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Oxford Chemistry Students and Applicants

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Original post by FlowerFaerie087
@The person who said "glad I got rejected" and added nothing more...

How about being less of a nob and don't deliberately post that on this university's forum?! I have no interest in your random feelings of superiority!

Yeah he was a bit of a nob


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Original post by Powerhead
I really enjoyed the biological course - so much so, that I took all the third year options, having to do anything with biology (and my Part II will be in Chemical Biology). I really hated the subject before I came here, but the way they teach it is very chemical.


I had a pretty similar experience, to be honest. I didn't even do A-level Biology and yet my PhD is technically in Biological Sciences, although it may end up being entirely Chemistry, depending on which projects I choose! :redface: Having said that, I chickened out of doing the Chemical Biology questions in Finals papers. :s-smilie: I found it more interesting than some of the other Organic topics, but no one else in my tutorial groups did, so there was never enough focus on it for me to feel confident at answering an exam question on it. Are you going to be in the Bayley group then? :smile:
Original post by BJack
You definitely don't need further maths for Oxford chemistry. I'd say it's the most useful third A level (with maths and chemistry being the essential first two) but the maths course it taught from scratch when you start here. As long as you're happy with doing maths, it won't matter that you haven't covered quite as much as some other people.

To be honest, if you did the right module combinations for further maths, you could cover the vast majority of the first year maths for chemistry before you even got here, so you don't need to worry about it suddenly becoming very abstruse just because it's university-level work.


Although you don't need f.maths, does it reduce your chances of getting in if you didn't do it? Did you do it? Thanks :smile:
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Reply 1423
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BJack
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Original post by economicsrocks
Although you don't need f.maths, does it reduce your chances of getting in if you didn't do it? Did you do it? Thanks :smile:


I did take further maths and I'm glad for it, as it made the maths for chemistry course straightforward. However, as I said before, the maths for chemistry course is taught from scratch when you get here, so as long as you're reasonably competent with maths, it won't matter whether you've taken further maths or not.
Original post by economicsrocks
Although you don't need f.maths, does it reduce your chances of getting in if you didn't do it? Did you do it? Thanks :smile:
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Doesn't affect your chances of getting in but its difficult to do well in the 1st year maths without f.maths

Original post by geor
Has anyone had any experience with the tutors from New? I am thinking about applying there.


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What are their names!

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Original post by geor
Has anyone had any experience with the tutors from New? I am thinking about applying there.



Original post by Isabobble



I think Isabobble is a Chemist at New who has just finished her 3rd year, but she hasn't been on TSR for over a year. :s-smilie:
Original post by geor
Thank you, I will see if I can catch her!



Stephen Davies, John McGrady and Christiane Timmel!


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Steve Davies: Current Big dog of organic chemistry, so probably has limited time for help beyond set commitments in tutorials. One of the most boring lecturers ever, the lack of enthusiasm is almost impressive!

John McGrady: Good lecturer, get the impression he'd push students very hard as he expects huge amounts of pre-knowledge for lectures

Timmel: Mad, Crazy. Would love to have her as a tutor!
Reply 1427
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BJack
19
Original post by geor
Has anyone had any experience with the tutors from New? I am thinking about applying there.


I had one tutorial with Chris Timmel and it was excellent. I agree with what JMaydom has said about the other two.

For what it's worth, students at New get first year maths for chemistry classes with one of the Magdalen tutors, who's excellent. Unless things have changed recently, (which they might have, since the maths for chemistry lecturer changed after my first year) many of the colleges leave their students to the centrally-organized maths teaching. Since that is taught by graduate students, (?) it's not always reliably good — so having a dedicated tutor for this part of the course is a definite plus.
Original post by BJack
I had one tutorial with Chris Timmel and it was excellent. I agree with what JMaydom has said about the other two.

For what it's worth, students at New get first year maths for chemistry classes with one of the Magdalen tutors, who's excellent. Unless things have changed recently, (which they might have, since the maths for chemistry lecturer changed after my first year) many of the colleges leave their students to the centrally-organized maths teaching. Since that is taught by graduate students, (?) it's not always reliably good — so having a dedicated tutor for this part of the course is a definite plus.


OK, more clues to your identity... seeing as you know who I am.... You're in my year then!
I am really stucked ! I can't decied whether I apply or not, since I can't compare my application to other, because I am from Algeria, and my qualifications are very diffrent from yours, for example I don't have A levels...etc . I already visited the International Qualifications page on Oxford website and I didn't find a lot of information about my qualifications. I already sent an email to the departement of Cehmistry and I didn't have an answer. I think that my grades are not equivaleent to AAA. I now I have to decide if I will prepare my interview or not. What do you think should I try ? (PS : again my grades are not very good I may say that they are a bit more than the average, anyhow I am sure if I took A Levels I will have better grades ! )
(edited 10 years ago)
Original post by david.davis
I am really stucked ! I can't decied whether I apply or not, since I can't compare my application to other, because I am from Algeria, and my qualifications are very diffrent from yours, for example I don't have A levels...etc . I already visited the International Qualifications page on Oxford website and I didn't find a lot of information about my qualifications. I already sent an email to the departement of Cehmistry and I didn't have an answer. I think that my grades are not equivaleent to AAA. I now I have to decide if I will prepare my interview or not. What do you think should I try ? (PS : again my grades are not very good I may say that they are a bit more than the average, anyhow I am sure if I took A Levels I will have better grades ! )

