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Faust

#41 August 21, 2009, 01:12:49 am

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Quote

it may just have been a rumour then. it was an academy, if that makes any difference?

Theoretically it COULD do, as they aren't bound to the payscale. But all of the Academies have vowed to honour it...for now hehehe. Although they ARE free to pay MORE than scale, so I guess it could be true. If it's in an area which is especially deprived of physics specialists, paying like £50,000+ IS definitely a possibility I suppose. It'd have to be that much though, as heads of department typically earn £45,000+. But yeah, a bit rambly, but it totally COULD be true in that case, doy!

Hey hey hey

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esp

#42 August 21, 2009, 05:59:14 am

8-)
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My brother got his A level results yesterday, he's reasonably pleased (as it will allow to him to join the Navy at officer level). He got C in English Lit, C in Politics, D in Classical Civilisations and D in *some other subject I can't remember*. So not too bad imo! Especially considering he put in almost no effort the whole year (just playing WoW and Left 4 Dead all day lol).

I never did A levels though, I kinda went down a different route, and when I finished college (away in Scotland for 18 months) I got an NC in Multi-Discipline Engineering, a HNC in Measurement and Control Engineering and a level 2 NVQ in Performing Engineering Operations. Guess what my job is?????? Currently doing my level 3 NVQ in Instrumentation and Control Systems, and it's been easy street so far. Then I kind of don't know what to do after that, as I am in full time employment right now but I'd like to maybe go further in the subject (I fucking love it). I'm hoping the big bad oil company I work for will pay towards more training 8-)

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Marge

#43 August 21, 2009, 12:30:33 pm

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Quote from: Faust on August 21, 2009, 12:27:01 am

Wow! I know very little about AS/A2 Science/Maths as I really suck at those subjects, but it's always interesting to compare systems. They're considered pretty hard courses here, but that might be due to the fact that, as a nation, we seem to suck at these subjects XD!

We've got two levels of maths in our high-schools and A-levels (or the equivalent) and I'm comparing it to the higher one, so no sweat. Also the grading system is completely different, it's based on normal distribution, so the best 5% always get the best grade, the next 15% get the second best and so forth.

Quote from: JMickle

@marge - thanks ^^ yeah i know there is a helluva lotta maths involed in that area but it doesnt scare me i can handle my numbers quite well (ignore my AS results xD) escpecially when it comes to theoretisizing (made that word up i know) about things. i frequently hang back after classes to delve deeper into things and ask my teacher massive questions.

In that case absolutely go for it with physics if that feels right for you, even if you have to retake or resit something to get in. It pays off when you get to study and work with something you're interested in and have motivation for. What Faust said about the need for physics teachers in UK makes it sound even better. Here they've been telling us (and I hope they're not making shit up to get more students) that physicists, especially theoretical ones, can land some weird jobs, because it's basically a degree in mathematical modelling. For example some people from our theor.phy. dep. have gone to work for international banks, doing some kind of economical modelling. There's also the famous case of one who ended up as a sheep farmer in Australia. Astronomers also get it good, many of the observatories are located on tropical islands and other great places. People from my uni have been going to La Palma (that's Canary Islands).

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Vellfire

#44 August 21, 2009, 12:45:34 pm

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Hey, even though this topic isn't exactly about this, a lot of you are apparently going to be in the same boat (or maybe have already done this) so I'll ask here anyway. I'm applying to go to a British university in 2010. It'll probably be a LITTLE different for an international student, but what's the application process like? Does anyone know how long after you apply you find out if you're accepted? I really wish I had more specific questions but I can't think of anything beyond "tell me what applying to and/or going to (if you've already been through all this) a British university is like". Especially if you can tell me about the University of Westminster. Thanks dudes ;D

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Seawed

#45 August 21, 2009, 02:44:25 pm

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I got a 5 in math, (Which is the bare minimum for passing), a distinction in Biology and a 1 in chemistry.

I totally blew Math though. But I think the highest grade in my school was IV so its definitely either something wrong with the paper or our teachers just suck. I still think this year's paper was amazingly hard compared to previous years. I'll probably resit it next year.

My O levels were 7 1's and 3 2's though, from the year before.

Last Edit: August 21, 2009, 02:49:57 pm by Seawed

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Faust

#46 August 21, 2009, 03:10:09 pm

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O Levels? Dude, are you from the 70s??? Or from A DISTANT LAND?

Quote

We've got two levels of maths in our high-schools and A-levels (or the equivalent) and I'm comparing it to the higher one, so no sweat. Also the grading system is completely different, it's based on normal distribution, so the best 5% always get the best grade, the next 15% get the second best and so forth.

