[theoffender]

Ok, I've seen a few people on here talking about lists of books they have been told to read before they get to uni. Alas; I've received no such list! Why is this? The offer I accepted was St. Johns college for natural sciences (physical), if that helps.

[ASNaC]

I got no reading list when I was accepted. To be hoenst most people who do get them won't get that much done anyways. When you are on holiday you never work very efficiently, so you'll find that within a week or two of term you will have covered everthing that those people who 'read ahead' had managed.

[MadNatSci]

This is the reading list that gets sent out for first year NatSci, if you're interested:

http://www.cam.ac.uk/cambuniv/natscitripos/reading.html

Don't worry too much about it though - some of them are interesting reads, but they're not really essential (at least the biological ones weren't).

[crana]

Come and join our officially hopeful Cambridge 04 freshers thread!

[Fluffstar]

heya - i got my reading list after my conditional offer from newnham. It has books on it that are from the official reading list and some that aren't. Personally, i'll be doing reading for only the subjects i'm interested in the most I don't think its anything to worry about though.

I think if you're doing maths or science you get sent a workbook to go through. I havn't got mine yet though...

[theoffender]

(Original post by MadNatSci)
This is the reading list that gets sent out for first year NatSci, if you're interested:

http://www.cam.ac.uk/cambuniv/natscitripos/reading.html

Don't worry too much about it though - some of them are interesting reads, but they're not really essential (at least the biological ones weren't).

Thanks for the link!

Luckily I'm reading one of those Feynman books anyway (and it's starting to get mighty confusing!) so I think i'll just stick to that.

[crana]

(Original post by theoffender)
Thanks for the link!

Luckily I'm reading one of those Feynman books anyway (and it's starting to get mighty confusing!) so I think i'll just stick to that.

make sure you read Feynman's lighter books abouit his life etc - they are some of my favourite books

One is called "surely you're joking, Mr Feynman" and I can't remember what the other is called. I really do like Feynman he is something of a hero of mine, even if I can't understand the books that are actually about physics..

[Squishy]

(Original post by Fluffstar)
I think if you're doing maths or science you get sent a workbook to go through. I havn't got mine yet though...

http://www.maths.cam.ac.uk/undergrad...workbook/text/

[crana]

(Original post by Fluffstar)
heya - i got my reading list after my conditional offer from newnham. It has books on it that are from the official reading list and some that aren't. Personally, i'll be doing reading for only the subjects i'm interested in the most I don't think its anything to worry about though.

I think if you're doing maths or science you get sent a workbook to go through. I havn't got mine yet though...

from the link someone posted if thats the same thing it looks like that might jus be for you crazy Physers...

on the oher hand i was dismayed that I am meant to be au fait with p3

[Squishy]

(Original post by crana)
from the link someone posted if thats the same thing it looks like that might jus be for you crazy Physers...

on the oher hand i was dismayed that I am meant to be au fait with p3

Mmm, BioNatScis get an easier time with the maths. But there is some recapping in the lectures. I had a look at the Maths B course, which assumes you've done Further Maths, but they cover a lot of the stuff in the Further Maths syllabus again...although probably in a great hurry, so it's a good idea to know it beforehand.

[crana]

(Original post by Squishy)
Mmm, BioNatScis get an easier time with the maths. But there is some recapping in the lectures. I had a look at the Maths B course, which assumes you've done Further Maths, but they cover a lot of the stuff in the Further Maths syllabus again...although probably in a great hurry, so it's a good idea to know it beforehand.

even so, I was hoping to fully abandon integration the moment I left the p3 exam.



i thought it would be like "put down your plants, children, yes, and your petri dish dear, and look all you have to do is press this big pink button - and bingo!"

[Squishy]

(Original post by crana)
even so, I was hoping to fully abandon integration the moment I left the p3 exam.



i thought it would be like "put down your plants, children, yes, and your petri dish dear, and look all you have to do is press this big pink button - and bingo!"

Make friends with a Mathmo or a PhysNatSci.

[crana]

(Original post by Squishy)
Make friends with a Mathmo or a PhysNatSci.

I already have. Mwahahahaha... I have lots of people destined for Cambridge on my MSN list...they know who they are because they have all helped me with maths at one time or another

my only problem is not being able to have them in the exam. maybe i should pretend I only speak Estonian and they are my translators?

rosie

[acidbubble]

that workbook has answers in it! is it last years one, or will we get the same one?

[Squishy]

(Original post by crana)
my only problem is not being able to have them in the exam. maybe i should pretend I only speak Estonian and they are my translators?

Kas te räägite inglise keelt?

The workbook's not this year's, but they might reuse it...I wouldn't put it past them.

[crana]

(Original post by Squishy)
Kas te räägite inglise keelt?

The workbook's not this year's, but they might reuse it...I wouldn't put it past them.

ok, maybe not estonian. I used to know how to count to 10 but seem to have forgotten. oncwe apon a time i sused to know some vietnamese too

[figgetyfig]

(Original post by Squishy)
Make friends with a Mathmo or a PhysNatSci.

Or an Engineer! No sign of my workbook-type-thing yet, anyone have any idea when they get sent out?

[Squishy]

(Original post by crana)
ok, maybe not estonian. I used to know how to count to 10 but seem to have forgotten. oncwe apon a time i sused to know some vietnamese too

Just say you're from Texas and you're a distant cousin of George Bush...everyone will understand immediately.

(Original post by figgetyfig)
Or an Engineer! No sign of my workbook-type-thing yet, anyone have any idea when they get sent out?

Or a CompSci. According to a Cam prospectus I saw, it says that they're supposed to be an indispensable resource for computer repair and Star Trek trivia.

I've already worked through the workbook on the Internet...a few were quite interesting, but most of them were pretty basic.

[cool_guy769]

can you guys get the books on your reading lists? I cant find many of mine. They are kinda odd books eg Dance and the Body Politic in Northern Greece.
I managed to find one book, which happens to be the cheapest on the list and its massive! Thus i doubt i will have chance to read many of them as im going away in 2 days... Do you think it matters?

[androidkiller]

[QUOTE=Squishy]
Or a CompSci. According to a Cam prospectus I saw, it says that they're supposed to be an indispensable resource for computer repair and Star Trek trivia.

[QUOTE]

But, I'm doing Phys Nat Sci and I'm the one for Star Trek trivia. Looks like I'm on the wrong course. *Checks prospectus* Nope, right one.

I haven't had a reading list and I'm not sure what I want to do for my 4th option (Maths, Physics and Chemistry being the other three) so I've not done anything yet. Reading New Scientist is probably more interesting anyway!