Applying for natural science

What are good areas/topics to research when applying for biological natural sciences. Also anyone that studies natural science, what are the highlights/drawbacks of studying natsci?

Reply 1

UtterlyUseless69

Original post by WorriedUser4737

What are good areas/topics to research when applying for biological natural sciences. Also anyone that studies natural science, what are the highlights/drawbacks of studying natsci?

I’m not a NatSci student (I study chemistry), but I did have to pick between applying for chemistry, chemical engineering and NatSci. My rationale for not applying for NatSci was really just not finding the other areas I would have to study besides chemistry in the first two years of the course sufficiently appealing to want to study them and so I convinced myself that I’d be setting myself up to fail with a NatSci degree. However, it might be helpful for you to study multiple scientific disciplines in order to explore how they interlink and how they can be used to further research into other areas.

Which universities are you considering? It is worth bearing in mind that to some extent, the structures of various NatSci courses will depend on where you study and so the options on offer aside from biology will be different. You may therefore wish to tailor some of your supercurriculars to these areas to show a clear interest in them, but this isn’t necessarily essential.

If you are asking for supercurriculars, I would start here: https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/sites/www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/files/publications/super-curricular_suggestions.pdf

I personally would recommend reading up on a specific area of biology (and maybe chemistry) that you already know interests you particularly. Better yet, is there an area you’ve covered in your A level/equivalent studies that you think has been explained in a very simplistic manner that you feel a bit of further research may correct? If you can read up on such an area and expand your understanding of it beyond the level required of you at present, it will show you have a drive to learn more which will serve you well in your personal statement.

Reply 2

Lancaster Student Ambassador

Official Rep

Original post by WorriedUser4737

What are good areas/topics to research when applying for biological natural sciences. Also anyone that studies natural science, what are the highlights/drawbacks of studying natsci?

Hi

I'm Oliver and have just finished by Msci in Natural Sciences at Lancaster.

The biggest highlight for me was being able to pick from such a wide range of modules every year across multiple departments and having the flexibility and freedom to tailer my degree to my specific interests as they developed.
Another great aspect about studying across multiple departments is the fact that you meet so many more people and it made making friends so much easier for me and meant that I had a friendly face in every lecture.
It's also super interesting seeing how all the different sciences interlink and it's so cool when something you learn in one subject comes up or helps you understand another topic!

I guess the biggest drawback with natural sciences would be that sometimes you can have a lot more work all at once since your getting assigned work from multiple different departments. This means that you can have some very busy periods and other more relaxed times rather than an even distribution so you have to be a bit more organised with your time.

I hope that helps and I'd be very happy to answer any other questions :smile:

Oliver (Student Ambassador)

Reply 3

jasminhayes36

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