Where would you recommend to read Biochemistry?

Jays

My son has, at last, decided which degree to apply for (he's doing his As this year).

He has decided he would like to read Biochemistry, as it combines his best/favorite subjects of Biology and Chemistry.

Any advice, or tips about which univ to apply to, which is the best course, etc,.

Or would you suggest a different course? Would you recommend Biochemistry, or have you a better suggestion?

Thanks for any help
Jays

ka7e

Both the Times and the Guardian publish Uni league tables that rate establishments by lots of different criteria.

http://education.guardian.co.uk/universityguide2008/0,,2027789,00.html

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/good_university_guide/

LegalEagle

The University of Dundee has an exceptional reputation for Biochemistry.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/good_university_guide/article2166428.ece

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/sunday_times_university_guide/article2490738.ece

Perversia

As Imperial College don't even require biology A level to study biochemistry there, it may not be a good place to go if you actually enjoy biology more than chemistry

Daeheryn

I'm currently studying BSc Natural Science at UHI Millennium Institute in Inverness, and I'm loving it - you get a general science base, but you can focus on whether you want to go down different routes within the degree - ie biochemistry, or conservation, or marine biology.

(If he wants to do pure biochemistry only I wouldn't recommend it, but if he likes science and lab work too I would!)

Because it's much smaller classes too you get much better lab experience, and experience of producing COSHH/Hazard forms and lab reports than the big unis, so most of our course graduates are picked for jobs before they graduate!

Plus Inverness and the Highlands is the most beautiful place to live and work in Britain!

rustynash

I started out studying biochemistry at uni, and you soon come to realise it is pretty much just a hell of a lot of chemistry!

I did it for two years and then realised I actually really did not enjoy it, and now Im studying immunology and it is exactly what I always wanted out of a course - I love it!

I remember when I was dead certain I wanted to do biochem and someone told me it is really difficult and not too much fun I totally dismissed them, now I know what they were talking about.. saying that, last weekend i met someone with a degree in biochem and he said he enjoyed studying it but doesn't care for the endless lab-based jobs he found afterwards - he now wants to go into forestry!

Does your son know what it is he wants to do with a degree in biochemistry? I thought I could use it to get into cancer research, and now realise that something more pathology based is the route of choice - biochemistry taught me nothing about pathogenesis or human pathology whereas my new course has

DrFluffy

He needs to do his research - there is much more to a degree than the department or uni. He has to spend 3-4 years of his life there... A great uni rep is pointless if he hates it.

Beware of league tables too - they are VERY subjective, and unless your personal indicators of importance are the same as those monitored for the table, they can be fairly pointless.

I suggest he looks at which universities offer biochem (easily done on UCAS), decides which places he likes the sound of and, books himself on a few open days...

Savvy_Sue

DrFluffy wrote: »

I suggest he looks at which universities offer biochem (easily done on UCAS), decides which places he likes the sound of and, books himself on a few open days...

And he needs to get a move on - if he's in Year 13 then visiting open days before completing his UCAS form has to happen this term, and for some courses / unis you have to book, and the popular ones will fill up quick with organised Year 12 students!

And I do so agree about university being more than the sum of the course! I loved my Uni, but when I visited my sister on her campus I thought it was an awful place! She loved it, of course ...

DrFluffy

I wouldn't necessarily advocate "getting a move on"... If he's not ready, there is NOTHING wrong with applying next year, and there is far more benefit in making sure you're ready and on the right course, than rushing things and ending upon a course you hate.

Savvy_Sue

DrFluffy wrote: »

I wouldn't necessarily advocate "getting a move on"... If he's not ready, there is NOTHING wrong with applying next year, and there is far more benefit in making sure you're ready and on the right course, than rushing things and ending upon a course you hate.

True enough ... so maybe enough to say that he needs to be aware that the school will probably be pushing him to make decisions and applications NOW, and it would be better not to rush into a decision for the sake of it!

But if the OP's son DOES want to apply for October 2008, AND wants to visit universities before putting them on his UCAS form, he does need to get a move on ... If the university is not too far away then an informal visit would be better than nothing: I took DS2 with us when delivering DS1 back to Warwick, he met a couple of DS1's friends doing Maths and had a (very) quick look at the campus, which didn't put him off. Hopefully he'll be invited to an interview/open day too.

I don't know how many universities do biochemistry, but when you've narrowed that down, and narrowed it again by what kind of biochem it is, the other thing to consider is what kind of university it is - Surrey (which used to have a good rep for biochem, I believe) is a campus university, fairly compact and near the town. Other campus universities are much further from 'normal' civilisation, and that doesn't suit everyone. Then you get the universities scattered all over cities, and the collegiate ones.

It's not an easy decision ...

Missy79

Has he considered dual hons? More universities are now offering this option and he could continue studying both of the things he likes. I did this and did both Biochemistry and Biological and Medicinal Chemistry. Many also have an option to convert to single hons later if he decides on one.