Academics & Dyslexia: Tips & Advice for Higher Education

[Luke c]

hey guys new to the forum so hi! Name is Luke from uk aged 25. Nice to meet you. Wondering if you would be kind enough to help me. i would love to one day study at a top university. I love science and history. Such a shame I have to choose but physics is where I enjoy the most. I didn't do great in school. I have dyslexia and I also had a lot of personal issues at the time. I would love another shot to prove a disability can't hold me back. I've signed up to redo my mathes, science and english at GCSE. Where would I go from there? A college degree? I Know physics is a ridiculously hard subject to learn but I am willing to give it my all. Is there any thing I can do while I wait for my GCSEs in sept and what other qualifications do I need? Any tips, advice would help so much. Books, tapes etc. courses. I know what I want to do but not where to start. Point me in right depiction please! Many thanks!

 

[phinds]

Sounds like you're on the right track. I don't think physics is "a ridiculously hard subject to learn" unless you really have a problem with math. If you like science, physics is fun. Where you go after your current plan depends on how well you do. You might find out that math is easy for you now or you might find that it's hard. That will have a big impact on what you do after you find that out.

 

[Luke c]

Sounds like you're on the right track. I don't think physics is "a ridiculously hard subject to learn" unless you really have a problem with math. If you like science, physics is fun. Where you go after your current plan depends on how well you do. You might find out that math is easy for you now or you might find that it's hard. That will have a big impact on what you do after you find that out.

Thanks for the reply! Well I can give it my all. If I am not smart enough at least I never quit :)

 

[axmls]

Universities (at least here in the US, and I'm sure in the UK as well) are, I believe, required to make accomodations during testing for students with disabilities. All you need to focus on is working hard and developing your passion for physics. If you took a calculus course in the past, then see if you can pick up from there. Even algebra will be important. Refresh your memory on algebra, trig, etc. Khan Academy can help (though there are better places to learn). The only thing "hard" about physics is that many people are used to subjects that they can just learn by memorizing facts. Physics uses math, which takes a lot of practice. Not necessarily innate intelligence, but a lot of practice.

It's like a former calculus teacher told us. If you're in history, and you didn't learn about the 1500s, you can still probably do well learning about the 1600s, but in math, if you don't know the things that come first, you won't get anywhere.

So make sure you're comfortable with the basics, and let the schooling take it from there.