Geology/Earth Science Applicants 2012

OP

Original post by Zottula

Yes definitely.

Your subjects are strong, and your grades are very good. Your GCSEs won't matter much, but they like to see A grades in science subjects. So I hope you are ok there.

Spoiler

Ok thanks, I hope so. And i got some work experience with a local geological trust thing, which I hope will look quite good :smile:

Though i'm still unsure wether to do geology or geophysics?

Reply 22

Original post by lilliehear

Ok thanks, I hope so. And i got some work experience with a local geological trust thing, which I hope will look quite good :smile:

Though i'm still unsure wether to do geology or geophysics?

Or you could do Imperial's combined honours geology and geophysics :biggrin:

.

Don't worry about it too much. At Imperial all of the earth science students study the same stuff for the first 2 years, then specialise in 3rd and 4th years. Apparently people are allowed to swap courses within the department up until the end of 2nd year.

Reply 23

OP

Original post by Zottula

Or you could do Imperial's combined honours geology and geophysics :biggrin:

.

Don't worry about it too much. At Imperial all of the earth science students study the same stuff for the first 2 years, then specialise in 3rd and 4th years. Apparently people are allowed to swap courses within the department up until the end of 2nd year.

Haha true :') alot of places Ive asked say you can fairly easily swap between courses, but some are a bit stricter. Aha its all so complicated :tongue:

(edited 12 years ago)

Reply 24

mickiesal

2

Original post by lilliehear

Imperial if I could get in :smile:

Think I've got a chance?

Definitely yes the AS grades you thought you'd get are actually what I got and I got in :smile:

, wow you lot really are geniuses I feel so inadequate now haha.

Reply 25

Original post by mickiesal

wow you lot really are geniuses I feel so inadequate now haha.

I feel like that too ha. But we got in so that's all that matters - can't really do much better than Imperial for Geology, so no regrets! :smile:

Reply 26

mickiesal

2

Original post by Zottula

I feel like that too ha. But we got in so that's all that matters - can't really do much better than Imperial for Geology, so no regrets! :smile:

This is very true, just can't wait to actually be there now :biggrin:

Reply 27

I want to apply for Geology/Geophysics.

1. Imperial
2. Oxford
3. Durham (Natural Scieces - Earth Science + Chemistry)
4. Southampton
5. Birmingham

May change some of my choices though, even Birmingham is quite competitive with 5 applicants per place. Annoyed with my AS results got AABB, although I could have done way better, most were around the 78-82% mark.

A Levels - Bio, Chem, Maths, Product Design (dropped)

Contacted the oxford admissions for Earth Science and they said, my GCSE grades are good (6A*,5A,1B) and so if I have a good personal statement + reference, then I would be in a strong position for an interview.

Anyone else looking at these uni's?

Reply 28

OP

Original post by Zottula

I feel like that too ha. But we got in so that's all that matters - can't really do much better than Imperial for Geology, so no regrets! :smile:

Original post by mickiesal

This is very true, just can't wait to actually be there now :biggrin:

Please dont feel inadequate, at least your going :biggrin:

Original post by hash007

I want to apply for Geology/Geophysics.

1. Imperial
2. Oxford
3. Durham (Natural Scieces - Earth Science + Chemistry)
4. Southampton
5. Birmingham

May change some of my choices though, even Birmingham is quite competitive with 5 applicants per place. Annoyed with my AS results got AABB, although I could have done way better, most were around the 78-82% mark.

A Levels - Bio, Chem, Maths, Product Design (dropped)

Contacted the oxford admissions for Earth Science and they said, my GCSE grades are good (6A*,5A,1B) and so if I have a good personal statement + reference, then I would be in a strong position for an interview.

Anyone else looking at these uni's?

Yes to all other than brum (too local) and oxford - Though i'm now thinking i maybe should apply? Hmm...

How come you want to take natural sciences at durham instread of the straight geology course? When i went they advised not to because your not guaranteeded the modules you want, and the entry requiremts are way higher (A*AA/AAB).

Reply 29

Original post by lilliehear

Please dont feel inadequate, at least your going :biggrin:

Yes to all other than brum (too local) and oxford - Though i'm now thinking i maybe should apply? Hmm...

