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Work Experience For Science Related Subjects

WORK EXPERIENCE FOR SCIENCE RELATED SUBJECTS

When it comes to applying to university, a good personal statement showing your interest within your chosen degree is essential to stand out from other applicants. But how do impress the admission tutors? Below are some ways to enhance your personal statement, from summer schools to competitions you can enter. Also, another good place to start is by reading previous personal statements, by doing this you will get a feel of what you need to write! Click here for previous personal statements

Please post your suggestions, i will update this post daily!


Work Experience/Summer Schools:
Nuffield Science Bursary
NIMR Nuffield Science Bursary
Headstart Courses (£££ Involved)
UNIQ (Oxford Summer School) (State Schools Only)
Eton Summer School
Cambridge Shadowing (State Schools Only)
Sutton Trust (State Schools Only)
Surrey Summer School (State Schools Only)
Summer Schools Offered By Imperial College London
Summer Schools Offered By UCL
Senior Physics Challenge
You can also email universities, preferably the admissions tutor for your subject to ask about work experience.

Further Reading
Chemistry
Why Chemical Reactions Happen- http://www.amazon.co.uk/Chemical-Reactions-Happen-James-Keeler/dp/0199249733/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1281188063&sr=8-1
Four Laws That Drive the Universe- http://www.amazon.co.uk/Four-Laws-That-Drive-Universe/dp/0199232369/ref=wl_it_dp_o?ie=UTF8&coliid=I2SJGM16QE9CUH&colid=2VLX4S2NERD8S
Nature's Building Blocks- http://www.amazon.co.uk/Natures-Building-Blocks-Z-Elements/dp/0198503407/ref=wl_it_dp_o?ie=UTF8&coliid=I9IGJC8GB2WQ2&colid=2VLX4S2NERD8S
Oxygen: The molecule that made the world- http://www.amazon.co.uk/Oxygen-molecule-world-Popular-Science/dp/0198607830/ref=wl_it_dp_o?ie=UTF8&coliid=I23SD7929O9S6N&colid=2VLX4S2NERD8S
Biology
Power, Sex, Suicide: Mitochondria and the meaning of life- http://www.amazon.co.uk/Power-Sex-Suicide-Mitochondria-meaning/dp/0199205647/ref=wl_it_dp_o?ie=UTF8&coliid=I37YATL2B8J4T5&colid=2VLX4S2NERD8S
The Selfish Gene: 30th Anniversary edition- http://www.amazon.co.uk/Selfish-Gene-30th-Anniversary/dp/0199291152/ref=wl_it_dp_o?ie=UTF8&coliid=I3QEOXX8QDZW2A&colid=2VLX4S2NERD8S
Genome: The Autobiography of a Species in 23 Chapters- http://www.amazon.co.uk/Genome-Autobiography-Species-23-Chapters/dp/185702835X/ref=pd_sim_b_10
The Ten Great Inventions of Evolution- http://www.amazon.co.uk/Life-Ascending-Great-Inventions-Evolution/dp/1861978480
The Ancestor's Tale- http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ancestors-Tale-Richard-Dawkins/dp/0753819961
Nature via Nurture: Genes, Experience and What Makes Us Human- http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nature-via-Nurture-Genes-Experience/dp/1841157457
The Red Queen: Sex and the Evolution of Human Nature- http://www.amazon.co.uk/Red-Queen-Evolution-Penguin-Science/dp/0140167722/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1281209206&sr=1-1
Life: An Unauthorised Biography- http://www.amazon.co.uk/Life-Unauthorised-Biography-Richard-Fortey/dp/000638420X
The Chemistry of Life- http://www.amazon.co.uk/Chemistry-Life-Penguin-Press-Science/dp/0140272739
The Way of the Cell: Molecules, Organisms, and the Order of Life- http://www.amazon.com/Way-Cell-Molecules-Organisms-Order/dp/0195163389
DNA: The Secret of Life- http://www.amazon.co.uk/DNA-Secret-James-D-Watson/dp/0099451840
Mutants: On the Form, Varieties and Errors of the Human Body- http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mutants-Form-Varieties-Errors-Human/dp/0006531644/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1281209081&sr=1-1
Parasite Rex : Inside the Bizarre World of Nature's Most Dangerous Creatures- http://www.amazon.co.uk/Parasite-Rex-Bizarre-Dangerous-Creatures/dp/074320011X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1281209162&sr=8-1
Physic
http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=270868

