Computer Science for NatSci

Hi

I'm a NatSci offer holder and I have a few questions regarding the Computer Science subject

-How is it graded? By that I mean, are NatScis graded together with actual Computer Scientists? If so, are the grades in this option generally lower than in other ones?

-On the course website, it says that physics lectures are scheduled for 9-10 am, and compsci lectures for 10-11 am on the same days. How is it possible to make it to both lectures, if they are located in different buildings? Do they actually take less than a full hour?

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Reply 1

black1blade

One thing to point out is that grades in the first year don't matter.

Thoughts @alow ?

Original post by Kozuch

What uni is this for, out of interest?

Reply 4

Doones

Original post by Anonymous1502

What uni is this for, out of interest?

Cambridge - that's why the post is in the Cambridge forum :wink:

Reply 5

Anonymous1502

Original post by Doonesbury

Cambridge - that's why the post is in the Cambridge forum :wink:

Thank you.

Reply 6

alow

Original post by Kozuch

NatScis take half of the compsci courses and are graded together with the compscis.

It's generally considered the hardest option to take because of that, and NatScis are kind of warded off taking it. However I do know a few people who really took to the course and ended up with very good marks in it (although there were many more who quit the course and picked up a different module).

There is always the option of doing it for a couple of weeks alongside another option then making the decision of whether to keep going with it or not.

Making it to the lectures is not an issue. I had lectures 9-11 Mon-Sat in first year and never had an issue with arriving late. 9AM lectures finish at 9.50 and 10AM lectures start at 10.05.

Reply 7

alow

Original post by black1blade

One thing to point out is that grades in the first year don't matter.

They do to the point where you at least need to get a third. A handful of people fail 1A NST every year.

Reply 8

black1blade

Original post by alow

They do to the point where you at least need to get a third. A handful of people fail 1A NST every year.

So say if you get a first in maths, physics and materials but fail comp sci, would they kick you out?

Reply 9

username1865079

Original post by black1blade

One thing to point out is that grades in the first year don't matter.

Original post by black1blade

So say if you get a first in maths, physics and materials but fail comp sci, would they kick you out?

Not sure what you mean by 'don't matter' but unlike many other universities you get separate classes for each part of Tripos. Not averaged out for a final degree. So every year does count. If you underperform in any given year, you can't compensate it by better result in another year.

No, they won't kick you out so casually only because you failed in one paper once, but if you've just about scraped 2.2, I can assure you your DoS will show the first sign of concern.
If you only managed to get a third, you won't see them very happy......
They have a certain standard of expectation when they gave you an offer, so they'd like to see a proof their judgment was not too off the mark. :wink:

Reply 10

black1blade

I mean the first year doesn't count towards you final degree classification.

Reply 11

Doones

Original post by black1blade

I mean the first year doesn't count towards you final degree classification.

No year counts towards the final class. You graduate with a BA - there's no class on the certificate.
http://www.camdata.admin.cam.ac.uk/structure-undergraduate-courses-cambridge#graduate

That said, most people use the class they achieve in their final year as their classification when talking to the outside world. So even then the 2nd year doesn't "count" either.

But it's also why you can say you have a Double First if you get 1sts in both parts of the Tripos. So for NatSci that would be a 1st in Part I and a 1st in Part II. Part III could also get you a 1st in the MSci.

(edited 6 years ago)

Reply 12

black1blade

Original post by Doonesbury

Would a first in part 1 mean getting a first in all the options in part 1A and part 1B?

Reply 13

Doones

Original post by black1blade

Would a first in part 1 mean getting a first in all the options in part 1A and part 1B?

No. Again this is an entirely informal way of classing your degree for the outside world - there's no certificate stating a double first. AFAIK, you can reasonably "claim" it if your Part IB *average* is a First even if Part IA was below the average.

What you do get is a full transcript. It's up to you how you "sell" it to employers...

@alow ?

Reply 14

alow

Original post by Doonesbury

AFAIK most people state their Part II overall grade as their degree classification. For NatSci that'll be the first one where you're only doing your chosen subject anyway.

Reply 15

Forecast

I know of someone with 2:1 (first year), 2:2 (second year), 2:2 (third year) who writes 2:1 on his CV...

Reply 16

Doones

Original post by alow

AFAIK most people state their Part II overall grade as their degree classification. For NatSci that'll be the first one where you're only doing your chosen subject anyway.

Although with NST Part II is just a single year. Whereas for, say, engineering it is 2 years - so do grads average those 2 years or go with the IIB class?

Original post by Forecast

I know of someone with 2:1 (first year), 2:2 (second year), 2:2 (third year) who writes 2:1 on his CV...

Until an employer with a Cantab hiring manager asks for their transcript...

(edited 6 years ago)

Reply 17

Kozuch

Grades aside, I'm torn between picking CompSci and Materials as my 4th subject. I'll be taking maths and physics, since I want to specialise in physics in second year, and E B out of pure interest.For my final slot I'd like to pick something interesting and useful. I'm not really a compsci guy, but it sounds way more useful than materials. Or am I mistaken? Is materials a useful subject for someone specialising in physics?