The CP Festival Guide

Posted on by Jessica Cullimore
Festival
Best. Vibes. Ever.

Festival season is almost upon us…

If you’re still stuck on where to go, here’s our run-down on some of the best Britain has to offer.

1. Isle of Wight Festival

This year celebrating “40 Years of Punk” the infectious carnival atmosphere is one of the best you can find. It’s big enough to attract some huge names but not so big you’ll have a breakdown every time you lose sight of your mates. This original festival from the 60s really has something for everyone, so it’s great for a big crowd with diverse musical tastes. Fun fact: the Isle of Wight festival is known to have the friendliest bouncers on the circuit.

2. Secret Garden Party

This boutique festival is both quirky and chilled out. This year’s ‘Gardeners Guide to the Galaxy’ theme is sure to be filled with hedonistic treats and uninterrupted fun. The line-up is mainly led by dance acts but is usually decent, however, what really attracts the crowds is the epic firework displays, paint fights and naked fields. SGP is also rumoured to have the fittest festival crowd around.

3. Boardmasters

Located on the sunny shores of Newquay, Cornwall, this festival combines music and surfing for a few days of summery fun. Watching the stunning sunsets is a definite highlight along with the energy of the young crowd and holiday ambience.

4. Bestival

The “Disneyland of music festivals”, Rob da Bank’s creation is a feast for the senses. Everything from the journey over to the Isle of Wight, to the wacky themes, makes this one a real adventure. It’s a great way to end the summer and show off your fancy dress creations in a beautiful playground setting.

5. Glastonbury

The big one. You’ll definitely have to go at some point in your life just to experience the absolute freedom that completely contrasts modern, civilised society. The sheer scale is like no other festival you’ll encounter, and Glastonbury has everything from massage tents to Block 9 (the party animal’s dream). This one is truly the mother of all parties.

6. BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend

IT’S GOING TO BE IN EXETER!! Our Exeter tenants have really lucked out this year with their chance to go to this not quite free but super cheap (£8.50) festival. With Coldplay and Ellie Goulding headlining, if you were lucky enough to snap up a ticket, this weekend in Powderham Castle is sure to be a banger.

7. Reading/Leeds

Maybe we’ve grown out of this post-GCSE rite of passage or maybe we still love it. Attracting some huge headline acts as well as some of the hottest new bands around, this rock ‘n’ roll celebration will always be a classic. Who doesn’t love shouting ‘Alan’ into the small hours in the hopes of a return gesture of ‘Steve’?

8. Farr Festival

If boutique festivals are your thing, this edgy gem is definitely a small one but a magical one. It started out as a party between a group of mates with a make-shift stage, six years later it’s certainly not one to be missed.

9. Wildlife

Yep, it’s in an airport and yep, that’s really cool. Set up by Disclosure and Rudimental, they bring all their mates together for this big crazy rave on the South coast.

10. T in the Park

Put together by a brewery back in 1994, this is Scotland’s biggest festival. It has an element of Reading’s gig-in-a-field ambience along with Glasto’s debauchery- this will definitely be a weekend of madness.

If none of these take your fancy, don’t worry. The best thing about the UK festival scene is the variety! Check out The Telegraph’s selection for more inspiration.

The Summer Edit: Europe vs. SE Asia vs. Festivals

Posted on by Jessica Cullimore
Summer
Swap textbooks and laptops for maps and cameras. It’s time to start planning!

Yes! Summer is coming around again…

Exams are nearly over and term is ending, it’s time to start discussions on the group chat about what adventures you want to go on during your ridiculously long summer holiday. Some of the main ideas that get thrown around are inter-railing Europe, backpacking South East Asia or heading to a festival or two. Check out our handy list to see what takes your fancy this year!

Europe

Pros

  • You get to see some of the world’s most famous landmarks.
  • Trains are super easy, fast and much cheaper than they are here – but you need to make sure you get a pass beforehand.
  • Hostels are well developed and a great, cheap form of accommodation.
  • You won’t have to worry about Visas.

Cons

  • Eating out can be expensive so brush up on your hostel cooking skills.
  • Most excursions are also pretty expensive for tourists, so make sure you do your research and try things off the beaten track.
  • The weather isn’t guaranteed to be amazing.

