[Scintillate]

Hello, got a conditional for Biology and I'm going to the visit day at the Department of Plant and Animal Sciences this Tuesday.

I don't suppose I'd be so fortunate as to find someone else going to this, would I?

[BiGBaDBoO]

How did you find it?

[Newky]

I went to this Biology open day as well.

Impressive overall. The faculty seems very research focussed with emphasis on transferable skills which suggests a strong course. The lecturers also seem to be well recognised and well-versed in their fields of interest, which is mainly insects, and birds - but this did deter me a little as my interests are in mammals.

The department was a bit like a cramped maze though. I can't see myself enjoying working in that kind of environment on a daily basis.

I don't know about you but during the lecturer-guided discussion/tour I was the only one asking questions and participating (I mean, at all). I did think why were they there... Hopefully you weren't one of these people lol.

[BiGBaDBoO]

Im actually a first year on the Biology MBiolSci student. Feel free to ask me any actual questions about the department or Sheffield in general, I will most likely be a bit more honest than those whose job it is to get you to accept your offer at the Uni.

The Alfred Denny Building is very confusing at first with many entrances but after a week its fairly simple to find your way around. The lecture theaters and labs are never hard to find too.

The main interests of all the academic staff can be found here http://www.shef.ac.uk/aps/staff-and-students/acadstaff

Although mammals are not the most popular in the department, I cant see this affecting you in the slightest at undergraduate level at least.

Most people at any Uni on these tours will feel intimidated and unsure about asking questions, a course like Biology attracts a diverse crowd and not everyone has confidence in unfamiliar surroundings. This is something the course builds on for everyone in tutorials as does Uni life in general.

[Newky]

(Original post by BiGBaDBoO)
Im actually a first year on the Biology MBiolSci student. Feel free to ask me any actual questions about the department or Sheffield in general, I will most likely be a bit more honest than those whose job it is to get you to accept your offer at the Uni.

The Alfred Denny Building is very confusing at first with many entrances but after a week its fairly simple to find your way around. The lecture theaters and labs are never hard to find too.

The main interests of all the academic staff can be found here http://www.shef.ac.uk/aps/staff-and-students/acadstaff

Although mammals are not the most popular in the department, I cant see this affecting you in the slightest at undergraduate level at least.

Most people at any Uni on these tours will feel intimidated and unsure about asking questions, a course like Biology attracts a diverse crowd and not everyone has confidence in unfamiliar surroundings. This is something the course builds on for everyone in tutorials as does Uni life in general.

Thanks.

The place was slightly confusing but my point was more to the enclosed feel. It sort of felt like a mental asylum (architecturally speaking!). Other universities I've been to have been much more open spaced where you can look around the entirety of the inner building. This isn't a huge deal of course, it won't really affect my decision.

On the staff, if you mean in terms of achieving the qualification then yes you're probably right, lack of mammal biology expertise is unlikely to (significantly) hinder my success in the course. But as I want to pursue a career with mammals, it would both increase my enjoyment of the course and expand my knowledge in an area of my interest from researchers in the field.