Geoscience &amp; Geology 2016

Original post by Mathematicus65

Sorry this has absolutely nothing to do with the post I have quoted but was just wondering if you could give me some advice since you attened Oxford. Basically, I was wondering what would be a good use of my time in the following summer (assuming I obtain a place at Oxford which may or may not occur) in terms of getting ahead for the course. Just a little background, I study Maths, Further Maths, additional further maths, chemistry and physics at the moment and I have decent understanding of basic geology from what I have read but this is by no means of any significant standard. So I was wondering what would be a good use of my time to get ahead? Should I look over some geology from the A-level syllabus, I was also thinking of looking over the biology a-level? Is the maths particularly hard-is it worth my while looking through M5,M6 and S4 etc. Don't worry I know you'll probably suggest that I rest in the summer since the course will be so hectic when I start, but that just isn't me so you won't be able to convince me not to work :biggrin:

thank you in advance.

Firstly, read How to Build a Habitable Planet if you haven't already.

So far (and obviously I can only judge the first term), people who have done A Level Geology don't seem to have had any significant advantage so I don't think that's a particularly good use of your time. We've not done any Biology yet but in the PCB (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) course, Biology is the smallest part and anyway most people won't have done A Level Biology either so unless you particularly want to, I don't think there's any huge benefit in self-studying A Level Biology.

I'd say most people are finding the Maths the toughest part - I had heard this from second years and assumed this was just people who hadn't taken Further Maths moaning but no, it genuinely is really hard, partially because of the level of difficulty but mostly because of the pace and the fact that the onus is basically entirely on you to understand things since lectures are mainly just used to communicate what you're going to be expected to know. If you want to get ahead, take a look at partial derivatives, moments of inertia and the varying parameters method of solving differential equations which are the three "pressure points" I've found in the Maths course so far. There will probably be more next term but I can't judge those yet!

Apart from that, the two other main areas of difficulty I've had are with mapping and optical mineralogy. Neither of these are really things that you can self-study particularly effectively, I guess there are textbooks you could look at (there's also this really cool web app which I've wasted way too much time on) but quite honestly you'll be fine without it since everyone does pretty much start at the same point...

If you're interested in physical chemistry then have a look through Atkins' Physical Chemistry because we do look at atomic orbitals and wavefunctions and how this affects the shapes of lattices etc but only if you're really interested because this is not necessary and it quickly goes beyond what you'll cover in the first year. I thought that's been one of the most interesting things we've done so far though so I'll be having a read through that over Christmas (...maybe).

To be perfectly honest the most useful thing you can do is just read stuff that interests you. They're going to teach you everything you need to know so there's not a huge amount of point self-studying the course before you've started, it will be much more useful to just read general things that appeal to your personal interests which you might be able to use to embellish your answers or deepen your understanding. You're given credit in exams for going beyond the syllabus so yes, going outside is a good idea. If you look at the undergraduate handbook (on the website) then you can see what modules you will study which could direct you towards areas to look at but for the time being, just do things you find fun.

(edited 8 years ago)

Reply 223

Hi, I've got an interview at Oxford - does anyone have any idea what it'll be like? I had one at imperial and got an offer, so will it be similar in any way? Thanks

Reply 224

Original post by Williams97

Hi, I've got an interview at Oxford - does anyone have any idea what it'll be like? I had one at imperial and got an offer, so will it be similar in any way? Thanks

Well done! You'll probably have two interviews, both of them should be in the Earth Sciences department. There's no strict formula for the interview, it really does depend on who is interviewing you. The important thing is that it's an assessment of your potential, your ability to think and how well you cope with the tutorial system; it is not a test of how much you know. It is likely that you will be asked about a geological specimen as a starting point for a discussion but they're unlikely to expect you to identify it (indeed giving a one word response identifying it wouldn't be particularly helpful), instead they're going to be more interested in your description and what inferences you can make from it - once again, the point of the interview is to get you to think, not to recall!

Best of luck, hope it goes well :h:

NB: My Oxford interviews were harder than my interview at Imperial although not by a huge amount. It felt a bit more... focused on the work, whereas the Imperial interview felt more informal.

(edited 8 years ago)

Reply 225

Mathematicus65

9

Original post by Plagioclase

Firstly, read How to Build a Habitable Planet if you haven't already.

So far (and obviously I can only judge the first term), people who have done A Level Geology don't seem to have had any significant advantage so I don't think that's a particularly good use of your time. We've not done any Biology yet but in the PCB (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) course, Biology is the smallest part and anyway most people won't have done A Level Biology either so unless you particularly want to, I don't think there's any huge benefit in self-studying A Level Biology.

