Duality

Thanks for the reply Sysco. I'm in QLD, which I suppose limits my choices a bit. I'm fairly sure I'll end up studying at the University of Queensland because outside of Bond or something similar (that I can't afford) it seems to be the best around. I appreciate the input though, the bridging course I'm taking is run by my current university and is recognised by UQ apparently. As a bit of an update, I'm also considering environmental science or something similar. I have a very strong interest in environmental problems/solutions and so forth, although I'm reluctant to take a degree that specialises in environmental science. I kind of fear that it will be a bit of a 'weak' science degree. What I mean is it may be more general knowledge, or common knowledge anyone could pick up on-the-job rather than the 'hard' science. Could somebody correct me on this or am I right? Because I'm guessing if I really wanted I could just do something like biology or chemistry, then apply that to environmental problems and still have other 'school-based' specialisations to fall back on. Even so, as I said, I really have an interest in physics. But I do wonder if I'm being childish there, I mean I've never really done physics. I love the picture physics creates of the world and I love how fundamental it is, plus quantum mechanics is one of the most interesting areas I've ever read about. Whether I can take that into a career though is beyond me... Lack of experience, math/physics skill and lack of knowledge about careers for physicists may derail the idea.

Thankyou for the input and advice. I hope more will come soon (especially from Australians with similar experiences!). I think I should be alright if I apply myself to whatever I'm doing, of course planning that is the easy part. Doing the hard work day to day is much more difficult. To give a bit more information out, the courses are not at the same university I'd be studying at. Which is sad, but hey what are you going to do? I'm sure as hell not doing science at my current uni again! Worst. Lecturers. Ever. Amongst other resource problems. Additionally I have heard of courses similar to those 'foundation' degrees or courses. The problem with those (for me) is time. From what I've seen they're very solid sources of information and practice, but take 6 to 12 months to complete. I'm looking at doing this stuff over the (rapidly approaching!) summer period here so that I'll be ready for semester 1, 2009's late offers. The uni I'm going to won't actually let me in without these skills in the first place, so it's going to be a very tight squeeze to get in. Hope that's not too much rambling! I'm excited about it all but fairly worried. I mean, I'm pretty bad at math and I want to do physics? Ergh. Well, perhaps that's an unfair assessment. I'm pretty uneducated when it comes to math, and out of practice because of that/a lack of use in daily life or course work. I don't think I'm actually bad at it, hell, I could do calculus at some point... A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.

Hi everyone, nice to find a forum like this. I hope it is alright to ask for help on these boards because I really need it! I'm a university student in Australia completing an Arts degree, but I'm looking to move into either a pure science degree (after I graduate) or shift to a dual science/arts degree very soon. Now, this is hard to explain without going on for 3 pages but I've done science at uni before and been 'floored' by it. I was forced into doing it, I hated the uni I was at/areas I was studying and I had no grounding in physics, math or chem from highschool so I failed a lot of it and left. The thing is, now that I've been doing other things for a long time I've actually wanted to go back to science! Egh! However obviously my math, physics and chem problems remain and they're serious because things like physics interest me the most! What I really want to know is how worthwhile bridging courses are for entry into university level science. I have some on offer at my current university and they're starting within the next couple of weeks, for math, chem AND physics which is great for me. However I'm worried that I'll do them and still get screwed by science once I actually get in. Does anybody have experience with a situation like this? I really, really want to do science and I'm willing to work hard at it, but I'd like to get an idea of how much bridging courses actually bridge the gap! It's a fairly big decision for me. I'm already 21 and I feel like I'm getting too old to be starting a degree (queue laughter from older folks? ) and I can't afford to really make the wrong decision. However, I don't believe my current degree alone will lead to anything and my interest in it wanes. Does anyone have an opinion about my situation?