Does a social science grad have any shot?

**NotADumbBlonde** · 07-08-2012, 03:38 PM

Hey TheTool (haha, your name made me laugh!) thanks for the advice, do you know which unis they got into by any chance? Problem is, if by some freak chance I got in for 2013 entry, I wouldn't have the money to self-fund the first year of tuition fees. I'd really need a year out working full time to save! How are you getting on with your application? Have you done your UKCAT yet? And what uni are you at?xx

**NotADumbBlonde** · 07-08-2012, 03:45 PM

Originally Posted by Iceman10

I would like to say I'm doing that well but it would be a total lie. How do you get such good marks?

Well, my degree is writing based and is quite creative. I'm a bit weird - most people are either good at science or artsy things, but I'm alright at both, hence why I struggled so much to pick a career path. I kind of...apply the science to my writing? It sounds weird but in my head I create formulas for how to do well (how to construct the perfect essay, how to edit a documentary to look professional, etc) and apply them to each module. I did this for my Business/economics AS and got about 97% I think! If you identify how to answer the questions, then learn all of the material you need, it's a winning combo. So many people neglect the first part. None of that probably makes any sense, sorry I haven't had my 4 shot coffee yet!! So say for my law module - I learned all of the laws, case studies, pros, cons, etc, just like everybody else, but I spent just as much time writing practice essays and researching how the uni wants you to answer, which is why I came out with a good grade. On our library website they have a database of how to write essays etc, which most people don't use as they assume, as an undergrad, they already have it down. But it really is worth looking through all those sections in case there's anything you're missing - like perfect referencing or how to write a good intro. Not sure how your course is assessed so this advice may all be useless, but it's my two cents.

Sorry about the late replies, I've been in Leeds all weekend!xx

**NotADumbBlonde** · 07-08-2012, 03:46 PM

Originally Posted by Iceman10

M150 & NotADumbBlonde

I just finished a marathon phone call with SFE and I've got some information which will be pretty useful for all matures, especially GEM applicants.

If you are over 25 you will be granted independent student status, I asked specifically whether that would change if I was living with my mother, they said no. I will not be earning a significant income so assume I should be eligible for full maintenance loans etc.

In regards to what happens to previous loan and the repayment schedule I was advised that from 2015 all loans taken prior to 2012 entry will be bumped up to the new system. In my case my repayment threshold will jump up from £16k to £21k. We will all move to the new system which means we're likely to pay more than we would have previously. You start paying when you earn more money but the interest is higher, so for people with a previous loan, its not great. On the other hand killer Cameron wants us to work until we're 90 so that's plenty of time to pay back...

I'm only 21, how annoying!! I'll probably be 25 by the time I eventually get in though

xx

**Profanius** · 07-08-2012, 03:48 PM

Originally Posted by TheTool

Hi NotADumbBlonde

I actually know two people who managed to get into universities with only a few weeks experiences (it was in a nursing home). What they did was draw on their experiences form their degrees and the activities that they did whilst at uni. Perhaps you could reconsider applying to uni this year and you still have till october to sit the UKCAT!

Be very careful of anecdotal evidence like this as it depends massively on the Uni in question, when that person applied and a range of other factors (e.g. their degree subject). For the more academic GEP Unis (Oxford, Imperial, Birmingham) then a few weeks of experience might have been enough a few years ago, or it might be enough now for graduates in a directly relevant field and many other strings to their bow. Competition for GEP has jumped massively in the past few years and an arts graduate with a few weeks work experience will be in the bottom percentile of any candidate group.

If you're applying to Kings, NCL, Warwick, SGUL or Notts (all of whom place a massive emphasis on work experience) then a few weeks in a nursing home will not be sufficient. Even if you get to interview you'll have very little to talk about. Since some of these unis place restrictions on re-applicants you'll be shooting yourself in the foot and limiting your future chances.

As another anecdote, of the 30+ people I've met so far of the Warwick 2012 intake, I've yet to meet anyone with less than 12 months volunteering or full-time experience.

**NotADumbBlonde** · 07-08-2012, 03:53 PM

Originally Posted by Iceman10

I would like to say I'm doing that well but it would be a total lie. How do you get such good marks?

ALSO, get your mitts on as many mark schemes as possible, they often make it so clear where you're going wrong. Eg, in my first semester of uni I was getting 50s in my essays, so looked at mark schemes for how to improve. I found that a) they prefer depth to breadth in essays, so instead of trying to cover 5 concepts in 2000 words, you're better taking two and really exploring them. And b) they loooove when you reflect on what you've learnt and add your own input to prove you've engaged with the material. Even if this just means an extra sentence at the end of each paragraph with your own opinions, it can make such a difference. After improving these two aspects, I literally jumped 23 marks to 73 in my next essay! As I said, not sure how much this would help a science undergrad, but it's worth looking into all of these things and tweaking your weak areas. Or is it the actual material you struggle with?xx

**Zedd** · 07-08-2012, 04:13 PM

No marking scheme can help you on a philosophy degree, at least not at my uni

**NotADumbBlonde** · 07-08-2012, 04:21 PM

Originally Posted by Zedd

No marking scheme can help you on a philosophy degree, at least not at my uni

True! That would drive me crazy, wouldn't know what to do with myself. I like there to be a right answer and a wrong one - probably why I hate my degree and try to make it as objective as possible!xx

**Zedd** · 07-08-2012, 04:35 PM

Originally Posted by NotADumbBlonde

True! That would drive me crazy, wouldn't know what to do with myself. I like there to be a right answer and a wrong one - probably why I hate my degree and try to make it as objective as possible!xx

Well the thing is there are more right and less right answers! But how right and how good your arguments are will depend upon what your supervisor/lecturer thinks as well as what the anonymous 2nd marker thinks. Bit of a sticky wicket really!

**Iceman10** · 07-08-2012, 07:14 PM

Originally Posted by NotADumbBlonde

ALSO, get your mitts on as many mark schemes as possible, they often make it so clear where you're going wrong. Eg, in my first semester of uni I was getting 50s in my essays, so looked at mark schemes for how to improve. I found that a) they prefer depth to breadth in essays, so instead of trying to cover 5 concepts in 2000 words, you're better taking two and really exploring them. And b) they loooove when you reflect on what you've learnt and add your own input to prove you've engaged with the material. Even if this just means an extra sentence at the end of each paragraph with your own opinions, it can make such a difference. After improving these two aspects, I literally jumped 23 marks to 73 in my next essay! As I said, not sure how much this would help a science undergrad, but it's worth looking into all of these things and tweaking your weak areas. Or is it the actual material you struggle with?xx

No worries, it's the summer holidays, everyone should be chilling with their favourite alcoholic beverage and out in the sun.

Thanks for the advice, I have done okay in my first year but I know there are obvious gaps in my knowledge. I was given a marking scheme for my Human Sciences module, I'll dust it off and have a gander.

Originally Posted by NotADumbBlonde

I'm only 21, how annoying!! I'll probably be 25 by the time I eventually get in though

xx

If its any consolation, I have the face of a teenager but its a while since I've been that old lol.

**TheTool** · 07-08-2012, 07:29 PM

One of them got into Manchester (5 year) and the other Newcastle. If i was in your position I would most likely apply because you can always pay for the first year term by term (which equals to about 1,000) a year. Or you can always get a job for this year whilst you are applying and save up enough for october 2013 if you get in. My uni application is actually going great. I have done everything (ps, wk etc) all I need now is to do my UKCAT which I will not be doing until september.

Like you I come from a non scientific background, so I will be applying for Newcastle, Warwick and Kings. If you want I could ask those people how they managed to get in?