University of Birmingham 2015 Applications FAQ + Chat Thread + Offers

Original post by KingStannis

I didn't think it could get too much worse than going around saying how you're part of a master race and that all non stem students are retarded and won't ever get a job.

Oh well. I cut such people down in tsr and I'll do the same irl.

Well I got told by the uni we've all applied to that I'm inferior as a non-stem student, so I think your problem goes beyond students haha :face:

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KingStannis

3

Original post by Chihiro_

Well I got told by the uni we've all applied to that I'm inferior as a non-stem student, so I think your problem goes beyond students haha :face:

really? what did they say? Why would they even say? I don't understand..

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Original post by KingStannis

really? what did they say? Why would they even say? I don't understand..

They said with my subject, for people who miss their offer, they favour stem students even if their grades are lower. The struggle is real.

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KingStannis

3

Original post by Chihiro_

They said with my subject, for people who miss their offer, they favour stem students even if their grades are lower. The struggle is real.

What subject?

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Original post by KingStannis

I didn't think it could get too much worse than going around saying how you're part of a master race and that all non stem students are retarded and won't ever get a job.

Oh well. I cut such people down in tsr and I'll do the same irl.

No one has ever quite said that to me, its a lot more subtle. There's only two of us in my house who don't do science, otherwise we have 3 physicists, 2 computer scientists and a medic, so you best hope you dont end up in my position!

Its mainly:
'So have you got anymore reading to do? It's all you ever do'
'Have you even had any lectures this week?' (In reference to how few contact hours we have in comparison)
'What are you planning on doing with your arts degree...job centre?'
And then a lot of 'how does it feel that you're wasting £9000 a year/that you're paying for people's science degrees?'

My housemate who does languages gets it worse than me to be honest. It's a uni-wide attitude anyway, probably at every uni in the country

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Original post by Chihiro_

They said with my subject, for people who miss their offer, they favour stem students even if their grades are lower. The struggle is real.

That's probably only mainly because (you're subjects psychology right?) science subjects are more applicable/useful to psychology than arts/non-stem subjects. They'd never say anything like that for arts subjects because there'd be no point whatsoever

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username1177050

20

Original post by chloebassett23

I hope you realise I wasn't 'rubbing it in' like that other poster suggested! Just stating what's actually realistic. Definitely aim for AAA, higher, why not! Birmingham do often accept people who miss requirements, its just impossible to predict how many or with what grades

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No I completely understand as it was a reckless course of action lol. I am doing past papers a lot aswell to make sure I get the structure right because that's what let me down last year a lack of practice. I have hyped myself going to Birmingham so much over the past 2 years that I can't imagine going anywhere else really!

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Original post by chloebassett23

That's probably only mainly because (you're subjects psychology right?) science subjects are more applicable/useful to psychology than arts/non-stem subjects. They'd never say anything like that for arts subjects because there'd be no point whatsoever

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I guess it depends which stem subjects. I think my a level psychology is much more applicable than someone with a level physics, but something like biology would be.

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Original post by neal95

No I completely understand as it was a reckless course of action lol. I am doing past papers a lot aswell to make sure I get the structure right because that's what let me down last year a lack of practice. I have hyped myself going to Birmingham so much over the past 2 years that I can't imagine going anywhere else really!

I found that with a level as well, structure and saying what they want you to say is probably more important than what you know, which is ridiculous and stops at uni thankfully!

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Original post by Chihiro_

I guess it depends which stem subjects. I think my a level psychology is much more applicable than someone with a level physics, but something like biology would be.

Oh yeah I agree, but most psychology students are probably more likely to have chosen biology than physics! All the people I know who study psychology talk about how important maths is , so I can see why they favour that

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Reply 1591

Emily.97

21

Is Victoria Hall predominantly people who aren't in first year?
It seems that the only self catered and en suite without meal plan is Jarratt( tennis courts are already booked). My only other option are the private accommodation.

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Original post by Emily.97

Is Victoria Hall predominantly people who aren't in first year?
It seems that the only self catered and en suite without meal plan is Jarratt( tennis courts are already booked). My only other option are the private accommodation.

Nope, a lot of first years live in victoria hall too. It's massive, and they separate out freshers and 2nd and 3rd years

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Reply 1593

Emily.97

21

Original post by chloebassett23

Nope, a lot of first years live in victoria hall too. It's massive, and they separate out freshers and 2nd and 3rd years

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Okay.
Are there any differences between private and university accommodation? For example in terms of how rent is paid etc.

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Original post by Emily.97

Okay.
Are there any differences between private and university accommodation? For example in terms of how rent is paid etc.

Nope, especially if you live in Victoria Hall in first year I'm pretty sure your rent is still paid through the uni like it would be in uni accommodation

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Reply 1595

Emily.97

21

Original post by chloebassett23

Nope, especially if you live in Victoria Hall in first year I'm pretty sure your rent is still paid through the uni like it would be in uni accommodation

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Ah, okay,

Did you have en suite? Im wandering whether its worth choosing shared bathroom with self catered.. Its like £2000 cheaper!! Just dont know whether it would be an issue in terms of waiting for people to finish in there. I'm looking primarily at Ashcroft for that.

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Original post by Emily.97

Ah, okay,

Did you have en suite? Im wandering whether its worth choosing shared bathroom with self catered.. Its like £2000 cheaper!! Just dont know whether it would be an issue in terms of waiting for people to finish in there. I'm looking primarily at Ashcroft for that.

I had ensuite but my boyfriend was in shared bathroom in first year. I never really noticed a problem, it was maple bank so I'm not sure about Ashcroft, but there was one shower with a toilet and sink, then a separate toilet as well. They were all pretty clean and tidy so it wasn't bad at all. I never tried to shower and there was someone in there, and I was an extra person

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Reply 1597

MoSalhi

All this advice has really helped so thanks again. I want to know about people's experience at Birmingham, both within Physics and in general around the University as a whole, I would really appreciate your opinions.

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Original post by MoSalhi

All this advice has really helped so thanks again. I want to know about people's experience at Birmingham, both within Physics and in general around the University as a whole, I would really appreciate your opinions.

I asked my housemate what he thinks of physics and he said this :
'It's hard but by no means unmanageable. They ease you in gently, starting by just adding stuff to a Level but before you know it you've learnt loads and you're not really sure how. Labs is pretty cool, and working with lecturers who are actually researchers and learning about their own theories they've come up with is pretty cool too.'

He also said second year is way harder, but again not impossible by any stretch. Also the physics building is pretty cool.

Uni in general, there's a few people who dont like it, but in my general experience 99% of people love it here. Especially on a. day like today where it's warm and sunny campus is amazing, with just people everywhere sat around sunbathing and the old buildings as well. Whatever subject you do as well you just feel like everyone teaching you is very much a specialist and the teaching staff are also really willing to go above and beyond lecture hours and actually help you out one on one as well

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