Magazines
RSC Chemnet http://www.rsc.org/Membership/Networking/chemnet/
New Scientist http://www.student-subscription-service.co.uk/magazine-new-scientist.asp
Student BMJ http://student.bmj.com/student/student-bmj.html
BBC Focus Magazine
Philip Allan Magazines
o Chemistry Review http://www.philipallan.co.uk/chemistryreview/index.htm
o Physic Review http://www.philipallan.co.uk/physicsreview/index.htm
o Biological Science Review http://www.philipallan.co.uk/biologicalreview/index.htm

Youtube
Discovery Channel- http://www.youtube.com/user/DiscoveryNetworks
Periodictables- http://www.youtube.com/user/periodicvideos
UCLTV- http://www.youtube.com/user/UCLTV

Lectures http://lecturelist.org/content/category/science
Good places to search for lectures are nearby universities, societies (e.g. RSC) and libraries.
UCL Science Centre Lectures http://www.ucl.ac.uk/phys/department/science_centre
UCL Lunch Time Lectures http://events.ucl.ac.uk/calendar/tab:lunch_hour_lectures/
Imperial College Lectures http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/media/onlinelectures
The Chemistry Centre Lectures
http://www.rsc.org/AboutUs/ChemistryCentre/Events/PublicEvents.asp

Taster Courses
London Taster Course http://www.london.ac.uk/tasters

Extended Projects Find out if your school offers these or similar projects
EPQ- http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/wiki/Extended_Project_Qualification
YASS- http://www.open.ac.uk/yass/index.php

Competitions
NIMR (North London schools only) http://www.nimr.mrc.ac.uk/schools/essay/
RSC Bill Bryson http://www.rsc.org/Education/BillBryson/index.asp
Young Engineers http://www.youngeng.org/index.asp?page=54
Chemistry Olympiad http://www.rsc.org/education/teachers/learnnet/olympiad_u6.htm
Physic Olympiad http://www.physics.ox.ac.uk/olympiad/
Biology Olympiad http://www.biology-olympiad.org.uk/
Darwin Photography Competitions http://www.societyofbiology.org/education/competitions/darwin-comp
CREST Award http://www.britishscienceassociation.org/web/ccaf/CREST/

More information will be added soon, peace - F.I
(edited 6 years ago)

Scroll to see replies

Reply 1
Uhhhhh ill have to wait till next summer -.-
Reply 2
Hanz_a93
Uhhhhh ill have to wait till next summer -.-

Lol, i know, this is really a guide for year 11s who will be looking for work experience next year, its quite late for some of the current year 12s :frown:
Reply 3
F.I
Lol, i know, this is really a guide for year 11s who will be looking for work experience next year, its quite late for some of the current year 12s :frown:


Oh well ill be starting year 12 this sept...so my sixth form will hopefully find work exp for me..
Anyways thanks for this thread
Reply 4
Hanz_a93
Oh well ill be starting year 12 this sept...so my sixth form will hopefully find work exp for me..
Anyways thanks for this thread

No problem, i hope you find it useful in the future :biggrin:
Reply 5
Can I recommend some biology books?

Glad to see two of Nick Lane's books there, but I'd also recommend his other book 'The Ten Great Inventions of Evolution' and while I'd recommend any of Richard Dawkin's other books frankly, particularly recommend 'The Ancestor's Tale' which is a crackingly good read.

Matt Ridley is also a great author; would recommend Nature Via Nurture, and The Red Queen is a great book on the evolution of sex.

Also:

Life: An Unauthorised Biography, by Richard Fortey (more a good all-round sciency book than strictly biology but a great read)
The Biochemistry of Life by Steven Rose (a bit tricky and not for the faint hearted, but interesting)
The Way of the Cell by Franklin M. Harold
DNA: The Secret of Life by James Watson
Mutants by Armand Marie Leroi (interesting look at genes affecting development)
Parasite Rex by Carl Zimmer (but don't look at the pictures before bed; they'll give you nightmares :biggrin:)
Reply 6
heidigirl
Can I recommend some biology books?

Glad to see two of Nick Lane's books there, but I'd also recommend his other book 'The Ten Great Inventions of Evolution' and while I'd recommend any of Richard Dawkin's other books frankly, particularly recommend 'The Ancestor's Tale' which is a crackingly good read.

