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Oxford Chemistry Students and Applicants

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Turdburger
:s-smilie:

Something wrong? :p:
I'm leaning towards Keble.
athena
.


Dug up chemchat for you :smile:
Reply 443
Avatar for cpchem
cpchem
14
Woooooo! Chemchat!
cpchem
Hmm... :yep:

Any reason I shouldn't apply to Trinity?
cpchem
Woooooo! Chemchat!


I have a chem question: How essential is it that I bother to learn MO Theory for 3rd year. I just didnt bother last year.
Reply 446
Avatar for cpchem
cpchem
14
Turdburger
I have a chem question: How essential is it that I bother to learn MO Theory for 3rd year. I just didnt bother last year.


It depends. It can come in handy with post-TM chem (but that's quite a niche question, normally: I think I was the only Balliol person to do it), but apart from that, it's pretty unimportant for the general paper.
For I1, it's massively handy for photoelectron spectroscopy (which I thoroughly recommend, as the questions tend either to be stolen straight from the lecture handouts, or a really nice essay), but you can, in fact, just ******** it to some extent.
Obviously I didn't do I2, but it also comes in handy there for the structure/bonding in organometallics question. Again, completely avoidable, given the amount of choice in I2 (for which I'd probably recommend coordination and reactions of organometallics).

EDIT: I also didn't bother in second year :biggrin:
cpchem
It depends. It can come in handy with post-TM chem (but that's quite a niche question, normally: I think I was the only Balliol person to do it), but apart from that, it's pretty unimportant for the general paper.
For I1, it's massively handy for photoelectron spectroscopy (which I thoroughly recommend, as the questions tend either to be stolen straight from the lecture handouts, or a really nice essay), but you can, in fact, just ******** it to some extent.
Obviously I didn't do I2, but it also comes in handy there for the structure/bonding in organometallics question. Again, completely avoidable, given the amount of choice in I2 (for which I'd probably recommend coordination and reactions of organometallics).

EDIT: I also didn't bother in second year :biggrin:


Looks like I2 and avoid it again :p:. Laziness also dictates the avoiding of Stat Mech again
Reply 448
Avatar for cpchem
cpchem
14
Turdburger
Looks like I2 and avoid it again :p:. Laziness also dictates the avoiding of Stat Mech again


Stat mech is gooood. Well, it is when you understand it. Without it, you pretty much have to write off solids and surfaces next term, which is a pity, because although it's hilariously badly taught, it's also really easy.
Reply 449
Avatar for Lexa_C
Lexa_C
I'm thinking of applying to Keble, I wanted St John's but was advised against it... just interested in where others are thinking of applying :smile:
I'm studying Chem, Maths and History at A2 and Further maths AS (self teaching). I am not a private school kid..
Also.. do people think I have impaired myself by not doing physics? Maybe slightly but hey, I'm not the stereotypical oxford applicant..
Reply 450
Avatar for Lexa_C
Lexa_C
I'm going for Keble, and I have a friend who's applying for chem at wadham...
I got 11 A*s at GCSE and one A
and 6 As at AS, chem, maths, history, art, gs and critical thinking (the last two don't really count)
I'm doing Maths, Chem, History and Further maths AS this year... But I'm a bit worried about not having done physics... Will I even get an interview? Hope so...
Reply 451
Avatar for BJack
BJack
19
Lexa_C
But I'm a bit worried about not having done physics... Will I even get an interview? Hope so...


The main thing is to have chemistry and maths, which you do. The only Oxford chemist from my school this year had just chemistry and single maths as sciences, I think, so there's no reason to believe that you'll be rejected for not having physics.
BJack
The main thing is to have chemistry and maths, which you do. The only Oxford chemist from my school this year had just chemistry and single maths as sciences, I think, so there's no reason to believe that you'll be rejected for not having physics.


If anyone PMs me they will only be wasting their time but;

The interview does have an element of physics to it, especially the main question they ask which (judging from how easy the others were) is the only real way they can distinguish candidates - so not having physics at AS or A level is NOT a disadvantage - not knowing physics to AS level is.

For those who are not good at taking hints that means learn soem physics.
Reply 453
Avatar for cpchem
cpchem
14
OK - I'm going to quickly rattle off a few replies in one go:

Lexa_C: I wouldn't worry too much about your lack of physics - I can't think of a single college that insists upon it, and even those that strongly prefer it (such as mine, Balliol), still let people in without it, and they do perfectly well. Your AS grades are outstanding (better than mine by quite some way), so I'd be pretty sure you'll get an interview. As far as colleges are concerned, I think Keble's a better bet than John's: the tutors at John's set massive amounts of work, and it seems, in my year, at least, to either lead their students to top the year or drop out.

dancing.barefoot - I'd say Lincoln over Trinity. Trinity's reputation for Chemistry isn't fantastic (I'm basing this on the number of people who had to resit first year exams, back when they published that information, up until last year), while Lincoln does pretty well. I also prefer Lincoln in a more general sense - it seems like a friendlier place to live.
Hey! I'm applying to chemistry at oxford as well.

Did chem (91%), maths (96%), Geography (96%) and History (94%) at AS level. Do you guys think they'll pick up on the fact that chemistry was my lowest score, although it was probably by far the hardest of the four at AS level in my opinion?

Also, what happens at interview at Oxford? Do you meet other applicants when you're there or not?

Thanks
Dan
danhirons
Did chem (91%), maths (96%), Geography (96%) and History (94%) at AS level. Do you guys think they'll pick up on the fact that chemistry was my lowest score, although it was probably by far the hardest of the four at AS level in my opinion?

They don't see your percentages/UMS marks. They'll only see that you got AAAA.
My teachers have put my UMS scores in my references :biggrin:
danhirons
My teachers have put my UMS scores in my references :biggrin:

Well, regardless, you got very good scores. I don't think they'll care. :p:
What college are you thinking about? :smile:
I'm applying, but i'm sorta torn. I mean, i'm really tempted by the Sheffield degree with a year in Japan, and i'm turned off by Oxford having the whole accelerated learning pace because of their stupid term times (for various reasons) and that it's just a vanilla cookie cutter degree... I mean at the end of the day, if you come out as the best of the best at Chemistry at whatever university you go to, you're still doing just as well as someone that got a degree from Oxford, so what's the point really...

I mean i'm still giving it a shot though so...

Probably applying to Balliol, St John's or Keble. I have no idea which one i'd prefer still hah, does anyone know which is probably the best out of the three?
dancing.barefoot
Well, regardless, you got very good scores. I don't think they'll care. :p:
What college are you thinking about? :smile:


Not really that fussed tbh. I've nailed it down to about 10 which all seem pretty much as good as each other but I've definitely crossed off a few such as Balliol and Brasenose. What about you?

The only real thing I'm worried about is whether I would be good enough for a chemistry degree at oxford if I got accepted because at College I wouldn't say I'm a genius at all and now all the answers to questions! I just work hard and understand most things once they've been taught. Just wish I was more confident in practicals as well!

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