Chosing modules

[gohan]

Torn between the easy option (doing basic introduction to maths which only requires AS maths baring in ming I got 18/18 distictions in A level equivlent maths last year so could probably pass the end of semester test right now, also the maths building is next door to the chem building) but I know this will bore me because although I'm good at maths, I don't particually like it.

OR I could do Earth science which is part of the oceanography degree, all about the formation of the earth, how life came about, eco system etc etc.... down side is that it's at a differnt campus (Southampton's ocean research centre) and it's all new stuff so I'd need to put a lot more effort in.

Thinking Maths is the safe choice aqs my course is already quite intensive and for the second symester I can take probability and statistics which says it only has 4 hours face to face and 4 hours self study for the whole semester.... compared to like 150 hours (albiet 30 hours face to face and 120 hours drinking..... home study I mean) of the living earth follow on.

So safe and easy or hard and interesting?

 

[Aoami]

do they offer english for beginners?

<3

 

[gohan]

Do* English*

JUSSAYIN!!!!!! <3<3<3

 

[fettoken]

Ask yourself if you have the perseverance to finish the easy course. Or the interest to finish the hard one.

 

[Chilly]

Do the maths. Even if you think you can ace it, you cant. The modules will be totally different from A levels.

 

[gohan]

Ask yourself if you have the perseverance to finish the easy course. Or the interest to finish the hard one.

Motivation isn't really an issue, if I want/need to do something nothing will stop me. It's more how much I'll get out of it. It's not even that important as the first year doesn't count towards my degree anyway and in the second year the optional modules open up to more chem focused one like sustainable energy etc so I'll probably end up doing those.

 

[gohan]

Do the maths. Even if you think you can ace it, you cant. The modules will be totally different from A levels.

there's no such word as can't . obviously it will be slightly more advanced than A level but as the pre-requisite is only AS maths (not even a particular grade so just a pass I assume) then the level for the first semester probably won't be much higher than A level, if at all.

Bare in mind this is an extra module (named Introduction to mathmatics for chemists and oceanographers)
the sylabus list is almost identicle to the material I did last year, 2x2 and 4x4 matrices, intergration and differentiation, trigonomatry, binomial expansion, surds and indices etc etc. If I already know all that stuff worst case scenario is it just builds on an already solid foundation, but looking at the course structure it's more likely to be just re doing A level maths for the benefit of those who didn't take it (hence the AS level requirement)

 

[gunner440]

engrish

 

[gohan]

your mother takes my engrish in her mouth..... and her bum.......



yeah... that's right.... you heard

 

[Chilly]

You shout in her mouth and in her arse? What is wrong with you?

 

[ileks]

Do the easy one. Careful though, if everyone kills the exam they will probably scale the marks back. If you're quite nerdy it's often best to do the harder modules for that reason.

 

[gohan]

Do the easy one. Careful though, if everyone kills the exam they will probably scale the marks back. If you're quite nerdy it's often best to do the harder modules for that reason.

I thought it was all percent based, 40% pass 50% 2:2 60% 2:1 70% 1st etc, so it should make no difference what everyone else gets?

 

[old.Tohtori]

Don't go safe, go with what you need in your dreamjobfuturething. So if you'll need to calculate the size of mens penises, go with maths. If you want to learn how "supposedly" humans came here, instead of just believing that God placed us here, then go with the voodoo science.

 

[ileks]

I thought it was all percent based, 40% pass 50% 2:2 60% 2:1 70% 1st etc, so it should make no difference what everyone else gets?

At my Uni they often scale your raw marks up or down. For example I've had exams where 15% or above got you a 2:1 but I've also had exams where I know I've gotten 90%+ but only got a low 2:1 etc.

 

[Chilly]

Any rational marking scheme has to allow for normalisation. Exams are not identical year to year so the small differences need to be accounted for. It's incredibly difficult to do, since there are anomalous year groups who over or under perform relative to other groups. It's why the GCSE debacle happened here.

 

[rynnor]

Do the Earth Science! I may be biased though

Southampton are one of the best Universities in the UK for Earth Sciences and you should get some interesting field trips - that's got to beat Maths.

 

[Zenith.UK]

It's a stretch to consider it, but have you given any thought about what you want to achieve once you finish full-time education?
Others have already said about the "easy" maths versus the "interesting" sciences, but how will you apply your chosen course to your future work prospects?

Put it this way. If you go with maths and get good grades, there are a number of jobs and careers that could use someone with strong maths skills.
Flip it around. If you go with sciences and get good grades, there aren't as many career opportunities as with maths but there are more interesting possibilities.

 

[rynnor]

It's a stretch to consider it, but have you given any thought about what you want to achieve once you finish full-time education?
Others have already said about the "easy" maths versus the "interesting" sciences, but how will you apply your chosen course to your future work prospects?

Put it this way. If you go with maths and get good grades, there are a number of jobs and careers that could use someone with strong maths skills.
Flip it around. If you go with sciences and get good grades, there aren't as many career opportunities as with maths but there are more interesting possibilities.

A year one course choice will not get you a job - employers would look at A-level results.

 

[gohan]

having looked at it in a bit more detail i think I'm going to breeze maths in the first semester, then go to the earth science in the second semester as it looks far more interesting than the first and doesn't have any entry requirements like having done the first semester

 

[Raven]

My mate did Earth science and he now gets paid an obscene amount of money to piss about in foreign countries.