Ahh, I see. There've been a record number of 'A' grades here, which have caused the newspapers to bleat about EXAMS GETTIN' EASIAR!! That'd be solved by this. However, doesn't it give unfair advantages to people in weak years? Like if I go to a class filled with numpties, I get an A, but if it's full of geniuses I get a C, even if I score exactly the same in each class? I suppose that no one ever blames teachers for the situation though there hehe, as the results are always the same right? 5% As, 15% Bs and so on! Thinking about it, that DOES sound pretty good!

Oh, we have two levels of maths too! If you want to look up something called 'Further Maths' on those examination board websites, you'll find it. Like the best of the best mathematicians do that here (i.e. not many people at all do that here), so I imagine it's a little harder hehe. I think it's called an 'S-level', but I've never really been in a position to find out about it, sucking at maths and being shunned by the maths department and all.

Last Edit: August 21, 2009, 03:14:58 pm by Faust

Hey hey hey

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Carrion Crow

#47 August 21, 2009, 03:49:17 pm

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Quote from: Velfarre on August 21, 2009, 12:45:34 pm

Hey, even though this topic isn't exactly about this, a lot of you are apparently going to be in the same boat (or maybe have already done this) so I'll ask here anyway. I'm applying to go to a British university in 2010. It'll probably be a LITTLE different for an international student, but what's the application process like? Does anyone know how long after you apply you find out if you're accepted? I really wish I had more specific questions but I can't think of anything beyond "tell me what applying to and/or going to (if you've already been through all this) a British university is like". Especially if you can tell me about the University of Westminster. Thanks dudes ;D

You get a larger student loan if you are from the EU and you want to go to a university that is in London because it costs more to live there than anywhere else in the UK.

Students from outside the EU have to pay ~£12,400 a year in tuition fees whilst EU members pay ~£3150 currently

I don't know what fees are like in the US but for us here, that's a lotta money.

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Vellfire

#48 August 21, 2009, 03:57:23 pm

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Quote from: ed on August 21, 2009, 03:49:17 pm

You get a larger student loan if you are from the EU and you want to go to a university that is in London because it costs more to live there than anywhere else in the UK.

Students from outside the EU have to pay ~£12,400 a year in tuition fees whilst EU members pay ~£3150 currently

I don't know what fees are like in the US but for us here, that's a lotta money.

I'm going to a VERY expensive school right now, the tuition I'll have to pay there (at least at Westminster since that's what I've been looking into) is still going to come out cheaper than my current tuition. I'm paying a LOT of money to not learn shit.

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Carrion Crow

#49 August 21, 2009, 04:15:41 pm

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Whachoo gonna study in the UK?

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Vellfire

#50 August 21, 2009, 04:20:54 pm

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Computer science. I'm leaving my current university because I'm starting my third year in CS and can barely put together a C++ program. It's a liberal arts school which I guess was a dumb idea for my major because I'm paying $30,000+ a year to be required to take a bunch of non-major classes. In the two years I've gone, I've taken about four CS classes. I'm better off starting over somewhere else than continuing to pay this kind of money to continue to not learn. I just wish I made this decision before it was too late to not go this year. I'm mostly going to the UK because a) the program is 3 years instead of having to do 4 here, b) I want to be in a major city but the ones in the US don't appeal to me, and c) I rely on my parents too much so I need to go somewhere where I'm forced to take care of myself for a change.

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Faust

#51 August 21, 2009, 04:22:54 pm

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LONDON IS TOO BIG FOR YOU ;_;!!!!

You should have gone to like a NORTHERN CITY for fun times/being glassed!!!

Hey hey hey

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Carrion Crow

#52 August 21, 2009, 04:36:50 pm

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I wish I could live in London but I guess I'd need richer parents for that. If I could get a good engineeing job down there when I finish uni it would be super. I would quite like to live out the rest of my days as an academic though...

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Jordan

#53 August 21, 2009, 04:45:55 pm

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Thanks Faust! For now I am just working, I want to take some time out to learn to drive, buy better equipment and produce at home. I don't know about going to University to study this subject. I kind of agree with Ed that maybe I should keep it as a passion - I don't want to grow tired of it! But then that leaves a career to think about...

I can always go to University in the future, I just want to think about it for the moment and decide if it would benefit me and if I want a career in music. This doesn't mean I consider the past year wasted as I learnt so many techniques and all sorts about the industry, not to mention making new friends, some of which are very talented and still teaching me things!

