Tuesday, August 25, 2009

More Tips


I got this from a friend of mine called Manu Mohan. Great guy.I would like to thank him for giving this Tips.This tips are of a general nature. Some aspects may not be applicable to us. But makes good for general reading.

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Freshers' week will break the bank. You'll blow that first month's budget straight out of the window. Take a little extra - building a life doesn't come cheap.

Don't stay in your room. People are out there forming fickle friendships that may not last, but could keep their spirits up. Join them.

Don't show off. People won't like you.
Play the game. These are the questions you will ask and be asked: where are you from? What are you studying? Where are you living? What syllabus did you do? Did you take a year off? They get very tedious and you won't remember the answers, but it's the repetitive freshers ritual which masks the real questions, which are: could I really like you? Are you like me? Will I be avoiding you by next week?

Drink. But not continually, on an empty stomach or until you are sick/naked in public/forget where you live/cry.

Don't be choosy. Say yes to everything apart from sex with a new flatmate, lighter fuel and a hamburger from the fast food man with the weeping sores. You will be invited by your new flatmates to go to register, find the laundry, discover the local Safeway and to go to that Technohead night at the union. You won't have to stay friends with them all but you might meet someone you like.
Don't fall in love. This could lead to domestic bliss by Christmas but you will have split up by Easter and be left friendless while everyone else is in full swing.
Don't call your friends or boyfriend/girlfriend at home, it will only highlight how much your life has changed and make you feel lonely. It will also tell your new friends that you're not quite with them. Perhaps give your parents a quick bell though, more for their sake than yours. Do not under any but the most extreme circumstances go home.

On the Sunday night of freshers' week, get some real life food (with vegetables), put some comfy clothes on, and set yourself up with a telly guide. That's when a place really starts to feel like home.

Student checklist?
[17:05:42] Manu: Not sure what stuff you need for university? Make sure you're fully tooled up with our guide to the essentials. A list of essentials:
-Laptop
-Condoms
-Bed Linen and Duvet
-Toiletries
-Unlimited supply of alcohol,ciggarette
-Plenty of clothing

Student cash reality check?

Worried that you're not going to have enough cash for uni? We take a look at some of the things you can expect to spend your cash on while you're there.There are many student jobs available such as pr jobs and jobs within the uni.Your best bet is to check the individual unis for jobs,for those that are looking for money check the info below.

Surviving freshers' week?
The first week at uni can be a bit of a culture shock. There are endless forms to complete and new people to meet, so take a look at our guide to what you can expect in your first few days as a fresher.The best thing to do is TALK TO EVERYONE,DONT BE SHY!!! Uni is the best place to make freinds, get out and about.Dont just sit in at your new flat and go Sleep.


Student accounts?
One of the first things you should do is open an account for your loan or any bursary.Check out various accounts as they offer many things, don't go for the first one you see.Some may offer free gift but don't be blinded by this, if you are going up north or far to uni that requires taking a train it may make sense to get a rail card.

Student savers?

If you're strapped for cash, see how you can save a packet.Try limit yourself in the amount you spend, on a average night out you'll defiantly need around £30 inc drinks.So budget yourself, or drink up early as a case of beer is cheaper when bought from your local tescos.

Sorting out student accommodation?

If you haven't managed to put a roof over your head yet, check out what you need to do to make sure you've got a place to live. If you havent got accomation from your uni dont worry their are other options, you can gain private halls such as unite halls which are just like halls but not run by your uni. This are benefical in that their right next to uni but more expensive.Another option is to find a flat or a house with your freinds if their going to the same uni. If you really want halls then wait around as many spaces open up later on as some people move out and dont like halls.As its not for everyone!!!

Sailors Songs

Hi all

This is a song about Sailing. 

http://www.4shared.com/file/127604833/a110aa2b/SailingMP3.html

Regards

Tom Alex

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Condition Zero

Hi

I have just been informed that some of the visa is rejected because in the loan sanction letter, because the banks logo is not there in the letter. So i called up the banks to enquire about this and was told that nowadays banks do not give sanction letter on the letterhead. And i called VFS office to enquire. Well they say the banks logo has to be there.Its written very clearly on thier website.And i checked that up.Yes, its written like that.So we are caught up between that.

So if you fall into this category just like me then head to your bank today itself and get a new sanction letter on the Bank letter head itself.Quote them the reasons for doing so.

Hope all the visa applications get accepted

Tom Alex

Once you get your Visa

Hei

Once you get your visa please call on  the following number to the travel agent to book your tickets.As of now they r only blocked.Only after informing them that they will be booked
Here is the number

09841211040

Tom Alex

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Details of the Bank with which GCNS have transactions

I just emailed GCNS and asked for the details of SWIFT Code. Here they are. Give them to your bank and you can transfer the money electronically thus saving on DD charges.Please note that SWIFT is sometime called as IBAN number which is as shown here.

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Dear Tom


To Whom It May Concern:

 

As requested by you please find below the College bank details for BACS payments.

