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Václav Procházka is in his third year of studying Information Management at the Faculty of Economics of the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen (FEK UWB). He admits that at the beginning of his studies he did not expect economics to interest him to such an extent as it did at UWB. And what exactly? Read our interview with another face you know from posters all over the Southwest.

• What surprised you more on your first day at university—the difficulty of the subjects or the price of lunch in the cafeteria?
  Some of the subjects were difficult, others were easier, but I guess everyone who goes to college counts on that. I was surprised by the low price of the pizza in the cafeteria, it's really good.
  
  
• If you had to describe your field as a movie genre, would it be a thriller, comedy, or sci-fi?
  My classmates would probably say horror, but I think it's more of a comedy. We have some really funny teachers, in a good way, of course. They teach with wit and can make a lecture interesting.
  
  
• What's your best survival trick for exam season?
  Lots of coffee and going to bed on time, because the next day it really shows.
  
  
• What was your biggest "I see" moment during your studies? Is there something you wish you had known in your first year?
  The biggest shock for me was that there is no teacher behind us and we are on our own, no one tells us when, what and how to do it and you have to take care of everything yourself. In that respect, the friends you make here are great because you can look out for each other and remind each other of your responsibilities.
  
  
• If you could give your first-year self one piece of advice, what would it be?
  To get more out of my shell. In freshman year, you're scared, or rather surprised, by the environment, you don't know what and how. I had a tendency to crawl in, learn everything and do everything. I didn't really talk to people or do anything extra. It wasn't until my sophomore year that I realized that extra activities are what add value in college - to start engaging outside of the traditional classroom and talking to people. This gave me the opportunity to participate in different projects. For example, I will now soon be flying to America, specifically Milwaukee, for a semester-long course where I will be researching how artificial intelligence is used in education. Or, for example, I got to go to the Trends in Business conference, which was probably the best experience of my life so far.
  
  
• Imagine you have 30 seconds to convince a prospective student to choose your faculty. What would your "ad" sound like?
  Don't be afraid of the amount of learning, because everything can be learned. The memories you make here will be irreplaceable. UWB can offer a lot of opportunities and rewards to people who are able to go above and beyond, so be sure to take advantage of it. I don't think any bigger schools can offer that. Here, it's more on an individual basis where you're not just a number, you're somebody.
  
  
• What’s the biggest myth about university studies that you’d like to debunk?
  That we just lie in our books all day and memorize the contents of our textbooks. Studying here involves a lot of interesting projects that we can determine on our own. So it's really not just about learning, we get a taste of all kinds of things here.
  
  
• Is it true that students of economics can justify any purchase as an investment? If so, how would you justify your last expenditure?
  I think it's true that one thinks economically here and always justifies it somehow. I would probably justify the coffee. With it, I tell myself that I spend quite a bit of money on it every week here at school, and I can always justify it - that I need to concentrate "right now". It's actually an investment in education (laughs).
  
  

Studying during the day or late-night cramming?
Learning through the day.

Cafeteria or instant noodles?
It's more like the cafe we have in the building, because it's really amazing. It has the best atmosphere and you can work there.

Front row in a lecture or in the back by the power outlet?
All the way in the back and still stretch across four chairs.

Group projects or doing everything solo?
I prefer to do everything alone, but sometimes it's better to do things in a group.

Oral or written exams?
Oral. I always get incredibly hot with it, but it's fun. I usually know the subject, so it's probably nerves.

You can apply to the Faculty of Economics of the University of West Bohemia for five bachelor's degree programmes in Pilsen, two bachelor's degree programmes in Cheb and four further master's degree programmes in Pilsen until 30 April. Don't wait, start your application here.