Planning

The university have put the module descriptions and timetables online (eventually) and being a chronic lister, planner type I have been reading over them endlessly.

Being as the degree I'll be doing is two subjects I have 2 basic choices in how I go about this. Option 1, which I think I'm going with for year 1 at the least, is 50/50. Option 2 is 75/25. * There are advantages and disadvantages of both, as best I can tell (though I'm sure come induction they'll tell me a few more), and as long as you have the appropriate modules you can change from 50/50 to 75/25 and vice versa. So at the moment I'm thinking the best approach is to go with the 50/50 and if at the end of the year I really really want to do more of one I can, and otherwise I stay 50/50.
The main disadvantage is that starting with 50/50 means obviously less modules taken in each subject so my options in year 2 and 3 are in both a bit limited (more so in Zoology it has to be said), its not impossible but it does mean that I am unlikely to get to play with bugs. However, the module that interests me most of all is in the third year and has no pre-requisites (oh yes I've read that far ahead!). The second disadvantage is that because Zoology has three mandatory modules (one of which is chemistry-oh how I have cried) I only get to pick one optional one-which is going to be either Ecology or Human Biology. And is probably likely to be the former.
The advantage conversely is that by having my second subject as joint to start with rather than a minor I get to do some interesting modules, the two mandatory modules (that would take up my whole minor selection) are okay sounding, but not quite as interesting as some of the others sound. And at least this way I'm giving both subjects a fair chance.

The other thing I have found out, that I hadn't even considered might happen (how dense am I?!) is that one of my classes is in the evening. I assumed, very naively it seems, that the evening slots were predominantly for people doing part time studies. Luckily the mother unit is willing to have the small shouty person overnight, but I'd be stuffed if she wasn't (especially since I haven't got a childcare grant, because I haven't got a fee loan for this year...a rant of epic proportions).

Third thing that I've realised is that even with car sharing I am going to be spending about 60£ a month on travel (I've never so wanted so wanted someone to be in the same place as me at the same time so much as I do now!). If I wasn't getting lifts it'd be over 100£. Eek!







*There is also option 3 which is essentially 37.5/37.5/25, but I don't think that would work very well for my subjects (plus I can't imagine an appropriate third). I can imagine it working very well if you were doing say English/History/Education.