Questions for chemistry undergraduates (any advice welcome)
Hello everyone 
(Sorry in advance - this might be a long post!)
So, I’m hoping to apply to study chemistry at uni later this year, and I'd really appreciate some advice on the whole application process - and a few other things too. For context, I'm a self-taught student studying from home, currently in Year 13 and taking maths, chemistry, and biology at A level.
1. I've been working on my personal statement for a while now, but I'm honestly worried I don't have enough supercurriculars to write about. So far, I've started two short online courses (one on drug design and the other on metals in medicine), which have been really interesting so far. Would that be enough to talk about? I'd like to do a few more things to strengthen my application, so if anyone has suggestions for other supercurriculars, I'd really appreciate it.
2. Would doing a chemistry-related work placement be beneficial for my application? Has anyone here done one - and if so, would you be happy to share which company it was with and what the experience was like? Or if you didn't do a placement, if there something else you'd recommend instead?
3. One of the unis I'm applying to (Imperial) requires an interview. I know there's no guarantee I'll get one, but I obviously want to make sure I'm prepared. If you did an interview, I'd be grateful to know how you prepared and what you found the most helpful. I’ve seen people recommend Olympiad past papers - do you think that’s a good idea, even though I haven’t finished the A-level course yet? Do interviewers expect much beyond the spec knowledge? If so, how far would you suggest going, and are there any specific resources you found useful?
4. Do you have any general tips, maybe not just about uni applications but for A-levels too? Maybe how you revised in Year 13 and in the final months leading up to your exams? If you had to go back and do it all over again, is there anything you’d do differently?
Thank you for reading all this! I'll probably come up with more questions later, so I'll add them below when they come to me.
(Sorry in advance - this might be a long post!)
So, I’m hoping to apply to study chemistry at uni later this year, and I'd really appreciate some advice on the whole application process - and a few other things too. For context, I'm a self-taught student studying from home, currently in Year 13 and taking maths, chemistry, and biology at A level.
1. I've been working on my personal statement for a while now, but I'm honestly worried I don't have enough supercurriculars to write about. So far, I've started two short online courses (one on drug design and the other on metals in medicine), which have been really interesting so far. Would that be enough to talk about? I'd like to do a few more things to strengthen my application, so if anyone has suggestions for other supercurriculars, I'd really appreciate it.
2. Would doing a chemistry-related work placement be beneficial for my application? Has anyone here done one - and if so, would you be happy to share which company it was with and what the experience was like? Or if you didn't do a placement, if there something else you'd recommend instead?
3. One of the unis I'm applying to (Imperial) requires an interview. I know there's no guarantee I'll get one, but I obviously want to make sure I'm prepared. If you did an interview, I'd be grateful to know how you prepared and what you found the most helpful. I’ve seen people recommend Olympiad past papers - do you think that’s a good idea, even though I haven’t finished the A-level course yet? Do interviewers expect much beyond the spec knowledge? If so, how far would you suggest going, and are there any specific resources you found useful?
4. Do you have any general tips, maybe not just about uni applications but for A-levels too? Maybe how you revised in Year 13 and in the final months leading up to your exams? If you had to go back and do it all over again, is there anything you’d do differently?
Thank you for reading all this! I'll probably come up with more questions later, so I'll add them below when they come to me.
Reply 1
20
1) Yes. Just pick out the stuff that interested / intrigued you and explain why it did.
2) No. Its an academic degree course not a trade apprenticeship. See point 1.
3) They should give you some info about what they expect when you get the interview email - but you could email Imperial admissions and ask for more info earlier than this. Explain that you are home-schooled and that you therefore have no-one to guide you in this.
4) Do as many past-papers as you can, and work out where your knowledge gaps are.
2) No. Its an academic degree course not a trade apprenticeship. See point 1.
3) They should give you some info about what they expect when you get the interview email - but you could email Imperial admissions and ask for more info earlier than this. Explain that you are home-schooled and that you therefore have no-one to guide you in this.
4) Do as many past-papers as you can, and work out where your knowledge gaps are.
Reply 2
Original post
by McGinger1) Yes. Just pick out the stuff that interested / intrigued you and explain why it did.
2) No. Its an academic degree course not a trade apprenticeship. See point 1.
3) They should give you some info about what they expect when you get the interview email - but you could email Imperial admissions and ask for more info earlier than this. Explain that you are home-schooled and that you therefore have no-one to guide you in this.
4) Do as many past-papers as you can, and work out where your knowledge gaps are.
2) No. Its an academic degree course not a trade apprenticeship. See point 1.
3) They should give you some info about what they expect when you get the interview email - but you could email Imperial admissions and ask for more info earlier than this. Explain that you are home-schooled and that you therefore have no-one to guide you in this.
4) Do as many past-papers as you can, and work out where your knowledge gaps are.
Thank you, this was really helpful
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