[Joseph-]

I have a rough idea of what to do after a levels, i am interested in medicine, an also engineering, i cant choose which one?

I have currently applied for physics, maths, chemistry, and DT.

But i heard if u want to do medicine you also need biology ?

should i replace DT for biology? or would all three sciences be too much work for a level?
i know you could drop after AS - e.g. i do all three sciences and then i choose physics or biology after the first year to carry on with.

What do you guys think? should i stick with DT or will biology be too much work?

i have the grades to do all of these subjects so theres no problem getting in.

[lsaul95]

(Original post by Joseph-)
-

Hey man,

Future medicine applicant here so I'm going to be very one-sided on my questions as I know nothing about Engineering admissions.
You don't necessarily NEED biology at A-level, there are ways around it, however it will dramatically reduce the amount of Universities you can apply to for medicine.
Check this out - Medical School A-Level Requirements

Few questions to really get you thinking about medical applications, too many people don't understand the process and choose it as a possible degree because it 'sounds good' (I'm not saying you're one of these, I'm just making sure you know your stuff and aren't just thinking of medicine for the sake of it)...
Why do you want to study medicine?
What extra curricular activities do you do?
What work experience do you have/have planned in medicine?

[myyrh]

(Original post by Joseph-)
I have a rough idea of what to do after a levels, i am interested in medicine, an also engineering, i cant choose which one?

I have currently applied for physics, maths, chemistry, and DT.

But i heard if u want to do medicine you also need biology ?

should i replace DT for biology? or would all three sciences be too much work for a level?
i know you could drop after AS - e.g. i do all three sciences and then i choose physics or biology after the first year to carry on with.

What do you guys think? should i stick with DT or will biology be too much work?

i have the grades to do all of these subjects so theres no problem getting in.

Correct me if I'm wrong but Maths, Further Maths and Physics is more important to engineering than a subject like DT. Like lsaul95 said, it would be beneficial to take Biology at least to AS.

With medicine it's not just about the grades. It's not uncommon to see applicants with 11A* and AAAA at AS to get rejected from all their choices.

[Joseph-]

(Original post by lsaul95)
Hey man,

Future medicine applicant here so I'm going to be very one-sided on my questions as I know nothing about Engineering admissions.
You don't necessarily NEED biology at A-level, there are ways around it, however it will dramatically reduce the amount of Universities you can apply to for medicine.
Check this out - Medical School A-Level Requirements

Few questions to really get you thinking about medical applications, too many people don't understand the process and choose it as a possible degree because it 'sounds good' (I'm not saying you're one of these, I'm just making sure you know your stuff and aren't just thinking of medicine for the sake of it)...
Why do you want to study medicine?
What extra curricular activities do you do?
What work experience do you have/have planned in medicine?

ok, thanks for the reply.

so do you think it will be too much work if i took biology up to at least AS?

[Joseph-]

(Original post by myyrh)
Correct me if I'm wrong but Maths, Further Maths and Physics is more important to engineering than a subject like DT. Like lsaul95 said, it would be beneficial to take Biology at least to AS.

With medicine it's not just about the grades. It's not uncommon to see applicants with 11A* and AAAA at AS to get rejected from all their choices.

whats further maths like? maths is my strongest subject in school.

Ever since i was young i was interested in how things work, and the reasons for why they work, so thats why im looking into engineering.

[GreenLantern1]

sorry to intrude on your thread OP, but I was thinking of doing Medicine if I don't end up doing maths.

My A-Levels will be:

Maths
Further Maths
Additional Further Maths
Chemistry
Physics
ICT (AS)

Am I hugely disadvantaged by not doing Biology as I do still have all the other science A-Levels. And also would it be alright if by the end of Year 12 I dropped a subject and took up AS Biology. Would that help?

[myyrh]

(Original post by Joseph-)
whats further maths like? maths is my strongest subject in school.
Sorry I don't know because I only did Maths.

Ever since i was young i was interested in how things work, and the reasons for why they work, so thats why im looking into engineering.

