Bachelor of...

[Rachael]

Originally Posted by Lemming

Birmingham is a red-brick campus university. It's very traditional and makes you feel like you are not in a city at all, it's like a small little village really.

Birmingham University campus has long struck me as being as unrepresentative of Birmingham as Richmond Park is of London: if you got rid of the nasty 1960s tower blocks that dominate the place it really would be very nice :-)

The city centre is not a place I ever knew that well even when I lived just down the road (I grew up just SE of Coventry). That said... the last time I passed through the area north of City Hall I was pretty impressed. I had thought that the Bull Ring development would completely transform the other end of things.. but I was under the impression that the big round tower that blighted things would actually be removed - no such luck.

All told, I guess I could take the centre of Birmingham rather more easily than I could take Oxford Street (which really does seem irrideemable). The problem is not really there though, is it? Drive from Sutton Coldfield to Dudley and the city centre improvement is put in perspective!

Ah... forget it: I'm just not a city bod - Chobham was too big for me :-)

[Leafy Seadragon]

My memories of Birmingham are mixed. We lived in Sparkhill and enjoyed living there despite the run-down nature of the suburb - there was quite a buzz in the local community. My wife taught in Lozells and enjoyed it less (she was the one teacher in her department not to be assaulted in her time there). In both cases we developed relationships with people over eighteen months that we didn't achieve in seven years in London. However, despite these friendships, my studies that I enjoyed, the sense of achievement that survival brought to my wife in her first teaching role and some of the best food we'll ever eat, living there was so depressing largely due to the sheer ugliness of the city that we had to cross twice a day. Depressingly at that time, the Brummies were defensive, saying that it was so much better than it was (did Birmingham perchance head the national suicide stakes in the 70s and early 80s because it must have been dire)

I'm pleased to hear that the concrete monstrosity that surrounded the Bullring has since been put to death and have hopes for the friends we still have living there that the city lives up to its residents

[Statto]

As far as going to Cambridge was concerned, I think I've got a chance of getting in (not that big given how many apply but still about 1 in 4/5 I think) so it seems worth a try. Cambridge has always seemed more appealing than Oxford, although I'm not sure why, and one of the admissions tutors told me that I only really need an A in Maths to apply. I'm predicted 4 A's so as long as I get them I'm giving myself a chance (because everyone else will get them) and thus far I've had reasonable success in exams so I may get by on the STEP test. After that anything else that happens is going to be beyond my control. The other Unis I was looking at were Bath and Aberystwyth as they both look like good places to be, but now Warwick has been mentioned I'll have a look.

[Lemming]

Hi Statto,

I do applied maths at Birmingham which is pretty good, i don't know how well pure or stats is taught (i don't know about your interests). If your eyeing up Cambridge then go for it, but a place like Birmingham is a bit of a wild card and a good insurance place, it's not really any worse than places like Oxford, Warwick etc. In fact a couple of years ago it was 2nd to Cambridge in the Times' Maths league table (admittedly that doesn't neccessarily reveal that much). The Cambridge system is a minefield with some really clever people missing out. You won't be able to apply to both Cambridge and Oxford, but Cambridge is the place for maths, no doubt about it.

[Sarah.F]

heya statto

im also studying for my AS levels at the moment, and want to do maths at university too. I firstly want to go to Bath, because they seem to have a good reputation for maths at the moment, and they also have very good sports facilities. I have also looked into going to warwick or nottingham. I am unsure if i just want to study maths, or maths with something else, like finance.

How are your maths exams going so far? and what other A levels are you taking?

[Moss]

I've got a BA in music.

[Lemming]

Originally Posted by Sarah.F

...want to do maths at university too. I firstly want to go to Bath, because they seem to have a good reputation for maths at the moment, and they also have very good sports facilities. I have also looked into going to warwick or nottingham. I am unsure if i just want to study maths, or maths with something else, like finance.

All of those institutes are very good for maths and are credible choices. If you really see yourself going into a career in finance then you could possibly do finance also. But I would advise just simply doing maths, it will keep all options open and alot can happen over the 3/4 years at uni, (I'm just finishing my degree (Theoretical physics and applied maths) and wanted to get into finance four years ago, but now have changed my mind and am going on to do research). Going into any mathematical career will not be a problem by simply doing maths and in some respects financial recruiters would prefer a straight-up mathematician with loads of mathematical experience who are applicable to any numerical situation. OK, you would have to train further upon getting a financial graduate position to understand "financial stuff", but concentrating on maths at university will make you extremely employable in all areas.

[Andy Mellon]

Originally Posted by Sarah.F

or maths with something else, like finance.

Noooooo! Don't do it kids! Finance is baaad. Especially accountancy. In the words of the Grange Hill Mob, "Just say No!!!"

[Doink]

I have done B.Com (Computers) and God-willing will be doing an MBA program by the end of this year!

[Statto]

Sarah,
Bath will probably be my second or 3rd choice depending on whether i get to visit there and Aberystwyth. I'm doing Maths, Further Maths, Economics and Geography AS Levels and I'll probably do all of them to A2. I only did two maths exams and a geography one in January - C1 and M1 and got two As. I've got S1, D1, C2 and C3 to do this time around.
Which modules do you take this year, as we have basically been given everything to do all at once.