Ok.. have I failed before I've had the chance to start?

[Davsky]

Well, I'm 6' 1 and I think thats a perfect height.

[shahana]

Originally Posted by muslimaah

Im 4ft10

I love being small...except when I go shopping, because I always get lost

awwww, you are tiny! i hate it when i get lost and lose parents/friends and i have to sort of get on my toes to see over stuff...

and Davsky, who can say what is perfection? is it something influenced by society or deep in our subconcious, whatever it is, perfection isnt absolute therefore i also think my height is perfect

[Davsky]

Your height is as perfect as mine.

[cat_bach]

Originally Posted by Allie247

And as for the doctors/teachers note thing.. once I get that do I need to give it to my new college or with my application for uni in like 2 years?

I think the best thing to do is to get a teacher at the school you sat your GCSEs at (head of year possibly) to write a letter saying that the fact you were ill affected your performance at GCSE and had you not been ill the school thinks you could have done much better. If you`re going to a different school/collage to do A-levels Id get that done now. If you had a doctors note or some kind of documentation that you were ill at the time of your illness keep it safe; if you dont have this ask you doc to write you something just confirming that you actually did get malaria and dysentry (you will need proof for the medical schools). I think its a good idea to make sure that your new college are aware of the situation.
Then, in a year or so, when you`re preparing your application write a covering letter or get a careers tutor to write you one explaining the situation, and ask whoever thats writing your reference to mention it as well in that. Send that letter,a copy of the letter from your old school and a copy the doctors note to every medical school you`ve applied to. Plus its a good idea to email before hand to ask if those medical schools have a policy or procedure that you will need to follow to submit your plea of exenuating circumstances.
I think thats about right! I ve never had to do it myself, but a good friend of mine did for another course and it did help her.

[Allie247]

Ok I will try and get the teachers note, thank you for your advice.
Following an appointment today, Ive realised my tutor has put me down to do 'salters' chemistry (whatever that is!!?) as opposed to the normal chemistry that I applied to take! Im so annoyed as she says unfortunately thats the only chemistry course I can take now as the other as fully booked. It feels so unfair as I did not even apply to do it! Does anyone know about what salters chemistry is? And whether unis accept it the same as regular chemistry? cos if not ive got a problem!!!
x

[Sticks]

Salters has a reputation for having the 'hardest' chemistry syllabus around. Stop. Not true. It's just different that's all. I'm go to the college I go to (uggh, grammatically dubious) because they do Salters, the other choice was Edexcel but it's comparatively dull. (I found)

[Allie247]

Whats different about it???

[Sticks]

Sorry, that post didn't really answer your question!

Salter's has a 'spiral' curriculum. Whereas others are divided into distinct
modules which cover each topic separately, e.g. atomic structure, chains and rings, Salters will touch on a subject and then return to it in slightly more detail later. For instance, you learn about electron shells in the first module, and in the next module you learn about sub-shells. What distinguishes between modules and allows you to separate what you've learned, is the fact that each module os related to something specific in the chemical industry, e.g 'developing fuels', and 'what's in a medicine'. Both these modules will cover similar areas, but for different reasons. I like this because you are constantly revising what you've already learned. Also there is a lot more practical work. I hope that helps, and don't be put off!

[Allie247]

Ok, well im pleasantly surprised, that actually sounds pretty cool! I just wanted to know whether the unis see it as some kind of 'lesser' subject? (but as you say its harder they probably dont). So are you in your second year at college? is it hard lol?
x

[Sticks]

Yeah, I'm just about to go into A2 (as a 'mature' student at 21!). Well, it's still 'chemistry' so they wouldn't look down on it, it's just the least used syllabus, but it is cool! Just as proof that it works, I got a C in chemistry at GCSE 5 years ago, and by the time I started last year I had forgotten any chemistry I had learned, but I did get an A :P