My name is Zack and I’m a 1st year Evolutionary Biology student at Penryn Campus! I got into Exeter via clearing as I slightly underperformed in my A Level results unfortunately. The process to get into Exeter via clearing was very simple and easy, which saved me a lot of feelings of stress and uncertainty on the big day. This was definitely a blessing in disguise as now, having finished 1st year here, it has truly been one of the best years of my life! I would not choose to go anywhere else at all and eagerly look forward to what 2nd and 3rd year has to offer!
When initially applying for university through UCAS, Exeter was not a top pick for me and I had severely underestimated the quality of this place and everything it had to offer! Do not fall into the same trap as me and do your research properly into what possible universities have to offer- the course, the people, societies, lifestyle, nightlife, location, graduate prospects etc. It’s very easy to have assumptions about a place and let that be the image of that place- do not make the same mistake as me!
To come down to university in Penryn, I have travelled all the way from Luton and it’s totally been worth it! To start with let’s talk about the course (Evolutionary Biology). The Bioscience department here are amazing! We share lectures with the zoologists, marine biologists, human scientists, animal behaviourists across modules such as Genetics, Evolution, Human Sciences, Marine Biology, Ecology and Conservation, Microbes, and Skills and Careers. These are led by leading academics doing world research who are teaching us the most up to date, latest content in these interesting fields. Learning at higher education can seem daunting however, there is so much support all over the place to help you master these skills at uni from lectures to course mates to the Career Zone to study workshops – citing and referencing is a big skill you’ll learn!
As a first year, usually you’re in a completely new environment with a lot going on around you. Make sure you take these opportunities to try new things out! Whatever your passions or hobbies are, I can almost guarantee you, there’ll be a society for you! Freshers’ Fair in Freshers’ Week is the best time to go around and learn about what’s available around university. Take this chance to sign up, start challenges and find out more about yourself! I have a passion for my culture and as a result was awarded the general secretary role for this society following elections! I played a role in organising and leading various events such as the celebration of Asian events such as Holi and Chinese New Year, Sunday Sport sessions and Check-ins for Asian students. As a result of being a very active society this year, we were given 3 awards (‘Society of the Year’, ‘Event of the Year’, and ‘Inclusivity Award’) in the 2023 SU Awards Evening! I have been elected to be President of this society for 2023/24 and have big events planned for next year, stay tuned!
I’m also a member of Tremough Football Club (which is one of the 3 university teams on campus). We train every Friday evening with matches usually on Sunday. We have won the league with an unbeaten record of 20 games and won the Cornish Cup!
I was brought up in a city and decided to go to university based in a countryside. Life can get hectic, but I’ve realised a simple stroll around the beauty of this campus or through the green of nature never fails to relieve my stress!