Dont apply if you dont meet the entry requirements, you will get rejected straight away. Slightly better than average grades will not get you a place, you need top grades. Last point, why do you assume you would get better grades if you did A-Levels?
Reply 1431
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Noble.
17
Original post by david.davis
I am really stucked ! I can't decied whether I apply or not, since I can't compare my application to other, because I am from Algeria, and my qualifications are very diffrent from yours, for example I don't have A levels...etc . I already visited the International Qualifications page on Oxford website and I didn't find a lot of information about my qualifications. I already sent an email to the departement of Cehmistry and I didn't have an answer. I think that my grades are not equivaleent to AAA. I now I have to decide if I will prepare my interview or not. What do you think should I try ? (PS : again my grades are not very good I may say that they are a bit more than the average, anyhow I am sure if I took A Levels I will have better grades ! )


According to the University's website, the standard school-leaving qualifications aren't sufficient and you're encouraged to take up A-Levels or IB. Categorically there'd be no point in applying, especially since your grades are only above average.
Original post by Nitrogen
Dont apply if you dont meet the entry requirements, you will get rejected straight away. Slightly better than average grades will not get you a place, you need top grades. Last point, why do you assume you would get better grades if you did A-Levels?


The point is that I don't know if meet the entry requirements or not (they not fix a marks on the website for algerian students :'( ) ! My school leaving qualification is very good and I got an average of 19 out of 20 in Chemistry, anyway this qualification is not sufficient, I have also a degree from an algerian university (equivelent to engineering bachelor), we have some modules and courses in Chemistry and I have good grades also but in the other hand, the remain modules which have any relation with chemistry aren't very good . I don't really know, because when I compare myself to algerian students I was ranked 40 out 290 students , and when I said that I will get good grades in A Levels this because I saw past tests and the are several exercise and books to prepare, here in Algeria we haven't many books ...etc

still can't take a decison !! :'( help !
(edited 10 years ago)
Original post by Noble.
According to the University's website, the standard school-leaving qualifications aren't sufficient and you're encouraged to take up A-Levels or IB. Categorically there'd be no point in applying, especially since your grades are only above average.


But I have also an undergraduate degree from an algerian university , the point is they not point out the marks taht I have to fulfil .

For example : British students must meet AAA, in the other hand algerian people must have a school qualifications with wich average ? and since it's not sufficient what is the marks should we have in university ?
Original post by Jeykayem
I had a pretty similar experience, to be honest. I didn't even do A-level Biology and yet my PhD is technically in Biological Sciences, although it may end up being entirely Chemistry, depending on which projects I choose! :redface: Having said that, I chickened out of doing the Chemical Biology questions in Finals papers. :s-smilie: I found it more interesting than some of the other Organic topics, but no one else in my tutorial groups did, so there was never enough focus on it for me to feel confident at answering an exam question on it. Are you going to be in the Bayley group then? :smile:



The very same - which group are you in?
Original post by david.davis
I am really stucked ! I can't decied whether I apply or not, since I can't compare my application to other, because I am from Algeria, and my qualifications are very diffrent from yours, for example I don't have A levels...etc . I already visited the International Qualifications page on Oxford website and I didn't find a lot of information about my qualifications. I already sent an email to the departement of Cehmistry and I didn't have an answer. I think that my grades are not equivaleent to AAA. I now I have to decide if I will prepare my interview or not. What do you think should I try ? (PS : again my grades are not very good I may say that they are a bit more than the average, anyhow I am sure if I took A Levels I will have better grades ! )


You would do better by emailing the university admission services. The chem department doesn't actually offer the places, it's the college tutors who have the say. They are more likely to have information about what your grades are equivalent too.
Original post by Powerhead
The very same - which group are you in?


I was in the Hamilton group this year, working on protein mimetics. :smile:
Oxford Chemistry advice needed: http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2409045
Well hello :biggrin: I'm an EU student and I am going to apply this year for Oxford Chemistry.

I'm just curious on what kind of preparation should I have for the interview. I went for a couple of times at the National Chemistry Olympiad and I had to cover quite a lot for these competitions, especially in organic chemistry. What level is expected of students that are invited to the interview?

For Organic Chemistry I studied a bit from Clayden's textbook. I know it is undergraduate level, but I suppose it is modeled after what is usually taught in British Universities, so it should give me a glimpse of what kind of questions I might be asked there. How deep should my organic knowledge go? Mechanisms, I suppose, but how much of them?

For Physical: I haven't really studied it, just some basic thermochemistry. What should I study, or what specific topics should I cover and how thorough? Also, I was thinking of studying a bit from Atkins' Physical Chemistry? Is it too much?

For inorganic: The same question pretty much

I know Clayden and Atkins might be overkills, but I really don't know what level should I have, how should I prepare...and I would really like to get into Oxford!

Thank you very much in advance and good luck to you all! :biggrin:
Reply 1439
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BJack
19
Original post by Thy Lord
x


You definitely don't need to have covered any of Clayden or Atkins! It sounds like you already have a good level of knowledge; most British applicants will have only a basic understanding of some simple mechanisms.

The interviews are not meant to be a test of technical knowledge. Instead, the aim is to see how an applicant can apply familiar principles to unfamiliar questions. For example: how much does the atmosphere weigh?* You could start off by assuming it's all the same density; after working it out like that, maybe recalculate assuming a linear decrease in density with altitude....

The questions tend to start off straightforward and become more involved as you progress through them. So the idea is that however good you are, by the end you've been stretched and the tutors have a good idea of how far you can go.

*I've not come across this particular question, but this is the sort of thing they might ask.

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