[Quinapalus]

Thanks for the reply. If I wanted to do another language, do you know if I would then be able to study it from scratch? or would I be expected to have some proficiency? And could I then make it part of my overall degree in the second year?

[rache11a]

I've read in the prospectus that you can do langauges from beginners level, I was interested in doing Italian or French; but apparently, the pace that they go at is so fast and this put me off as I've done a language before and it took me quite a while to adapt to it!

[michaelnicholson88]

It depends on the language, I believe, but yes, most let you do it at beginner level. And the great thing about the system is that you can drop any of your subjects, even your initial degree subject, at any time before the end of second year.

[nearlyheadlessian]

(Original post by rache11a)
I've read in the prospectus that you can do langauges from beginners level, I was interested in doing Italian or French; but apparently, the pace that they go at is so fast and this put me off as I've done a language before and it took me quite a while to adapt to it!

Yup you can do ab initio in almost every language. What it's like will vary dramatically dependent on which language you choose. You mention French or Italian, both of which will push you very hard even as a beginner. French seem to expect a degree of prior knowledge or at least saviness about how grammar works. Italian and German are a little more laid back, but as you can imagine, year 1 is pretty frenetic as they intend that you're good enough to join everybody else in year 2. This is obviously the same in a department like Scandinavian Studies, but with fewer numbers you get more one on one time and you may well do better in such an environment if you feel you've struggled in the past. Do you have GCSEs in any languages?

[Frater]

(Original post by rache11a)
I've read in the prospectus that you can do langauges from beginners level, I was interested in doing Italian or French; but apparently, the pace that they go at is so fast and this put me off as I've done a language before and it took me quite a while to adapt to it!

rache11a- From what I was told the first and second year of the degree don't count towards your final grade (I was told this by a maths prof. didn't read it anywhere officially stating this, could edinburgh student clarify this?), so ya can take a language and have no worries about it affecting your final grade (1st, 2:1...ect).

All - Although employers ask for transcipts and can penalise (from what I have heard) for having irrelevant subjects, so I don't think it would be a good idea taking it as one of your 1st year minor (smallest minor), there are probably tons of places that offer langauges externally to your degree. That way its more of a laid back way of learning, as you ll be at edinburgh for 4+ years you can learn the language(s) at a more suitable pace, either examined or unexamined. Thats my opinion anyway, I learnt to speak Turkish fluently this way, guess its each to their own. Hope this will clarify anyone hoping to study languages on the side of their degree at edinburgh.

[NicLeys]

(Original post by Frater)
rache11a- From what I was told the first and second year of the degree don't count towards your final grade (I was told this by a maths prof. didn't read it anywhere officially stating this, could edinburgh student clarify this?), so ya can take a language and have no worries about it affecting your final grade (1st, 2:1...ect).

All - Although employers ask for transcipts and can penalise (from what I have heard) for having irrelevant subjects, so I don't think it would be a good idea taking it as one of your 1st year minor (smallest minor), there are probably tons of places that offer langauges externally to your degree.

Whether first and second year grades count depends on your degree. I know mine do (not for classification but for other reasons). It *may* affect your chances of admission into Honours - i.e. the more competitive subjects will take the students with better grade averages. Again - Hons admissions procedure will depend on the degree, so this may not apply to you. Go on what the Maths Prof says, unless a Math undergrad on here has better insight, or email the department to ask!

Transcripts? You mean proof you can speak the language? Or exam scripts? As if its the latter the Uni keep a tight hold on them post exam and destroy them within a few months. If this wasn't the query then sorry for the confusion!

Hope this helps, and a Math undergrad can give you some more specific direction!

[michaelnicholson88]

(Original post by NicLeys)
Transcripts? You mean proof you can speak the language? Or exam scripts? As if its the latter the Uni keep a tight hold on them post exam and destroy them within a few months. If this wasn't the query then sorry for the confusion!

Transcripts are the list of your grades and marks for each subject that a prospective employer requests.

[nearlyheadlessian]

(Original post by Frater)
so I don't think it would be a good idea taking it as one of your 1st year minor (smallest minor)

I'm sorry but I would have to disagree there. In first year as an Arts student you'll be doing three courses, all of them worth exactly the same amount. If you're an English student then French or Italian fits in admirably, and the fact that you've got an offer to Edinburgh and are interested should be an indication that you're good enough to do at least the first year. As for employers being unhappy about it, load of rubbish! Having some language skills are far better than having none!

[jomo]

Okay, this is going to sound like a bit of a ridiculous question but it's gotta be asked...

For self-catered people, are there lots of supermarkets near by?! I loved loved loved Edinburgh as a city but it's not exactly the place you'd expect to see a mini Tesco's/Sainsbury's etc. So what do people think - where are the best places to go to buy food around Edinburgh?!

[michaelnicholson88]

Loads of them. There's Tesco and Lidl, and a small (24 Hour) Scotmid, where you can buy quick meals on Nicolson Street. There's a Tesco in Causeway side and there's Sainsbury's down near Shandwick place (though that is a little further out) and at Cameron Toll (for those staying near KB). Basically, you're no more than 15-20 minutes away from a decent supermarket, and probably not even that far.