South East Asia

Pros

  • You’ll experience a real adventure far away from civilisation.
  • You can eat out for every meal – it’s so cheap!
  • People travelling in the area tend to be carefree and adventurous, although this may be to do with the necessity to improvise!
  • Guesthouses are cheap and friendly – but make sure you have a mosquito net!
  • Whether it’s wet or dry season the sun will be shining and you’ll get an amazing tan.

Cons

  • You will have to pre-arrange Visas for some areas so some planning is required!
  • Getting around can be a bit difficult, using buses or hitchhiking is usually your best bet.
  • Always check foreign office travel advice before travelling abroad – https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel- advice

Festivals

Pros

  • You get to see an amazing line up of your favourite bands and musicians.
  • The thrill of being in the centre of a crowd dancing as hard as you can to your favourite song.
  • FINALLY an occasion to wear that crochet top/bucket hat.
  • A lot cheaper than going abroad.
  • Why not combine a festival with a Europe trip? – try Meadows in the Mountains in Bulgaria, Sziget in Budapest or Mysteryland in Amsterdam.

Cons

  • There is no such thing as personal space!
  • The food is annoyingly expensive.
  • You somehow need to make a pac-a-mac look cool.
  • How do you put up a tent again…?
  • Mud.

You could, of course, inter-rail to a European festival and then hop on a plane to South East Asia; now that would be a good summer!

An Internship: Why Is It Important And How To Get One

Posted on by Jessica Cullimore
Internship Coffee
Hopefully, you will be doing more than just making coffee – even if it does look this good!

Our top tips for securing that Internship

It’s that time of year again, summer is just around the corner. But, before you start thinking about which holiday destination you might be hitting, have you thought about using this break to get ahead of the game and find an internship?

Completing some form of work experience is a great way to see if a certain sector suits you, it can also help you decide which career path you want to take. Furthermore, experience is also one of the main factors employers cite when asked what sets candidates apart. Working at a company as part of an internship is a great way to get your foot in the door, with 61% of graduates going on to secure permanent positions with companies they interned for after they graduated.

Getting plenty of work experience will increase your chances of getting a great job you love once you graduate! Here are some tips on how to secure an internship:

Research, research, research!

It’s the only way you’ll be able to work out which companies you want to apply to. Research is also a great way of making sure your application stands out from the crowd. You can use your research to demonstrate your understanding of the industry and the company. This will impress!

Quality not quantity

You’re far more likely to secure a great internship if you limit the number of applications but spend more time to make sure you’re proud of each one.

Apply early

This shows you’re on the ball, keen to be noticed and avoids missing the boat.

Tailor your application to each placement

There’s nothing worse than sending standard applications to loads of firms, they will notice you haven’t done your research (see above). Quote their website and mission statements back to them!

Knowledge is King

Use campus events and social networking sites such as LinkedIn and Twitter to connect with employers and get insider knowledge.

Don’t be afraid of rejection

It’ll take a few applications to get the hang of it, just learn from your mistakes and stay motivated.

Be passionate

If you get to the interview stage, showing your passion and commercial awareness is essential to securing the job! Revise that research you did, and surprise them with some industry knowledge.

Spelling and Grammar!

Four gods sake dont get this wrong! Theirs nothing quiet like it too put of potential employers? 🙂 If in doubt, run it through www.grammarly.com. Probably give the emoticons a miss too!

Revision Techniques To Help You BOSS Those Summer Exams

Posted on by Jessica Cullimore
Revision technique
Studying in bed is NOT advised (but that probably won’t stop us)

Plan, plan, plan!

I know it sounds tedious, but dividing up your subjects and how much time you want to spend on each of them will really help your revision in the long run.  Not only will it give some structure to your revision days, but it will also help to make sure you don’t end up learning only half of each subject. But remember, if you don’t stick to the plan perfectly that’s ok! If you find yourself falling behind just regroup and adapt the plan.

Ace your space

The environment you’re working in is really important to ensure minimal distractions and making the most of your revision time. Big ‘no-no’s’ here are working in bed, with the TV on in the background or on a cluttered desk. Music is usually more of a distraction than an aid, but some people find classical music helps them concentrate. Try it out and see what works best for you!

The early bird catches the worm…

Sort out your sleeping schedule so you’re waking up earlier than 2pm! By starting revision in the morning, you can get a full day of work in and then relax in the evening with zero guilt.

