Couldn't really think of a good title. I'm not the best in expressing myself clearly so I'll try to keep this short and sweet.
Anyway, I'm a prospective Chemistry student for 2009 entry. I was just about to start writing my first draft of my personal statement when I realised I really don't have much to write.
It kinda got me thinking; what activites can I do that I can relate to my chemistry application? I do the generic sports thing, I've been a part of a young enterprise group and that's just about all I can think of.
Despite living in London, work experience in chemistry is almost impossible to get. I've tried a few places: Unis to small labs and a) they don't reply or b) they can't because I'm not qualified which is fair enough.
I guess I feel like I have alot to prove because I want to aim for the top universites but my GCSE's leave alot to be desired: i.e (4 A's, 5 B's, 2 C's) whereas your normal applicant has at least 1 A*.
Basically in a nutshell, what activites or things could I do to help my application? I guess this is a long shot, but I've really set my heart on doing chemistry at a top uni. Imperial has really impressed and inspired me so that will probably be my first choice.
To be honest, I don't think you need that much work experience for chemistry (not that I would know...). Have you tried pharmacy's etc? You can work on the weekends doing dispensing etc.
Say you've read books and state from your 'background research' what specific parts of chemistry interest you and you would like to get involved in later on
it's a really hard one to write a personal statement for
You don't have to do anything to do with chemistry, I have been offered a place for chemistry at sheffield uni for this september without anything. What you need is to show you are well rounded, so sport, music, art, things like peer mentoring/volunteer work. Doesn't really matter what aslong as you have done a couple of different things. Then all you have to do is express why you have an interest in chemistry and what you hope to gain from it.
@bekahchu: Thanks! Great idea. I don't have the money for it at the moment though, but definitely gonna save up for it.
@dani2511: Yeah, I don't think I need work experience but it would be nice or something to kinda show my interest in the practicals and stuff.
@JoiedeVivre5: Yeah, I've been having a look at books and borrowed some A2 ones from my library. I've been reading about Entropy and stuff which might go down well on my PS.
Thanks for the ideas so far, folks.
Edit: forgotten; I know those things, but I really don't think I can rant on for a page about that. Prospectuses and stuff from unis say that want more than why you have an interest i.e things like events in the news or miniprojects. I dunno, i guess this why I'm having troubles writing my PS.
@bekahchu: Thanks! Great idea. I don't have the money for it at the moment though, but definitely gonna save up for it.
@dani2511: Yeah, I don't think I need work experience but it would be nice or something to kinda show my interest in the practicals and stuff.
@JoiedeVivre5: Yeah, I've been having a look at books and borrowed some A2 ones from my library. I've been reading about Entropy and stuff which might go down well on my PS.
Thanks for the ideas so far, folks.
Edit: forgotten; I know those things, but I really don't think I can rant on for a page about that. Prospectuses and stuff from unis say that want more than why you have an interest i.e things like events in the news or miniprojects. I dunno, i guess this why I'm having troubles writing my PS.
Did you check how much it was? I'm sure it was only like £15 for 2 years when i joined.
I have to agree with forgottenromeo, you don't need to have a portfolio of chemistry experience, you just need to show your enthusiasm for the subject, why it interests you and what you hope to achieve. I didn't have anything special in my PS, although it was quite some time ago!
I think for affilate membership you have to have a referee who is already a member, and its quite expensive if your not an undergraduate...so i'd advise you to wait on that
I have to agree with forgottenromeo, you don't need to have a portfolio of chemistry experience, you just need to show your enthusiasm for the subject, why it interests you and what you hope to achieve. I didn't have anything special in my PS, although it was quite some time ago!
I think for affilate membership you have to have a referee who is already a member, and its quite expensive if your not an undergraduate...so i'd advise you to wait on that
You should listen to this guy, he knows his stuff. (After the veeery long arguement about kekule)
I have to agree with forgottenromeo, you don't need to have a portfolio of chemistry experience, you just need to show your enthusiasm for the subject, why it interests you and what you hope to achieve. I didn't have anything special in my PS, although it was quite some time ago!
I think for affilate membership you have to have a referee who is already a member, and its quite expensive if your not an undergraduate...so i'd advise you to wait on that
I wasn't referred by anyone and like I say it was only about £15 for 2 years. And I wasn't an undergrad. If the OP needs a referee who is already a member then I'm more than happy to oblige.
I belong to Chemnet from RSC which is meant for our age group and aimed at people ppl wanting to do chemistry in uni- is only £10 a year and u get chemistry world magazine a month which looks gud to say u read, a newsletter once every 2 months with stuff bout careers and offer chemistry stuff and they also set up events like 'meet the unis' ands ones to give experience like their was one to a forensic lab, and competitions etc. I put on my personal statement that i shadowed a chemistry research student at southamptom uni for a day (which i think they do every year) which was good and would of thought looked good but to be honest none of my intervers actually asked me about it so i dont think experience matters that much. They were mostly interested in why i liked chemistry so i think the most important thing is to sound really enthusastic in your PS.
I wasn't referred by anyone and like I say it was only about £15 for 2 years. And I wasn't an undergrad. If the OP needs a referee who is already a member then I'm more than happy to oblige.
Are you a member?
Hmmm affiliate status (non-undergrad) costs £62 for a year acoording to this and im sure it entails a referee, did you become an affiliate before university? Becoming a one at university costs £15 a year it says. Im an AMRSC, and i'd be happy to referee if nessecary...
join the rsc, just because you like chem not just to put on the form
on mine i think i said i liked hisenbergs uncertaintity principle, even though i cant spell his name
name a couple of books, on of mine was 'the new chemistry' by nina hall
which unis apart from imperial have you put down? (they will look at it others wont care)
ooooo genious thought of the day (rep gratefully accepted)
write about an experiment you enjoyed doing, but just say what you made not how you did it, when you have an interview they will quite likely ask you how you did it etc know that before you go
'tell me about an experiment you have done recently' is a common question so you win
I would encourage you to join the societies and attend their events as this is a good thing for students to do, but it won't affect your application in the slightest. Having good grades and an interest in the subject is enough. Finding work in chemical fields as an A-level student is pretty hard and generally the jobs you get are menial.
My advice, concentrate on your studies - getting good grades gives you the choice of where to attend and that is important.
At the UCL interview day, the admissions tutor started things off by saying:
"Well, we have gone over all of your personal statements, and it seems that you have all:
A) Worked in a lab
B) Subscribe to Chemistry Review
C) Have back issues of New Scientist since before you were born
and finally D) Are better at Chemistry than me
And that everyone is why we hold interviews!"
But yes, from all my interviews, they dont really expect you to have specific chemistry experience. Just knowledge/passion and maybe transferable experience i.e the usual volunteering etc.
hehe chemistry review, if my coursework was top notch then it will get printed in there. fins out wednesday - sorry an aside there
lab work is hard to get/pointless
a lab visit will more than suffice, i poped over to Unilever near me, it invigorated my feelings towards chemistry
dont let what the admissions tutor/other department people you see influence you, they want to make you feel like you were lucky to get in and be mad to turn down their wonderful department or almost as bad put it as the conditional choice. eerything they say is to entice you to put them top.
University course discussion for biology, physics and chemistry.
Useful Resources:
Chemistry
I'm not the best in expressing myself clearly so I'll try to keep this short and sweet.