(Original post by GreenLantern1)
sorry to intrude on your thread OP, but I was thinking of doing Medicine if I don't end up doing maths.

My A-Levels will be:

Maths
Further Maths
Additional Further Maths
Chemistry
Physics
ICT (AS)

Am I hugely disadvantaged by not doing Biology as I do still have all the other science A-Levels. And also would it be alright if by the end of Year 12 I dropped a subject and took up AS Biology. Would that help?

Well you have to keep in mind that most medical schools will not count Maths and further Maths as two separate A levels. Having said that, taking AS Biology in year 13 will widen your options a lot and allow you to choose from more universities.

[<XOXO>]

Hey,

I think to actually answer your question you are going to have to choose between medicine and engineering. I know its tough but you will have to bite the bullet sometime and soon is better than later as its important to get relevant experience in each field. Have a long think about it this summer, doing pros and cons.
For medicine: i would recommend chem, bio, physics/maths/DT - bio isn't essential but it limits your uni options and there is a lot of A level bio in medicine at uni
For engineering: Maths, chem, physics and further
But its up to you. To be able to truly decided between med/eng do work experience, talk to students at uni, think about what career you want, talk to teacher etc.

[GreenLantern1]

(Original post by myyrh)
Well you have to keep in mind that most medical schools will not count Maths and further Maths as two separate A levels. Having said that, taking AS Biology in year 13 will widen your options a lot and allow you to choose from more universities.

Would Maths Further Maths and Additional Further Maths be looked upon as 2? See for maths to do all 3 is obviously a rally good choice, but I do understand medical schools prefer more of a range. I am more interested in the likes of Oxbridge and noticed they don't require biology as strictly as other op medical schools and seem to be happy with other sciences. Would doing Biology AS in Year 13 be acceptable then?

And also.... I would still have Maths, Chemistry, Physics and ICT which are 4 A-Levels if Further Maths and Additional Further Maths were to be ignored so I am not worried about that!

[myyrh]

(Original post by GreenLantern1)
Would Maths Further Maths and Additional Further Maths be looked upon as 2? See for maths to do all 3 is obviously a rally good choice, but I do understand medical schools prefer more of a range. I am more interested in the likes of Oxbridge and noticed they don't require biology as strictly as other op medical schools and seem to be happy with other sciences. Would doing Biology AS in Year 13 be acceptable then?

And also.... I would still have Maths, Chemistry, Physics and ICT which are 4 A-Levels if Further Maths and Additional Further Maths were to be ignored so I am not worried about that!

Pretty sure it would still count as one subject but you should double check. Well the thing is Oxbridge will be one of your 4 possible choices so you still could struggle to find medical schools which you would want to apply to without AS Biology. Doing AS Biology during year 13 is perfectly acceptable.

[GreenLantern1]

(Original post by myyrh)
Pretty sure it would still count as one subject but you should double check. Well the thing is Oxbridge will be one of your 4 possible choices so you still could struggle to find medical schools which you would want to apply to without AS Biology. Doing AS Biology during year 13 is perfectly acceptable.

Cheers!

[lsaul95]

(Original post by Joseph-)
ok, thanks for the reply.

so do you think it will be too much work if i took biology up to at least AS?

In my opinion, I think you should drop DT and take Biology instead.
It will really widen your choices for medicine and as far as im aware (I have done some research), Engineering only requires Maths A-Level, with most universities asking for Physics as well.
I would recommend at least taking Biology up to AS as that will be far better for you for medicine.
Like myyrh said though, it's not all about grades for medicine, full A* students get rejected from not having enough work experience/voluntary work, etc.

Have you sorted out any work experience? Done any volunteering?

I'm not trying to lecture you, I think medicine is a fantastic career and if you're interested in it I want to help you give yourself the best possible chance of getting in!

