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Changing course?
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
Right, well I'm doing Maths at York, and I love the uni, and love the lecturers, but the course itself is incredibly mentally demanding. Basically they write the proofs on the board (and imagine a mathematical proof) and you have to figure it out yourself after the lecture. I know uni has a lot of independent learning, but it's very difficult and to be honest I don't have the motivation either because I can't see how it relates to real life 
.
But then I do like maths, I've only started the course and my favourite 'kinds' of maths are probability theory and statistics which we haven't covered yet (lol most people must think I'm mad). But I've come across this course:
http://www.york.ac.uk/management/prospective/undergrad/programme/bscABFM.htm
which sounds really good from the perspective of actual *real life* training i.e. the maths I'm learning I will never use but this degree will teach my things that will apply to a lot of management / accountancy jobs (I was previously thinking of accoutancy / actuarial work after my degree.
I don't know whether I'll be allowed to change course, I think it's too late in the year to change now anyway, but at the start of next year I might be able. My mum is being supportive which is a first
(she was disappointed I didn't go to oxbridge!!). But the degree structure actually sounds really good for this one, all things that sound genuinely interesting!
I will need to get in touch with my tutor but don't want to commit before I'm sure so was going to leave it till later in the year.. but then I might not get a place. If anyone can offer any advice that would be brill!
edit: p.s. they want ABB but I got ABC in my exams, however york Maths gave me an unconditional offer when they realised there weren't enough applicants so they must be pretty pleased with me. I'm also trying not to let my scholarship influence me as I want to pick what is most comfortable for me rather than which will get me the most cash (which is undoubtedly maths). I may have to pay the scholarship back though, but I have been saving most of it in a savings account
.But then I do like maths, I've only started the course and my favourite 'kinds' of maths are probability theory and statistics which we haven't covered yet (lol most people must think I'm mad). But I've come across this course:
http://www.york.ac.uk/management/prospective/undergrad/programme/bscABFM.htm
which sounds really good from the perspective of actual *real life* training i.e. the maths I'm learning I will never use but this degree will teach my things that will apply to a lot of management / accountancy jobs (I was previously thinking of accoutancy / actuarial work after my degree.
I don't know whether I'll be allowed to change course, I think it's too late in the year to change now anyway, but at the start of next year I might be able. My mum is being supportive which is a first
(she was disappointed I didn't go to oxbridge!!). But the degree structure actually sounds really good for this one, all things that sound genuinely interesting!I will need to get in touch with my tutor but don't want to commit before I'm sure so was going to leave it till later in the year.. but then I might not get a place
. If anyone can offer any advice that would be brill!edit: p.s. they want ABB but I got ABC in my exams, however york Maths gave me an unconditional offer when they realised there weren't enough applicants so they must be pretty pleased with me. I'm also trying not to let my scholarship influence me as I want to pick what is most comfortable for me rather than which will get me the most cash (which is undoubtedly maths). I may have to pay the scholarship back though, but I have been saving most of it in a savings account
Post edited by JustV on
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Comments
Did you find changing course difficult? I will probably speak to my tutor but am concerned incase he looks down on me because I've expressed an interest in changing course. I did speak to him last term though and said I was struggling with the course.
And I know what you mean about mathematical proofs, the words on their own make me go: :crazyeyes .
Good idea, I might just do that
If you can't get the grades you'll need to prove the attitude to get a transfer.
I changed at the end of last year, you've got my msn if you want to ask more.
A lot of maths at university is learning proofs, which is why I gave it up. At that point I moved onto a business course, but found it far to easy and was bored. It didn't challenge the problem solving side of my mind. I'm now doing computing and absolutely love it.
Whatever you do, I'd finish this year and try and get the best mark you can. As has been said, try and get access to the course notes for what you're looking at doing and go and talk to people doing the course. Also talk to your tutor, explain your thoughts and worries about both changing course and the current course. He may know people he can put you in touch with about a new course. Talking to him at this point isn't going to affect how he thinks about you at all. they witness this every year and are just there to support you and make sure you get the best out of your time at uni as well.
Wow, you sound a lot like me! As for the teaching, it's not really taught - the proof is written on the board, we have to copy it into our notes and whilst the lecturer is writing it he is explaining what he is doing. But still needs going over again afterwards, on your own, and often then you can't make heads or tails of it.
