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Scottish Baccalaureate?

Our new depute teacher just told us on Friday about this new qualification, the 'Scottish Baccalaureate' and I'm really interested.

I'm just wondering if it would be a daft idea, considering I'm already going to have a stuffed schedule next year anyway. I'm planning on doing:

AH Physics
AH Chemistry
AH Maths
H Computing (not crash - continuing from 4th year)
Int 2 Lab Skills (no exam, just a handy pass/fail mini qualification)

I would meet most the requirements for the science Baccalaureate, but there's another project involved which is apparently equal to half an Advanced Higher, and part of me thinks this would just be a ridiculous amount of work. A lot of people have said what I've already got down is excess, but I'd like to apply to Cambridge and St Andrews, so I really want to do well.

I do good in school and I'm willing to work hard, but I'd love advice from people with similar S6 choices(might even hope for someone who is doing the Baccalaureate this year?) as to whether they think this would be manageable at all. Am I being insane?

Reply 1

TheUnbeliever

Go for it, it's certainly manageable for some people, and you'll have the best measure of whether it's manageable for you. People have done more, most do less. You're more than qualified for St Andrews, even if you're going for second year entry. You also have enough for Cambridge, but the Bac wouldn't hurt and might offer you something to mention in personal statement/interview (it's a cross-curriculum thing of your own choice, right?). Don't get me wrong though, the interest will come from the project itself, not from the fact that you've got the Scottish Bac.

It's entirely optional and up to you. Personally, if I was that close, I would have gone for it.

Reply 2

Dado Prso

i do ah maths, physics and chemistry and i find the workload fine. i've heard computing is easy so i think your timetable is manageable.

i was asked to do the science baccalaureate but i couldn't come up with an interesting idea which would be suitable so i didn't bother. if you're considering doing the baccalaureate because you want an extra qualification then i don't think you should do it but if you find an interesting project idea and want to do it then you should. About 10 people or so started doing the baccalaureate at my school and i think only 2 people are still doing it.

what are you going to apply for at cambridge/st andrews?

Reply 3

Dado Prso

Blu3j4yw4y

Thanks for the advice! I'm really interested in the project, my main concern is just whether I'd have the time to fit it in. :s-smilie:

It sounds a bit like AH science investigations, and my Chem teacher was complaining about how pressurised the kids were to get those done in time, never mind with two more. But I don't know if that was due to the investigation itself or just some problem they had.

Ah thanks! :o:

I think I'm going to put my name down today, then go to the first couple of sessions next year. After that I can decide if its for me or not.

At St Andrews I want to apply for Physics + Astrophysics, eventually going for a masters in astrophysics.

At Cambridge I want to apply for Mathematics with Physics, with the intention of transferring to physics after the first year, then later specialising in astrophysics.

Of course this may change, but that's where I am now :smile:

the impression i got was that the science baccalaureate was nothing like ah science investigations. some project titles from people who were doing it at my school; is nuclear power the way forward? are electric cars viable and something about stem cells. it all sounded a bit boring to me.

why maths with physics at cambridge over their natural science course if you're set on physics? also maths with physics will probably have STEP in your offer.

Reply 4

TheUnbeliever

Dado Prso

maths with physics will ~~probably~~ have STEP in your offer.

If you're going to do STEP, I strongly recommend you start looking at the AH mechanics past papers and working through them using your physics knowledge.

Reply 5

TheRabbit

Blu3j4yw4y

It sort of depends on your extracurriculars whether you can do it, I am doing 3AHs and a Higher this year and what with playing hockey 4/5 times a week plus music I wouldn't have time. In August I went along to a meeting about it and decided it wasn't worth doing because:
1. Noone knew what you actually had to do and there was no timetabled time for it in school
2. It seemed like a hell of a lot of work for UCAS points equal to half an AH given it could impact on the time you have to do your subjects
3. It sounded like they wanted you to do Masters level research...
4. I like to have some time for a social life and time for myself and thought 3AHs, a higher and applying to med school was probably enough stress for one year.

But i would say it probably strengthens your university application and is probably really good for developing researching, organisation and time management skills. Also if your school is really set up and organised for it I would just go for it.

Reply 6

Dado Prso

Blu3j4yw4y

Ahh, really? Now I'm really rather curious as to what it entails. Obviously I've never done either, but I was led to believe both involved significant experimental and write-up work. I shall need to do further googling and dig up more info.

Mainly because I enjoy maths. Chemistry is all well and good, but I do not enjoy it anywhere near the extent that I do of maths and physics. If I do a Natural Science course at least one of my choices would be broadly biological or chemical. I'm not overtly opposed to that, but I just feel I would enjoy additional mathematics instead.

Also, I don't feel I can be certain as to whether I would stick with physics. It's certainly my number one choice just now, but if I were to go to first year uni and discover it isn't what I want to do after all, I believe I would perfer to switch to a maths degree, rather than one of the natural science alternatives.

yeah experimental work would have probably interested me more than what was being suggested at my school.

cool. i would say you are pretty similar to me.. i like maths and physics more than chemistry too. although i have a slight preference for maths over physics. if you decide to go for cambridge it might be wise to start on AH maths in the summer holidays and look into STEP.

Reply 7

TheRabbit

TheUnbeliever

If you're going to do STEP, I strongly recommend you start looking at the AH mechanics past papers and working through them using your physics knowledge.

Do you happen to have mechanics past papers then? 'cos they're not commercially available and they would be kinda handy if you could scan? :smile:

Reply 8

TheUnbeliever

TheRabbit

Do you happen to have mechanics past papers then? 'cos they're not commercially available and they would be kinda handy if you could scan? :smile:

Ah, I'm afraid not - I did statistics, and don't have those papers any more, either. If I was still at school, I'd offer to get you a copy, but... :frown:

Does your school not have them to give you?

Reply 9

TheRabbit

TheUnbeliever

Ah, I'm afraid not - I did statistics, and don't have those papers any more, either. If I was still at school, I'd offer to get you a copy, but... :frown:

Does your school not have them to give you?

Ach, its fine, the teacher says he has a few he can give us just before we go on exam leave its just I think it would be good to start practising now.

Reply 10

ukdragon37

TheRabbit

Ach, its fine, the teacher says he has a few he can give us just before we go on exam leave its just I think it would be good to start practising now.