[Jam']

DT sticks out like a sore thumb not looking particularly favourable ... Biol would be better

[Joseph-]

(Original post by lsaul95)
In my opinion, I think you should drop DT and take Biology instead.
It will really widen your choices for medicine and as far as im aware (I have done some research), Engineering only requires Maths A-Level, with most universities asking for Physics as well.
I would recommend at least taking Biology up to AS as that will be far better for you for medicine.
Like myyrh said though, it's not all about grades for medicine, full A* students get rejected from not having enough work experience/voluntary work, etc.

Have you sorted out any work experience? Done any volunteering?

I'm not trying to lecture you, I think medicine is a fantastic career and if you're interested in it I want to help you give yourself the best possible chance of getting in!

thank you so much for your advice, and to be honest i think your right, but my teachers are telling me how it's too much work is what put me off, i want to do all the sciences along with maths, they will allow me to do it.

do you think it will be too much work to handle? im wanting to get A's at a level, so i need your help there.

Medicine looks really interesting.

i am doing voluntary work at british heart foundation charity,
and also i am going to apply for great ormond street for work experience (my dads friend works there)

and this way i have a choice after AS, if im wanting to go with mediine, drop physics or if im wanting to go with engineering, drop biology?

thanks.

[lsaul95]

(Original post by Joseph-)
thank you so much for your advice, and to be honest i think your right, but my teachers are telling me how it's too much work is what put me off, i want to do all the sciences along with maths, they will allow me to do it.

do you think it will be too much work to handle? im wanting to get A's at a level, so i need your help there.

Medicine looks really interesting.

i am doing voluntary work at british heart foundation charity,
and also i am going to apply for great ormond street for work experience (my dads friend works there)

and this way i have a choice after AS, if im wanting to go with mediine, drop physics or if im wanting to go with engineering, drop biology?

thanks.

See you sound like you know what you're doing however the teachers at your school are telling you absolute rubbish. If there's one piece of advice I can give you is not to ask teachers about what is best for your career, their information will either be outdated or absolute nonsense. It's not the case for every single teacher, however most think they know what's best when they really don't. Every A-level is a lot of work, in biology there is a lot of content, but it's the same with all subjects; if you sit down and do the work you'll be fine.

If you want to do the three sciences and maths then take them, don't listen to your teachers.

Good, you're on the right track! Well it's up to you, you can take physics to full A-level and drop biology for medicine as well if you prefer physics, then at least you'd have bio to AS, which a lot of Universities accept. But of course taking it to full A2 will give you the best shot at most uni's.

You seem to know what you're doing, any other questions you have, ask them on here because the people on here really know their stuff, as I have found out.

[Joseph-]

(Original post by lsaul95)
See you sound like you know what you're doing however the teachers at your school are telling you absolute rubbish. If there's one piece of advice I can give you is not to ask teachers about what is best for your career, their information will either be outdated or absolute nonsense. It's not the case for every single teacher, however most think they know what's best when they really don't. Every A-level is a lot of work, in biology there is a lot of content, but it's the same with all subjects; if you sit down and do the work you'll be fine.

If you want to do the three sciences and maths then take them, don't listen to your teachers.

Good, you're on the right track! Well it's up to you, you can take physics to full A-level and drop biology for medicine as well if you prefer physics, then at least you'd have bio to AS, which a lot of Universities accept. But of course taking it to full A2 will give you the best shot at most uni's.

You seem to know what you're doing, any other questions you have, ask them on here because the people on here really know their stuff, as I have found out.

thanks alot again lol

what do you think of further maths?

[lsaul95]

(Original post by Joseph-)
thanks alot again lol

what do you think of further maths?

For medicine, not required at all and some medical schools don't count it since it's an overlapping subject. (For example Zoo Biology, Sports Science, etc would be an overlapping subject of Biology, Further maths overlaps with maths... You get the point )
Very helpful for an engineering application. If you were definitely going to do engineering I'd take Further Maths instead of DT/Bio.

To keep your options fully open to both, I would advise Bio, Chem, Maths + Physics.
It's best to keep your options open because you might change your mind of what career you want to go into during the 2 years of A-levels, a few of my friends did and they are having to restart AS levels with different subjects because they chose subjects that limited them, and weren't able to get in to their desired course with their current A-levels.