[lizzie476]

Hi, I am atneding Liverpool John Moores this sept and am commuting from Manchester, looking for people doing the same!!

[nwaldron]

I'm going to LJMU, commuting from Blackpool. What course are you studying?

[Irrelevance]

Went to LJMU for my undergrad and had an awesome time. If you guys have any questions feel free to ask!

[GusPaterson]

Wait are you going to and from LJMU every single day?

[nwaldron]

(Original post by Irrelevance)
Went to LJMU for my undergrad and had an awesome time. If you guys have any questions feel free to ask!

What course was it that you studied?

(Original post by GusPaterson)
Wait are you going to and from LJMU every single day?

Yes, well 4 days a week anyway.

[GusPaterson]

(Original post by nwaldron)
Yes, well 4 days a week anyway.

Sounds grim, might be studying history there next year hence my interest...

[nwaldron]

(Original post by GusPaterson)
Sounds grim, might be studying history there next year hence my interest...

I can't uproot my family so it's got to be done that way if I want to get a degree. I could have gone to UCLAN with it being a bit closer but when I went to both open days I decided LJMU was better.

[Irrelevance]

(Original post by nwaldron)
What course was it that you studied?

I studied Pharmaceutical Sciences to begin with (more popularly known as ACAPS (Applied Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences)) before branching off into something more specific.

Studied in Byrom Street, walked over a lot to where the Union is. Only campus I don't know a whole lot about is IM Marsh!

[nwaldron]

(Original post by Irrelevance)
I studied Pharmaceutical Sciences to begin with (more popularly known as ACAPS (Applied Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences)) before branching off into something more specific.

Studied in Byrom Street, walked over a lot to where the Union is. Only campus I don't know a whole lot about is IM Marsh!

I'll be studying at Byrom Street. How did you find the Uni on the whole?

[Irrelevance]

(Original post by nwaldron)
I'll be studying at Byrom Street. How did you find the Uni on the whole?

Teaching, on the whole, is pretty good. The lecturers have a lot of time for people who are interested in learning and tend to ditch/ignore the people they feel are taking their education for granted so it's nice to get rewarded for being a decent person. Even got a free textbook from somebody! What will you be studying?

Facilities is where JMU falls down as there's no canteen to get a hot meal. There are things like toasted sandwiches, crisps and a few pies in the shop at the bottom and the second floor cafe but you have to go into town for some proper food. The labs a bit dated when you compare them to some other undergrad labs but they get the job done.

Accomodation's pretty standard. If studying at Byrom Street I suggest Victoria Halls or Marybone if you're in for the full student experience of flat parties every night, a lot of drugs and pretty much everything you want to celebrate your first few years away from home It's on the opposite side to the Union so going for a quiet drink is often reserved to going to the nearby pubs which are really cheap.

Is there anything specific you wanted to know?

[nwaldron]

(Original post by Irrelevance)
Teaching, on the whole, is pretty good. The lecturers have a lot of time for people who are interested in learning and tend to ditch/ignore the people they feel are taking their education for granted so it's nice to get rewarded for being a decent person. Even got a free textbook from somebody! What will you be studying?

Facilities is where JMU falls down as there's no canteen to get a hot meal. There are things like toasted sandwiches, crisps and a few pies in the shop at the bottom and the second floor cafe but you have to go into town for some proper food. The labs a bit dated when you compare them to some other undergrad labs but they get the job done.

Accomodation's pretty standard. If studying at Byrom Street I suggest Victoria Halls or Marybone if you're in for the full student experience of flat parties every night, a lot of drugs and pretty much everything you want to celebrate your first few years away from home It's on the opposite side to the Union so going for a quiet drink is often reserved to going to the nearby pubs which are really cheap.

Is there anything specific you wanted to know?

I'm studying Forensic Science. I'm not going to be staying in the student accommodation, can't uproot my family so I'll be commuting.
Hopefully I'll reap some of the rewards then, I'm planning on studying my ass off! Can't afford to waste any time messing about.

Two specific things I wanted to know:
Firstly, was there many mature students? I am a bit worried that I'm going to be an OAP compared to all the other students and I'm fairly shy and not so into speaking to people I don't know. That's my main concern really.

Secondly, how did you find the workload whilst you were there? Obviously I expect it to be quite hefty, it is a degree after all, and I am fairly efficient with my work, I don't leave it until the last minute or anything but I do have a family to consider and with the commuting time I want to make sure I have stuff in place so I have plenty of time to complete all the work to a high standard.

Thanks for being so helpful btw, it's good to know these things before I go.

[Irrelevance]

(Original post by nwaldron)
I'm studying Forensic Science. I'm not going to be staying in the student accommodation, can't uproot my family so I'll be commuting.
Hopefully I'll reap some of the rewards then, I'm planning on studying my ass off! Can't afford to waste any time messing about.

Two specific things I wanted to know:
Firstly, was there many mature students? I am a bit worried that I'm going to be an OAP compared to all the other students and I'm fairly shy and not so into speaking to people I don't know. That's my main concern really.

Secondly, how did you find the workload whilst you were there? Obviously I expect it to be quite hefty, it is a degree after all, and I am fairly efficient with my work, I don't leave it until the last minute or anything but I do have a family to consider and with the commuting time I want to make sure I have stuff in place so I have plenty of time to complete all the work to a high standard.

