[HDNG]INTRODUCTION:[EHDNG][PARA][BULL] The College is part of University of London and students are entitled to use its facilities.[EBOLD][PARA]Jam sandwiched between The Natural History Museum and The Royal Albert Hall in South Kensington, just 11/2 miles from Trafalgar Square, is Imperial College. Imperial was formed when in 1907 The Royal School of Mines, City and Guilds College and The Royal College of Science merged. They have since been joined by St Mary's Hospital Medical School which is based at Paddington. [ITAL]The main building is what Prince Chas would call a 'carbuncle'[EITAL] - a towering, oversized portakabin of aluminium, smoked glass and concrete. Inside it's well ordered - echoing walkways with glass displays and cabinets full of scientific paraphernalia which all adds to [ITAL]the sense of awesome scientific knowledge[EITAL]. Overshadowing all this is the Queen's Tower, which has now been locked off. [ITAL]Allegedly, too many frustrated finalists were flinging themselves from the parapet, knowing at least enough physics to realise it was a sure fire way of getting out of exams. [EITAL]Apart from the buildings at South Kensington and the hospital at Paddington, Imperial has a mine at Truro in Cornwall and a 260 acre site at Silwood Park, near Ascot, mainly for scientific field work.[HDNG]ATMOSPHERE:[EHDNG][PARA][BOLD]Being A Student In London: [EBOLD]see [ULNE]University of London[EULNE].[BOLD] [EBOLD][ITAL]All the students at Imperial are studying sciences. Most are male and between the ages of 18 and 23. Now, what does that tell you? Yup, anoraks and what mothers call 'sensible' shoes abound. The College claims their students are well known for their 'healthy conceit' (obviously not that well known), which presumably results from the high reputation and the fact that academic loiterers might as well give up immediately. Resemblances to Beavis and Butthead are only superficial. The place buzzes with activity, but it's a lot of going somewhere without ever seeming to be where it's at. As for Mary's, the tone is intensely studious and after just a while there we fancied tackling a few heart bypasses ourselves.[EITAL][ITAL][HDNG]LIFE IN LONDON:[EHDNG][EITAL][PARA][ITAL]Samuel Johnson wrote 'When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.' Obviously, he wasn't living on a student grant at the time; for there is only a certain amount in London that a student can afford. SJ was right in that London is second to none in its diversity, but you can't do it all. It's easy to feel that you're not making the most of London if you're not spending every waking minute at the theatre, ballet, opera or cinema, in clubs or fashionable markets, and in museums and galleries, sports grounds and parks. However, if the truth be known, even taking advantage of the many freebies you can dig up if you try, you'd be broke within a week if you tried to keep up with the tearaway pace. When it comes to opportunity, choice and life in the fast lane, London is the turbo-boosted Porsche. London is supposed to be the city that never sleeps, leaving the bright lights burning all night long. In fact, as international metropolises go, this one tends to shut down when the pubs close. Getting more than a cheeseburger after midnight can be as difficult in London as it is in a Turkish jail. Not everyone likes the pace or the impersonal atmosphere that many find in London. Whilst it's hard to be alone, it's easy to be lonely, and most students in London find this at some time. London can be oppressive and if you're not streetwise, or at least street sensible, it can be a dangerous place. Bomb scares are usually just that, but violent crime is on the up. [EITAL][PARA][ITAL] There are a number of responses to the high cost of living in London: (1) burst into tears; (2) mug someone; (3) live on credit; (4) ask daddy for lashings of cash. Alternatively, if these don't appeal, you can always use the following methods: (1) Limit your spending by only going out when and where you can afford it (ULU fits the bill, offering cheap events for students). (2) Buy second hand - for books, there's ULU, Charing Cross Road and Waterloo and, for clothes, try Camden Market, Greenwich, Brick Lane and Portobello Road. (Many a London student falls prey to fashion, but not always at vast expense.) (3) Get a job - [EITAL]more London students have part time jobs than anywhere else.