Why I chose to study Maths at Birmingham

Choosing what to do next after Sixth Form was a big decision and took a lot of thought! I am going to run through my decision-making process, which led me to choose to study Maths at Birmingham.

I began by looking at what the options for university were. I looked at prospectuses from universities around the country and read as much information as I could on their websites. These allowed me to form initial opinions on what did and didn’t interest me. When there are so many options, starting with what you definitely would not like can really help narrow it down.

After getting this overview, I considered what subject I wanted to study. This was a part of the process I found easier. I studied Maths, Further Maths, Chemistry and Music at A Level, and found that the maths subjects were simply what I enjoyed the most! I explored which courses involved maths, including any joint honours courses, and decided that I would prefer to focus on just one subject and chose to apply for BSc Mathematics courses. Maths has so much variety, and this is something I have really appreciated during my degree.

A frequently asked question is whether you need A Level Further Maths to study a maths degree. The answer is no - you do not need Further Maths, and will not be assumed to know any topics in it. You will find that topics are structured and taught differently in a maths degree, and you will cover A Level topics from both Maths and Further Maths in a new way anyway.

Now for what I found the more difficult bit – choosing which five universities to put onto my UCAS shortlist. My main difficulty with this was that there are many very good universities in the UK, and almost all of them offer Maths! As a result, I focused on the university as a whole rather than the course. Another reason to do this is that ultimately, whatever course you choose to take, you are spending at least 3 years of your life there, so it is important that you enjoy being at the university and in the area day to day.

Therefore, if you can visit universities in person, whether through an Open Day, Offer Holder Visit Day, or of your own accord, I strongly recommend you do. Guided tours are very helpful to find your bearings, but I found just as much value from exploring by myself and getting a feel for the atmosphere of a place in general.

I visited Birmingham on the Offer Holder Visit Day, and this really swayed my opinion in favour of Birmingham. In the morning, I took part in activities including talks, a campus tour and a small-group workshop. I found this event so useful to find out information and get a taste of what being at university is like. These events run in February to April, make sure you book your spot in one if you receive an offer for a Maths course at Birmingham!

In the afternoon, during the time before my train home, I took the opportunity to walk around campus, look at accommodation and go to Selly Oak where most people live in later years. I felt really welcomed by the environment of the University and the campus is lovely. Throughout the day, particularly when I was in the School of Maths, I found everyone to be very friendly and answered all my questions clearly. This is something that has continued throughout my time at Birmingham too.

After visiting Birmingham and another university, I took some time to weigh up my decision, before choosing to put Birmingham as my firm choice on UCAS. This meant I could apply for accommodation with a guarantee that I would receive a room. On A Level results day, I found out I had met the entry requirements and my place at Birmingham was confirmed!

Looking back now, I am really pleased I chose to study a maths degree at Birmingham. I have gained so many skills from the course, particularly in how I communicate my ideas and how I approach complex problems. I have had a fantastic time at UOB and have had the opportunity to get involved in many new activities, making friends along the way.