Well done to everyone else on your results! I hope you make the most of them!

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Faust

#54 August 21, 2009, 07:01:01 pm

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Jordan: Oh totally - a lot of education is about developing skills, as well as progression. Also you're totally right - there's no age limit on going to university here. In fact, if you wait until you're 25 then you get a hell of a lot of help and benefits (damn mature students!) Education is never a waste, as long as you're not in a position (like Velfarre) where you're thinking "I'm not actually learning anything!!!"

A lot of people take time out before going to university anyway. Having a while working beforehand can really teach you to appreciate academia hehe. Like, before retraining as a teacher, I spent a year as a salesman. That's made me totally appreciate my current position.

Also don't stress yourself TOO much about a career yet. You're still young and there is a world of opportunity out there, whatever the newspapers currently say!

Hey hey hey

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Kaworu

#55 August 21, 2009, 07:19:22 pm

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I'm hoping to study in London in a few years (Idealy Goldsmiths), and I'm basically putting as much as I can from my student loan to one side and living off my grant/wages, so I'll have a little bit of cash(thankfully due to being poor working class, it'll be a few grand) to help with the initial costs and rent.
I don't care how much debt I have.

Last Edit: August 21, 2009, 07:23:32 pm by The Octave Doctor

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Marge

#56 August 22, 2009, 09:55:25 am

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Quote from: Faust on August 21, 2009, 03:10:09 pm

Ahh, I see. There've been a record number of 'A' grades here, which have caused the newspapers to bleat about EXAMS GETTIN' EASIAR!! That'd be solved by this. However, doesn't it give unfair advantages to people in weak years? Like if I go to a class filled with numpties, I get an A, but if it's full of geniuses I get a C, even if I score exactly the same in each class? I suppose that no one ever blames teachers for the situation though there hehe, as the results are always the same right? 5% As, 15% Bs and so on! Thinking about it, that DOES sound pretty good!

It works pretty well because everybody in the whole country does the same exams, gets the same marking (the papers are sent away from the school to be examined by some very official, and very hated people) and then the normal distribution is applied to everybody at once. With such a large sample (tens of thousands) things like weaker years have practically no effect. The only problem is that sometimes the difficulty of the tests varies too much from year to year (The National Bureau of A-levels (that's a shitty translation) gets a lot of shit for this every year, nobody's ever happy) which causes trouble, like for example I did a maths paper that was ridiculously easy, so everybody got high marks and even a little mistake could cost you your A.

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JMickle

#57 August 22, 2009, 02:13:54 pm

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Quote from: Faust on August 21, 2009, 03:10:09 pm

Oh, we have two levels of maths too! If you want to look up something called 'Further Maths' on those examination board websites, you'll find it. Like the best of the best mathematicians do that here (i.e. not many people at all do that here), so I imagine it's a little harder hehe. I think it's called an 'S-level', but I've never really been in a position to find out about it, sucking at maths and being shunned by the maths department and all.

further maths isn't necessarily more difficult than normal maths, it is just different fields of maths. I took that this year, but I only finish the AS in January, so I haven't got a grade for that yet. Because the Maths and Further Maths A levels work all on units, some can be interchanged between the two, for instance Statistics 1 and Decision 1, which happened with me. They always prioritize Normal maths over further as well, so it is impossible (theoretically) to get a better grade in further maths than maths, unless you do really badly in the essential maths units (core 1 and core 2 etc.)

so yeah it isnt an EXTRA LEVEL it's just more, something to help you get into uni.

www.jmickle.com

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Vellfire

#58 August 22, 2009, 02:17:38 pm

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We have the same sort of thing in the states with AP classes. They're not different classes normally, they're just MORE INTENSE and if you do good on the AP exam you can use them for college credit sometimes.

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Strangeluv

#59 August 22, 2009, 04:14:27 pm

HEEEEERRRREEE'S JOHNNY!!
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When I wrote, it was: Biology (A), Geography (B), Chemistry (C), Mathematics (D... Eek!)

Me and Tom Under the Boardwalk ... there is so much fun to have under the boardwalk

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Strangeluv

#60 August 22, 2009, 04:16:43 pm

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Quote from: Faust on August 21, 2009, 03:10:09 pm

O Levels? Dude, are you from the 70s??? Or from A DISTANT LAND?

I believe Seawed is from Grenada in the Caribbean. I'm from Trinidad and Tobago. We had to do O Levels too, called the CSEC or CXC exams.

Me and Tom Under the Boardwalk ... there is so much fun to have under the boardwalk

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