Chemistry 2012 Applicants

If you took the industrial experience in the 3rd/4th year, but you wanted to go onto Postgrad after the course would it be better to take the Mchem on its own?

In Chemistry Msci you would have specific topics you continue to study in 4th year, where as Industrial experience you do learn some topics but not as much detail because you got the industry side.

What im asking is are those topics you learn in extra detail going to be much more beneficial if going into post grad.

Ah okay, well where I did my degree the industrial expereince people took some of the core modules from the third year on distance learning and when they came back in the fourth year they did a smaller research project, allowing them to pick up most of the modules from the normal third year on top of the fourth year ones.

The exacts will obviously vary from course to course, but missing out on a few modules won't hinder you for postgrad

I have a couple of questions...

1. How did you link any of your outside interests to Chemistry? I know I need to come off as well-rounded without diverting attention away from my interest in the subject, but it's tough

2. What did you think of your degree?

3. Pre-offer interviews: what kind of things do they ask you?

4. Maybe this isn't the perfect place for this question, but in regards to Oxford for Chemistry - how seriously do they consider GCSE grades? I did OK, but not A*s around the board or anything. I feel that I could make their A Level requirements (and I'm picking up Maths in september, which they require to at least AS).

Thank you

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How good were you at practical work before you went? I didn't get to do much of it in high school, and whilst the amount I do now has increased and I've signed up for extra practical sessions, I'm still not very confident with my ability

That, and I always get paranoid I've spilt something.

Rubbish, I had next to no experience in labs - I think I did around three experiments in my A-level

yeah i'm applying for chem at oxford amongst other places got a lot of reading to do over summer though! And an extended project to do on oscillating reactions.

Here's what I've done so far if anyones interested

What were the concentrations and amounts of those chemicals, if you don't mind me asking?

Do you know which books you're going to try and get through for extra-curric reading?

Sorry i really can't remember! i kind of had the basic solution then increased the concentration of ferrion and potassium bromate to make the colour difference more clear

yeah I do:

Why Chemical Reactions Happen
Oxygen: the molecule that made the world
The Chemistry of Life
Molecules at an exhibition
An introduction to Nanoscience (if i can understand 10 pages i'll be happy)
A big A2 level textbook, cant remember it's name
The Double Helix
Surely you're joking Mr Feynman
Foundations of Physics for Chemists

I'm away for a good 3 weeks with nothing much to do but windsurf and lie on a beach so

I know what you mean - I think the majority of this holiday will be spent reading, and three of those weeks will be spent reading on a beach. Good luck with all that though, I find non-fiction a struggle to get through when it's not preparing for an exam I'll need all the practice I can get.

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