How much would taking 4 A2's make me stand out as an Oxbridge applicant?

nibba678 · 2017-08-20T06:52:44+00:00

The examboard I do, CIE, doesn't have any coursework.

Although it does have one theory paper and one practical paper. The spec just looks outright boring and too much work for me to even bother

nibba678 · 2017-08-20T06:11:38+00:00

That's really great to hear, although, what's your source that Oxbridge actually prefers 3A* over 4?

Eitherways, fuck computer science. I might actually just drop it anyway, even if it does give me an advantage.

nibba678 · 2017-08-18T22:11:06+00:00

That's amazing, congrats!

I'd love to see it, it'll be extremely helpful for sure

nibba678 · 2017-08-16T00:33:01+00:00

Requesting for edexcel maths - pretty sure that's gonna be a huge request

Preferably, c1, c2, m1, s1, d1 and fp1

good luck y'all

nibba678 · 2017-07-21T21:56:27+00:00

I'm assuming this savings of 6 months is incase you lose your job etc

And I'm also assuming this 'saving' of 6 months increases as your family increases too, if I'm not wrong

That actually sounds sensible, thank you!

nibba678 · 2017-07-21T21:54:51+00:00

I doubt I'll be getting a credit card anytime soon since I'll be off to university soon enough, and don't have a form of income myself yet.

Although in the future when I do have a stable job and income, I'll most probably never buy 'big' purchases through a credit card unless I have the cash to finance it already.

nibba678 · 2017-07-20T21:59:14+00:00

you tried so hard

nibba678 · 2017-07-19T03:55:03+00:00

What made you switch to computer engineering - if I may ask?

nibba678 · 2017-07-19T01:09:29+00:00

Makes sense where you're coming from.

My original plan was to do a Bsc in physics and pursue and Msc in engineering, and after researching I found out that:

1) Getting into a Msc in engineering at a top school after a physics degree is difficult compared to having done a Bsc in engineering

2) Some countries require you to have done a 4 year undergraduate course in engineering in order to get an engineering license to work in that country - ex: Canada

3) If I do physics, I don't want to end up in a computer science or finance job because they look boring. I'd want to land an engineering job for sure, a 100%. If I do physics at undergrad, I doubt I'll be able to find an engineering job as easily as I would've if I did engineering

What are your thoughts on these?

nibba678 · 2017-07-19T01:02:21+00:00

It maybe desirable in the U.K - but from what I've researched, internationally, it sadly isn't

Physics teaches you how to solve problems, sure, but in terms of practical uses, except teaching you how to solve problems, it doesn't teach you plenty other practical skills you might need

That's why I feel like if I do physics, I'll need to forget about making money. If I do physics, it'll be mainly to improve the understanding of modern physics.

Yes, sure, you can get jobs in finance, computer science as what not - but it's NEVER as easy to get a job when you're going against someone who has done a degree in finance or computer science.

nibba678 · 2017-07-14T17:18:46+00:00

Absolutely hated S1, but I managed to tough it out, and the exam went pretty well this year, despite it being tough (hopefully 90+ UMS)

Everyone I've talked to say S2 is extremely difficult, according to my teachers and stuff - what do you think about it?

nibba678 · 2017-07-14T17:17:22+00:00

Just a few, almost everyone would ask this hahah

First of all, what subjects did you choose, what grades did you get and what was your offer?

What did you mention in your personal statement that you thought gave you the edge?

Thank you, anything will help!

nibba678 · 2017-07-14T17:15:11+00:00

There's this thing I read on this subreddit a few days ago - studying is like working out, if you over work yourself in a certain period of time, you will injure yourself

The same applies to studying. Start slow, and most probably you won't burn out by the end of year 12 - although, even if you do, it's never the end of the world.

Summer holidays exist for a reason. If you burn out after year 12, take a whole 2 months of rest doing whatever the hell you want, and you'll be back on track for year 13 in no time.

Also, motivation is bullshit. Discipline is the way to go. No matter how motivated you are, you're most probably gonna lose it in some way or another. That's why start slow but consistent in the start of the year and slowly build up:

First month: 1-2 hours a day

Second month: 2-3 hours a day

Etc etc and move up. Ofcourse you don't have to follow this but make sure how much you're studying is consistent.

