Chemistry/Medicinal Chemistry

1

Hi guys/gals
I've narrowed my course choices to three now - Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Medicinal Chemistry.

After trawling through the forum, I've been slightly put off by peoples comments on Chemical engineering. The prospect of doing mainly maths than chemistry is part of it in and also one guy said that the study of 'pipes' for two years told the whole story lol. The reason I considered Chem Eng was because it involved all the A2 subjects - Chem, Math & Physics.

More positively, I've still kept a keen interest in doing 'straight' chemistry. In recent years I've really enjoyed chemistry lessons so its obvious for me to explore my interests further. Just a couple of weeks ago, I stumbled across Medinical Chemistry. This sound quite interested to me as it also involved a biological side to it. Possibly a career in the future would be to go in to drug production etc.
However, very recently I've really been interested in taking a course with a year out in industry. I can find tons of uni's which do chemistry with a year out however about 1 with medicinal chemistry, which is imperial. Is taking a year useful and also 'fun'? <--- lol.

Plus, my As levels were Maths - B, Chemistry - B, Physics - C, Computing - B. (Dropped). I've actually officially seen my predicted grades yet however talking to my teachers seems like they are ABB with the A in chemistry. Will those grades put me in good contention into applying for Imperial College, Warwick and Nottingham (yet to think of other 2, btw, anyone got any suggestions) for studing either Medicinal or 'straight' chemistry?

Thanks again,
J.

Reply 1

ChemistBoy

16

Medicinal chemsitry degrees differ very little from normal chemistry degrees except that you are 'locked in' to your optional choices as part of the course.

When I started university I too was interested in medicinal chemistry and drug design and this interest was continued right up to the end of my second year. However in 3rd year I developed a strong interest in physical chemistry and now, after a PhD in the area, I'm a researcher in nanotechnology. So, my advice is that you don't really know what you are going to like when you get to an advanced level and as such, a straight degree in chemistry gives more flexibility in that regard and will not impede you in any way in getting jobs in the pharma or related sectors.

Industrial placements are also a very good thing to have as they not only give you valuable experience of the chemical industry, but they put you at a big advantage compared to other graduates in the generic job market as you have 6 or 12 months work experience doing a job which usually requires a lot of skill.

Reply 2

jam12

OP

1

ChemistBoy

Medicinal chemsitry degrees differ very little from normal chemistry degrees except that you are 'locked in' to your optional choices as part of the course.

When I started university I too was interested in medicinal chemistry and drug design and this interest was continued right up to the end of my second year. However in 3rd year I developed a strong interest in physical chemistry and now, after a PhD in the area, I'm a researcher in nanotechnology. So, my advice is that you don't really know what you are going to like when you get to an advanced level and as such, a straight degree in chemistry gives more flexibility in that regard and will not impede you in any way in getting jobs in the pharma or related sectors.

Industrial placements are also a very good thing to have as they not only give you valuable experience of the chemical industry, but they put you at a big advantage compared to other graduates in the generic job market as you have 6 or 12 months work experience doing a job which usually requires a lot of skill.

Ah right I see. Thanks. Seems to be that I'm favouring Chemistry then as you've said that you can pick optional modules in later years in the parts your interested in.
Also, I'm deeply looking into industrial placements too. I'll think working for a year between studying will definetly keep me more 'up beat' and enjoy the course more.

Thanks.

And oh yeh, anyone suggest any good uni's for Chemistry? As I've said, I'll be applying Imperial, Nottingham and Warwick so far however am undecided about the other two. Anyone got any suggestions?

Thanks again people!!

Reply 3

jam12

OP

1

Can anyone else give me a suggestion? I just need another opinion on whether I should take Chemistry or Medicinal Chemistry. At the moment I'm feeling I'd like to go into the pharmaceutical side of chemistry therefore medicinal chemistry would be the better way to go however will there much difference if I chose a biological optional modules in a straght chemistry course?

Another thing is that I want a yr in industry and with straight chemistry all the uni's I want to go to have the same course i.e. same UCAS code. For medicinal chemistry the uni's offer similiar courses, different UCAS code, and therefore I'm sort of confused about how 'general' I'd have to be on my personal statement.

Thanks guys. Any help much appreciatted - I need to decide to soon!!! :smile:

Btw, will I have the same career oportunities in the future? Specifically, will I be able to get into a finance job like accountanting with medicinal chemistry?

Reply 4

gruffyddd

1

My advice would be to go for straight chemistry for now, as there's invariable opportunities to specialise later. When I was applying for my course alot of "Chemistry with xxx" degrees were offered, but when I questioned to staff they said that the 1st year would be exactly the same for everyone, so people can have a full year before deciding.

Here at Oxford they only offer the straight chemistry degree, but in the 2nd year there are supplementary subjects available. These are serious undertakings involving 32 lectures and a 3 hour exam at the end of it. Having had a look at some of the "Aromatic, Hetercyclic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry" papers there's alot of additional stuff there that those with a medicinal slant would find interesting.

However like Chemistboy I've already found my interests are changing, as I too started uni expecting to end up in pharmaceuticals. Now in my 2nd year though I'm taking the quantum chemistry supplementry, so it just shows how things can turn out.

Reply 5

cpchem

14

gruffyddd

My advice would be to go for straight chemistry for now, as there's invariable opportunities to specialise later. When I was applying for my course alot of "Chemistry with xxx" degrees were offered, but when I questioned to staff they said that the 1st year would be exactly the same for everyone, so people can have a full year before deciding.

Here at Oxford they only offer the straight chemistry degree, but in the 2nd year there are supplementary subjects available. These are serious undertakings involving 32 lectures and a 3 hour exam at the end of it. Having had a look at some of the "Aromatic, Hetercyclic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry" papers there's alot of additional stuff there that those with a medicinal slant would find interesting.

However like Chemistboy I've already found my interests are changing, as I too started uni expecting to end up in pharmaceuticals. Now in my 2nd year though I'm taking the quantum chemistry supplementry, so it just shows how things can turn out.

The supplementary system is great. I'm doing Aromatic/Heterocyclic and Quantum... not yet decided which one to take the exam in, mind you. I've got to weigh up the joy of 15 ways of making furans, and the brilliance of Manolopoulos et al. Mind you, Martin Galpin's heroic derivation of the Uncertainty Principle the other day might just have swung it...

Reply 6

mizfissy815

12

With regards to Imperial, I say pick straight Chemistry.

I’m currently studying Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry as that is what I picked out at first, but it seems that all I’ve done was bind myself to taking ‘Medicinal Biology’ as my ancillery. The other students who picked straight Chemistry were given a choice between Medicinal Biology, Maths & Phsyics, and Humanities. Despite having to pick which option before the start of university, those students have the option of changing at anytime; I don’t. I’m personally happy with my decision but frankly, if you haven’t done A-level Biology you’re going to encounter a lot of problems as that is what everything so far has been based on. The lecturer also pointed out in the very beginning that those without A-level Biology are going to be at a great disadvantage compared to the rest.

Reply 7

jam12

OP

1

Thanks for replies guys!!
I've decided to go for straight chemistry. Seems like its a safer bet as I can still do literally everything within chemistry for a career.
I'll probably being doing a yr in industry as well, not only to impress employers in the future, but also to break up the 4yr course and have a yr out actually working and not styding.

Thanks again.

Chemistry/Medicinal Chemistry

Related discussions

Articles for you

How The Student Room is moderated