 

Bank Name:                         Clydesdale Bank

                                                Govanhill Branch

                                                621 Cathcart Road

                                                Glasgow

                                                G42 8AD

 

Bank Account Name:        Glasgow College of Nautical Studies

 

Sort Code:                             82-64-13

 

Account No:                         30266042

 

IBAN No:                              GB90CLYD82641330266042

 

BIC No:                                 CLYDGB21413

 



Regards,

Douglas Mannix
Student Recruitment Coordinator
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Monday, August 10, 2009

Tips to Remeber when going to UK

Hei all
This is the original copy of TIPS that i have collected from various sources

This will be updated as and when i get more information

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Things reqrd - a general list of a student to UK - Read this in conjunction with list frm college

Nautical Science guys dont need to have Boiler suit,heavy duty shoes.And carry principles of Navigation Textbook and BWK. And make sure u buy blazer itself and not suit.Both r different and have different characterstics. Also buy two atleast.. It will be difficult to manage with one for the whole year.I have uploaded some fotos at the following address.It will be nice to have a look around

http://www.4shared.com/dir/18537994/2cf7c96d/sharing.html

Carry about 300 Pounds with you for any incidental charges)

Soap       - 7
Brush      - 2
Paste - 1 Big
Refiller - 15 blue,5 black
Odonil room freshner - 3

Towel - 2, Turkey - 2
Parachute Oil - 2
Body moisteuriser - 1
Talcum Powder - 1
Rexona body spray
Deodrant
Hanger - 3
Suitcase
Tie - 2 
Formal(Executive) Dress - 4 or 5 sets
Blazer - 2 ( 1 Navy Blue and other preferably BLACK)
T-shirt - 4
Pajama/Track suit/pants - 4 (Avoid shorts as its cold; Track suits of cotton should be the best things)
Wollen socks - 2
Normal socks - 4
Underwear - 4
Inner T-shirt - 4 (Many say this is not required in UK as the climate is not                                                      conducive)
Shoes - 2
Formal/Uniform Shoes - 1
Cap  - 1
polish - as u please ( For leather shoes the best polish is Wax polish)
Shaving materials
Gloves - Leather would be best
Jacket - Preferably double sided types as it could be worn in many occasions
lock


List of medicines that could be carried( Medicines are also expensive there, visiting a doctor is a very costly affair)

Carmicide - 2 bottles
Pudinhara - 1 strip
Crossin - 12
Trimol - 6
Bentex - 2
Inhaler - 2
Ear buds
Coffenac
Quaderm

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How to call your parents/Friends from UK?

Well ofcourse we wil have a mobile and we can call.We mite even gt some offers to call India using connections like LABERO and O2. Well there is a way to do cheaply.That said,there are some conditions.Your Parents/Friends or the person whom u r trying to call must have a good computer and Fast Internet i.e Broadband.The method is using Skype.To know more how to use it go to www.skype.com and download the software. You must also have a mike and headphones of good quality.You can also call mobile and Landphones using skype but you have to pay money for that.

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What Connection to take?

Well, if you are using a good mobile phone( non-china phones and phones above 3000), chances are that you can use the same phone in UK.Unless you wish to change. I heard sony ericsson phones are very cheap there. And dont take that matrix connection. Its a 
rip off. We can go to UK and take 02 from there which seems to be the best for us.ANd dont take contract.That will get us to trouble.

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Carry some Passport size foto and Attested copies of passport xerox and copy of page where visa is stamped.Also learn to stitch.In UK, we will not find much tailoring shops.People over  there dont do much servicing either.Use and throw.

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There is still confusion reagarding how much weight we can carry.Some say its 30 while others say its 46. I would be taking abt 30 kg only.Per KG we have to pay 1500 extra.And we have pay the fees via AMET, so that a record that we payed the fees.For more details on that please call me or Mr.Samson
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Part time Job

MORE ABOUT PART TIME JOB IN THE NEXT RELEASE

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That concludes the list.Please remind me of any items that i have missed out.

TOM ALEX
tomastomas89@gmail.com
9037566975
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Dispelling the Myths about HND

THis is the copy of post i have put upon on many forums.All i wanna say is that HND is not what it is deemed in India

Hei
My name is Cdt Tom Alex.I did HND - NS from AMET. If you have doubt regarding validity of HND please google 'CDC regulations'. You will get a document which is dated sometime in 2001. It says very clearly on second para that you will get Indian CDC as long as you are an Indian Citizen and have valid COC from an Country on white list of IMO. It particularly mentions the cadets who have done HND from Glasgow and STC. 
yeah couple of guys mite not have been placed. Unapproved institutes like BP Marine Academy conducts HND. But appoved ones like AMET,VELS,Tolani etc have HND and thier cadets are placed.Of course 100 % cant be promised by any institute.
Yes,its true that ppl who does not have minimum 60% goes for this.But many in my case has done CBSE/ISC syllabus which is very difficult compared to State syllabus.
It must be noted that DGS does not differentiate btween syllabi. So it is not necessarily the guys who are weak in studies who goes for HND.If I would have written state syllabus I am sure I would have scored high marks.
And about the course, what we study is the latest things. For example Cargo work in B.Sc Nautical Science  teaches Yo-Yo rigging which is not seen anymore in any part of the world.But it doesnt mention anything about the latest technologies. But HND u learn only what is required now for you. That is the main difference. And you dont think a course belonging to a country like Uk,who has much more experiance in shipping, can be crap right?
And coming to degree part - Yes,We dont get a degree. But in countries like UK, Degree =Diploma. For them both are same.Hence the said terms often interchanged and used in thier.And all those who want a degree on the paper too has an option in HND. They need to do third  year of studies to obtain a degree. 
And this third year can be done anytime within 7 years.So its very flexible. I agree that wen it comes to marriage, u need a degree. Its very important.so i will get a degree.

EDIT : AMET is planning to start a new degree course for HND Cadets. More details once the degree is live.

And teaching is all done with aid of power point presentations and other interactive methods. I will upload couple of them if you want to see.

At the end of the study, a HND student will have more knowledge than a B.Sc Student/BE student. Many ppl wont agree to this, but it has been tested and found satisfactory.

So i hope i have dispelled many a fact regarding HND. Please note that i have said in the good spirit of telling you abt HND. Please dont think in anyother way.And all this applies only to HND conducted by UK through authorised study centres in India.

Cdt Tom Alex

PS : Comments are most welcome. If there is something wrong in what i have done,Please feel free to enlighten me