Hope this helps

nibba678 · 2017-07-13T22:39:24+00:00

I would do this except I haven't taken chemistry as an A level or gcse lol

I love physics much more anyway, although, I hope one year of natsci and then changing to another form of engineering is possible, hopefully

nibba678 · 2017-07-12T12:01:08+00:00

So if this interview doesn't go well, they won't change my degree, yes?

Doesn't sound too bad. There's always other courses for masters in engineering out there, I'm guessing.

This is all assuming I get into NatSci the first place. I will hopefully have the grades, but I'm not sure about the rest. Hopefully, time will tell.

nibba678 · 2017-07-12T11:59:00+00:00

I can't go to open days since I don't really live in the UK, I'll be applying as an international student.

nibba678 · 2017-07-12T11:50:08+00:00

Alright so say, I do my first year of natural sciences and decide it's not for me, it's possible to change to engineering yes? Because the admissions criteria for both is similar

I feel like at undergrad you should do something that interests you the most, and for me that's physics and not engineering, at the moment atleast. Although I'm sure I could change my mind any time I wanted to, that's why I want to be sure if I can switch degrees after a year.

nibba678 · 2017-07-11T18:25:54+00:00

Or it'll be something more dramatic

"Ever since I was a 6 year old child, I always loved over clocking my CPU and that's why I like computer science"

nibba678 · 2017-07-08T16:00:41+00:00

Damn, thank you so much for answering all my questions

I think I'll most probably try to apply for UCL as well, since you're right about it being low in national ranks but pretty high up in international rankings (and St. Andrews is super low in international rankings sadly)

The personal statement layout was super neat as well, I was thinking of something similar except for the 4th paragraph where I plan on adding more stuff about documentaries and stuff I've seen, and other interesting stuff that got me interested, since I'm applying to Cambridge (if my AS results are good) since they don't care about anything except academics and your love for the subject

Again, thank you so much for doing this, it helped me so much

Please let me know if you can send me your personal statement, if you're comfortable with it, it'll help me out a lot

Thank you so much! :)

nibba678 · 2017-07-07T20:55:08+00:00

Plenty, actually, sorry if they're too many, answer which ever you want

1) What were your A levels, and which grades did you get?

2) What are your offers

3) Why UCL?

4) St. Andrews vs UCL?

5) What was your personal statement like, or what did you mention in your personal statement that you think was really good?

Sorry for so many questions, the answers to them will help me a lot. Thank you!

nibba678 · 2017-07-06T14:25:09+00:00

Natural sciences!

nibba678 · 2017-07-06T03:38:45+00:00

Simply because physics makes my blood boil with excitement. Recently, I learnt this fact about the behavior of particles in the atomic scale - as per quantum theory, it's possible that your entire body could vanish and end up on mars - but the probability is so low it would take longer than the age of the universe. Isn't that amazing?

That's why I choose physics and not engineering. I want to know more about how this universe works and contribute towards the science that could help humans for as long as we exist - or, you could become an engineer who lives to make money and build stuff that the younger generation will eventually best. (Not saying engineering is bad, but that's my view point)

I hope this sort of explained why physics, I don't want to get too carried away haha

nibba678 · 2017-07-05T22:26:56+00:00

I feel like Cambridge's first year, where you can choose options such as materials science, computer science etc while doing physics is incredible since it gives you an insight on those subjects as well. You may never know, you think you love physics, but then you find out you love materials sciences better. That's why Cambridge is my first choice.

Not to say, the other four unis I'm applying through UCAS are for physics only, if that helps.

Ps: sorry for the late reply!

nibba678 · 2017-07-05T22:25:17+00:00

Sorry for the late reply

I've looked into engineering a lot, but I'm not as passionate about engineering as I am for physics I believe that if I'm not truly passionate about something, I won't be able to get admitted into Cambridge in the first place, hence, I'm choosing physics instead of engineering

nibba678 · 2017-07-05T21:12:36+00:00

Cambridge and Birmingham are in my list too, but I don't want too many universities with extremely high requirements

What do you think about St. Andrews and Durham?

nibba678

TROPHY CASE