I like computers a lot but always thought it would restrict my career options, as I'd always be the 'IT guy' rather than the managing director guy
I spoke to my brother and he said the business course sounds good, I'm going to go along to some lectures, will speak to my supervisor and then see how the rest of the year goes. The only thing is if I don't settle into maths I'm going to want to change to accounting/management/finance but they probably want a commitment from me otherwise they wont give me a place. But I dont know yet so don't want to commit. Catch 22.
And maths will? I think your career options are just as open with a computing course as they are with maths as a course. It does depend on what sort of line of work you want to go into though i agree. Computing for me will allow me to get into management roles, but they will be IT based management of teams etc, where I'll just be giving the go ahead to projects and managing people. However, I only want to work in a large organisation, where the chance of getting to the top that much would never really occur anyway if I'm being realistic. If accounting is something you're interested in then definately go for the course as I don't think from maths you'll get into that line without doing lots of other qualifications in the process anyways.
When I changed from doing maths to business, I applied through ucas in about April/May time. I actually completely changed universities in the process though so I don't know what the policy would be to just swap course at the same uni.
I'm not sure about that: neither my boyfriend nor another mate of mine I know who changed course at Bristol took their exams the years they decided to change course. My boyfriend switched at around this time in his second year from Philosophy & Theology to Politics and Philosophy, going straight into the second year of the new course, whilst my friend switched from Economics to Economic History in his first year (starting history from scratch). In both cases they left Bristol for the rest of that academic year. Although of course it will still help your case if you can show the effort you made in the maths course.
You'll almost certainly have to repeat your first year if you switch courses, but one more year of university will be no bad thing. If my boyfriend had stuck to his original course we'd have never met, as he'd have graduated whilst I was still at school!
Finally don't let your scholarship sway you, whilst extra money is nice, it's not worth 3 years of detesting your course.
Good luck
I want to do accounting or actuarial work, in a smallish firm, work up and get experience then around 40 I'll work 3 days a week as a consultant
They both just play with numbers, albeit slightly different numbers but they're just the numbers guys. That's who I am, and I want a career where I'm perked in front of them all day long. Maths is ok, but it's all starting to sound too philosiphical. Can't wait for statistics and probability modules.
The degree you're looking at doing doesn't seem to offer many exemptions at all from the professional qualifications, but don't let that put you off if you do really want to do it. But like everyone said; if you're not happy doing maths, don't do it. It's three years of your life, and you may as well spend them doing something you'll enjoy.
Good luck. You'd make a good accounant/actuary.
That said it does seem like it might be the course for you, especially if all the proofs and crap in maths puts you off... i have a m8 in kind of the same situation, i dont think anyone realises how dodgy a maths degree can be ;p
There was quite a big drop out rate in my first accounts course, it wasn't what people had expected for the exact reasons above.
This is what they've told me so far:
*worries*. They have 'pre-reading' for the course, but as I've not yet been accepted I haven't looked at any of it, should I go to the library and pick some up (only two books) and have a scan through them before this meeting?
Really have no idea on the taskettes, will ask them at a later date for advice to preparation (I think that's reasonable, at worst they can say they don't expect students to prepare for them which is good, because I can think on my feet
*excited*
*nervous*
Wish me luck guys! Will keep you updated when they get back to me
I'm doing a BS in Business and a lot of the courses listed on the original url you posted sound familiar. If anything, the course you want to do is like my ideal focus with Business studies. I hate the marketing aspect, I'm more into finance, accounting and investment valuations.
The finance is harder, but what it has over the other fields is that it's logical. I hate those stupid "yada yada" subjects so much (like HR management, haha).
Not sure what these taskettes might be, but definitely ask if you need to prepare.
You can do this!
Don't forget you'll then need to think of something constructive to do with the rest of the year AND check you'll get funding.
*gulp*
It's trying to remember that they are ordinary people too, not evil devilspawn who are looking for an opportunity to make me feel stupid and put me down. But still, might be tricky!
Just be honest and not soppy and I doubt this will be anything resembling a barrier. This is both something you should know to an extent (although I also got this "why do you want to do this?" question recently for an application and it really threw me off)
Still, you always worry it's not what they want to hear. :nervous:
*stressing*
Right, time to fill out this questionnaire.
eta: also just got an email from the Maths department about my resits! :crying: Thing is, if I don't get accepted for transfer in time then what do I do? Argh, shouldn't be worrying about this, but I am.