Adam McNamara

What made you decide to come to Leeds?

It became my main choice when I came up for my interview and was shown round, I found it amazing and so it was Leeds for me.

How would you describe student life here?

Amazing. Up north is really friendly and is way different to back in London and also all you notice around the campus is students, within a radius of Leeds University, it’s just full of students. Being a student you aren’t singled out or anything, you are always going to have people who are in the same position as you.

How do you find the labs and practical work? Do you enjoy it?

Yes, it’s definitely fun. I’m much bigger on the synthetic labs as opposed to the physical labs with the computers. Yeah, the facilities are really good especially coming from school, you used to have one Bunsen tap at a table and that was basically it.

How do you find your lecturers/ tutors/ supervisors?

I like it because a lot of people I know are on courses where they don’t get as much contact time as we get here and it is definitely better getting more contact time. The lecturers are always around after lectures for you to go and ask questions.

What is it that makes you passionate about chemistry?

It’s the practical side. Doing something rather than just learning about something.

Are you involved in any sports or societies?

Yes I am involved in the poker society and ChemSoc as well. 

Have you had any thoughts about a career at the end?

Yes I want to go into research and development, pharmaceutical chemistry.

What would you say to other students thinking of coming to Leeds?

It all depends on what you are really looking for but Leeds provides a lot for you. Like the scholarships package, where you get your books and the lab coats and stuff; not a single other university that I went to offered anything like that. They offer you lots of support, like the access course, so yes Leeds is definitely a good university.