The biological sciences degree at Oxford consists of a first year
course, which aims to briefly cover all of life. In the second and
third years you can choose the subjects that interest you the most from
the available five options. There are continuous tutorials and classes
to supplement the course, and there are also field trips occurring with
some of the options. An undergraduate project, extended essays and
practicals also accompany biological sciences studies. As I am in my
second year I am taking three options, although the option that I am
finding the most interesting is the biology of plant and animal
disease, especially as it covers some aspects of human immunology and
disease.
I consider studying biology at this college to be a great privilege, as
we have good access to all of the resources that we need; we have a
good library that is constantly being updated and the biology tutors
here are well-experienced and very helpful. The current tutors are
David Roberts (tutoring genetics), Andrew Smith (plant biochemistry)
and Andreas Russ (biochemistry). The college has been amazing in
providing financial help with the costs of the two field trips that I
have been on. An additional advantage to biology at Magdalen College is
that there is always someone to talk to if there are any problems. I
have found that the jump from A-levels to a degree has been difficult,
but the tutors and the college have managed well to make it as easy as
possible. Magdalen also offers an annual biology black tie dinner for
all of the students and tutors here, which always proves very
entertaining!
Being interviewed for a place in the college is not as scary as would
be expected, my only advice to those of you interviewing here is to
relax, be yourself and allow your interest for (certain areas of)
biology to come through. If you don’t know the answer to a question,
tell the tutors so that they can move onto a subject that you can talk
about (I had to say that in my interview, and it didn’t do any lasting
damage!). Try to enjoy the interviews, it is possible, I promise!
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