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Uni of Glasgow WP Summer School

Hi! I have an conditional offer to Glasgow and I will need to attend the Summer school as part of my offer.
Can anyone share their experience there? Glasgow is an insurance choice for me, so I am not sure if it will be very helpful (I am still going to do it). What is this school like? Just school lessons or more university style lectures?
And also what is "reasonable travel distance" from the uni? I live in a 1½ hours commute and I guess it is "reasonable"

Reply 1

Sparklygreentea

Hi! I did the summer school last year, my subjects were Biology and Chemistry. You'll be absolutely fine. They are definitely university style lectures and you do them in real lecture rooms. It started off really basic like N5 level (energy shells, how to balance an equation) then got up to Higher level later. It's kinda handy to be refreshed on important parts of the periodic table like electronegativity, electron affinity and atomic radius though, it came in handy in my lectures this year. You'll need to take notes so take a notebook or laptop with you.

You do get tested (I dug out my old notes and saw I got 2 assignments given in week 1) like in real uni but these tests are pretty easy if you've been paying attention. Nevertheless you'll need to set aside a couple hours a week to complete these like in real uni. There's also an exam at the end of the summer school which I sailed through but do make sure to attend every day of the summer school to make sure you pass it.

For us in science the lecturers were new to teaching, so like PhD students or graduate teaching assistants, so some were good lecturers and others not as clear at explaining things. But you can ask them questions at the end and you get course contacts you can email.

Make sure to wear enclosed shoes for the labs and full length trousers, hair tied back, they won't let you in if you're not wearing correct kit (really).

Chemistry lab is not very good at explaining things, so ask other students for help. (It's not just you) The labs are really fun though so try to go to them in person because otherwise you'll be doing digital 'virtual labs' which kinda suck (in my opinion)

Most importantly - don't forget about the 'academic skills' module you'll be given to do (it's in every subject not just science). It's very easy but takes an absolute age to do because you have to click between different pages. Start it early and get it out of the way so you don't miss the deadline.

With commute distance, you're best emailing the summer school email about that.

Reply 2

Albany12

Original post by RomanChaika

Hi, I am attending the Summer School this summer as it is also a condition on my offer. I stay in Dundee and have been advised that I would be an online participant. This is possibly the same distance as you given the commute times you mention.
I haven’t chosen my subjects as still to receive information but I have been advised not all subjects are delivered online so my choice will be restricted.
Hope this helps a little - likewise an insurance choice for me

(edited 11 months ago)

Reply 3

Albany12

Original post by Sparklygreentea

Hi! I did the summer school last year, my subjects were Biology and Chemistry. You'll be absolutely fine. They are definitely university style lectures and you do them in real lecture rooms. It started off really basic like N5 level (energy shells, how to balance an equation) then got up to Higher level later. It's kinda handy to be refreshed on important parts of the periodic table like electronegativity, electron affinity and atomic radius though, it came in handy in my lectures this year. You'll need to take notes so take a notebook or laptop with you.
You do get tested (I dug out my old notes and saw I got 2 assignments given in week 1) like in real uni but these tests are pretty easy if you've been paying attention. Nevertheless you'll need to set aside a couple hours a week to complete these like in real uni. There's also an exam at the end of the summer school which I sailed through but do make sure to attend every day of the summer school to make sure you pass it.
For us in science the lecturers were new to teaching, so like PhD students or graduate teaching assistants, so some were good lecturers and others not as clear at explaining things. But you can ask them questions at the end and you get course contacts you can email.
Make sure to wear enclosed shoes for the labs and full length trousers, hair tied back, they won't let you in if you're not wearing correct kit (really).
Chemistry lab is not very good at explaining things, so ask other students for help. (It's not just you) The labs are really fun though so try to go to them in person because otherwise you'll be doing digital 'virtual labs' which kinda suck (in my opinion)
Most importantly - don't forget about the 'academic skills' module you'll be given to do (it's in every subject not just science). It's very easy but takes an absolute age to do because you have to click between different pages. Start it early and get it out of the way so you don't miss the deadline.
With commute distance, you're best emailing the summer school email about that.

Hi, are you able to advise when you were able to choose subjects? The email I have received so far just says more information to follow. TIA

Reply 4

Sparklygreentea

Original post by Albany12

Hi, are you able to advise when you were able to choose subjects? The email I have received so far just says more information to follow. TIA

Ah, I was told last year I'd be assigned subjects relevant to my degree so I didn't get to choose. On 13th June last year I got an email telling me I'd been allocated Biology and Chemistry.