Survival Kit for Studies  “My everyday life is kind of chaotic”

Dogucan, 21, is studying electrical engineering at the Technical University of Munich in his third semester. As part of our “University Survival Kit”, he explains what he would do differently if he could start his studies all over again.

The biggest cliché about your school – and to what extent it’s true:

At the start of our studies, we had to take an exam to test our suitability for the programme: This is called the Grundlagen- und Orientierungsprüfung (GOP) (i.e. basics and orientation test). Students from other faculties say there’s no way to pass this exam. It's really very hard: I learned more in one semester than in all the rest of my life.

What’s your everyday life like?

I'm not a well-organised person and my everyday life looks kind of chaotic. Sometimes I’m up before nine in the morning, sometimes I sleep until afternoon. I don’t go to university every day: we don’t have to be present. I usually catch up on what I missed at home or study in the library. But that has its downsides: I still don’t know all my lecturers personally.

What would have been too much of a sacrifice for you?

I live in a privately-run student residence in Garching. I have my own room there with a bathroom and a small kitchen. We also have a shared kitchen on our floor. It's very pleasant: Everything is new and clean. But the rent is very high. In hindsight, I think that simpler living space in a state-run residence would suit me.

Which day at university will you never forget?

Right in the first week I was gobsmacked at the “Welcome Party”. In Turkey, where I come from, I can’t imagine events like this where professors and students can get to know each other in an unofficial atmosphere. The distance between older and younger people, between people with different social status, is usually a bit greater in Turkey.

If you could start over at university, what would you do differently?

I’d try to study more systematically. If I’d been better organised, I’d have saved time and a lot of nerve cells and gotten better grades. This semester I started studying way too late and therefore had too little time to work through all the topics.

What did you find the most annoying?

Originally I wanted to study physics or maths because I really like theory. I enjoy understanding how this or that formula is derived. Electrical engineering is much more practice-oriented, that’s why we learn less theoretical material. When I saw that some theorems are not proven in our textbooks, I was very disappointed. Now I accept it the way it is.

What has often proved a lifesaver for you?

So-called Fachschaften – students’ councils – sell exams from previous years. That was very helpful. In addition, tutors offer great support. They are students in higher semesters who review the material with us. They do it as a part-time job and earn some money this way.

What did you eat when you were running low on funds?

When I’m really concentrating on something, I forget to eat. But luckily I don’t have to save: My parents send me monthly pocket money so I can finance my studies and my living costs.

What question do you hear at every family gathering?

The question I hear most often is: “How's it going with your studies?” Most of the time I answer: “Awful.” Truth is, it’s not all that bad, I just exaggerate things to make a joke.

Where can one find you if you’re not at university?

I’d rather stay home. That’s how I am, I don’t like to go out.

What was highest price you paid for a good mark?

During exam phases I sleep very little. But I have to watch out: If I’m too tired, I make mistakes because of poor concentration.

University also means learning for life.What’s your takeaway so far for the future?

I like maths and physics. During my studies I realised this would really be the right thing for me. I want to do my master’s in one of these two subjects.
 

March 2019