Hi all,

I've been in England for 3 months studying Marine Biologyin Swansea, but I find School here very laid back. I was educated in Barbados and find the standards there are very high and not at all laid back, students take further education very seriously at home because its your chance to make a better future for yourself.

I also find school here very segregated, even to the point that African and Caribbean students don't seem to mix whichseems very strange to me as we all came from the same place!. Maybe its just in Swansea ( 90% white area! ) I would love to hear some other points of view.

Ras

blkrainbowfrobarbflagblksmoke

@Rastawomen

first welcome

let me assure you that things get tough after second year onwards, my first year was a breeze, then now in my second year..........hmm.....hmm hmm

also, in UK the actual lectures seem simple and diplomatic, untill you get to the end of year exams...........the way these english write the questions is like a riddle, you spend majority of the time undersetanind the question and find out what it is they really want, sometimes you put things in their that you do not need to answer, but it is their just to throw your guard.

just warning , do not get comfy yet.........and good luck with your course!

Adding on to SF's points the lectures are supposed to be the bare bones of the course. Most of the work (whatever you are studying) you are supposed to do by yourself. They will outline the stuff you need to pass, but bare in mind that is passing at the bare minimum. Your further reading and work (research) will contribute mostly to your work.

It's your self discipline that is being tested as is your knowledge of a subject. With all the partying, part time job, socialising and lax atmosphere can you still work your ass off and get the top grade? I think that is the point of the relaxed atmosphere.

As to the point of the way the questions are asked, there is a formula to them I remember. They phrase things in standard ways which require an certain approach to the question. "critically evaluate" and "describe and dicuss" mean two disctinct but exact things and when you see either you are supposed to do the question in the way that they like. This is so they external markers of the papers havea standardised way in which to mark and assess work. Figure that science out and you half way there. I'd explain it all to you in more detail except I forgot LOL See mine is more or less pure math and physics so the framing of questions for me are quite straightforward.

The segregation you speak of must exist only in those small black communities... I mean Swansea!!!Do they even speak English there? I thought it was deep Wales... Here in London I mix with Carribeans and Africans in equal measure.

DM

on-point

and yes to emphasis.........it might seem easy, but when it comes exam.......you will realise you need to do the extra va va voom

nowdays, it is competative, when it comes to year placement or job market, its all about 2.1 or a first, backed with a credible final year project.........in your case of marine biology choose a practical.

but one thing i have to disagree is with the notion of maths questions being straight forward.......not any more trust me.........physical science, formulation science etc is maths......but they still manage to riddle that sheesh and include moon ans stars.

SF

What I meant was that with any math/science question, just take out the English and look at the variables you have been given. There might be a big bunch of badly worded gobbledygook (usually is) but with thevaluesaloneyou should figure out what formulas you know that they can fit intoand how you can manipulate them. Then look at what the question wants i.e. which variable is asked for.

DM's step by step approach...

• Read overall question to understand concept being discussed.
• Identify what information (variables)is given
• Identify which variableis required
• Review the formulas you can think of which contain the given variables and the one required. You may need to use two or three... If they specify an order then follow it strictly.
• Remember to keep the values the same
• Put back in English

Agreed with that part about the project though. Highly important, especially with science related jobs. I've heard employers LOVE that sort of stuff because essentially it's more closely related to what work is actually like and what they themselves will require from you.

Thank you both for your insite and knowledge. I'm glad I asked the question otherwise I could've been caught out at the end of the year.bighairlolI better get my head down and study hard make the family back home proud. As for the segregation maybe your right, maybe its just the area i'm in, it is really country. I'm coming to London for Xmas, I've never been before so it should be really exciting, lots west Indiansand hopefully some Reggae clubs so I can party hard for Old Years Night offtopic.gif

Thanks for everything

Rasblk2cheers2

@DM

tanx!

its a learning process for me, damn some questions through you off guard, you have to work through elimination process

something like

you have x, mix z to get y, now what do you get

but no no no

instead it is

x maybe a they might intercept z but instead you might get y , but at the same time b gets in with y.........

chupidness

i see the leactures smirking during exams, feel liking stabbing them with my pen.

lol

Rastawoman

marine biology, lovely subject, try and get your placement for the summer from NOW, try Syngenta in berkshire , top company, although they look at the effect of their fertilizers on the enviornment, and one of the enviornment they look at is the lovely sea.........

@Rastawomen

no I am not studying marine biology, i am doing Mpharmacy

i just have general interest and awareness in all science sector.

I would advice you to do a masters, marine biology is one of those subjects where their is not much job worldwide and highly competative.

Biochem's the killer...a hard core science but they wanna make you write essays like you're studying English at uni...you're right about the extra reading and all that @ Rastawoman - see if you can get a hold of past papers for your course on your uni's website so you can see what topics come up in say a 3/4 year cycle to discover the subject of the month...but try not to leave any stone unturned those lecturers do like to do the Macarena in the exam hall as Soofresh says...

@DrunkMonkey...of course London's the ticket...it's the most ethnically diverse city in the UK... Anywhere else just doesn't cut it, so as a South London native and B'ham student even I can feel the cold winds but my advice to all is play 'beg fren' at the start of the year and forge friendships from that point on. Also, say hello to EVERY black peep that you see - it's the old 'we're in this together' manoeuvre; works everytime!

offtopic.gifAs for me, two years of juggling Chem, Biochem of France thought I was invincible and brought my fast self to Lyon (France) to continue Biochem for year 3...er all lectures and exams in French....?!confused3

....DOES ANY BODY HAVE A DICTIONARY?:?



Ps- abig shout out to all at uni...they never thought we could do it!!

Also, say hello to EVERY black peep that you see - it's the old 'we're in this together' manoeuvre; works everytime!


LOL That's funny!! I like your optimism and spirit. owerniceone.gif