Which South East University for Maths and Science?
- Thread starter JohnnyG
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If he applies to Cambridge for maths, he's (almost certainly) going to get asked for AAA plus grade 1's in both STEP II and STEP III. And getting those STEP grades will be a lot more stressful than the 3 A levels put together. (The only people I've known who were even moderately confident about STEP were getting 590+/600 in their A-levels).
He'll be reading this thread so feel free to encourage him
Go to Cambridge.
I'm doing maths at Bristol and loving it.
The lecturers are all very enthusiastic and all the people working in the department are very friendly and helpful, the degree/uni is regarded well by employers and Bristol's a great city. The uni's in the centre of the city, so you feel like you're in the middle of everything happening and there's lots to do, with the university of the west of england also in Bristol there's lots of students and entertainment.
Edit: In response to an earlier question, places will take people without any further maths but I'd expect you would have to justify why/make up for it somehow. Last I checked Bristol required A level maths plus one numerical subject, like one of the sciences or something.
From a practical point of view, if he hasn't done further maths then he'll find the first year harder than people who have done it. We went over all the material in it really fast during the start of the 1st year so he'll be able to catch up but will have to work at it a little more. Plus if he's not liking further maths he may not like Uni-maths ..
Edit2: http://www.maths.bris.ac.uk/study/admissions_undergrad/requirements/
^Bristol's requirements.
AAA Without F.Maths
AAB With F.maths A-level (One of the A's has to be in maths)
AABa With the little a being an A in further maths AS, and one A in maths.
F. Maths = not required, but helps.
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2-5 day? I think most people do their interview and a paper set by the college on the same day. That's what mine was.
I was woefully underprepared for my interview (going back 5 years ago now) I had no idea what to expect going in there and I wish my school would have given me a bit more preparation. Ended up at King's College London in the end though.
What did you study at King's?
He'll be reading this thread so feel free to encourage him
Well put it too him this way if he wants to study maths then Imperial is probably the best place in London to do it and is practically on a par with Oxford - however if he is good enough to get into Imperial then it would be silly not to also go for Cambridge - it is pretty much regarded the best place in the world to study mathematics.
Soldato
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Haha. But seriously JohnnyG jnr, do this (or Oxford). Both are easily accessible from London to get home for weekends. Plus you'll be able to live in halls much more cheaply than in London and so not miss out on university social life (which you most likely will do if you stay at home).
A friend of mine applied to Oxford for maths and wasn't asked to do a STEP paper, though he needed to do further maths and an entrance exam whilst there (you stay for 3 or 4 days for a couple of interviews). That was 6 or 7 years ago though so things may have changed slightly. You're probably best off getting prospectuses to find out what each place is like. It's rare for people doing maths at Oxbridge (and Imperial as well I'd imagine) not to have done further maths.