My Journey to the FP
The truth is I’ve never been very studious. I was typically the slacker amongst my friends and didn’t care an awful lot about grades. A few things in each subject deeply interested and motivated me, but I still slacked off for the most part - always choosing the easiest math course, for example.
The ugly truth is that this lack of planning, and a high school diploma not equivalent to the Dutch VWO, meant I wasn’t eligible for the natural science programmes I later (and suddenly!) wanted to follow in university. So, I applied for the Foundation Programme to prepare for UCV, an interdisciplinary Liberal Arts & Science programme in Venlo.
Two years into the Bachelor’s, I’ve been able to clearly see where the FP aided my experience and gave me an advantage!
The Academic Building Blocks
With the FP, I built a foundation of academic skills that have served in making my transition into the Bachelor’s as smooth as a baby’s butt. In retrospect, building a solid base like I did was almost necessary for my previously-unstudious self to reach my goals.
In the FP I was able to take the intermediate level of math I needed and was introduced to research methods and biology. It also prepared me for Problem Based Learning (PBL) and extensive reading, which two hurdles I’ve seen students struggle with in the first year of our degree. My peers have the hang of it by now (because of their big brains), but the advantage was that I didn’t have to worry about it at all.
The first year of a Bachelor's may throw many obstacles at you and, with that additional energy, I think I managed everything very well.
The degree I’m currently following is interdisciplinary and one can build their own curriculum (like the UCM and MSP programmes). Without a proper structure nor some free time, students have found it increasingly difficult to peacefully and strategically choose courses. It can be very stressful to plan for the future, which is why I found it helpful to have a smooth introduction to university responsibilities (via the FP).
In the FP I was also able to take similar courses to those offered in my Bachelor’s that I otherwise wouldn't have chosen or prioritised. For instance, Presentation Skills came in handy because many of the assignments I now have include presenting, and Debate, besides obviously debating, helped me form clear and linear arguments for a given task. Now I can choose other courses that I am more interested in without compromising truly valuable skills.
Living and Learning
Even though my foundation year was mostly online due to COVID-19, the FP greatly helped me settle in the Netherlands enjoyably. It’s a time when one can get done all the bureaucracy we love (register with the municipality, get insurance, bank accounts, etc.), but also calmly explore the ins-and-outs of Maastricht. Peacefully doing so seems especially important for students living alone for the first time. I had the pleasure of spending half a year in the beautiful city, which is very lucky since my campus is an hour away in Venlo. Every time I mention my living there, Venloers get jealous. Maastricht really is a lovely place.
The FP Community
From the beginning, the FP tutors encouraged us to contact them for help in any of the living and academic aspects I’ve mentioned above - and so many more. I’m glad I got such a good introduction to Maastricht University, led by a group of mentors looking out for what’s best for us and promoting a sense of community within the FP.
It wasn’t hard to get comfortable with the small, and eventually tight-knit, group of students either. Right away, we were able to see different perspectives and backgrounds, and wonderful dynamics arose. During the first half of the year, I, along with the other fluent speakers, helped out those who weren’t so comfortable with English. Later in the year we were helped out by them when the math classes doomed us. I enjoy keeping memories like these, but for now it's nicer to catch FP friends around town and through them see what the other faculties of Maastricht are like.
The UCV Now
The FP gave me time to practice the exact skills I’d later use in the Liberal Arts & Sciences.
The UCV is full of reading and researching, always in the courses I choose. Deciding what courses to take can be difficult but students are counseled well by personal advisors and we are able to commit to a Natural Sciences, Social Sciences or an Interdisciplinary concentration - if we don’t want to choose between the two. The programme is small and cozy, making it easy for us to meet (or at least recognise!) all students after some months. This is especially fun when you get to hear about all the courses in the other concentrations from friends in your classes!