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Author Archives: Shivani Saboo

About Shivani Saboo

I am from Mumbai, India. I am currently studying a MSc Entrepreneurship from Cass Business School.

Tips to prepare and survive through EXAMS!

Posted on August 29, 2018 by Shivani Saboo
Cass Business School, Exams, Postgraduate.

An exam is probably the most dreaded thing for students! Below, I’ve shared some of my tips for how to prepare for and survive your exams:

  1. Plan and organise: the most important tip has to be to plan and organise your studies. Definitely make a timetable. This will help you plan your studies in such a way that you can complete the entire portion well in advance.
  2.  Start early: the biggest mistake most students make is to leave everything until the last minute. This will only add to the tension when the exam date nears. It’s always better to finish your portion well in advance, than to be struggling at the last minute.
  3. Don’t compare: it’s nice to talk to your friends and to share your study woes. But if this talk leads to comparisons which cause you to be anxious, it’s best to avoid it. Everyone has a different study style and speed.
  4. Don’t doubt yourself: study with full dedication and don’t second guess yourself. You are doing a great job and are performing to the best of your efforts. Stay motivated and don’t lose your focus.
  5. Relax: don’t over-stress yourself. Relax and meditate! This will calm you down and even help you concentrate better. Eat healthy, stay well hydrated and sleep the required amount.Lastly, All the best! You’ve got this! 🙂

Life in London (on a BUDGET!)

Posted on June 8, 2018 by Shivani Saboo
Cass Business School, Postgraduate , , , , , .

London is assumed to be the most expensive city in the UK. Although I can’t deny that it can be expensive, the limit to which you spend entirely depends on you. I was very worried about not being able to control my expenses, but now after spending a year in London I can safely say it is possible and quite simple.

Here are a few tips and suggestions to help control your expenditure!

  1. Student Oyster Card
    If you need to use the tube or bus every single day, definitely get one of the student plans. For me, my accommodation is within walking distance of the university, therefore the “pay-as-you-go” option works out to be cheaper for me. Work out which works better for you. If you opt for a Travelcard, as a student you can get a 30% discount off adult rates. You can find more information here on the Transport for London website!
  2. 16 – 25 Rail Card
    If you plan to visit different places within the UK, this card is a real boon. It gives you 1/3 off of rail fares. I would totally recommend this for an international student intending to visit the various treasures of this country! Please find more information here.
  3. Linking of the above-mentioned cards
    Sadly, I did not know about this feature until last month. Linking the student Oyster card and rail card can lead to further discounted rates. You can take your cards to any main station and ask at the desk to get the cards linked. It only takes about a minute!
  4. UNiDAYS student discount
    Who doesn’t love to shop and eat good food? Since you are a student, you are eligible for a UNiDAYS student discount on items ranging from fashion, beauty, food and technology. Just register and then enjoy the many discounts on offer! Please find more information here.
  5. Sky Garden
    London can safely boast of having one of the best skylines in the world! It has many iconic structures, like Tower Bridge, the Gherkin, BT Tower and The Shard to name just a few! The Sky Garden is one such structure from where you can see the entire London skyline for FREE! No, I am not kidding! I absolutely love going there. Plan your visit in advance and book yourself a slot since it tends to be all booked out quite quickly. You can book using this link.

If you end up using any of these suggestions, let me know by commenting below!

London: a culinary heaven (vegetarian edition)

Posted on June 4, 2018 by Shivani Saboo
Cass Business School, Postgraduate.

“First, we eat, then we do everything else.” – M.F.K. Fisher

London can be a true delight for food lovers! Whatever cuisine you may like, it has just about everything on offer. From street vendors to fast-food restaurants to fine dining restaurants, it has everything in store!

Below, I have compiled a list of restaurants featuring vegetarian options which are my personal “must-visits” in London:

