Help! Physics? Which Uni is right for me?

I'm pretty settled on doing Physics with Astrophysics now, as my degree choice.
I am currently studying Maths (Mechanics), Physics, Chemistry and Art (Graphics) at AS level at college.

At GCSE I was really happy to get 11A*s. My predicted grades for AS results are all As.
I did have a mini crisis a few weeks back and looked into Chemistry and even Architecture courses, because frankly the thought of doing Physics scares me! :cry2:

I am obviously quite academic and good at physics, however I do find it quite difficult! Do you think I'll find it really difficult at degree level?
Especially because I don't do further maths?

Unis: :confused:

I have looked into NatSci at Cambridge, and it looks really good but my dad doesn't want me to go cause he says it will 'distract me from my studies?' :curious:

I have also looked into York, Bath, Bristol, Durham etc.
I like the look of York (its Astrophysics course).

Does anyone have any advice? I just really don't know what to do?!

Thanks so much! Ask me more questions to help! :redface:

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Reply 1

physicsnut

If you're not exactly sure which science discipline to go into then NatSci at Cambridge is pretty good, as for physics, off the top of my head for physics with astro, Manchester, Durham, st andrews, and UCL are ver good at thus field. Have a look into that.

Personally I'm not much if an astrophysics fan, but hopefully this helped.

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Reply 2

Type 052D

Original post by physicsnut

I not an Physics guy (I enjoy molecular Biology/Biochemistry :P) but I'd enjoy Astrophysics. What better thing is there other than researching about the Universe?

Reply 3

username877577

I know somebody studying Physics at UCL - considered that?

Using the TSR app ~ Smile, you are amazing!

Reply 4

Hanvyj

Manchester is good for physics, might be biased though :smile:

Lots of history!

Reply 5

MayGenevieve

Thanks to everyone! My nearest city is Manchester and I don't think I could stay here for another 3/4 years... which is really annoying cause Manchester's so good at astro! As I said to the woman from the Uni, I'd go to Manchester if it wasn't in Manchester! I'd also like to try and avoid London.. don't like big cities.

Thanks physicsnut, I'll look at Durham and St Andrews :smile:

Does anyone have any thoughts on Oxbridge?

Reply 6

Doglamlico

Original post by MayGenevieve

What does your dad mean about Cambridge distracting you from your studies?

Don't get too hung up on looking for 'Astrophysics' courses - most universities won't offer it, as at the end of the day a Physics degree is going to be pretty similar. Just compare an Astrophysics course to a Physics course at the same university, and you'll find that the first two years will only vary by one or two modules, if at all.

Cambridge: Natural Sciences - you can specialise in Astrophysics in your third year, or in other areas. You meet the subject requirements, so don't worry about further maths.
Oxford: Physics
- Essential: Maths and Physics
- Recommended: Maths (Mechanics)
- Useful: Further Maths
So you'll be fine applying there too.
Durham, Nottingham, York, St Andrews and Bristol also do some really flexible courses (e.g. Durham Natural Sciences).

Consider taking up Further Maths AS-level next year, preferably with more Mechanics modules.

Also, if you achieve AAAA, then along with 11 A*s at GCSE, you should be practically guaranteed an offer from one of the above, and so you could apply to London too, on the off chance that you change your mind.

Oxbridge, Imperial, Durham, Nottingham, York, for example.

(edited 10 years ago)

Reply 7

MayGenevieve

Original post by The Polymath

Thanks so much! He thinks that there's a lot of 'dressing up' and historical things involved with it, and that what with physics being a difficult degree anyway, I need full concentration!

I have considered doing Further Maths AS next year, however I wasn't sure whether it was sensible to still be doing 4 subjects in A2? I think I'd like to concentrate on my other subjects? My physics teacher suggested dropping Art and Chemistry next year, and just doing Physics, Maths and FM AS... But I love chemistry so I won't be doing that!

Also I don't think my college are very flexible regarding modules, so I may end up doing Stats or something poncy like that!

Will I struggle without Further Maths?

Reply 8

Doglamlico

Original post by MayGenevieve

You won't 'struggle' without Further Maths, as it's not a requirement. Especially as you're doing Maths (Mechanics), then all you would miss out on is M3-5, which even Further Maths students don't tend to do.

Edit: Just realised you'll miss out on FP1 and FP2/3, too. I think you should self-study a few extra modules to take in summer.

I would suggest dropping Art, leaving yourself with Maths, Physics and Chemistry, and then trying to self-study as much maths as possible.

For example, you could work hard and do C3, C4, M2 in January, then FP1, FP2, M3 in June, and that would give you fantastic preparation for a Physics degree.

(edited 10 years ago)

Reply 9

MayGenevieve

Original post by The Polymath

You won't 'struggle' without Further Maths, as it's not a requirement. Especially as you're doing Maths (Mechanics), then all you would miss out on is M3-5, which even Further Maths students don't tend to do.

I would suggest dropping Art, leaving yourself with Maths, Physics and Chemistry, and then trying to self-study as much maths as possible.

For example, you could work hard and do C3, C4, M2 in January, then FP1, FP2, M3 in June, and that would give you fantastic preparation for a Physics degree.

