Applying to do NatSci and Wider Reading

Hi, I'm a Year 12 student taking A-levels in Maths, FM, Physics and Chem.

My school are kinda making us write our personal statements right now but I haven't really done any wider reading and I don't particularly know what I want to do after uni, which, for some reason, my school expects people to know. Can someone recommend me any books/journals/articles that would be useful to read? I've checked online but most of the books tend to be like textbooks.

Also, despite my A-levels setting me up to do physical NatSci, I'm actually leaning towards the biological stuff. Would I still be able to apply for biological NatSci without actually having done A-level Biology?

PS. I'm aiming to study at Cambridge so if you have general advice about applying to read NatSci at Cambridge as well, that would be awesome!

Thanks

Hi, I'm a Year 12 student taking A-levels in Maths, FM, Physics and Chem.

My school are kinda making us write our personal statements right now but I haven't really done any wider reading and I don't particularly know what I want to do after uni, which, for some reason, my school expects people to know. Can someone recommend me any books/journals/articles that would be useful to read? I've checked online but most of the books tend to be like textbooks.

Also, despite my A-levels setting me up to do physical NatSci, I'm actually leaning towards the biological stuff. Would I still be able to apply for biological NatSci without actually having done A-level Biology?

PS. I'm aiming to study at Cambridge so if you have general advice about applying to read NatSci at Cambridge as well, that would be awesome!

Thanks

http://www.myheplus.com

If you’re considering Cambridge then get booked in to open days etc ASAP.

And Masterclasses
https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/events/masterclasses
and Tasters
https://london.ac.uk/ways-study/study-campus-london/university-taster-courses
Other universities near you may have these too.

You don't need Biology A-level to study Cambridge NatSci Part IA Biology of Cells
https://www.natsci.tripos.cam.ac.uk/subject-information/part1a/biol
https://www.natsci.tripos.cam.ac.uk/subject-information/part1a

Thank you!!
I know I don't need it for Cambridge Biology of Cells, but I was just wondering if it would put me at a disadvantage if I don't have it, especially for other universities.

http://www.myheplus.com

If you’re considering Cambridge then get booked in to open days etc ASAP.

Only if it's a required subject.

Why haven't I come across that before...

Thank you!! That link is great!
I would but I don't live in the UK and so I might just turn up to the uni and ask qs whenever I do go to the UK.

It’s great but they’re rubbish at sharing it. I suspect that whoever looks after it has been diverted to other work. It’d be great to see some more subjects added (there’s nothing for philosophy for example).

If you are visiting universities outside their Open Days it's an idea to contact the admissions team in advance and see if they can arrange a guided tour.

Also, you can go into just about any Cambridge college if you tell the porters (i.e. the security staff at the college's front gate) that you are a potential applicant. You can't, though, visit student accommodation, or the University's teaching departments without an appointment (or on an Open Day).

I don't think any of the resident ATs have ever mentioned it. Now added to my bookmarks...

https://podcasts.ox.ac.uk Is another treasure trove (there’s online lectures too somewhere on the Oxford site).

https://podcasts.ox.ac.uk Is another treasure trove (there’s online lectures too somewhere on the Oxford site).

And Cambridge https://www.sms.cam.ac.uk

Are you guys competing to see who has the better treasure troves?
Thanks for the links though

No, no. I know I would lose that battle.

Actually another idea are MOOCs or just YouTube vids.

Posted from TSR Mobile

No, no. I know I would lose that battle.

Actually another idea are MOOCs or just YouTube vids.

Posted from TSR Mobile

And royal society/engineering blogs (varying quality but worth a look - the chemeng one is by far the best) and public lectures.

Plus radio 4 and BBC 4...much more fun and original than new scientist (because we all know most people only read the back pages anyway)

new scientist (because we all know most people only read the back pages anyway)