Science subject choice help..

Pet

Well it's almost that time of year again, and I'm trying to decide what subjects to pick for first year (please bear with me!). Thankfully, I have a bit of a better idea than last year (who remembers that cluster****? Changing subjects 3 times? Taking physics along with 3 other subjects? silly little fresher I was..)

I've decided that I'd really like to do Geog/geol if possible (along with Biology). I WAS thinking of G/G, Bio, Chem & maths methods, but the hours for that are pretty crazy! (7 hour days every day, not good when you're trying to juggle a load of activities and part-time work..) So it's a last resort, but if I can exorcise the need for chem, I'll be set..

My main questions about chemistry are the usefulness/necessity of doing same. If I was carefree, I'd drop it like a lava rock and never look back..but I have a sneaking suspicion that I'll end up needing it again someday..

So:
1)I know from doing introduction to Biochemistry with the enthralling Clive Williams that there's a bit of a crossover between Chem and Biology, but how much? I'll most likely be doing both Bio I & II in SF, so I don't want to **** myself over and be lost because I didn't do chem in JF..to all who have done Biology I (which, in my understanding, is the one with the cells and proteins and whatnot) in JS, was there much chemistry involved?

2)From my trusty booklet, I know that the Moderatorships I'd need JF chemistry for are: Chemistry (naturally enough), Biochemistry (yuck, no thanks!), Genetics (hmm, doubtful..), and Microbiology and Neuroscience, which are the only two out of the above that I'd be interested in (along with my trusty Environmental Science)..So, John2, what's your opinion about Neuroscience? Is chemistry essential?

Any informed opinions are welcome btw..

venice_irk

didn't we go through this at detail before man?

you will need to have done chemistry in first year to be considered for neuroscience, there is no getting out of that. i wouldn't worry about the 7 hours a day nonsense, you're still going to be 9/10 - 5/6 anyway, but with more or less hours off in between so won't hugely effect ptb or "activities.

if i was you i'd go with m/c/b, but if you're terrible at maths, then mm/c/b/gg.

for biochemistry i don't think JF chemistry is going to be either a massive help or it's absence a massive hinderance. but in general, imo, you can't do a science degree properly without at least one year of chemistry. iirc you were interested in geog more than geol, if it was the other way around i'd say skip it and take it up in SF, you won't be behind much.

John

I second the maths/bio/chem option that venice suggested. I think full maths is probably the most useful thing to do in first year. I think chemistry is vital for subject choices for one and I found it allowed a better understanding of certain elements of biology (such as thermodynamics for biochemistry).

When you get to third and fourth year level you're kind of expected to have a background in chemistry as pretty much everything is linked back to biochemistry.

ApeXaviour

Yes full maths in first year is a must tbh. You have similar amounts of lectures as any other subject you could pick in its place but you have no labs. Also the exam papers are incredibly predictable and I would even go as far to say it is the easiest of any JF subject to get a 1st in. That is unless you were one of those people who described LC maths as "hard" or "boring", nomatter your marks.

Edit:

venice_irk wrote:

..

This was kev it would seem.

ApeXaviour

ApeXaviour wrote:

This was kev it would seem.

Well as I said to him, he should really pick names that aren't anagrams of kevin rc ie, if he's repeatedly changing usernames

snorlax

he should change his name to a girl, knowone would suspect him then! sexyd4lady?

Pet

AND he has a very recognisable style of writing..(I was too stupid to get the anagram thing, it had to be pointed out to me.)

Thanks for the tips..wrt Maths, I didn't find LC maths to be that difficult, but it wasn't the most exciting thing either. Same goes for Chemistry..I'm sure I could get through it, but I'd be bored half the time. But it seems to be necessary..this will require some thought..

John

College maths, chemistry and biology are completely different to what you learn in school. Well not all of maths, some of it is repetition. I didn't like maths in school but I really liked it in college. I didn't do about a quarter of the total exam and I got a 2.1. Chemistry is a lot more interesting after the first term as you start doing stuff that's not LC chemistry and the labs are generally a bit of a laugh.

John

Plus you're always welcome to help if you want it.

Pet

Cool, thank you.