How come you want to take natural sciences at durham instread of the straight geology course? When i went they advised not to because your not guaranteeded the modules you want, and the entry requiremts are way higher (A*AA/AAB).

Brum is local for me too haha, ideally I want to move away but it's just an insurance option for me. The open day looked good, the students there seemed really happy with the course and it's got access to the Lapworth Museum.

I'd go for Oxford, what grades did you get?

I'm just quite interested in Chemistry as well as Earth Sciences, so I thought it would be good to combine them both as just one of my options. I know they entry requirements are higher, but i'm confident I'll be able to get them. But if what you're saying about not getting the modules you want is true then I may have to reconsider...

Reply 30

OP

Original post by hash007

Brum is local for me too haha, ideally I want to move away but it's just an insurance option for me. The open day looked good, the students there seemed really happy with the course and it's got access to the Lapworth Museum.

I'd go for Oxford, what grades did you get?

I'm just quite interested in Chemistry as well as Earth Sciences, so I thought it would be good to combine them both as just one of my options. I know they entry requirements are higher, but i'm confident I'll be able to get them. But if what you're saying about not getting the modules you want is true then I may have to reconsider...

Yeah i looked round brum and it did look good, but i'd just be tempeted to go home every weekend to get my washing done :tongue:

Well i got AAAA at AS (and an A last year in film studies), and for gcses 4xA*, 7xA and 1xB. But I'm not sure if I'd like oxford, i dont really understand the system either - like the whole colleges thing. And it seems alot of pressure to put on myself, for the interveiw etc if I'm not that bothered.

Ah fiar enough, really wish i'd taken chemistry now :/ Well dont hold me to it, i wasnt listening that intently :tongue:

but i'd definatly check. I think they just said that you wouldnt be timetable priority so if the classes clashes with core lectures, you wouldnt be able to take earth sciences.

Reply 31

Original post by lilliehear

Yeah i looked round brum and it did look good, but i'd just be tempeted to go home every weekend to get my washing done :tongue:

Well i got AAAA at AS (and an A last year in film studies), and for gcses 4xA*, 7xA and 1xB. But I'm not sure if I'd like oxford, i dont really understand the system either - like the whole colleges thing. And it seems alot of pressure to put on myself, for the interveiw etc if I'm not that bothered.

Ah fiar enough, really wish i'd taken chemistry now :/ Well dont hold me to it, i wasnt listening that intently :tongue:

but i'd definatly check. I think they just said that you wouldnt be timetable priority so if the classes clashes with core lectures, you wouldnt be able to take earth sciences.

Aha fair enough, which college do you go btw?

I think you'd stand a good chance at Oxford with those grades, you may as well try there. It's one of the best universities in the world, i'm pretty sure you won't be hard pressed to find a job as an Oxford graduate. However, speaking to a Senior Geologist who works as a manager of a company, he said Oxbridge is not great for people looking to go directly into the mining/oil industry. It's better for people looking to going into banking/finance after the Geology degree. He did his degree at Imperial himself, I think that would be the best option tbh.

Reply 32

Original post by lilliehear

Well i got AAAA at AS (and an A last year in film studies), and for gcses 4xA*, 7xA and 1xB. But I'm not sure if I'd like oxford, i dont really understand the system either - like the whole colleges thing. And it seems alot of pressure to put on myself, for the interveiw etc if I'm not that bothered.

Your GCSEs are really good. They'd be fine for Oxford. It might be worth visiting though, you never know, you may love it. Of course you don't have to apply there as you may hate it. Also, interviews are good experience for the future. You'd have to go for an interview for Impy as well.

Original post by hash007

He did his degree at Imperial himself

He might be a bit biased then :tongue:

Reply 33

Rocks:)

2

If anyone needs some personal statement advice for geology feel free to PM me or quote me, I've been told me PS was very good (off to Durham doing Geology BSc next month) :biggrin:

I think enthusiasm is hard but very important to get across, I didn't take it too seriously either - Just got across the fact everything I do I can relate to geology, sad but it must've made them chuckle how I mentioned the rock type of Liverpool cathedral when explaining my choir trips :smile:

In fact it makes me cringe reading over it now...