Thanks for all your help! Only problem is that January exams have been scrapped! :eek:

I'll keep on thinking and asking around and hopefully something will sort itself out :redface:

Reply 10

yionlawn

One of my friends wants to do Physics and he went to look around Exeter, apparently its very good!

Reply 11

User990473

Original post by MayGenevieve

Thanks for all your help! Only problem is that January exams have been scrapped! :eek:

I'll keep on thinking and asking around and hopefully something will sort itself out :redface:

I was under the impression that is was January resits that were being scrapped

I would drop to maths a2 physics a2 and chem a2 and take up as further maths m3 fp1 fp2

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Reply 12

MayGenevieve

Original post by Occams Chainsaw

I was under the impression that is was January resits that were being scrapped

I would drop to maths a2 physics a2 and chem a2 and take up as further maths m3 fp1 fp2

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Nope it's all January exams! So all exams for my A2 year will be in June!

Reply 13

Rob da Mop

Original post by MayGenevieve

Thanks so much! He thinks that there's a lot of 'dressing up' and historical things involved with it, and that what with physics being a difficult degree anyway, I need full concentration!

There's a few traditional bits and pieces (with dressing up, I suppose), but they don't really take up time, and the atmosphere here is one of intense pressure and hard work, particularly in exam term. There's no way you can get a desk in pretty much any library at the moment, and that atmosphere means that you'll be giving physics your full concentration! Have a look into the course and if it appeals ignore/convince your dad. Bring him on an open day or something. Cambridge is a lovely university to study at, the natsci course is well regarded and quite suited to you if you're not really sure what area you want to go into and, as long as you get good UMS / AAAA you're an ideal candidate really.

Reply 14

lilixxx1000

Original post by MayGenevieve

I would suggest dropping art (as to be honest for the career you're going for it isn't that useful, and you can keep doing it out of school anyways) but keeping chemistry next year, if you really love it! Then you can take up further maths AS which you shouldn't struggle with really if you're good at maths and physics. FM could keep more options open if you want to go into physics/astrophysics. As for your dad discouraging you from applying to Cambridge - I say don't listen to him and go for it! You're obviously very capable academically, and the good thing about NatSci is that you study something a bit broader (physics, chem and maths for example) for the first two years and then if you decide astrophysics is really want to do you specialise in it in the third year.

Hope this helped!

Reply 15

heyimbored

Original post by Occams Chainsaw

I was under the impression that is was January resits that were being scrapped

I would drop to maths a2 physics a2 and chem a2 and take up as further maths m3 fp1 fp2

Posted from TSR Mobile

I would be careful with taking the further maths AS as, while it is useful and a good thing to say to interviewers, it can easily hinder your other grades. Ultimately, none of your offers (in all likelihood) will actually depend on your grade for AS FM, but your other grades will be the top ones, so will require a lot of time and effort.

I did AS FM in my A2 year, and on one hand I'm glad I did; it made getting into first year maths much easier because I didn't have to get to grips with the basics of matrices, complex numbers etc...and I did the S2 module which introduced me to some stats that comes up quite a lot in physics, but it's more complex than that. My case is a little extreme because I self taught most of it, and only had 1 lesson a week, which was often cancelled, but I missed the overall A in physics by a couple of marks, and I fully believe that I would've have got that A if I didn't have further maths to focus on as well. To make things worse I got an E in further maths (despite having a decent understanding of it), so it's also a black mark on my academic record.

The ultimate problem is that I started it thinking that the unis I applied for would look at it and give me a grade lower offer, or think better of me for doing it, especially with it being largely self taught. At the end of it all though, all my choices gave me their standard offer, and nobody seemed to care. All I gained was the slightly easier introduction to first year maths because I understood a bit more than I otherwise would, but I got that quite possibly at the cost of going through clearing to get into uni after missing my offers, and having an E grade that I have to tell potential employers about because it's on the same certificate as my A level Maths. Going through clearing didn't turn out to be a bad thing for me, I'm happy where I am now, but it's worth considering.

I'll also point out that I didn't apply to Oxbridge/Durham/Imperial/St Andrews, which can be a little more selective on the further maths front, I applied to UCL/Nottingham/Lancaster/Warwick/Sussex so the ones you're looking at may pay more attention to it. I would certainly recommend looking over some further maths topics before starting uni, just make sure you're confident with the extra work.

(edited 10 years ago)

Reply 16

ThoPhys

Original post by MayGenevieve

Does anyone have any thoughts on Oxbridge?

Have you considered Lancaster? They offer a Physics with Astrophysics and Cosmology degree and have active research groups in Cosmology and Space Science.

come to imperial!

Original post by ThoPhys

Have you considered Lancaster? They offer a Physics with Astrophysics and Cosmology degree and have active research groups in Cosmology and Space Science.

Yep I second that Lancaster is a great uni for physics.

Reply 19

TheRandomer

You really don't want to worry about specialising into astro at this stage, but I'd just like to point out that places like Bath and York don't actually have astronomy research departments. Places with strong astro departments include Durham, Edinburgh, Manchester, UCL, Nottingham, Leicester, St Andrews..