Help with Physics Degree

[LilyFlower2222]

DD is in year 12 doing further Maths, Physics and Chemistry. Completely undecided on what to study at university. Now she says she wants to do a Physics degree at the top uni’s. What are the job prospects and what does she need to do to prepare for interviews etc. She will be the first in family to attend university. Thanks

Quick points:

Job prospects for Physics have always been good - it really wouldn't be something to worry about. (As just one example, they are strong candidates for my line of work - actuary - as they are strong mathematically and good at working with complex mathematical models).

If she's strong in Maths then she should be well placed to cope with university level Physics.

As far as I know, the only places that interview are Oxford and Cambridge - the rest will just look at GCSEs, personal statement and school reference and predicted grades. Is there someone at the school who can give you more advice?

You might be better off posting this question on the Higher Education board.

Have a look at prospects.ac.uk it lists careers associated with certain degree subjects, a great website

Thanks for the responses. Will take a look at the website. The Sixth form tutors have been great at basic information however in relation to career prospects there’s not much info as due to Covid there’s no career fairs or guests speakers attending

DD2 is currently in year 3 of a Physics degree. Does your DD have any specific questions, she is always happy to encourage more girls to come into the Physics world.

If she enjoys physics there will be a huge number of well-paid careers open to her - physicists are in high demand everywhere even in fields unrelated to physics because a physics degree will be evidence of excellent numeracy, logical thinking and problem solving.

Top universities will expect at least ABB in A-level grades, some will ask for AAB.

Lots of top universities will offer an additional bursary for students who meet their "Widening Participation" criteria which will include being the first person in the family to go to university. Not guaranteed because it will depend on how much bursary funding they have and how many candidates they have that qualify.

DS applied this time last year for physics courses at high ranking universities.

My biggest tip would be for her to join Isaac Physics as soon as possible. It's a free online resource. It includes access to opportunities for Y12s including a weekly mentoring group and also the Senior Physics Challenge. DS did well in the SPC and was offered a place at a residential summer school at Cambridge at the end of Y12 (this was free of charge). It gave him an opportunity to experience university-style physics lectures and practicals.

His offers were mostly AAA, including AA in Maths and Physics in either order.

The Institute of Physics website also has careers advice.

I have a DS studying Physics at Oxford.

Career prospects are great academia, industry, finance. Physics graduates are numerate and great problem solvers.

If your DD is the first in the family to be going to university then there are courses run by the Sutton Trust that she could try usually over the summer between Y12 and Y13 (free).

In non Covid times both Leeds University and York University run one week Physics taster Courses in the last weeks of Y12. Usually apply December or January.

There are also some paid for courses by Head Start that are aimed at girls going into STEM subjects. They are about £200 - £300.

DS also watched lots of One minute physics videos on YouTube.

This is hopefully a link that gives more info about the Leeds taster days or weeks.

www.stem.leeds.ac.uk/physics/

And Oxford

www2.physics.ox.ac.uk/about-us/outreach/schools

Encourage your DD to really look at courses and also think about her own learning style. The best university for your DD is the best fit rather than necessarily the one with the highest grade tarrif.

From early on DD2 realised that a hot house atmosphere was not going to work for her. She needs to have the time to fully understand a subject for her to learn it. This also means that online working is really working for her.

For this reason she chose the university she is at rather than the higher ranking one which her grades could have got her into.

Look at courses which offer a year in industry. This can also give an idea of what careers there are open to her after university. For DD1 (also a scientist) the year in industry really helped her to work out what she wanted to do post university. That is now what she is doing.

Good luck to your DD!

Physics is a fantastic subject to study, opens so many doors and is fascinating in its own right.

Another vote for isaacphysics, they have a mentoring scheme if she wants to join it.

This website has great ideas to check out www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/files/publications/super-curricular_suggestions.pdf#page37, she would be looking at natural science in Cambridge (start with a broad base then narrow down).

I would also look at www.veryshortintroductions.com/ books (but buy on Amazon or from the library) the books are short but great to show interest and to check you like the subject.

Another good book (again you might be able to get from the library or ask the school to order it) www.amazon.co.uk/Oxbridge-Formula-%F0%9F%91%89Computer-%F0%9F%91%89Engineering-%F0%9F%91%89Economics-ebook/dp/B0894ZFPTJ/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=Cambridge+stem&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1603735380&sr=8-2

I'm a physicist, and imo a physics degree opens up so many and varied careers it is amazing! I studied physics with medical physics, and have worked in medical physics ever since, and love the combination of physics and cancer biology (I work in the branch dealing with radiotherapy for cancer treatment).
Through my work though, I know laser physicists, particle physicists (like at CERN), those who work in nuclear power stations, people in telecommunications and more.
My local Institute of Physics branch have regular lectures which are now online, so its worth a browse to see what appeals. I found what I wanted to specialise in through an article in New Scientist, so you never know!

she would be looking at natural science in Cambridge (start with a broad base then narrow down)

This is the course DS had recently started (the other courses he applied to were all straight physics).
Pros: She would be able to keep open the option of studying a full physics degree, and also have the opportunity to try out some other sciences.
Cons: If she is certain that she wants to study physics and only physics, this course might be frustrating because in the first year they do three lab subjects plus maths (DS is doing Maths, Physics, Chemistry and Materials Science, but there are other options available).

For someone who wants to study just physics from the start, a normal physics course might be better.

What pp says about cambridge course is true, but best thing for a physicist to do is apply for Computer Sciences - in the first year they do the same as the NatSci students with the additional option of a ComSci module so could do Physics, CompSci, MatSci and Maths in y1, then no problem to specialise in Physics thereafter (no obligation to stick with CompSci)

Hello LilyFlower22 , would love an update if you are still around. I am in a similar situation now with DD who is in Year 12. The advice here is very helpful!

If first in family to go to university, have a look at summer schools / uni taster weeks. The Sutton Trust might be a good place to start, plus any unis she is targeting.

Probably one of the most employable degrees around. I have a maths degree and we hire almost exclusively hard sciences such as physics and maths from top unis at my firm.

Updating the thread to let recent posters know that this is a zombie thread and that the OPs dd is likely to be reaching the end of her degree course by now.

It would be lovely to know if she did do physics or if not what she did pick and how she is getting on now.