Thanks for being so helpful btw, it's good to know these things before I go.

That's understandable. How will you be travelling in?

My flatmate did Forensic Science at JMU and got a job pretty quickly. The analytical chemistry people seem to know what they're doing and are good at explaining things. My suggestion would be read A-Level chemistry textbooks if you haven't already to give you a bit of grounding on understanding how the machines work.

Previously mentioned flatmate was also your age and she got on fine with everybody. At university there are people with all ages and you stick with the non-dossers. At the age of 21 I had friends who were 30 and even older with families. You get to know people during practicals and group stuff so think of it as interacting with a few people instead of a whole classroom. They'll just be as nervous as you are so be friendly and it'll be great! You will get a lot of immature first years thinking it's going to be exactly like CSI so brace yourself.

The workload's as much as you put in. Lecture-wise it isn't heavy at all but to get 2.1's and above you'll need to read around your subject in your spare time as all lecture plans are, in reality, designed to complement your personal reading, not teach you the whole course.

[Billton]

(Original post by nwaldron)
Yes, well 4 days a week anyway.

My first choice to study for a PGCE (for September 2013 entry) is LJMU, and I'll be commuting from Manchester. It's 47 mins on the train from my local train station.
Can't wait, it looks great!

[nwaldron]

(Original post by Irrelevance)
That's understandable. How will you be travelling in?

My flatmate did Forensic Science at JMU and got a job pretty quickly. The analytical chemistry people seem to know what they're doing and are good at explaining things. My suggestion would be read A-Level chemistry textbooks if you haven't already to give you a bit of grounding on understanding how the machines work.

Previously mentioned flatmate was also your age and she got on fine with everybody. At university there are people with all ages and you stick with the non-dossers. At the age of 21 I had friends who were 30 and even older with families. You get to know people during practicals and group stuff so think of it as interacting with a few people instead of a whole classroom. They'll just be as nervous as you are so be friendly and it'll be great! You will get a lot of immature first years thinking it's going to be exactly like CSI so brace yourself.

The workload's as much as you put in. Lecture-wise it isn't heavy at all but to get 2.1's and above you'll need to read around your subject in your spare time as all lecture plans are, in reality, designed to complement your personal reading, not teach you the whole course.

I'll be driving in, think that's a better option for me than relying on trains and will cost about the same.

I do volunteer work in an analytical chemistry lab in the holidays so gaining quite a lot of experience there. Thought I best get some experience to boost myself with the country the way it is. The staff are really helpful and explain whatever they think is relevant so that's good. Should give me a bit of a head start but I will definitely get reading some textbooks as well.

I've just had to suffer through 2 years of college with quite a few younger students so I'm well prepared for continuing with that. It's good to know that there are some mature students though, I'd hate to be the only one.

I got my certificates from college yesterday so I'm all set for my place now, just need UCAS to update to unconditional offer. I was doing a BTEC at college so luckily didn't have to wait until the 16th for my results.

[nwaldron]

(Original post by Billton)
My first choice to study for a PGCE (for September 2013 entry) is LJMU, and I'll be commuting from Manchester. It's 47 mins on the train from my local train station.
Can't wait, it looks great!

I can't wait for September so I can start. Looking forward to it so much! I'll be driving in though rather than getting the train.

[Billton]

(Original post by nwaldron)
I can't wait for September so I can start. Looking forward to it so much! I'll be driving in though rather than getting the train.

I'm still too scared to learn how to drive
Be nice to go to a different Uni as well. MMU have drove me insane this year!

[nwaldron]

(Original post by Billton)
I'm still too scared to learn how to drive
Be nice to go to a different Uni as well. MMU have drove me insane this year!

My partner just took his driving test last week and thankfully passed. He was very nervous though but now he's driving everywhere!

[Irrelevance]

(Original post by nwaldron)
I'll be driving in, think that's a better option for me than relying on trains and will cost about the same.

I do volunteer work in an analytical chemistry lab in the holidays so gaining quite a lot of experience there. Thought I best get some experience to boost myself with the country the way it is. The staff are really helpful and explain whatever they think is relevant so that's good. Should give me a bit of a head start but I will definitely get reading some textbooks as well.

I've just had to suffer through 2 years of college with quite a few younger students so I'm well prepared for continuing with that. It's good to know that there are some mature students though, I'd hate to be the only one.

I got my certificates from college yesterday so I'm all set for my place now, just need UCAS to update to unconditional offer. I was doing a BTEC at college so luckily didn't have to wait until the 16th for my results.

In that case you'll be showing off your chemistry knowledge in lectures The theory is really straight forward if you've done hands-on analytical before.

All the best for when you start! If you have any questions whilst you're there send me a message.

[nwaldron]

(Original post by Irrelevance)
In that case you'll be showing off your chemistry knowledge in lectures The theory is really straight forward if you've done hands-on analytical before.

All the best for when you start! If you have any questions whilst you're there send me a message.

Hopefully I will be. Thanks for all your info. It's a great help.

[Billton]

(Original post by nwaldron)
My partner just took his driving test last week and thankfully passed. He was very nervous though but now he's driving everywhere!

Well growing up we never had a car so I was used to jumping on and off buses and trains, so I just never bothered learning. It's easier to use public transport to get to work and Uni because of bus lanes.
And now the older I get the more nervous I get! Wish I'd done it sooner, ah well!