astrophysics/physics help

[Hullygully]

Being an arts person meself, these subjects are a mystery to me, but they are what ds wants to study at uni.

Can anyone help with what A levels are best, what unis are best, and what extra-curricular stuff he should be thinking about...?

I would be extremely grateful for any/all advice. He is currently year 9.

I don't know about A levels (though I'd assume maths and physics, obviously!) and extra-curricular things, but to find out which unis are best, try looking at the Times or Guardian league tables. You can look at a table specifically for 1 subject, and then maybe you could have a look at a few of the top ones websites to see what they say about A levels. He's got a few years to go though so I wouldn't worry too much about it, GCSEs need dealing with first!

thanks. I keep reading things say they must get started NOW and having attacks of the must-helps.

Definitely maths, further maths and physics A level. DS is the same (Y10) and is currently thinking he will also do chemistry. I think this is probably the most common 4th choice.

He would like to go to Cambridge, where the Tripos system means that you choose 3 science subjects the first year, three (I think) the second year, and one in the final year, which allows scope for changing interests.

I would take out a subscription to New Scientist - or the school library may get it, so he can read round the science subjects. Record all those science programs by Brian Cox and Jim Al Khalili on TV - actually they are quite a good place to start if he is going beyond the school syllabus, as they introduce complex topics in layman's terms. Then books like E=MC squared, A Brief History of Time, and The Search of Schrodingers Cat are good.

I'm not sure extra-curricular activities matter that much, although obviosuly it's good to have some. A science nerd is a science nerd, (I am one myself) and I would expect unis to be familiar with the type, and be looking for a passion for the subject anyway.

Isaac Asimov's non-fiction did it for me as a teenager. Some of his stuff is now scientifically dated, but it's all superbly written.

thanks, will look for all those. I do keep buying books, but it's a bit hit and miss.

Maths, further maths and physics preferably, but further maths can be substituted with another science.

A love of science and the ability to talk about it is the most important thing. Reading New Scientist/Scientific American will really help.

I went to Cardiff, and all their physics degrees had the same first year so you could choose your stream after that - I did medical physics, but had friends who did physics & astronomy or astrophysics which Cardiff does v well

thanks, will subscribe to NS.

Dh did maths and astrophysics at university many years ago. He had maths, physics and history A' Levels. However, I think that Chemistry could be a useful A' Level to do.

Perhaps your son would like to join an astronomical society. Not all of them accept under 18's, and those that do often require a parent to accompany them (child protection rules). However, they often have great visiting lecturers, and it could look good on a uni application.

Thanks Mad. We do have one of those and we did indeed go to a lecture where sadly ds met some of his friends and they then had hysterics in the middle.

We will be returning in several thousand years.

Dh has joined one, and it has rekindled his inner geek. He loves it.

However, he is 43, and is one of the younger members of his group. His society have just made the brave decision to let over 14's join, and the oldies are in uproar. They think that youths in hoodies are going to descend. They have one junior member...

Durham, Warwick, bristol are also very good.
For a lot of good universities, further maths is literally essential (and its looking that way for engineering as well, which previously it was only seen that it was essential for maths degrees) though unis dont normally specify it as they know not every college offers it, but if its offered is a good idea. (though i think your DS will choose it anyway if he is interested in physics and maths) in my first year the material in further maths was literally assumed knowledge and lecturers went through that material VERY quickly. so having it pre-uni is always an advantage.
some of those books, like a brief history of time will be easier to get into once hes done GCSE. there are many 'fun' physics books out there too that are good, like the 'why does x happen' type books.
the main thing is having a good maths base and enthusiasm!

Ta. Maths, maths and more maths then.

Mad - ds has been to some observing sessions in the local observatory on his own, but he said that everyone else was 100 and talked at him at enormous length. I'll make him go again.

Maths, Further Maths and Physics absolutely. An MFL or something like Philosophy would be great for a 4th A-level.

Imperial, Oxford, Cambridge (Natural Sciences), Manchester, Warwick, Edinburgh, UCL, Birmingham.

If looking abroad then MIT, Harvard, Stanford, Caltech, UChicago, Groningen, Utrecht, Wurzburg, Leipzig, Gothenburg, Lund off the top of my head.

History for a fourth?

If he had to do an mfl he would rip his own head off. He does concepts, not words.

A few more book suggestions:

• Surely you're joking Mr Feynman! - Richard Fenyman
• QED: The strange theory of light and matter - Richard Feynman
• The making of the Atomic Bomb (don't be put off, it's actually the history of 20th century physics) - Richard Rhodes
• Cosmos - Carl Sagan
• Flatland - anonymous

Hully - does the school/college offer Philosophy? Would be much better than History IMHO.

Personally I would always recommend an MFL as hard scientists with languages basically get to name their salaries when they enter the job market - I should know as I have to pay the smartarse little sods :)

Oh thanks! I've just ordered Schro's Cat and E=MC squared.

Are they 14 yr old-ish?

I don't think it does, just silly old critical thinking.

MFLs really are utterly out of the question (for my sanity as well as his). What else? What about music?

I'll tell him about the salaries, but he really struggles with languages. He tries his hardest but oh dear lord.

Oh, there is philosophy and ethics - is that any good?

He really shouldn't be doing a non-core A-level that he would struggle with as it might affect his core subjects. I'm afraid I'm not familiar with Critical Thinking as an A-level - it may be useful but you should check it isn't regarded as a soft option.

Chemistry is the other option but a bit predictable.

A bright 14-yr old will be able to cope with all the books I've listed. Rhodes is a bit daunting (900 pages) but you can dip in and out very easily.

Thanks, I've orderd them.

I think Philosophy and Ethics would be excellent for any scientist.

With scientists under scrutiny like never before, ethics is becoming an increasingly important part of all science courses, and of course philosophy of science has been available as a module on most science courses for decades.

thanks again.

Oh, just saw that you mentioned Music - that would be excellent too.

Oh good.