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ideas for biomed supercurriculars?

I just joined YR 12, and I'm doing biology, chemistry and psychology, with the hopes of doing biomedical science in either Oxford/Bath. When should I start doing supercurricular stuff as I know it is necessary to stand out? I did look at completing online courses such as in coursera but I can't seem to find free ones, without having to subscribe to coursera +. Any other websites that I could use to do free courses?
futurelearn is a good website that has free courses. you have to pay to get a physical certificate and do the quiz but apart from that its free.
Original post by BigFriendlyKid
futurelearn is a good website that has free courses. you have to pay to get a physical certificate and do the quiz but apart from that its free.

thanks but wdym by the quiz? is the actual assessment not free then?
Lots of BBC R4 podcasts or a wide range of science topics - BBC Sounds - Science Podcasts

Also, some of the 'Very Short Introductions' to a range of Bioscience topics - Amazon.co.uk : a very short introduction medical - written by Uni academics they are good way of getting to grips with the basics.
Original post by eeeeeeeeeeerin
thanks but wdym by the quiz? is the actual assessment not free then?

the quiz is where you select multiple choice questions (i think). yeah its not free.
Original post by BigFriendlyKid
the quiz is where you select multiple choice questions (i think). yeah its not free.

You do not need the certificate from courses on FutureLearn or Coursera - no Unis will want it - so you do not need to pay anything.
Original post by McGinger
You do not need the certificate from courses on FutureLearn or Coursera - no Unis will want it - so you do not need to pay anything.

thats good
Original post by McGinger
Lots of BBC R4 podcasts or a wide range of science topics - BBC Sounds - Science Podcasts
Also, some of the 'Very Short Introductions' to a range of Bioscience topics - Amazon.co.uk : a very short introduction medical - written by Uni academics they are good way of getting to grips with the basics.

thank you so much!! i'll definitely take a look into this!
(edited 1 month ago)
Original post by McGinger
You do not need the certificate from courses on FutureLearn or Coursera - no Unis will want it - so you do not need to pay anything.

do we not? then how do I prove I've completed it? or do I have to do courses at all?
(edited 1 month ago)
Original post by eeeeeeeeeeerin
do we not? then how do I prove I've completed it? or do I have to do courses at all?

You dont need to prove you have completed them - they are not meaningful 'qualifications'.

These Moocs are only useful on a personal level to extend your knowledge/understanding of topics for your PS, and that the proof that Unis want - that you can discuss topics and use them to show your interest in studying at a higher level than A level. This is about 'topics' and not about 'bits of paper'.
Original post by McGinger
You dont need to prove you have completed them - they are not meaningful 'qualifications'.
These Moocs are only useful on a personal level to extend your knowledge/understanding of topics for your PS, and that the proof that Unis want - that you can discuss topics and use them to show your interest in studying at a higher level than A level. This is about 'topics' and not about 'bits of paper'.

so when I refer to them in my personal statement, i don't have to show proof i did them, i just say that I did and explain what I really liked about it and how it helped?
Please don’t tell me you want to go into diagnostics if you are choosing those unis… put it simply. You can't.
(edited 1 month ago)
Original post by Scienceisgood
Please don’t tell me you want to go into diagnostics if you are choosing those unis… put it simply. You can't.

diagnostics? no, I'm looking at biomedicine for those unis :smile:
Original post by eeeeeeeeeeerin
so when I refer to them in my personal statement, i don't have to show proof i did them, i just say that I did and explain what I really liked about it and how it helped?

Exactly this.
Original post by eeeeeeeeeeerin
diagnostics? no, I'm looking at biomedicine for those unis :smile:


No as in, do you want to enter diagnostics in day the NHS or do research when you graduate?
Original post by Scienceisgood
No as in, do you want to enter diagnostics in day the NHS or do research when you graduate?
ohhh sorry I didn't understand
I'm still deciding but I'm leaning towards research
Original post by eeeeeeeeeeerin
ohhh sorry I didn't understand
I'm still deciding but I'm leaning towards research


In that case, I would recommend these universities but if you want to go into diagnostics, you will need to do top up modules as neither of those universities are IBMS accredited. If you do want to do research however, then there is absolutely nothing wrong with what you have chosen and would encourage it.
Original post by Scienceisgood
In that case, I would recommend these universities but if you want to go into diagnostics, you will need to do top up modules as neither of those universities are IBMS accredited. If you do want to do research however, then there is absolutely nothing wrong with what you have chosen and would encourage it.
ohh okay thank you for explaining!

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