Use the ‘Pomodoro Technique’

It can be hard to concentrate for long periods of time, so try using a timer to work solidly for 35 minutes, then have a 5 minute break to do whatever you want. By putting your phone in another room you can then stop yourself wasting time on it by only checking it in these 5-minute gaps. Maximum efficiency and you’re still in the loop on the group chat!

Utilise ‘Depth Processing’

The best way to incorporate this style of learning into your revision is to make notes of your notes, repeating the process as many times as you can manage. By rearranging your notes slightly every time, you can really solidify the memories and recall them with ease when you’re in the exam hall.

Spice it up

Colourful notes are much easier to visualise and remember, as well as being much more fun to write. But don’t make the mistake of obsessing over your notes looking perfect – it’s not worth it!

Massed vs. Spaced learning

Massed learning is the category most of us fall into when trying to revise. We sit down and try to cram large portions of information into our brains, not looking at it again until the exam. A much better way to learn facts is through spaced learning, where you learn something at the beginning of your revision period and then test yourself on it again at regular intervals, such as every few days, all the way up until the exam. By this point, it’ll be so lodged into your memory that you’ll walk into the exam confident that you know what you need to.

Make it meaningful

By associating the facts you’re trying to memorise with information that means something to you, your brain makes connections that make these facts much harder to forget. For example, to learn the Italian verb “to go” (andare) try to just remember the question: “And are you going to go?” Much easier!

Don’t be scared of failing

Just dive in and have a go at exam papers and practice essays. You’ll probably remember a lot more than you think you will and everything that you got wrong will have a greater chance of sticking in your memory for next time.

Treat yo’ self!

Rewarding yourself is one of the best ways to keep motivation levels up during the revision period. Rewards can be anything from an episode of your favourite show per lecture, coffee with your bestie when you finish that chapter or new shoes when you ace that past paper.

GOOD LUCK!

 

 

10 Things You Realise When You Go Back To Your Hometown After Uni

Posted on by Jessica Cullimore
Hometown Girl Hat Train Window
Disclaimer: Not an accurate depiction of National Rail trains.

1. The full fridge is beyond amazing

Milk that you don’t have to smell before drinking? Fresh veg? SMOKED SALMON!? Yes, yes, yes please. Gluttony doesn’t even cover it when it comes to your relationship with your home fridge. Although it is a bit jarring you’re not allowed to touch that expensive tuna your mum bought for the cat…

2. Your mum’s cooking is incredible

You didn’t think much of it before you left but in comparison to your 2 pasta dish variations, every meal is like you’re dining in a top restaurant – enjoy it while it lasts.

3. The house is actually warm

No need to wear three jumpers and a woolly hat when you’re sat at your desk working – total bliss.

4. You missed baths way too much

You rarely had a bath when you lived at home but now you’re back it’s a daily necessity. Candles? Check. Relaxing music? Check. Bubbles? Check – you are now a mermaid goddess, and may enter total Zen mode…

5. Your hometown clubs are still rubbish

That place you used to hang out in all the time as soon as you turned 18 still smells funny, has sticky carpets and is still playing music from 5 years ago! But at least you get to have an unofficial reunion with EVERYONE you know.

6. Friends who went to other Uni’s will claim they have more fun

So what if Sheffield has loads of clubs, Exeter has a quay – beat that.

7. Friends who didn’t go to Uni will be bored of your stories

They definitely won’t care about that time Lily didn’t buy loo roll for a week or how many times you’ve talked to your library crush. They’ll just never appreciate the ‘Unay’ lifestyle.

8. Nostalgia will hit you when you least expect it

You’re driving down your familiar hometown roads and your 17 year old self’s jam comes on the radio – of course you’re going to sing all the words as loudly as you can, reminiscing your teenage years.

9. You’ll throw a temper tantrum

Were your parents always this annoying? Have you taken your freedom at Uni for granted? Whatever they reason you will definitely return to your teenage self and throw a massive hissy fit over something totally insignificant, followed by stomping up to your room and slamming the door like you used to.

10. You’ll appreciate your parents more

You’ll realise just how much they love and care about you, which will make eventually going back to Uni even harder. And of course, you’ll promise to call more!