Hi, my name is Yang. I am a final-year Psychology student at Surrey. I came to Surrey after completing an International Baccalaureate (IB) program, which has prepared me for undergraduate courses as an intense high school program. However, my academic readiness still left me struggling through Biological Psychology, so be prepared for the science aspect of Psychology if you are unaware.
As I am about to graduate soon, I have had a full experience as a Surrey student. From my years at Surrey, I believe this institution is not about feeding you knowledge through lectures; they do, but beyond that, they immerse you in opportunities to integrate your learning, develop different skills, and explore. I had the opportunity to be part of the research assistant apprenticeships, which exposed me to different projects that have consolidated my learning in class, allowed me to explore new fields of research, and advanced my research skills. I also had the opportunity to study abroad, where I experienced higher education on another continent, enrolled in courses of my interest, travelled, made new friends, and created unforgettable memories. From my experience abroad, I always thought that studying abroad
was a cost-effective way to experience education at another university, which I highly recommend to interested people.
Even though I am about to graduate, I am still unsure about where my future path will lead. I am currently applying to postgraduate programs and plan to continue postgraduate studies in the UK.
I’m not an example to look up to, but someone you can look to for guidance on improving your own experiences and avoiding mistakes. Along with opportunities, there are many available resources at Surrey, which I highly recommend making use of. The employability and career center can guide you through the job-hunting process from the beginning. Someone who has just stepped out of high school will have limited experience in writing a CV, and they are there to help you build a CV from scratch that is tailored to the UK market, as there are also cultural differences in CVs.
Whether or not you hope to settle in the UK in the future, always go to the career fairs that Surrey offers. If you plan to get a job in the UK, it would be extremely helpful for you to start your job-hunting process, submit your CV on the spot, make meaningful connections, and more. Even if you are not planning to live in the UK, it would allow you to understand the available job roles for your course, recognize what you may lack and what needs improvement, and gain experience communicating with employees.
Moreover, another piece of advice I would give is to explore. Get to know Guildford, travel around the UK, and make memories. Again, whether you are hoping to settle in the UK or not, these years will be precious memories you look back on, and they may help you decide to settle there, as they will give you some insight into the place.