[Frater]

(Original post by nearlyheadlessian)
I'm sorry but I would have to disagree there. In first year as an Arts student you'll be doing three courses, all of them worth exactly the same amount. If you're an English student then French or Italian fits in admirably, and the fact that you've got an offer to Edinburgh and are interested should be an indication that you're good enough to do at least the first year. As for employers being unhappy about it, load of rubbish! Having some language skills are far better than having none!

Unfortunatly your mistaken... if someone was an english student then yes, a language would be great, but an engineering, maths, physics, law, economics ect undergrad would need to take something relevant to there degree. I think your not understanding what I mean on the employer thing, the emplyers don't like you taking something outside of your degree area/specialisation, although it true language are highly regqarded in employment. But what I am saying is that taking a language is far too risky just incase you hate it and fail miserably which will bring your whole average down on your transcript.

[nearlyheadlessian]

(Original post by michaelnicholson88)
Supermarket list

To add to that list, there's Sainsbury's Local next to George Square, there's a good Tesco Metro at Holy Corner and of course Waitrose in Morningside.

(Original post by Frater)
But what I am saying is that taking a language is far too risky just in case you hate it and fail miserably which will bring your whole average down on your transcript.

And you're coming to Edinburgh? Jeez what a load of nonsense. I'm slightly bewildered as to what your point is. I disagreed with you because you advised an English student against taking a language. This is because a language is the perfect 1st or 2nd year partner to English. Yes I do appreciate that if you're a scientist you often have to do a subject which is closer to home (given I live with 3 of them) but that wasn't the issue. And besides, I know a 2nd year Biologist studying German as an outside here, and a friend who graduated from Oxford as a Chemist did a first year module of German. Employers may want you to study things of relevance but demonstrating that you've done well in other areas early on in your academic career is only a good thing. Advising against a language because someone might hate it? They might hate Politics if they took that - it's no different. Part of the excellence of the Scottish system is that you can change anytime you like during the first two years. Come and experience the system before you pass comment on it.

[Quinapalus]

Another question slightly extraneous in this thread, but relevant to the whole accomodation-finding process: do self-catered have any criteria (other than male or female) for assessing which people are put in flats together?

At other universities, people applying for shared rooms have to fill out forms about their interests e.t.c., but maybe as the flats comprise 4-6 people they just choose it randomly.

With all due respect to anyone of that inclination, I don't really want to end up with a bunch of CompSci nerds... #cyber#

[Fjarskafinn]

(Original post by Quinapalus)
Another question slightly extraneous in this thread, but relevant to the whole accomodation-finding process: do self-catered have any criteria (other than male or female) for assessing which people are put in flats together?

At other universities, people applying for shared rooms have to fill out forms about their interests e.t.c., but maybe as the flats comprise 4-6 people they just choose it randomly.

With all due respect to anyone of that inclination, I don't really want to end up with a bunch of CompSci nerds... #cyber#

Haha, some of my friends are doing Computer Science at uni, they're not nerds ... well, maybe a little bit but they're great guys xD

They ask you whether you smoke or not, and whether you'll be happy sharing with smokers, but apart from that, I guess it's all just random..

[juls]

i've just firmed edinburgh and masson en-suite standard size is my first choice!
hope i'll get the room at pollocks as it would make things so much easier - at least for the first year!

[artorscience?]

(Original post by Quinapalus)
do self-catered have any criteria (other than male or female) for assessing which people are put in flats together?

We tried to pretend that we were matched to our flatmates from our personal statements. It's unlikely. I believe it is all entirely random. But whilst that means you're not necesserily going to be with 3/4/5 other people who compliment you entirely, you're not going to be with 3/4/5 people who are all in computer sciences. Especially if you're in a larger flat (5/6 person) you'll get on with some of your flatmates. Very few people, it seems, are like me and don't get on with all their flatmates (although with that said, I suppose I get on well enough with one of them... so not even I have been completely failed by the random system).

And if when it comes to it you don't get on with your flatmates, there are plenty off other people in the building to meet in freshers week, and then course mates and friends you'll meet in societies. When it all gets bad, you can camp out in a friend's flat (it is the way to go )...

[tel2404]

Silly question I know, and the answer is probably in an email i have delteted or in an FAQ on edinburgh uni website, but I cant find.. When they send offers through for accommodation, where do you accept the offer? Is it done through post or the EUCLID portal??

[artorscience?]

(Original post by tel2404)
When they send offers through for accommodation, where do you accept the offer? Is it done through post or the EUCLID portal??

It's all done online. And you're instructed through it.

[rache11a]

Do you fill out a questionnaire or something when applying so you get matched up with people who are like you?
For example; if you want to be with just females, or non-smokers etc?

[elisabethbridge]

^You're asked about the smoking thing, but that's pretty much about it. Most of the flats are allocated in a single-sex basis, there may be some that are mixed, but it's unsusual. The halls are all mixed.