I'd say most people are finding the Maths the toughest part - I had heard this from second years and assumed this was just people who hadn't taken Further Maths moaning but no, it genuinely is really hard, partially because of the level of difficulty but mostly because of the pace and the fact that the onus is basically entirely on you to understand things since lectures are mainly just used to communicate what you're going to be expected to know. If you want to get ahead, take a look at partial derivatives, moments of inertia and the varying parameters method of solving differential equations which are the three "pressure points" I've found in the Maths course so far. There will probably be more next term but I can't judge those yet!

Apart from that, the two other main areas of difficulty I've had are with mapping and optical mineralogy. Neither of these are really things that you can self-study particularly effectively, I guess there are textbooks you could look at (there's also this really cool web app which I've wasted way too much time on) but quite honestly you'll be fine without it since everyone does pretty much start at the same point...

If you're interested in physical chemistry then have a look through Atkins' Physical Chemistry because we do look at atomic orbitals and wavefunctions and how this affects the shapes of lattices etc but only if you're really interested because this is not necessary and it quickly goes beyond what you'll cover in the first year. I thought that's been one of the most interesting things we've done so far though so I'll be having a read through that over Christmas (...maybe).

To be perfectly honest the most useful thing you can do is just read stuff that interests you. They're going to teach you everything you need to know so there's not a huge amount of point self-studying the course before you've started, it will be much more useful to just read general things that appeal to your personal interests which you might be able to use to embellish your answers or deepen your understanding. You're given credit in exams for going beyond the syllabus so yes, going outside is a good idea. If you look at the undergraduate handbook (on the website) then you can see what modules you will study which could direct you towards areas to look at but for the time being, just do things you find fun.

Ah okay excellent thank you so much for the extensive response - very helpful. Luckily for me, I am interested in all regions of science, so to me it won't be a chore. To be honest, I am quite interested in looking over some biology and palaeontology anyway so I think I will do that; and I will continue to read around what I am currently anyway. Thank you very much!

Reply 226

Thanks plagioclase :smile:

it's nice to know a bit more about it - hopefully there's no really weird questions everyone seems to have anecdotes about though! I thought the imperial interview was really informal too, which was almost unnerving really, but it's good to hear they're not too much harder. Thanks again :smile:

Reply 227

Original post by Williams97

Thanks plagioclase :smile:

it's nice to know a bit more about it - hopefully there's no really weird questions everyone seems to have anecdotes about though! I thought the imperial interview was really informal too, which was almost unnerving really, but it's good to hear they're not too much harder. Thanks again :smile:

"Weird" Oxford questions only sound weird when they're taken out of context, most of them make a lot more sense when you realise that they're part of a discussion :smile:

Reply 228

I thought that must be the case 😂

Reply 229

TardigradeFan

6

I got an unconditional from Leicester today for the MGeol Geology. Still have my sights set on Durham, but it was reassuring to get an offer at long last!

Reply 230

Georty

3

My UCAS has been sent off for about three weeks now and I have heard back from all my choices except Durham.
Bristol - AAA
Glasgow - AAB
Leicester - ABB
Southampton - I have an interview this Saturday!

Reply 231

NimbleNeil

10

Imperial Offer letter arrived today!
so offers now are Imperial AAA, Bristol AAA, Leeds AAB, waiting on Birmingham and Durham.

Williams which day was your interview on? Mine was 25th Nov, we may have met :smile:

Reply 232

Original post by NimbleNeil

Imperial Offer letter arrived today!
so offers now are Imperial AAA, Bristol AAA, Leeds AAB, waiting on Birmingham and Durham.

Williams which day was your interview on? Mine was 25th Nov, we may have met :smile:

You got an AAA offer from Imperial? Lucky you!

Reply 233

Original post by NimbleNeil

Imperial Offer letter arrived today!
so offers now are Imperial AAA, Bristol AAA, Leeds AAB, waiting on Birmingham and Durham.

Williams which day was your interview on? Mine was 25th Nov, we may have met :smile:

Mine was on the 11th sorry - well done on the offers!

Reply 234

NimbleNeil

10

Original post by Plagioclase

You got an AAA offer from Imperial? Lucky you!

I know it's their minimum offer :redface:

How rare is it? I think it probably reflects my predicted grades more than any exceptional performance in the interview.

Original post by Williams97

Mine was on the 11th sorry - well done on the offers!

Ahhh oh well - Thank you :smile:

! Have you had an offer yet?

Reply 235

thegeoman

Hi. Did anyone get a skype interview from Oxford like me? :smile:

I'm an international applicant from Malaysia!
College: St Annes

Reply 236

Mathematicus65

9

This is a rather bizzare question, but does anyone know how to pronounce the sandstone Graywacke correctly? Since the name was founded in German, I was of the assumption it would be pronounced as in German ie. Gray-vacker but various videos and documentaries I have watched have also called it Gray-wackie. That seems incorrect to me but I may be wrong....

Reply 237