Sam - Full Interview

Name: Sam
From: Hull
Degree: BSc Computer Science

Why did you choose the University of Sheffield?

Partly because of the city itself and its reputation as a friendly, safe place with a great nightlife – my brother studied here and really enjoyed it. I remember coming to the open day and really liking the way the department was right next to West Street with all its shops and cafes, and that the University is only a few minutes walk from town. Everything´s on your doorstep so it´s not like being stuck out on a campus. I was also impressed with the department - the facilities are good and Genesys is a bonus. The course material covers a wide variety of topics so you get a lot of different options about what to study. The department felt very friendly and I just had a good feeling about Sheffield overall.

Why did you choose your particular course?

My A levels were in Maths, Music and Media. I nearly did a music degree, but I´ve always enjoyed computing and it offered a defined career pathway. The main reason I chose the BSc course over the MComp was that, when I was applying, I wasn´t confident that I would get the higher grades needed for the four year degree. Its still possible to swap onto the four year course provided I do well enough in my second year exams, and this is definitely something that I´m considering. The fourth year and Genesys give you lots of advantages when it comes to applying for jobs.

Where did you live in the first year?

I lived in Victoria Halls which are University self catered flats only a two minute walk from the department. I prefer self catered accommodation as it offers you more freedom and independence rather than having your meals cooked for you at set times. I also love the fact I´m so close to the department and city centre. Each hall is composed of several five bedroom flats. Every flat has it's own kitchen and lounge, and your bedroom has a desk, sink, Sky TV and internet access. It´s very sociable and in intro week there were lots of events and outings organised so you got to know the other people in your Hall as well as your flatmates. You meet people from all over the world, studying on different courses, so it´s a real mix.

How are you finding the work?

I´m enjoying the course and as long as you attend the lectures and do the assignments it´s not difficult. You don´t need a computing A level because everything is taught from scratch but maths is fundamental and I don´t think you could do the course without it. I found the programming easy because the tutors assume no prior knowledge - we started from the absolute basics and worked through gradually to a more advanced level. Every week we were set a programming assignment based on the theory we´d learnt and the tutor gave us feedback on how you could have improved it. The continual cycle of practical work and feedback means you make progress quickly. Out of all the first year I enjoyed the programming the most. In the first semester we made a hangman game which looks quite simple to put together but had lots of knowledge going on in the background.

What else did you study in your first year?

We did some maths, and Artificial Intelligence topics. We also did some basic electronics, learning how a computer actually works, from start to finish, and how the hardware and software interact with each other. You also have the choice of two free modules from anywhere in the University so I chose music performance which I really enjoyed. I play the vibraphone and my exam piece was a vibraphone/saxophone duet with a 3rd year music student.

What do you do when you´re not studying?

Our Union is the best in the country – and that´s not just my opinion, it´s been voted top in national awards. It´s got club nights for every sort of music as well as the shops, bars, cinema, travel centre, advice centre and lots more. My favourite club night is `Tuesday club´, which is the drum and bass night. There are loads of different Union clubs and societies which is a great way of meeting new people. I joined the orchestra and wind band as a percussionist in order to keep up with my music. We met once a week to rehearse, and organise concerts throughout the term. This has also led to some private work playing for local Sheffield orchestra´s which is a great way of bringing in some extra money.

What are your plans for next year?

Apart from the actual course work, I want be more involved in the Computer Science Society, making sure that social events are planned and so on. I´m the Union link for my department – the person who advertises Union campaigns round the department and ensures all the course reps know what´s going on in the Union. I´m moving out of University accommodation and next year will be sharing a house with friends I met in Victoria Halls. One is studying maths, the other engineering and we´re renting a house in Crookesmoor which is about a 15 minutes walk from the department. The house has got a nice big garden so we´re planning lots of BBQ´s, that´s if it ever stops raining!

Any advice for potential students?

If you enjoy computing then you should go for it. I definitely made the right choice with my course and Sheffield. Once you´re here you should make the most of intro week and get involved in all the activities available. It´s a fantastic opportunity to get to know lots of new people and everyone´s in the same boat so you don´t need to feel shy.