your first impression of Warwick when you first walked around campus?

I had already heard that campus looked beautiful during fall, but I didn´t confirm it until I saw my first sunset here at Warwick. Walking around the piazza with my friends, we explored the different stands and exciting activities that were being held that day on campus, with a beautiful evening sky in the background. I can confidently say that I loved the Warwick campus from the first day I walked in.

What is the best thing about Warwick?

The people. From staff, to students, to visitors.. everyone is lovely. Thanks to these people, the huge transition from school in Spain to university in the UK has been perfect. If I ever need help with anything, I know exactly who to go to, and they will always be incredibly helpful.
However, what stands out the most to me about people at Warwick is the passion and genuine interest they have for what they do. All of my professors portray their excitement for their subject in their lectures, which makes learning from them much easier and more engaging. Very often, I also find myself having intellectual conversations with my friends, where they tell me about something they found interesting from their degree, and I get a chance to do the same. This was not very common at school, so I value these conversations highly, as I find they open the doors to many areas I hadn´t considered and overall make me a more curious individual.

What is the worst thing?

There is so much to do at Warwick that sometimes it gets too overwhelming. Society events, assignments, social gatherings, tutorials, sport competitions, seminars... You have to learn to balance and manage your priorities. The University of Warwick offers students so many exciting and diverse opportunities that everything seems appealing and you end up wanting to try it all. Therefore, you have to make the tough decision of choosing between different activities so that you can do well in what you commit yourself to.

How is your accommodation?

I live at Rootes, which is an on campus accommodation. I personally am very thankful that I was assigned this residence because of the people I have met here, and the location of my room. I am two minutes away from all my friends, three minutes away from a freshly made coffee, four minutes away from the cinema and five minutes away from the library. Therefore, I can walk anywhere, get anywhere on time and I don´t waste a second from moving from one place to another. Most importantly though, I can easily escape getting drenched by UK rain.

What are your plans when you graduate?

Antibiotic resistance, energy scarcity, a global pandemic, climate change; our current society is facing challenges of exceptional complexity. The difficulty of finding solutions to these problems arises from the separation we have created between disciplines. For example, our ability to battle the coronavirus depends on the software engineering of track-and-trace apps; the wellbeing of the population relies on videoconferencing tools; and mathematics and biology are both as significant in the study of the pandemic’s nature.
I learnt this during a talk delivered by the Society of Natural Sciences on using fusion as a solution for the energy crisis. Only the first fifteen minutes of this presentation were about the physics behind the process of fusion; the resultant hour included discussions about subjects ranging from politics to geography.
Becoming aware of the need to combine the ways of regarding problems from different disciplines in order to be successful when reaching a solution inspired what I would like to do with my degree in the future. After acquiring extensive knowledge on physics at university, I want to push through the boundaries of the traditional disciplines. The University of Warwick, in particular, gives great importance to this, as shown by the variety of modules it offers. Covering topics such as ‘Physics in Medicine’, ‘Computational Physics’ and ‘Environmental Physics’, the university will initiate my launch into the application of physics across academic barriers. I would like to focus on combining our practical knowledge on nuclear energy with a proper economic approach and a meditated political plan. Our deep understanding of the subject will create a powerful change without clashing against other fields. With this, I aim to improve our effectiveness when facing great challenges, so that our expertise in all areas can be a significant advantage on a wider scale.

What would you say to someone considering applying for an Undergraduate Global Excellence scholarship at Warwick, what would it be?

Be honest. When writing your essays for the application , it is extremely important to portray your genuine excitement and eagerness to attend the university. Therefore, you have to talk about things that make you genuinely excited and eager to come to Warwick. Read through every page of the university website and you will certainly find something to look forward to, something that you think you can help make progress with and something that you know will make you grow and reach your full potential as a student. Once you have these three things, the words will come naturally and your true motivation will shine through on its own.

What one thing makes you happy about Warwick?

Something that makes me really happy at Warwick are the early mornings and evenings. I love walking around campus and watching the sun set behind the trees. I love watching the sky change colour and its light making every building shine. I love going on walks with my friend who finds sunsets and sunrises as beautiful as I do. It is my favourite part of the day.