[ITAL] [EITAL][PARA][ITAL] London also has more overseas students than almost anywhere else, which, in Britain's most international city, is an appropriate addition to the already spicy variety of life. The extent of London's cosmopolitanism is unique. Nowhere else are there as many students of every different shape, colour, vintage, creed and flavour.[EITAL][PARA][ITAL] To be young in London and have flexible demands on your time is an ideal recipe. The daily downers such as the time spent travelling have a minimal effect, whereas the opportunities are all there. If you happen to live in London, it's good to be a student, but if you're a student, London isn't necessarily a good place to happen to live.[EITAL][HDNG]SOUTH KENSINGTON:[EHDNG][PARA]The area immediately surrounding the College is a [ITAL]prim [EITAL]quad with privet hedges in the relative peace of South Kensington. Kensington itself, is a [ITAL]well to do area[EITAL] with Harrods just round the corner in Knightsbridge [ITAL](although we don't recommend students use it for their weekly shop). It's full of expensive boutiques and swish delicatessens. Even the kebab joints have French names round here. It's also an erudite part of London,[EITAL] brimming with museums and libraries and obscure educational institutions. [ITAL]It's pricey to live in South Kensington itself; Notting Hill or Earl's Court is a likelier bet. However, it's well connected for the West End and [EITAL]ULU takes 20mins by tube or slightly longer by bus.[HDNG]TRAVEL:[EHDNG][PARA][BOLD]Trains: [EBOLD]London is the centre of the network: Bristol (1:40hrs, 1/hr); Birmingham (1:40hrs, 3/hr); Manchester (2:30hrs, 1/hr); Glasgow (5:20hrs, 12/day); Edinburgh ( 4:20hrs, 1/hr); Newcastle (2:45hrs, 2/hr); Leeds (2:30hrs, 1/hr); Norwich (1:49hrs, 1/hr). Trains come into the 8 mainline termini and if passing through London (for example from Canterbury (Kent) to Manchester), it is often necessary to travel by tube (at extra expense) between mainline stations .[PARA][BOLD]Coaches:[EBOLD] London is also the centre of the National Express system and a whole variety of other national bus services (Green Line, Blue Line and so on). Some example National Express journeys: Birmingham (ú9.50, 2:30hrs, 1/hr); Bristol (ú12.50, 2:15hrs, 1/hr); Edinburgh (ú25, 7:50hrs, 3/day); Glasgow (ú25, 7hrs, 7/day); Manchester (ú16, 3:30hrs, 7/day); Newcastle (ú17.50, 5:10hrs, 7/day).[PARA][BOLD]Local Trains: [EBOLD]Network SouthEast operates local overground trains [ITAL]which are a speedy and sometimes pleasant way to travel and are moderately efficient. The main problems are the ease of use (a fair level of understanding is necessary), the high fares and the early closing[EITAL] (last trains between 11pm and 1am).[PARA][BOLD]Underground:[EBOLD] The 'tube' is the largest underground train system in the world and generally,[ITAL] it is fast, easy to use, efficient (well, maybe not the Northern Line) and takes you just about anywhere you want to go, although South-East London is a bit hard done by. However, it is often crowded,[EITAL] shuts down at midnight,[ITAL] it's often disrupted by bomb scares[EITAL] and the minimum fare is 90p. [ITAL]Talking to other tube passengers is tantamount to threatening their mother - the only people who do it are tourists and people who want to talk to you about Jesus.[EITAL] Nearest tube to Senate House/ULU Building: Goodge St (Northern Line).