Relevance of Methods in University Science Courses

[Christiano]

Hey peeps, I'm currently selecting the subjects for next year, and all of them have been locked in except methods .. I'd like to do a science course, particularly in the fields of molecular biology and genetics. I love science, but I'm really struggling in methods though, and I've never hated anything so much in my life. To be honest, I'm a pretty consistent A+ grade student, except for methods, which, I have gotten in the range of D's - E's, including one UG for my assessments. I'm really lazy in it, and I only realize now how much time and effort I have to put it into it, however, I believe it may already be too late to catch up, in terms of how to analyse and process questions and apply relevant techniques and terminology ..

The only reason why I chose to do it, is as a prerequisite for some high-end courses such as science @ UoM. What is the relevance, in terms of how much it is used, of methods in science courses in general? Some science courses don't require methods, but will I be disadvantaged if I don't do it?

Is it possible to choose a course in science that doesn't require methods, then transfer to UoM in the second year or something? The reason for that is, UoM has genetic engineering, which I have a great interest for.

Also, how hard is it to get a 25 in methods (minimum SS prerequisite)? Further just seems so much easier to understand ..

Thanks in advance. Some of you probably remember me rambling near the start of the year about dropping methods .. and now its crunch time.

[98.40_for_sure]

Methods is way more fun than further... and 25 in methods is easily achievable for anyone. You don't wanna regret dropping it, so play it safe, be a man and lock it in!

[Russ]

It is relevant. You mention genetic engineering (which isn't a Science major at UoM, not sure where you're getting that from?), I'm a genetics major and mathematical knowledge is used. Not every day or in every prac session, but it does keep coming up - one example is recombination frequencies being represented by a Poisson distribution. It's not a big deal if you're not that great at maths, but knowing the basics is pretty important. Personally, I think that you'd be able to work it out as you went (in genetics) but it's a requirement because it's generally important.

[slothpomba]

I was doing exactly the same you were in methods and i chose it only as a prereq too... but i think really its silly to drop it. You should keep it... unlocks so many more options and if you put in extra work who knows you might get 25 which isnt that hard (maybe).

Anyway theres really not much advantage in dropping it since so many other science courses need methods so i say keep it.

[Christiano]

A factor that I'm considering whether to choose methods or not is the actually difficulty of it in yr 12 .. Teachers tell me it'll only get harder, whereas students tell me it gets easier than year 11. Considering I have a lack of foundation (with scores in the 25%-60% range), would it still be relatively easy (as compared to further) to get a 25?

[Russ]

In my opinion, yes (to the 25).

From back when I did it, 3/4 was very similar to 1/2, just taking the concepts further. Even if you didn't do well in year 11, you should be able to survive. Over the summer break, do the revision if you're committed.

[jimmy999]

The first topic is going over functions, graphs, exponentials/logs and trigonometry. Most of that content is just the year 11 stuff so it's simple. It's not even until unit 4 that you learn proper new things

[qshyrn]

id think methods is basic maths which  is essential for anny university science course.  most things in science are expressed MATHEMATICALLy

[AzureBlue]

From MUMS Paradox: In University, mathematics is broadly split into four fields: pure mathematics, applied mathematics, statistics and operations research. If you’re a first year, fresh out of high school (to whom this article is mostly targeted), there’s a good chance that the only two fields of mathematics that you’re familiar with are Specialist Mathematics and Mathematical Methods. Which to be quite frank are the most useless titles for subjects ever. You might as well have called them Maths and Harder Maths. There’s nothing particularly special or methodical about either. High school has hardly prepared you for the diversity and broad utility of university mathematics.

[AzureBlue]

From MUMS Paradox: the only two fields of mathematics that you’re familiar with are Specialist Mathematics and Mathematical Methods. Which to be quite frank are the most useless titles for subjects ever. You might as well have called them Maths and Harder Maths. There’s nothing particularly special or methodical about either.

AHAHAHA +1, where's the link?

http://www.ms.unimelb.edu.au/~mums/paradox/archive/p10-1.pdf

[TrueLight]

if its a prereq then keep it

i hated methods so much... and was getting around ur scores.. failed quite a few sacs and redid them
but ended up getting 29... this was in 2006 so it was the first year of the new study design so it was an easier exam then expected...

having some type of maths ability is good in science but to be honest... i don't really use maths that often in molecular bio type subjects and even if there was maths its easy maths ... statistics or like chemistry formulas.. concentrations or calculating titres or volumes and percentages etc..... like heck i don't even remember anything from methods lol

[ryley]

Don't stress about your scores in year 11 methods, I floated in that big 35-75% territory for year 11 and I ended doing fine in methods. If your ever gonna pick a subject for anyone reason but "I find it interesting", its methods. In opens up an incredible number of courses, and even if you don't wanna major in maths for a science degree, you'll still probably do a maths subject at some point.

If you THINK THERE'S ANY CHANCE you might wanna do science, just pick it and aim for that prereq!

[Christiano]

What's the average SAC marks and exam score to achieve a 25?