Name: Nat Young.
What Subjects Did You Study?:
I left Birkenhead School in 2004, having gained four A’s and a B at AS and two
A’s and a B at A Level. This combined with many extra curricular activities was
fortunately good enough to get me into Durham University to study Geography.
When I look back at my years at Birkenhead School, it is with a great deal of
respect and the knowledge of how lucky I really was.
During my lower sixth year I took Maths, Geography, Art and Product Design.
Technology as we preferred to call it provided excellent facilities for a
student to show their creative side.
What Does the Product Design Course at AS and A2 Involve?: The step up from GCSE was noticeable but manageable, with new design packages and problems being thrown at you. Making the projects at both AS and A-Level were possibly the best times for me in an academic sense. Going through the stages of brainstorming, research, modelling, further research, design and eventually manufacture gave you hands on experience of what industry is like. The facilities provided allowed an extremely wide array of possibilities; this combined with the good class size allowed a lot of one on one time with the teaching staff, all combining to produce an excellent department. During my lower and upper sixth years, I enjoyed the subject more and more as we progressed through; due to my growth in both knowledge and the relationship between my classmates and staff.
Product Design Exam:
The coursework part of the subject unfortunately was only part of the course, as
with everything nowadays exams were inevitable. This I would say provided the
hardest part of the course, as the coursework was difficult but could be worked
out over time and on a bad day an exam can go badly wrong. Luckily I did well in
both and managed an A at both levels. Overall I would recommend the subject to
anyone; in particular the hands on experience and planning skills the course
provide have been invaluable to me.
I am currently in my Easter vacation in my second year. Durham is fantastic with
both an excellent academic and sporting front. I have really enjoyed my time
here so far. Geography here is a very high standard possibly the best in the
country; making some of the work I do very challenging but still enjoyable.
Socially, as with all Uni’s is a good laugh, with many drunken evenings with
friends. I would urge anyone to come up and have look around and wherever you
end up going get involved in as much as possible. I have just come back from my
college rugby tour to Malta, and I’m off to the Lake District for a week long
field trip to the Lake District. Through both academic and sporting or other
club activities you get the chance to travel. In September I’m off to Iceland to
get the ground data needed for my dissertation, then at Christmas off to France
skiing with the Uni, then possibly off to Hong Kong for our rugby tour next
year.
Career Aspirations:
I plan to go traveling for a few months after working to raise money, then try
and get on to a good graduate scheme such as Pricewater House Coopers. This will
give me the experience needed for a job I would really enjoy. The best piece of
advice I could offer anyone either considering doing AS/A2 Technology, or
considering University is do things that you are interested in and enjoy.
Cheers
Nat
