Barts GEP - Advice from current students??

[monkey77]

Hi everyone, I've been reading this forum for a long time and have finally got round to signing up now that I have been accepted onto Barts GEP! (Still can't believe it!!)

I was hoping to get some advice from current GEP students with regards to backround knowledge before starting the course. I have a non-life science degree and in fact didn't even do biology at GCSE! Am I going to really struggle with basic biology facts? Should I start reading up on GCSE/A-level biology books? i.e. what level of knowledge is it assumed you have when you start the course?

ALso, in terms of workload - is every evening/weekend filled with study? What are the average hours? Just wondering about part-time work at the weekends etc...

Thanks so much and congratulations to everyone who has got in!!

[KateBiomed]

Don't worry- us science background folks will help you out :-)

[girl876]

I was wondering about part time work as well...? Also in the past have many GEPers lived in halls or in their own accomodation? x

[ead]

I was wondering about part time work as well...? Also in the past have many GEPers lived in halls or in their own accomodation? x

I know there's at least one grad student on the non-GEP course who decided upon that course because she she thought that the GEP would be too intensive to combine with a part-time job. That point of view which would be consistent with the advice I was given by one of this year's GEP finalists, namely, that if one works solidly during the term, then it is still possible to have "down time" over the holidays.

As for halls, I gather it's pretty common for non-Londoners to live in halls during first year.

[f_debelder]

The GEP course is known to be highly competitive and very pressured...congratulations on getting a place, but I know the GEPs seem to stick to themselves most of the time. Wait until you assess the course before getting a job.

Highly recommended to read an AS and A2 revision book for bio before you get here and your basic chemistry.

[monkey77]

Don't worry- us science background folks will help you out :-)

Thanks Kate! You may end up regretting that!

Thanks for the advice everyone - out of interest if you are starting the GEP course this year what degree do you have? (Kate - I think I've guessed yours!)
Mine is maths (and I only have GCSE chemistry - that's it in terms of chemistry/biology knowledge for me!!)
So is the general advice is that I need to read up on A-level biology before starting? What about chemistry?

So excited!!!

[f_debelder]

Definately read up on biology and some basic chemistry, e.g. properties of buffering, acid/base equilibria, ions and charge attraction etc...nothing too complex.

It's the bio mainly tho, the lecturers tend to assume that you have some level of knowledge already and hence skim over the groundwork, which could leave you a little confused as to what they are teaching if you don't grasp the basics.

[monkey77]

thanks again! - have found this book (will look at GCSE/A-level books too but was looking for something a bit more specific)

Basic Concepts of Chemistry, the Cell and Tissues
Glenn Bastian
http://www.play.com/Books/Books/4-/2....html?dpr=1353

Anyone heard of it or can recommend anything better?