a challenge abroad, studying mathematics and making a lot of international friends
Anete went to high school in Riga and during her final year, she thought about what further education she wanted to follow. Unfortunately, she and many of her fellow students felt that education in Latvia was not of a very high quality, which is why many sought an education abroad. Anete also took the chance to go abroad for a study in a foreign country, to learn about a new culture and make heaps of new friends. At the moment Anete studies the bachelors’ programme Applied Mathematics at the University Twente.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THE BACHELOR OF APPLIED MATHEMATICS @ THE UNIVERSITY OF TWENTE?
Anete: “Well, it was a simple exclusion principle. I had the choice of staying in Europe or leaving it, and because I liked the idea of being close to my family, it became the first option: a study in a European country. Now with COVID19, I am glad I stayed in Europe. I did not want to go to Great Britain because of Brexit, and my German is not that great. That left the Netherlands as my main choice, and the University of Twente (UT) was one of the surprisingly few universities that offered mathematics in English. I knew that I wanted to study mathematics, there was no doubt about that, so I applied and got in.”
HOW DOES YOUR DAY LOOK LIKE?
Anete: “The answer differs greatly depending on when this day was. Last year, before COVID19, I woke up at 7:30hr almost every day and cycled to the university from Enschede city centre around 8:20hr. Then I would spend most of my day in lectures and tutorials, and possibly spend the lunch break playing card games with my friends or preparing for exams. Then after like 16:00hr or 17:00hr I would cycle back home and make myself some dinner and do any homework that was still not done and prepare things for the evening. I would maybe go to the gym or play some games, and then I would go to sleep around 23:00hr. However, now my schedule is very different, I wake up after 9 o'clock because I don’t have a lecture before that time, that is why my schedule is delayed, and I study until 18:00hr or 19:00hr. I am, of course, not very happy about it all, but this is the result of the corona rules. Everything has to be adapted, including the education that is now often given online. This is also the reason that I go to sleep way after midnight, and now I am stuck in this loop. I preferred the previous schedule, and I think most people do. Let us hope that we will soon be rid of COVID19 and be able to return to a normal rhythm.”
The educational programme at the University of Twente is divided into modules - 4 modules per academic year. Each module ends with the implementation of a project in which you can use what you have learned. Which module project did you like best, so far?
“That is a good question. I think I preferred the projection project, as that was very numerical. We had to manually create a 3D object in our computers and then calculate how it would look projected onto the screen or 3D glasses. I liked it as I enjoy programming (not so much that I would study Computer Science, though) and my favourite subjects are more numerical, such as Linear Structures or Calculus, and this project was very much just trying to calculate intersections of lines and planes. I can enjoy pure mathematics as well, and I think this is exactly why this was my favourite project,” Anete explains.
Which course do you like best?
“I would say that my favourite course was Linear Structures. This probably is because this was one of the first courses, so it was the easiest to follow. Additionally, I like more precise courses, without the need for rounding or approximations, and Linear Structures did not involve any of that. It did not involve complicated integrals or derivatives, which made me like it more,” Anete smiles.
How did your introduction to the UT and Applied Mathematics go?
Anete: “I participated in the introduction period Kick-In of 2019, and I am glad I did, it was certainly worth it. I was somewhat awkward around my peers, however, that is not on them. Everyone in the AM programme is very welcoming and open, and from what I have heard of other programmes, the Applied Mathematics study association is more of a community than other associations are. Moving to the Netherlands was stressful and the study association ‘Abacus’ definitely helped me feel more at ease. Luckily, I do not miss my home a lot, I was quite independent back home already, so I was ready for living away from my parents. However, I do miss everyone now and then. I think I feel the most homesick for my mom’s cooking, as it differs from Dutch dishes quite a lot.”
Have you made many friends at UT?
“I think I have made more friends than I hoped for. Of course, most of my friends are from Applied Mathematics, but I also do have some friends from Computer Science, Psychology and Electrical Engineering. It is nice that we had to do a module project with Physics students in the 3rd Module as well, I now have some acquaintances in that programme too. I am fairly sure of the girls started AM in 2019 there are now 8 left, which might seem like a few, but what if I say that there are less than 30 people total still studying from that year? It suddenly does not feel so bad, right? I would like to think that the gender does not impact whether a person is my friend or not, and looking at my friends, I would say that the proportions of their gender are similar to those of their studies. I wish that more women would study STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), this will not happen just on its own or by me saying that I like it, the studies need to be slightly tailored or at least advertised more,” Anete says.
Student life does not only consist of studying but of course, you also have free time. What do you spend this time off on?
Anete: “I have free time regularly, however, I do not always spend it socializing. I play games with my friends on Fridays and before COVID19 hit, I was also actively participating in the study association’s bartending committee (A)bac(ch)us. Now there are no events that need bartending. It was nice to be responsible and have small talk with Abacus members or sometimes people from our faculty EEMCS (Electrical Engineering, Mathematics & Computer Science). I participated in some Abacus events this year, and I wish (as does everyone else) that we would be allowed to have parties and just get together with other students and talk about life again. But, because of the Corona restrictions, we can’t have what we want right now. We are all looking forward to organising and meeting up with our peers again. Let us hope it does not take too long anymore. I miss the happy hours and the chats with everyone.”
Would you recommend AM @ UT to students back home?
“That is a hard question! Of course, I only have my own experiences, which I gained at UT. I cannot make comparisons with other universities. I think studying abroad is an awesome experience which, if you can afford it, is worth it! And as I mentioned before, the study association Abacus of AM is great. I think the programmes are fun as well, the lecturers are welcoming and the campus is fairly green, and it's always nice to stroll through the colourful campus,” Anete explains.
You are now a second-year Bachelor student, have you made up your mind about what you are going to do after graduation?
Anete: “I might do my Master’s in mathematics, however, I do not know yet which track to choose. And I might study in a different country. It is nothing personal or that I do not like it here in the Netherlands, believe me, it is just that I want to explore as many different countries and their cultures as I can, and it seems to me that three years should be enough to give me an idea of how the Dutch live. Of course, staying in the Netherlands or staying at UT would be convenient, as I start to understand Dutch and familiarize myself with the surroundings. After that… who knows?”