Lara Pearson
- Subject area
- Computer Science
Once I had decided that I wanted to do a course that was a mixture of Computer Science and Business, I researched the universities that were highest in the Computer Science rankings and did some independent research into the student satisfaction, modules, and extra-curricular opportunities. Loughborough ranked highly after my research but what solidified my choice was when I visited campus on an open day. I got to meet some of the lecturers and students, who were all so helpful and friendly, and I knew that this was somewhere I could call home for the next 4 years.
Initially I couldn’t decide between studying Computer Science or Business, so this course seemed to be a good mixture. Lots of universities had something similar but what stood out about ITMB was the interaction with employers, and I thought this would help me secure a graduate role. As an ITMB student you can enter two competitions a year, not only do they give you great experience to talk about in interviews, but you can also network with lots of other students and people in industry.
The lecturers teach you from the ground up, not expecting you to have any prior knowledge – this not only helps people that haven’t studied Computer Science before, but also ensures that everyone has a solid understanding of the basics. We also have an open-door policy, that means you can go speak to any lecturer whenever you want – this is normally for help with certain modules, but can also be about general questions, it’s amazing the amount they know and the passion they have for specific research areas! Every student is assigned a lecturer as a personal tutor and have regular meetings to check in on how you’re finding the course, settling into your accommodation and anything in between. You’re also matched up with a student from second or third year as your Peer Mentor to help with any questions you want a student opinion on or anything you don’t want to discuss with your Personal Tutor.
I completed a placement year at Procter & Gamble as an IT Project Manager, in their Workplace Services department – who are responsible for facilities, real estate and employee IT. I was given a wide variety of projects, and I had the opportunity to apply my knowledge from my degree and the skills gained from my coursework, extra-curricular and team projects.
After I graduate, I’ll be going back to Procter & Gamble to continue the role I did during my placement year. I’m sure the skills and experience I’ve gained during my time at university, both in my degree and in societies, will continue to help me as I begin my graduate role.
For anyone thinking of studying at Loughborough – go for it! I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time here, there’s lots of extra things to get involved in both in the department and as part of the Students’ Union. The modules give you a good breadth of knowledge which help you acclimatise to the world of work.
Loughborough is definitely my home away from home. Everyone is extremely friendly and helpful when you don’t know where something is (it is a 440-acre campus after all!).
My favourite thing about Loughborough is the number of opportunities that are available – from support starting your own business, to the best sports facilities at any university in the world – you can try out anything at Loughborough and make lots of friends too!