well... a lot has changed since the last time I posted.

I'm now no longer going to do forensics, yes i do still find it hugely interesting, but i love working in care SO much...

so...

I'm starting Learning Disability Nurse training in 2 weeks! OMG it's all happened so quickly, I hadn't even applied 2 months ago and now I'm starting in less than a fortnight!

I've handed in my notice at work and everything, I'm staying on for bank shifts, as there are ALWAYS shifts needing covered, and with all the training I've done that's so specific to the unit i work in, it'd be silly not to, but it's all be a bit of a whirlwind this past month!

I am so excited, I'm really happy about this decision - I'm going to be going to Glasgow Caledonian... it's the only Uni this side of scotland that offers the learning disabilities branch, it's fortunate that although it is a good 1.5hrs on the bus to get there, it is just ONE bus, and thankfully a lot of the L/D placements are quite close to me, and not all up in Glasgow!

well, i put in an acceptance to UWS Paisley to study Forensic Science!

yeah there's still a part of me which still thinks I should have gone for Glasgow Caledonian, but the most part of me said UWS, so I went for UWS suppose the thing that swung it the most was the option of gaining a year's job-based experience before graduating.

I am so amazingly excited that I really cannot explain it

well... I had a feeling I'd do this - typical to me, I have changed my mind!

it happened after me and paul had had a bit of a tiff, nothing major, and for some reason I got to thinking "this is stupid, the whole reason I applied for Forensics in the first place was because it's something I want to do and not something I feel I should do.... and here I am on the verge of accepting an offer to a uni I feel I should go to rather than the one i want to go to!"

soooo... I am going to take up the offer from UWS Paisley! I just got such a good vibe from there and the course is quite a bit more 'hands on' where you're also taught about the correct methods in collecting evidence, as well as analysing it. OK so they don't have a DNA sequencer, but that's only a very small part of it all. I love how the course is designed for Forensic Scientists by Forensic Scientists, how they have guest lecturers, hands on workshops, and probably most importantly, the oppertunity to go out for a year's paid placement to gain valuable 'in the real world' experience! I've always been a very 'hands on' type of girl, all my jobs have been very physical and so has my education since leaving school, lots of 'doing' rather than just sitting in a classroom making notes, it's the sort of learning I'm used to and feel works well for me.

I'm really glad now that I held off in putting my decision in, I knew I was hesitant about doing it for some reason...

yes it is going to be more trouble getting there, I'm going to have to take the car as public transport will take me over 2 hours each way, but this is going to be my last shot at going, so I'm gonna darn well make sure I'm doing what I want to do, and where I want to do it!

though I'm still not going to put in my decision just yet, just incase I change my mind... again

as anticipated, I have had an Unconditional offer from UWS Hamilton , they do recommend chemistry summer school but it is not compulsory.

so now it's big decision time!

at the mo as it stands, first choice is Glasgow Caledonian with UWS Hamilton as insurance, all the Uni's have their pros and cons, but I think Glasgow just pips the others to the line.

Glasgow Caledonian -
Pros: bus straight up, access to DNA sequencer and world DNA expert, links to community, broad spectrum course covering all aspects of forensics making for better career prospects, highly acclaimed Uni with a very good reputation
Cons: don't really get into the Biology until 3rd year, very lab/chemistry based..

UWS Paisley -
Pros: more 'active' course - training in field work as well as lab work, workshops run by forensic scientists, choice of a year's placement
Cons: travel a bugger, less equipment than GCU, spending valuable Uni time training in field work which you don't need a uni degree to do, no DNA sequencer, no guarantee of where placement will be or what i'd be doing.

UWS Hamilton -
Pros: biology based course, recently refurbished labs with a lot of new equipment, very flexible course structure, 3 month placement in yr3
Cons: travel not as simple as to GCU, being biology based limits career prospects at the end, placement wouldn't be in forensics, no DNA sequencer

so so far, GCU is my first choice- who knows what aspect of forensics I'll really get into? and at GCU, they cover just about anything and everything lab based - guy at the open day already said you only need GCSE's to train to do field work so why spend valuable uni time studying something that you can pick up afterwards in a matter of weeks on the job training? field work really is just about collecting evidence and not much more... and the like with fingerprints, can be trained in that in a matter of weeks.

I know I mention the DNA sequencer a lot, but this is important to me because that's what I'm really interested in, seems to be one of the only Unis that actually has one! in the end, I want to have a broad spectrum course behind me so that I can be flexible in my career choice.

fingers crossed everything goes OK and I pass the summer school - this is what I'll be doing at Uni

Year 1 semester 1:
Introduction to Forensic Science
Human Biology
Buisness Law
Year 1 semester 2:
Forensic Investigation
Chemistry
General Psychology

Year 2 semester 1:
Forensic Spectroscopy
Introduction to Microbiology
Civil and Criminal Procedure
Year 2 semester 2:
Organic Chemistry
The Gene
Forensic Inorganic Chemistry

Year 3 semester 1:
Instrumental Analytical Chemistry
Essential Molecular Biology
Fire, Explosion nd Chemical Hazards
Year 3 semester 2:
Forensic Microscopy
Forensic Analysis
Research Methods for Forensic Investigation

Year 4 semster 1:
The Analysis of Food and Environmental Samples
Advanced Forensic Microscopy
Research Project
Year 4 semester 2:
Advanced Forensic Biology (inc DNA Profiling)
Toxicology
Research Project

Year 4 also a workshop on Molecular Biology