  1. Wahaca
    Cuisine: Mexican
    Location: Leicester Square, Oxford Circus, St. Paul’s (and many more)
    Definitely try: corn and black bean tostada; sweet potato and feta tacquito; black bean and cheese quesadilla; guacamole
  2.  Hoppers
    Cuisine: Sri Lankan
    Location: St. Christopher’s Place, Soho
    Definitely try: hopper; podi dosa; idli sambhar; aubergine curry; cutlet; kathu roti
  3.  Pizzeria & Canti Prosecco Bar
    Cuisine: Italian
    Location: Inside Harrods department store (Knightsbridge)
    Definitely try: vegetariana pizza; truffled macaroni cheese; minestrone soup
  4.  Busaba Eathai
    Cuisine: Thai
    Location: Oxford Circus, Soho, Shoreditch (and many more)
    Definitely try: Pad Thai jay; green curry jay; edamame; spring rolls
  5.  Sarvanna Bhavan
    Cuisine: South Indian
    Location: Leceister Square, Wembley (and many more)
    Definitely try: mysore masala dosa; paneer chilli; mini idlis
  6.  Dim T
    Cuisine: Chinese, Asian
    Location: Tower Bridge
    Definitely try: spring rolls; spinach and mixed vegetable dim sum; Pad Thai; jasmine fried rice; chocolate bento box
  7.  Chipotle
    Cuisine: Mexican fast food
    Location: Charing Cross, Baker Street, Wardour Street (and many more)
    Definitely try: burrito bowl with guacamole

I hope you enjoy you vegetarian culinary tour of London!

Experiences

Posted on May 10, 2018 by Shivani Saboo
Cass Business School, Postgraduate.

My experience at City so far has been nothing short of amazing! I am enjoying each and every single day. There is so much I have learnt and this year has given me memories which will last with me for a lifetime.

The MSc in Entrepreneurship is an extremely practical course. The focus is more on actually being able to go out there and start your own venture, or join someone whose belief allies with yours. Everything we learn in the class is applied to real life cases and scenarios, followed by intensive and engaging discussions amongst the class. This enhances the overall learning experience.

We also have a lot of events that we can attend. Some of these focus on the basic concepts and guidelines in evaluating business opportunities, scaling businesses, creating the business model canvas, etc. There are a lot of startup competitions which we are encouraged to participate in.

Along with the rest of my team, I took part in the CityStarters Weekend. This included two full days of analysing opportunities, getting feedback from experienced professionals and eventually pitching a business idea to experienced panellists. The business idea that my team pitched was a vending machine where you could customise your own granola bar. We made a small prototype, as can be seen in the image below. We stood second in this competition and received an initial round of funding to help us get the idea into action.

My cohort is truly dynamic and comes from various cultures and backgrounds. This gives the opportunity to learn so much and look for potential business partners within the class. I am now entering Term 3. I have made some great friends and experiences that will last with me forever. I am excited to be closer to completing my master’s degree, but equally sad to be leaving the university that has given and taught me soooo much!

My journey to City! Shivani Saboo, MSc Entrepreneurship

Posted on March 26, 2018 by Shivani Saboo
Cass Business School, Postgraduate , , , , , , , , , , .

So what do you want to study at university?
Management? I think. Yes, I’m extremely interested in business management. Maybe I should pursue a master’s in this! But my bachelor’s was in the same specialisation! Maybe marketing, ummm or entrepreneurship? I’ve always wanted to start a venture of my own!

Where do you want to go and study?
City! UCL! Or maybe Imperial! I want to go the best place I can possibly go to! I love London, everything about the city is so inviting. Also there is so much development there with so many opportunities for the future! I definitely want to be in London! I am scared to live away from home though!

These were conversations I had with my family, friends and counsellors innumerable times! My journey to City has been quite an exciting and exhilarating one. I am from India and studied my first degree in my hometown. I pursued my undergraduate degree in business management, after which I decided to start working. I had long contemplated whether going off to university to pursue further studies would be the right choice for me! Now that I am here, I can safely say it was the best decision I ever made!

I am currently studying on the MSc Entrepreneurship at Cass Business School, City, University Of London. Just like any other prospective student would, I spent a lot of sleepless nights researching everything I possibly could about the university including location, course ranking, accommodation offered, etc. I would ask questions on student forums, university group chats, connect with past students on LinkedIn and ask them everything I could possibly think of. There is a lot to consider before going to university!

The process of applying to City was quite smooth. I submitted my application with my statement of purpose and the required documents which were stated on the website. In the second round I gave a video interview and eagerly waited for a couple of weeks until I got my final offer. The course office was extremely helpful and replied to all of my emails quickly.

My next step was to apply for the Tier 4 student visa. The visa team at City checked all of my documents before I submitted my application. This provided me peace of mind and helped me feel assured that my application was complete.

Then came the accommodation search. The university offers a selection of halls of residence for students. The application process is fairly simple. I am currently staying in the student accommodation called Pure City. The location is fabulous since it is walking distance from campus. Being in student accommodation has also led me to meet some wonderful, like-minded people.

It may seem extremely daunting to take all these decisions, but it is all worth it! Go for it and make the most out of your time at City!

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