Student LifeStudy

Studying at YSJ

GRACE COLEMAN

Studying at university can seem daunting, with horror stories of constant assignments, exams, studying 24/7. However, YSJ is the complete opposite allowing for balance between personal life and education. There are numerous spaces on campus to study, with lots of support available from the library, fellow students, faculty… the list goes on.

Lectures are not as boring as portrayed in films, they’re actually quite fun; those that guide the lectures make them exciting, interesting to everyone; relating to students in a positive and comfortable environment. Inclusion of students’ ideas is always welcome, whether that be by the raise of a hand or using a popular website called Menti.com. The site allows students to ask questions anonymously, and is also used to encourage students to discuss the topics that are being covered. As a Law student, we use the site a lot in lectures to share solutions on a case or scenario, prepping us for a career in Law. All students benefit greatly from lectures, but seminars are just as important.

Seminars are smaller groups of the whole cohort, my personal group is around 30 students. We gather in these groups once a week per module to talk about what we have learned from the lecture and any personal reading we have done around the topic. Seminars are a great way to express your opinion and knowledge, and building on this by hearing other people’s inputs. While it may seem scary to do this, everyone is in the same boat, everyone makes mistakes, but the group is there to support each other.

It may be a case that you will be required to read materials in your personal study time, to build on the information from the lectures. I personally believe it is so important to read around the module topics as it helps you to understand them better, and also helps in preparation for assignments and exams as you learn how you retain information and study best.

I try to allocate certain days and times to study particular modules, to allow me to make sure my work is completed on time. The library is a brilliant place to study, with areas available for study groups, computers, hundreds of books and articles, as well as quiet study areas. I usually try to study in my bedroom or in a quiet study space when I am alone, with quiet music in the background helping me to stay focused, or listening to a podcast or video about the topic. Talk to fellow students about studying, and study groups may help if you or anyone is struggling. However, there is still plenty support available via your course and via the staff at university

All in all, whilst studying is vital, it is important to learn what works best for you, when it works best for you, and to give yourself enough time away from studying to relax, socialise and take care of yourself.

GRACE COLEMAN

Hi! My name is Grace and I’m a 1st year Law student at York St John. Although I only live down the road in Scarborough, I’m living in York with a student accommodation provider for my first year. I have fallen in love with the city and the university so far, and I am so excited to see what is still to come – I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else! I decided to become a Student Voice Ambassador to show others aspiring to come to university the actual reality of student life, like the amazing rewards of being a YSJ student at such a brilliant university in an amazing city. However, I think it’s also important to show that sometimes life can be tough as a student, especially away from home, but how support is available in abundance from everyone in the university, and how it helps you to empower yourself. Fun fact: I have a huge fascination with bees. It started when I wrote an essay on their importance to the environment in secondary school, and I discovered how amazing the tiny creatures actually were- such a small insect with huge global significance! It’s as if they’re a metaphor for us to – no matter how small we feel in the grand scheme of things, we can do things to make a big difference.