Matt Ridley is also a great author; would recommend Nature Via Nurture, and The Red Queen is a great book on the evolution of sex.

Also:

Life: An Unauthorised Biography, by Richard Fortey (more a good all-round sciency book than strictly biology but a great read)
The Biochemistry of Life by Steven Rose (a bit tricky and not for the faint hearted, but interesting)
The Way of the Cell by Franklin M. Harold
DNA: The Secret of Life by James Watson
Mutants by Armand Marie Leroi (interesting look at genes affecting development)
Parasite Rex by Carl Zimmer (but don't look at the pictures before bed; they'll give you nightmares :biggrin:)


Really good suggestions! Thanks, all added :biggrin:
Reply 7
F.I
WORK EXPERIENCE FOR SCIENCE RELATED SUBJECTS
...


I do not understand why this post was posted now. It is much too late for any student who begins Year 13 in September and who may actually feel really frustrated they haven't done as much as they could have, as they will be writing up their personal statements between now and the end of the year. It is much too early for those beginning Year 12 in September because they won't have "tasted" their A level courses yet and so possibly will not have a clear idea as yet with regards to work experience.
Why not post again in November/December which is before the deadline for most work experience applications? It will give a student the chance of researching the various options before making a choice and also the possibility of actually applying.
Reply 8
Choirboy
I do not understand why this post was posted now. It is much too late for any student who begins Year 13 in September and who may actually feel really frustrated they haven't done as much as they could have, as they will be writing up their personal statements between now and the end of the year. It is much too early for those beginning Year 12 in September because they won't have "tasted" their A level courses yet and so possibly will not have a clear idea as yet with regards to work experience.
Why not post again in November/December which is before the deadline for most work experience applications? It will give a student the chance of researching the various options before making a choice and also the possibility of actually applying.



Firstly, i only had time during the summer to make this thread so i also decided to post it during the summer, i wont be on TSR much during November. Secondly, this thread is a sticky so it will be here on top of the forum for a long time so people can always see it, and finally its a thread not made for the current year 12s, but for those younger. Using all my experiences i have made this thread to help those in need of work experience advice in the future, it is a shame someone else before me didnt make a thread like this, it would have saved me a lot of time :rolleyes:

i hope that answered some of your questions, i was really hurt when i recieved your neg(:colondollar:), oh well :macarena:
Reply 9
F.I
...
i hope that answered some of your questions, i was really hurt when i recieved your neg(:colondollar:), oh well :macarena:


As I said to you in the PM, for me the "disagree" option is NOT a statement of you as a person (and why should it be as I don't know you?). No offence was intended and I'm sorry you took it that way by pouncing on me before I even had the time to post my reasons.
Thank You so much F.I. Your right, this is extremely helpful for us year 11's who are starting year 12. Thank You so much!! :wink:
BBC Focus Magazine is also good :smile:
Reply 12
Laurenx0044
BBC Focus Magazine is also good :smile:


Cheers!
Student BMJ is good for anyone looking into going into medicine or biological sciences, registration is needed but it's free!
You can find it at http://student.bmj.com/student/student-bmj.html
Reply 14
PaulMcCormack
Student BMJ is good for anyone looking into going into medicine or biological sciences, registration is needed but it's free!
You can find it at http://student.bmj.com/student/student-bmj.html


Already added!
(edited 13 years ago)
Ctrl + D for this I think :biggrin:
Reply 16
very very useful thank you so much i have been trawling the internet for ages trying to find summer camps, lectures etc and now find them all in one place! excellent
Reply 17
Lath
very very useful thank you so much i have been trawling the internet for ages trying to find summer camps, lectures etc and now find them all in one place! excellent


Well nice comments like yours makes it all worth it :biggrin:
Thank you, this is so helpful! Found this thread 2 mins ago and already emailed 2 of them about it.
Reply 19
I am currently in yr 11 and thinking of doing further in science (especially biology). I was wondering if summer uni schools are for yr 12s only? I'm really new to all these..
Btw I was also wondering about volunteer work and work experience..
I do have 2 weeks of work experience in pharmacy and currently volunteering in Scope charity shop.
Also does things like being School house captain, sports leader and house play director and also Dofe help in getting into decent uni? I am currently doing all these for the sake of 'looking good' in cvs and all but I do enjoy it as well :smile:

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