To uni students studying astronomy/astrophysics/physics, ipad or laptop?

So I'm thinking of getting an ipad for sixth form (math, physics, econ +epq) and honestly I think it will genuinely help esp with doing practice papers. BUT, I don't want to have to then buy a laptop two years later for uni if I need it. I do have my own PC at home but not sure if I will take it with me to uni, really depends on where I go and if I get dorms or not. Either way, I do think I might still be able to have access to the PC as if I don't move out I can simply go home and use it or I'll take it in my dorm.

Tl;dr -> Is an ipad useful for STEM courses in university or will I probably need a laptop?

Reply 1

UEA Rep Fatma

Official Rep

Original post by blubberpengi

So I'm thinking of getting an ipad for sixth form (math, physics, econ +epq) and honestly I think it will genuinely help esp with doing practice papers. BUT, I don't want to have to then buy a laptop two years later for uni if I need it. I do have my own PC at home but not sure if I will take it with me to uni, really depends on where I go and if I get dorms or not. Either way, I do think I might still be able to have access to the PC as if I don't move out I can simply go home and use it or I'll take it in my dorm.
Tl;dr -> Is an ipad useful for STEM courses in university or will I probably need a laptop?

Hello! 🙂

I'm a second year Natural Sciences student at UEA and I take modules across biology, chemistry and environmental sciences and from my experience a laptop is much more needed than an iPad (for STEM subjects)
Whilst iPads are better at taking handwritten notes, they aren't as compatible with windows apps, which most universities will use. As a STEM student, you will have to writes a lot of lab reports and do a lot of research, which I find is much easier to do on a laptop.
As you're interested in the physics field, you might have to do some level of coding, depending on the modules you take. Coding is also much easier on a laptop than an iPad!

I hope this helps, let me know if you have any questions!
Fatma
Natural Sciences student.

Reply 2

blubberpengi

Original post by UEA Rep Fatma

Hello! 🙂
I'm a second year Natural Sciences student at UEA and I take modules across biology, chemistry and environmental sciences and from my experience a laptop is much more needed than an iPad (for STEM subjects)
Whilst iPads are better at taking handwritten notes, they aren't as compatible with windows apps, which most universities will use. As a STEM student, you will have to writes a lot of lab reports and do a lot of research, which I find is much easier to do on a laptop.
As you're interested in the physics field, you might have to do some level of coding, depending on the modules you take. Coding is also much easier on a laptop than an iPad!
I hope this helps, let me know if you have any questions!
Fatma
Natural Sciences student.

Hi thanks for the reply. Do you usually do things like reports and stuff at a library or anywhere that's not an accom? Since if I do bring my PC to uni, I could do things like coding in my accom or at home if I go uni close by. Also do you know if accoms in the UK are shared or is it more common to have private rooms

Reply 3

UEA Rep Fatma

Official Rep

Original post by blubberpengi

Hi! 🙂
I personally use the universities' laptops (mainly in the library) for lab reports/other work when I'm on campus, as it means I don't have to carry my own laptop (I don't live on campus).

The accommodation varies across universities and it will depend on whether your university is campus based or city based. Usually universities will have options for both en suite accommodation and shared accommodation and you get to pick which you'd prefer. I'd recommend looking at universities' websites to get a better understanding. I'd also highly recommend you attend open days at your preferred universities as this allows you to actually see the accommodation and university for yourself.
I'll attach link of accommodation available at UEA to help you get started.
Student Accommodation Finder (uea.ac.uk)

I hope this answers your questions, if you have any more please don't hesitate to ask!
Fatma
Natural Sciences student.

Reply 4

username6990201

Original post by blubberpengi

So I'm thinking of getting an ipad for sixth form (math, physics, econ +epq) and honestly I think it will genuinely help esp with doing practice papers. BUT, I don't want to have to then buy a laptop two years later for uni if I need it. I do have my own PC at home but not sure if I will take it with me to uni, really depends on where I go and if I get dorms or not. Either way, I do think I might still be able to have access to the PC as if I don't move out I can simply go home and use it or I'll take it in my dorm.
Tl;dr -> Is an ipad useful for STEM courses in university or will I probably need a laptop?

People in my school who do physics without a laptop struggle to use excel for practicals because it has limited functionality on ipads.

Reply 5

Lancaster Student Ambassador

Official Rep

Original post by blubberpengi

So I'm thinking of getting an ipad for sixth form (math, physics, econ +epq) and honestly I think it will genuinely help esp with doing practice papers. BUT, I don't want to have to then buy a laptop two years later for uni if I need it. I do have my own PC at home but not sure if I will take it with me to uni, really depends on where I go and if I get dorms or not. Either way, I do think I might still be able to have access to the PC as if I don't move out I can simply go home and use it or I'll take it in my dorm.
Tl;dr -> Is an ipad useful for STEM courses in university or will I probably need a laptop?

Hi!

As a physics student, I used an iPad for writing lecture notes and doing worksheets, which was the majority of the time, and I found this very convenient as I didn’t have to bring round stacks of paper everywhere. However, an iPad isn’t essential as many other students just used a pen and paper.

I also used a laptop often for writing reports and coding. At Lancaster University, the physics department has computers for students to use, if you aren’t able to have a laptop. I also believe that the library loans out laptops if you can’t access one, so perhaps it’s also similar at other universities.

I hope this helps! :smile: