Unis

[almh]

I know that we already have an A-levels and GCSE threads, but I thought we needed a separate one for universities. I know that there are a couple of people on here who are roughly my age (16) and are looking at universities now (and attempting to find stuff to put on their personal statements ) so I was thinking perhaps we could use this thread to help each other out a bit, and of course, anyone else with advice can hop in

So, I'll attempt to get this going. As most of you will know, I want to study Physics at university (I'm moving away from doing Particle/Theoretical/Whateverthey'recallingitthisweek Physics as an undergraduate course, but thinking instead about doing it as a postgraduate) and the problem I've got is with thinking up where to go on Work Experience (WEX), so I can put this WEX on my personal statement. It's not that I necessarily need it, I've got the whole interest in the subject thing pretty much done, but I'm struggling to find engineering firms in London. I'm thinking about applying for some WEX in the Science Museum, but I don't know. What are other people doing for WEX, and for those people who've already gone through the whole university process, how much is required? Is it just enough to show your interest, or do they like a couple of placements?

[Nia M]

I have not done any work-experience myself (was on a Spanish exchange when most of my year did it) so can't really answer your question, but may I just say that this thread is a brilliant idea?

I am myself starting to look at universities, and am in an absolute kerfuffle over it all, not least because I have no idea what I want to do for a career and therefore can't decide what courses to look at, therefore can't decide which universities to look at. So hopefully I'll be able to ask some people some general questions about universities

[almh]

Thank you I'm having enough paranoia and just general problems over it (I know someone who wants to be a vet, and the amount of work they're doing is making me paranoid,) and I reckoned that other people would be having the same problems.

A general thing about unis - I don't know if you're at a private or a state school, but apparently Bristol and Durham aren't overly keen on private schools, so if you are at a private school beware those.

What courses are you choosing between?

[Nia M]

Nope am not at a private school.

Well that's just the think; I honestly have no clue! I'm taking English Literature, Maths, French and Classical Civilisations (and General Studies, but that doesn't really count for much in most unis - I only do it because in my school it's compulsory up to and including A2 ) for AS, and hopefully will be get the grades to not have to drop any next year, but apart from that I'm stuck on what to do.

I'd quite like to not have to decide to pick just one area at the moment, so I was thinking about maybe a course that combined at least two of those subjects, because I really really want variation. I was thinking maybe Maths and one of the others, because then I'd have it pretty balanced, but I don't know what unis do that. And I also don't know which one the other would be.

One of my teachers did suggest the Scottish university system might be perfect for me, because then I could choose a larger selection to start with, and get more specific each year - which would be brilliant because then I'd not be making a definite decision right now, which I'm kind of panicking about.

Problem with that is that I've been told that as an English student, not Scottish, I'd probably have to pay full fees, whereas in England I've been told that I'd pay the top-up fees, since a lot of it is funded my the government. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that university tuition fees rules in Scotland only apply to Scottish students, or EU students (?) but not English students, so I'dhave to pay as though I was a foreign student, which would make it even more expensive.

However, I have also been told that some English universities have a similar system, although they are a bit different. Have no idea which universities do that, or just how they are different, or indeed if what I've been told about the Scottish system is actually correct, so I'm still not much better off.

Also, my parents are really wanting me to only look at Russel Group universities. Theoretically it (hopefully!) shouldn't affect me as far as application grades go, as I had 7 A*s and 4 As at GCSE, and am predicted 5 As at AS, but that kind of does narrow it down with regards to which unis do which courses, and whether these unis are in Scotland or not and if they go by the Scottish system / similar.

So yeah, if anyone could help me out (although I admit it'll be a bit of a mission reading through all I wrote!!) I would be so grateful!

[SPOOK91]

Well guys, I'm at Keele University in the Midlands, we specialise in Dual Honours. If anyone wanted some information on Keele then I could help, or if anyone is thinking of applying for a Law degree, at most Unis, I have a fair amount of knowledge there.

Almh in relation to your WEX question, I would say that any experience you can get can only be a good thing. However, I had no experience related to my subject and didn't find this to be an issue so if you have a problem with this then don't worry; it's not the end of the world.

[Nitrus]

I'm doing a Computer Science Degree and for my WEX I spent 3 summers working as a web developer for a local IT firm, it was very valuable, and it gave me the chance to earn some money.

Another bit of a advice, try and build up your extra-curricular activities, Unis tend to like diverse people, so try and do something outside of school which isn't related to your field of study.

For example, I did quite a bit of volunteer youth work, I was also a Scout and did all of the Duke of Edinburgh awards. I also said which sports I played.

Unis aren't necessarily looking for people who do nothing but their field of study, I am SURE that my extra-curricular stuff got me into uni, it sure as hell wasn't my grades.

[almh]

Ah... extracurricular activities, I may fail on those... (unless Spooks forum counts as an extra-curricular activity )

[Nitrus]

Do you have any youth clubs or similar near you? Somewhere you can volunteer to help out?

[almh]

There's a church youth club, and the area where I live is great for charity shops. I do currently help out at a nearby primary school during my free afternoon

[Nitrus]

Well there you go.. that counts!