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"I must escape this place"

Living in Harlow gets you down. Even doing something like sitting quietly in your car waiting for someone can end up being quite a traumatic experience. That's just what I was doing this afternoon, parked quite happily on the side of the road waiting for a friend, when some utter nutjob decided that he'd start to pound on the windows of the car behind him, threatening them with death.

I've no idea what they did - I heard no noises of a crash, or an altercation until he kicked off - and it's obvious this ape didn't know who he was threatening. Yet I've never seen such wanton destruction for next to no reason - I physically cannot understand how something as pedestrian as cutting someone up or driving too close to someone can install such rage in people. The poor bloke and his wife inside were obviously terrified, and I wouldn't blame them - I was parked about 50 metres down the road, and I panicked a bit. I wouldn't care to think what I'd do in the same situation (although Bill Hicks had the right idea in his insight of the LA riots - "step on the f***ing gas, man!"). I just sat dumbstruck as this gorilla pounded away his frustration before driving off, probably to stab a policeman before having underage sex with a criminal gypsy.

It's all change at the moment. I was all set to go away to a lovely university at Bournemouth in September and although I knew there was always a possibility I wouldn't get accepted (my grades weren't exactly ideal and I applied too late), I was gutted when I got the dreaded letter on Wednesday morning, incidentally around 5 days after I quit my job. So, it was back to square one - find another course at another Uni, which isn't as easy as you might think. As it stands, I'm applying to do a good course at a Uni I'm not exactly enamoured with, again with the possibility of being knocked back. If it doesn't happen, I'll be left with no job and many debts to pay. I'll have to slink back into full-time employment when I had my heart set on 3 years of less stressful education, with occasional bouts of binge-drinking and lady-conquering. This does not instill me with a great deal of joy, and although I'm more than capable of working at the publications I yearn to work for, the people with those little bits of paper with the funny letters on them will tend to overshadow me.

Of course, if Uni falls through again, then I'll be left deflated, and still very much in Harlow. There's always the possibility of moving out and getting my own place, but there's questions of money, questions of employment and questions of roommates that would need to be answered before I can venture out on my own.

I'm babbling, so I'll cut it short - I hate this place, and most of the things in it. I'm trying to change, trying to adapt and evolve, but it keeps dragging me back in. And the worst thing is, every time I sit down and try to move myself forward, apathy just drags me back in again. I guess I really just need a new start - new job, new house, new everything.

Signing off.

You live in Harlow, of course you're depressed.

Worst of all, there probably isnt any buildings tall enough to provide a quick release from your troubles

Catbert wrote:
> You live in Harlow, of course you're depressed.
>
> Worst of all, there probably isnt any buildings tall enough to
> provide a quick release from your troubles

Er. What about trains? I bet there are loads of ways to kill oneself in Harlow.

Am I wrong in thinking you can usually get into a good uni through clearing?

Does anyone know what Bristol's like, and Cafdiff? I have my main 4 choices, but I need to pick another 2.

You could always do the extra foundation year, I'm doing that and apparently people who take that route usually get a better grade.

Bristol is a dup, all the buildings are old... even the Boots store is grngy on the outside. Lots of sandwich shops there though, and at least their accents aren't annoying.

*dump

Icarus wrote:
> Bristol is a dup, all the buildings are old... even the Boots store is
> grngy on the outside. Lots of sandwich shops there though, and at
> least their accents aren't annoying.

Really, oh, I was thinking Bristol was gonna be like my fifth choice. There aren't many choices of unis that do Zoology and offer the foundation year up North. What about Leicester?

I'm applying to: Liverpool, Sheffield, Manchester & Leeds, any thoughts?

Clearing is basically the leftovers - most places on decent courses are full. You might get something decent but it's better to apply to the Uni's you think you can realistically get into when you actually do your application.

Kat wrote:
> Icarus wrote:
> Bristol is a dup, all the buildings are old... even the Boots store
> is
> grngy on the outside. Lots of sandwich shops there though, and at
> least their accents aren't annoying.
>
> Really, oh, I was thinking Bristol was gonna be like my fifth choice.
> There aren't many choices of unis that do Zoology and offer the
> foundation year up North. What about Leicester?
>
> I'm applying to: Liverpool, Sheffield, Manchester & Leeds, any
> thoughts?

Don't let me put you off; if the course detailslooks good to you, then I guess it's worth applying for; and if it's your fifth choice, you'll be extremely unlucky if you actually get to Bristol. It's a good university, one of the best in fact; just rather old in tradition, akin to Oxford.

What's more, if you're taking the foundation year, chances are your first choice will probably take you - judging by what I've read, the year really puts you in the right frame of mind for university, so that initial panic period that most people get during their first semester (especially if you're taking a science subject) simply won't be there.

I can't say much for the other unis you've mentioned, other than Manchester: Woo yeah!!! etc.

Icarus wrote:
>
> Don't let me put you off; if the course detailslooks good to you,
> then I guess it's worth applying for; and if it's your fifth choice,
> you'll be extremely unlucky if you actually get to Bristol. It's a
> good university, one of the best in fact; just rather old in
> tradition, akin to Oxford.
>
> What's more, if you're taking the foundation year, chances are your
> first choice will probably take you - judging by what I've read, the
> year really puts you in the right frame of mind for university, so
> that initial panic period that most people get during their first
> semester (especially if you're taking a science subject) simply won't
> be there.
>
> I can't say much for the other unis you've mentioned, other than
> Manchester: Woo yeah!!! etc.

Well, the social aspect is really important to me, so I think Bristol may be a bad choice, maybe I'll put it as my sixth choice! I did think Derby was going to be one of my choices, but from looking at the prospectus it seems really dull, am I right to think that?

Ok, so out of Leicester, Bristol, Derby, Cardiff, Aberdeen and Aberystwyth which 2 would you recommend for good social & good study?

Looking at a prospectus is no substitute to checking it out... but if you don't have time, maybe you can get opinions from past students elsewhere, such as learning forums or friends?

Again, I can't comment with those unis other than two, so I can't compare them with each other. Bristol is one of high reputation, but also known for a bit of snobbery. Employers may look down at this in ordinary jobs, but if you're looking to do research or sciences after then I doubt it will hinder your progress.

Cardiff is another vibrant city; I'm not sure about the nightlife (last time I stayed overnight I was way too young to go out at night, but from friends who have been to open days the uni is really good socially, probably the best in Wales.