[PARA][BOLD]Local Buses: [EBOLD][ITAL]In the tube you can't see the real sights, so why not take the buses which are just as efficient,[EITAL] offer even more destinations and are slightly cheaper (50p minimum). [ITAL]But buses are slow and, until you know your way around, it's difficult to know which ones take you where.[EITAL] After midnight, buses come into their own - Night Buses are London's only form of all-night public transport and[ITAL] if you don't mind how long it takes,[EITAL] you can go almost anywhere within 10 miles of the centre.[PARA][BOLD]Travelcards:[EBOLD] For a legal way of dodging the expense of tubes, buses and trains, Travelcards are available at ú2.60 for a daily pass for the central 2 zones of the network.[PARA][BOLD]Taxis: [EBOLD]There are 2 types:[ITAL] the classic black cabs which are well regulated and enormously expensive, and dodgy merchants in Ford Escorts which are almost as expensive. There are now also some run by and for women. Basically though, forget all taxis, except late at night when all else fails and/or you're in a party of 4 or more.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Car:[EBOLD] [ITAL]Parking in Central London is impossible, and, although there is only one rush hour every day it lasts from 6 in the morning to midnight. Driving in London is excellent training for being a volcano.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Air: [EBOLD]Served by 4 airports, including Heathrow, the world's busiest. Regular flights to anywhere and back.[PARA][BOLD]Hitching:[ITAL] [EBOLD]Not possible from Central London, but get out a little way on to the city's escape routes or beyond the M25 and a thumb's a first class ticket.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Bicycles: [EBOLD][ITAL] A popular form of student travel given the pros: it's cheap and you can get through traffic. But there are the cons: London is big, full of exhaust fumes, lacking in cycle lanes and a Houdini-proof lock is advisable. It's also an easy way to die.[EITAL][PARA][PARA][BOLD]Trains:[EBOLD] The nearest mainline BR station - Victoria - is just under 11/2 miles away.[PARA][BOLD]Buses:[EBOLD] 9; 10; 51; 74; and C1. Night buses: N14; and N97.[PARA][BOLD]Car:[EBOLD] [ITAL]Very limited parking[EITAL].[PARA][BOLD]Underground:[EBOLD] Gloucester Road and South Kensington (both on the District, Circle and Piccadilly Lines)[HDNG]NOS and REQUIREMENTS:[EHDNG][PARA][BOLD]City and Guilds[EBOLD] 2,006 22-24pts[BOLD][PARA]Science[EBOLD] 1,726 20-22pts[BOLD][PARA]Mines[EBOLD] 370 20-22pts[BOLD][PARA]Medicine[EBOLD] 638 24pts[BOLD][HDNG]LIBRARIES and COMPUTERS:[EHDNG][EBOLD][PARA][BOLD][STAT][BULL] Books: 650,000 [BULL] Periodicals: 4,000 [BULL] Study places: 1,000 [BULL] Computer workstations: 800[ESTAT][EBOLD][PARA]There are 15 libraries in all, including the Medical School and departmental libraries[ITAL].[EITAL][PARA][PARA][ITAL][HDNG]CAREER PROSPECTS:[EHDNG][EITAL][PARA][ITAL][STAT][BULL] Careers Service [BULL] No of staff: 6full/1part [BULL] Unemployed after 6mths (1992): 8.1%[ESTAT][EITAL][PARA]Students are made to feel wanted at Imperial where potential employers advertise careers at every turn and take a willing commercial interest in goings on. Each department has its own careers advisor.[HDNG]SPECIAL FEATURES:[EHDNG][PARA][BULL]Imperial's mascot is a 185lbs micrometer, which deters the trend amongst London colleges of stealing each other's mascots.[PARA][BULL]99% of Imperial's staff have PhDs, and 20% of students get 1st class degrees.[ITAL][HDNG]FAMOUS ALUMNI:[EHDNG][EITAL][PARA]Mary Archer (Lord Jeff's wife); Sir Roger Bannister (4 minute miler); Rajiv Gandhi (former Indian Prime Minister); Sunetra Gupta (writer); Brian May (large-haired Queen guitar hero); H G Wells (writer); J P R Williams (rugby player); Francis Wilson (weatherman and heart-throb).[HDNG]FURTHER INFO:[EHDNG][PARA]Prospectuses for undergrads and postgrads, and alternative prospectus from SU.[PARA][PARA]
