Grace Dines

BSc Geography with Applied GIS

1. What has been the highlight of your time at Exeter?

I’ve absolutely loved my time at Exeter, so it’s actually really difficult to choose one highlight. I’ve been to a few balls over the three years and they are always really fun. After exams finish in the summer, everyone stays in Exeter for a couple of weeks and there are so many events including the Enchanted Garden Ball, Hijacked and Touch Duckes; which is a big rounders and rugby tournament. These few weeks are definitely memorable as you’ve worked hard all year, and get to make the most of Exeter before you go home.

2. What will you miss the most about University?

Definitely having all my friends in the same place and being able to just bump into people you know on your walk to campus or to town. I’ll miss living in Exeter with so many students concentrated in one area because it makes it a really fun place to live. Also having both town and campus in walking distance from where you live is another great thing about Exeter because you rarely need to get a bus, so it’s very convenient.

3. What did you enjoy about your particular programme?

One of the greatest perks of doing a Geography degree at Exeter is the opportunity to go on the field trips in second year. There is a wide choice of destinations, ranging from Brazil and Iceland for BSc students to New York for BA students. I actually went to California which was definitely one of the best weeks of second year. We never stayed in the same place for more than a couple of nights so we got to see some amazing places including Lake Tahoe, the Redwoods Forest and the Sacramento River, which we went rafting along!

4. What advice would you give to current and future students?

In terms of the academic side, using office hours to go and speak to your lecturer is so valuable, especially when you get to third year and are writing your dissertation.

I would also say make sure you get involved and join societies because that’s as big a part of university life as the academic side. Also, definitely try and make the most of being in this part of the country because there are so many places to go to like Dartmoor and plenty of beaches nearby as well.

5. What are your plans now that you have graduated?

I’m hoping that from September I will be working for an organization near me that is involved with conservation. The role would allow me to put the GIS skills that I have gained at Exeter to the test. I also have plans to go travelling for a couple of months next year to Australia and New Zealand, so I’m very excited about that!