I feel the need to post a journal entry as my usual time-wasting spot, Last.fm, has just been revamped and is consequently being very, very slow. I hate it when sites redesign. Largely not because I dislike the changes (though it's quite possible I do), but because I hate people's negative reactions to the new look. They may have good points to make, but the least they could do is be polite about it. When your friend goes and gets a haircut, and it looks a bit odd/crap, you don't say so to their face, do you? You say something constructive. (Except if that friend is Jenny, in which case the lesbian jokes are expected by now, poor girl.)

Over the last month I've been on a University visiting binge, which I have somehow returned from without going insane. As well as the stress of the visits in themselves, which left me with a very strong feeling of 'oh my God I'm actually going to leave all my friends to study with a bunch of complete strangers somewhere weird ARRGH', I also had to cope with having both of my parents with me on half of the trips. Although the cloud of dissaproval resulting from my not even considering Oxbridge had dissolved by the times of the visits, my parents (and let's be honest, by that I mean my mother) are still somehow able to inspire in me a unique feeling of complete, utter despair. Music and Tom go a long way in averting the otherwise inevitable parenticide, however :)

Anyway, here are some brief notes on each university because it might actually prove useful to me, and who knows, of interest to you:

The University of Sheffield- Hills. Not a campus, but the SU is directly opposite the Biomedical Sciences building so it would still mostly be all together in a convenient clump. 3 mins walk from the SU up a hill to the big, leafy park and 5 mins walk down the hill to the town. Catered halls nice enough, 20 mins walk up the hill. Good public transport, including trams. Apparently the cheapest and safest city in the UK.

The University of Birmingham- Took an immediate dislike to, but that may be because I went to visit it with the school, and it's worryingly close to home. And they don't have the course I want. They do get points for giving me a free Univeristy of Birmingham frisbee though.

The University of Leeds- GORGEOUS campus, I'd never leave, and fantastic SU (which was playing Radiohead- Idioteque when I walked through the cafe, which further proves their good taste). But the course didn't look immediately as good as the others-only Biology OR Chemistry A level was a requirement, not both, so the 1st year is apparently mainly focused on bringing everyone up to the same level, which could be yawnsome to people who did do both eg me. And the labs looked old-fashioned compared to all the others I saw.

The University of Nottingham- Campus not as pretty as Leeds imo, but bigger and with big rolling fields in the middle of it which is nice. Bit cut off from the town for my liking, though there is a frequent bus service. Brilliant Biochemistry and Genetics course, with superfantastic labs. Shiny SU, but it seemed a little... sterile.

The University of Bristol- again not a campus, but the chemistry dept. where I'd be based seemed pretty self-sufficient so not a problem. Lovely little park (uni owned I think) right in the middle of it. 5-10 min walk into town. No biomedical science degree, but physiology there looks good and the labs were impressive. Unfortunately, the accomodation is 45 mins walk away, UP A HILL, and the buses are reportedly rubbish. And the SU reminded me of Haddenham youth centre- it tries, yet fails, to look welcoming and has a funny smell.

The University of Southampton- where my brother went, so I already knew this one a bit. VERY nice accomodation that I saw (with a circular, soundproof music-room on stilts!) only 3 mins walk away from Biosciences. Good course, didn't get to see any labs though. SU seemed good, with helpful (and attractive) student at info point to tell me things about it. And FREE BUS PASS when living in Halls!

Current thoughts are Sheffield 1st choice, Soton as insurance, though this depends on things such as grades and where my gentleman friend thinks he may go.

And, on a completely unrelated note, less than a year 'til I get to be a bridesmaid wearing a very pretty dress at my brother's wedding! :)