Applying for a Chemistry Degree in the UK

[aj47]

I'm in my last year of A levels and I am in the process of applying to do chemistry at degree level.

I have been looking at the entry requirments for each university and apart from Oxford and Cambridge they are all BBB or lower which I find suprising. As i'm sure i will get BBB this gives me a lot of options (i think).

Do any of you have any advice on where to go and what the degrees are like etc?

I was thinking about about UCL and Sheffield but I can apply for 6 so I still have four to go.

Ah yes also as drinking is almost as important as the studys, i'm basing my decsion on how good the social life is so i'm more inclined to go to a big city.

[RyanJ]

Do any of you have any advice on where to go and what the degrees are like etc?

 

I'm just starting my A levels but here is how I see it, in the long run it will be better for you if you choose an aspect of chemistry you like. No point in taking organic chemistry is you hate it

 

Also, don't take something you know you will probably never be able to do and don't try to take too muck stuff, I tried this for A levels (All sciences and maths) and it was hard but I'm managing fine now. I don't think tiw ill work the same for a degree so be careful!

 

Cheers,

 

Ryan Jones

[aj47]

Well all the courses i've looked at cover all aspects of chemistry in the first year then you get to narrow it down and by the third year you specialise on a particular area.

I considered going into a specialised area staright away but decided it was better to leave my options open as I enjoy aspects of all areas of Chemistry. Also i found A levels only really gave me a basic insight in to the different areas of chemistry so its way to early for me to narrow down to my preferred areas.

[RyanJ]

Well all the courses i've looked at cover all aspects of chemistry in the first year then you get to narrow it down and by the third year you specialise on a particular area.

I considered going into a specialised area staright away but decided it was better to leave my options open as I enjoy aspects of all areas of Chemistry. Also i found A levels only really gave me a basic insight in to the different areas of chemistry so its way to early for me to narrow down to my preferred areas.

 

Yup, one of the reasons I tool A level chemistry was because it gives a nice insight over most of the chemistry areas.

 

Sounds like you have the right idea, leave your options open and then choose when your shure - nothign worse than doing a course in a part of chemistry and then deciding you do not like that area any more.

 

Good luck with choosing your corse!

 

Cheers,

 

Ryan Jones

[prion]

my advice would be don't judge the quality of a course just by the minimum predicted grades they quote. Some of them will ask for low predicted grades so that they can interview as many people as possible and choose the ones they really like. Some offer high grades so they get less applicants and they have less decisions to make. The best places will be more concerned with your interest in the subject rather than whether you got an A or B. (I got offered 3 Ds and it was an excellent course).

 

Go to as many open days as possible and see if you like the 'feel' of the place. Make sure it's a department with some decent research going on - you get better lectures that way. If you're going on an open day, have a good look round the city at the same time. London is the ultimate 'big city'. However it is horrendously expensive and can be a lonely place. Any past student will tell you, the best social life is not in the biggest city!!! Sheffield is a good example of a campus-based (=social) uni in a decent sized city in an affordable and interesting area. And good for science!