Need some science qualification - A level Biology, A level psychology or Access??

hi

I'm planning on applying to UWE for 2011 and need to get some science quals. I don't have science A levels, plus did my A levels and degree over 10 years ago (scarily!) SO I definitely need to do something. My question is - is the Access course really equivalent to 3 a levels as I have heard? If so then doing it in a year, which seems the norm, sounds CRAZY! So maybe it's not equiv to 3 A levels? Anyone done it?

If it is like doing 3 A levels then it's obviously going to be less hard to just get 1 A level in Biology or Psychology. (UWE accepts social sciences as well as science you see). In that case - any opinions on whether Psychology or Biology is better/more appropriate etc?

Must admit I am not particularly science minded (there's a reason I didn't take science first time around at A level!) and it's the part of training I am least looking forward to so having to do it upfront is quite scary but I'm up for it!

Thank you in advance!

Hiya, I'm not sure about access courses cos I'm still at sixth form but I can give you advice on A levels cos I do both Psychology and Biology.

I'm in my 2nd year so doing my A2s at the mo, but for AS I got an A in both. I'm not great at sciences either other than like biological/social sciences (I took Chemistry and got an E lol). I find Psychology a lot easier (and more interesting) than Biology. Quite a bit of the Biology is plants and boring stuff like that so maybe you could do Human Biology or something instead, you might find it easier as it's probably more interesting? Both have a lot of content, althought some of the Biology is hard to understand whereas I find Psychology is just lots to remember rather than difficult to get your head round.

Sorry for the ramblings, hope its helped a bit lol! x

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Applying for 2010 to: Surrey (OFFER!!!), ARU (Chelmsford) (had interview), Hertfordshire (interview 24th Feb), UEA, Oxford Brookes

I started Access in March (3 weeks after everyone else because I jumped in rather than wait til september) and Im due to finish on the 18th of this month. Have done Psychology, Sociology, Human Biology, Maths, IT and Health Studies. So, 9 months if you minus the summer holidays. It's constant but not unachievable at all if you put your mind to your goal xxx

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Hiya

If you already have A levels and a degree then don't do an Access course. It's too much work and is more designed for people who left school without enough points to apply to uni. Do a science A' Level (Biology or Human Biology) or an OU course (www.open.ac.uk) like SK277.

Call your chosen uni/s and they'll tell you what they would like to see.

BTW, you have 2 years till you need to complete your quals for 2011 as you can apply to uni whilst studying.

Good luck xx

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Ooh thanks everyone. HOPING - how many hours a week/day do you study? I have a toddler and 4 month old so am going to have to fit study in around them. i can't exactly do all day every day (possibly all night every night lol!).
The OU course looks really interesting, all the bits of Bilogy that are actually interesting. Can't work out if it is roughly A level equivalent though or rather more than that- PRIVATE PEANUT do you know?
Thanks guys

Im actually in 2 and a half days and have older kids but alot of others use the college nursery....also our college runs a fast track access course in the evenings without sociology and health studies (they slot them in with the other subjects a bit) and they study for 2 evenings a week, 6pm til 9 or10pm. Takes the same length of time overall, just less subjects that aim for higher credits to reach the target...As for actually studying at home?...I couldnt tell you tbh, I just do it as and when theres peace and quiet (Theres a 12 yr old and 2 teens and a 21 year old in my house!) x

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Well SK277 is a level 2 course which assumes some prior knowledge of biology. I have an A Level in Biology already and am finding the course fine but I wouldn't recommend doing it unless you have GCSE already. Course is 30 credits over 9 months - workwise they recommend 8 hours a week but I am doing much less than this).
You could try a level 1 course - I did SK195 which is Human Genetics (10 credits - 3 months, 8 hrs a week) which was good, and a lot of people on here are doing K101 which is Introduction to Health & Social Sciences (also a level 1 course, 60 credits - 9 months - 15 hours per week).

OU is great. Really well organised and straightforward.

xx

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Hi, I'm really enjoying my access course. I'm in the same boat as you, no science A levels and a degree I got 15 years ago. The great thing about access is it is really based on getting you into higher education, so it's more than just studying a single science. I'm doing human biology and health studies, there is a lot of help getting back into essay writing, study skills etc... many skills I forgot over the years! As I am studying at a sixth form college, I also qualify for the sixth from college free childcare scheme. This allows me to put my youngest into nursery for 3 days a week. I'm at college for 2 days and it gives me another day to do my study, but I do find myself doing a lot of work in the evenings. It is not an easy course, but it is possible to do with a young family. I've 2 other children at school.

Hiya, I'm doing access full time, I have four children. The work load is pretty intense but as others have said it's do-able. You do indeed get A level equivalent grades at the end of it, not only that, it really prepares you for degree level study (so I'm told). I'm also doing an evening class in human biology (my choice) and a lady in my group is using this as her science to accompany her A levels from 10 years ago. You could contact your preferred uni/s and find out if the science has to be A level standard or possibly GCSE level.

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Dreaming of the day x x x x x x

SELECTION DAY, WORCESTER 24th March.

Hi I'm another one with arts and language a levels and a degree in the arts. I'm currently doing GCSE Biology and then intending to do A level in Human Biology at my local college in September ready for 2011 entry.
I was going to do OU, but just want to actually have human contact with a teacher this time. I already have an Diploma in HE Antenatal Education with the University of Bedford which was pretty much self directed and hard work that way, so you might also want to consider if you're happy to work alone with a "cyber-tutor" or need face to face contact with a weekly class.

I'm happy with self directed learning, but decided to give myself a break from my kitchen table once a week

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Student midwife wannabee, NCT antenatal teacher and doula; applying to Oxford Brookes, Coventry, Bedford (had interview, now waiting) and Northampton (had interview, now waiting) for 2011 and mama to three gorgeous rugrats!