Reply 34

OP

Original post by hash007

I think you'd stand a good chance at Oxford with those grades, you may as well try there. It's one of the best universities in the world, i'm pretty sure you won't be hard pressed to find a job as an Oxford graduate. However, speaking to a Senior Geologist who works as a manager of a company, he said Oxbridge is not great for people looking to go directly into the mining/oil industry. It's better for people looking to going into banking/finance after the Geology degree. He did his degree at Imperial himself, I think that would be the best option tbh.

Original post by Zottula

Your GCSEs are really good. They'd be fine for Oxford. It might be worth visiting though, you never know, you may love it. Of course you don't have to apply there as you may hate it. Also, interviews are good experience for the future. You'd have to go for an interview for Impy as well.
He might be a bit biased then :tongue:

Yes well tbh nothing horrifies me more than the thought of sitting in the office of a bank for the rest of my life, so maybe not. Hmm i'll talk to my head of year about it, alot of people do go so it he's got alot of experience with people applying. But yeah i suppose it might be helpful to get used to the interviews. Gah i hate decisions...

Reply 35

Original post by lilliehear

Yes well tbh nothing horrifies me more than the thought of sitting in the office of a bank for the rest of my life, so maybe not. Hmm i'll talk to my head of year about it, alot of people do go so it he's got alot of experience with people applying. But yeah i suppose it might be helpful to get used to the interviews. Gah i hate decisions...

Aaah don't we all. I had a tough decision about 8/9 months ago...but that's another story.

You get to make 5 choices though. And then obviously you have many more months after that to decide on the favourite one.

Reply 36

abemco

Original post by hash007

I want to apply for Geology/Geophysics.

1. Imperial
2. Oxford
3. Durham (Natural Sciences - Earth Science + Chemistry)
4. Southampton
5. Birmingham

Anyone else looking at these uni's?

Exactly the same apart from UEA instead of Imperial as I can't afford the London costs and I'm interested in the climate science and natural systems area of geology :biggrin:

Also, I'm applying to study Geoscience at Durham not Natural Sciences. What preparation are you doing for the Oxford interview (I know an interview's not guaranteed but in the prospectus it says 95.1% were interviewed in the last 3 years)?

I'm not a genius, just work hard :wink:

What further reading is everyone doing?? I'm just reading general geology books and the geology AS/A2 textbook :confused:

Reply 37

OP

Original post by Zottula

Aaah don't we all. I had a tough decision about 8/9 months ago...but that's another story.

You get to make 5 choices though. And then obviously you have many more months after that to decide on the favourite one.

True

But its such a major decision that'll effect like at least the next 4 years of your life and it just creeps up on you. And thatrs without worrying about A2!

Original post by abemco

Exactly the same apart from UEA instead of Imperial as I can't afford the London costs and I'm interested in the climate science and natural systems area of geology :biggrin:

Also, I'm applying to study Geoscience at Durham not Natural Sciences. What preparation are you doing for the Oxford interview (I know an interview's not guaranteed but in the prospectus it says 95.1% were interviewed in the last 3 years)?

I'm not a genius, just work hard :wink:

What further reading is everyone doing?? I'm just reading general geology books and the geology AS/A2 textbook :confused:

I've got a couple, 'supercontinent' and this one about planetary geology. Not sure what i'm more interested in though so dont know where to direct it...

Reply 38

Original post by abemco

Exactly the same apart from UEA instead of Imperial as I can't afford the London costs and I'm interested in the climate science and natural systems area of geology :biggrin:

Also, I'm applying to study Geoscience at Durham not Natural Sciences. What preparation are you doing for the Oxford interview (I know an interview's not guaranteed but in the prospectus it says 95.1% were interviewed in the last 3 years)?

I'm not a genius, just work hard :wink:

What further reading is everyone doing?? I'm just reading general geology books and the geology AS/A2 textbook :confused:

Well, no preparation as of so far. Going to wait til I'm back at college and see what help the teachers can give me. I sure you can get bursaries and financial help at Imperial? Surely its worth being tight for a few years to get into a top uni that will set you for life?

Reply 39