[hashman27]

(Original post by Siraj)
Hey,

I'm currently taking the 3 scis and maths at AS, and am hoping on doing medicine at uni. Just wondering if it'll look better to do maths/physics at A2, I know they aren't requirements, and it won't make a massive difference, but which one would you advise?

Thanks

It depends on the university you're applying to. For example, if they want Physics at A2, then take physics obviously.

In my experience, they aren't too fussed as long as you get an A or A*.

If you check the uni websites and you still aren't sure which to take, just take whatever you are 100% sure you'll get an A or A*.

I did maths only up to GCSE, and believe me, you don't need an entire maths A-level to be able to cope at uni.

There are statistics that you have to learn...so I just went and learned them. I didnt go and do a maths A-level beforehand :P

[Millyshyn]

Does it matter a lot if I don't get straight A's in my AS levels? I'm doing 5 and now that my exams are such a short time away I'm worried I won't do as well as I'd like to! I heard you don't have to declare your AS grades as long as you have AAA predictions which I'm sure I'll have.

Also, this is very important to me:
I'm taking an AS in Fine Art all on my own, without much teacher help, doing it all in my own time. I was going to put in my PS that it proves that I'm very self motivated. However, I want to focus on my exams (been stupid and decided to resit a module i already got 88% ums in.. my parents paid late fees for me to enter so ill feel guilty if i dont do well) and haven't really done enough work for my art potrfolio. If I get, let's say a C instead of the A/B I ws hoping for, will I have to tell the university my grade? Or can I still say it is evidence for my self-motivation without telling them my potentially rubbish grade? I don't have a lot of ECs so it's just really worrying me! please please reply, i'm having a HUGE dialemma at the moment about whether to work for my exams or try and do as much Art coursework as possible!

the deadline for my art work is 14th May, first exam is on the 15th and it's the chem resit.

[Vulpes]

(Original post by Millyshyn)
Does it matter a lot if I don't get straight A's in my AS levels? I'm doing 5 and now that my exams are such a short time away I'm worried I won't do as well as I'd like to! I heard you don't have to declare your AS grades as long as you have AAA predictions which I'm sure I'll have.

Also, this is very important to me:
I'm taking an AS in Fine Art all on my own, without much teacher help, doing it all in my own time. I was going to put in my PS that it proves that I'm very self motivated. However, I want to focus on my exams (been stupid and decided to resit a module i already got 88% ums in.. my parents paid late fees for me to enter so ill feel guilty if i dont do well) and haven't really done enough work for my art potrfolio. If I get, let's say a C instead of the A/B I ws hoping for, will I have to tell the university my grade? Or can I still say it is evidence for my self-motivation without telling them my potentially rubbish grade? I don't have a lot of ECs so it's just really worrying me! please please reply, i'm having a HUGE dialemma at the moment about whether to work for my exams or try and do as much Art coursework as possible!

the deadline for my art work is 14th May, first exam is on the 15th and it's the chem resit.

Universities will generally place more emphasis on A2 predictions than AS grades. However, it will be a lot more difficult to believe that you can achieve an A*A*A prediction when you have a BCC at AS level.

Incorrect. You must declare all grades above a U. If you fail to disclose all your academic information, including subjects that are completely unrelated (Fine Art), the university has every right to withdraw your offer when they find out. Universities will get sent a full list of your results on results day, regardless of what you put on your UCAS application, so you must declare all your exams on your UCAS form. Btw, your highest modular grade will be used to calculate your A level grade regardless of how many times you have resat it.

Im not quite sure why you would be prioritising Art coursework over exams... As you mentioned, it is simply going to be an EC. You stand a better chance with high AS grades than with a splendid art portfolio, especially in certain universities like Birmingham.

[myyrh]

(Original post by Millyshyn)
Does it matter a lot if I don't get straight A's in my AS levels? I'm doing 5 and now that my exams are such a short time away I'm worried I won't do as well as I'd like to! I heard you don't have to declare your AS grades as long as you have AAA predictions which I'm sure I'll have.

Also, this is very important to me:
I'm taking an AS in Fine Art all on my own, without much teacher help, doing it all in my own time. I was going to put in my PS that it proves that I'm very self motivated. However, I want to focus on my exams (been stupid and decided to resit a module i already got 88% ums in.. my parents paid late fees for me to enter so ill feel guilty if i dont do well) and haven't really done enough work for my art potrfolio. If I get, let's say a C instead of the A/B I ws hoping for, will I have to tell the university my grade? Or can I still say it is evidence for my self-motivation without telling them my potentially rubbish grade? I don't have a lot of ECs so it's just really worrying me! please please reply, i'm having a HUGE dialemma at the moment about whether to work for my exams or try and do as much Art coursework as possible!

the deadline for my art work is 14th May, first exam is on the 15th and it's the chem resit.

Firstly it doesn't necessarily matter if you don't get straight As but that doesn't mean get a string of Cs because it has to reflect in your predictions However some medical schools do really want applicants with straight As at AS like Oxbridge, Birmingham and Barts(helps with the UCAS tariff system).

You are not allowed to not declare your AS grades. Everything which has received a certified grade must be listed in your form including all your AS's. So if you do get a C in Fine Art the universities will see it. However this really shouldn't matter as long as your 3 A levels you plan to continue and your other fourth AS are of a decent grade.

Honestly taking another subject at AS by yourself isn't really a great extra curricular. By all means put it in but you should really be highlighting your interpersonal skills which make you better suited to medicine and basically letting the admission tutor know that there's more to you than just studying

[Millyshyn]

(Original post by Vulpes)
Universities will generally place more emphasis on A2 predictions than AS grades. However, it will be a lot more difficult to believe that you can achieve an A*A*A prediction when you have a BCC at AS level.

Incorrect. You must declare all grades above a U. If you fail to disclose all your academic information, including subjects that are completely unrelated (Fine Art), the university has every right to withdraw your offer when they find out. Universities will get sent a full list of your results on results day, regardless of what you put on your UCAS application, so you must declare all your exams on your UCAS form. Btw, your highest modular grade will be used to calculate your A level grade regardless of how many times you have resat it.

Im not quite sure why you would be prioritising Art coursework over exams... As you mentioned, it is simply going to be an EC. You stand a better chance with high AS grades than with a splendid art portfolio, especially in certain universities like Birmingham.

Well, let's assume I get AAAAC (C in art), but want to claim I'm self motivated because I've done the art AS level all on my own. Will they think 'oh she's clearly not THAT self motivated because she only got a C, what a ridiculous statement', or would it still be worth saying?

I'm just not sure which I want to priotise because I feel the art can help me prove a personal quality if I do well in it. Is it worth trying to put effort into it now just for that?

I'm pretty sure I should be able to get A's in my exams unless I get unlucky anyway. The past papers I've done so far have gone well. I just wont have time to prepare for my resit at all and possible wont do as much practice for maths if I focus on the coursework.

[wl1]

Hello everyone,

Just 2 quick questions, I tried searching for them but couldn't find anything relevant; apologies if I missed anything.

I have seen from various posts that medical schools tend to frown on people who take A levels over 3 years without extenuating circumstances. I did not take A level Chemistry, so plan on doing that over the next academic year, but this would mean I will technically have taken them over 3 years. Is this more of a problem for people applying to do medicine as a first degree, or is it still an issue for GEM applicants?

I last did Biology in college, quite a while ago, and I don't really remember much of it. I was wondering whether this would be problematic, or will anything relevant be covered again in first year? In the first year of my current degree, one or two of the modules went through a lot of stuff that was covered in A level maths, but at a much quicker pace. Would something similar happen in medical school? If it will be a problem, I was considering following a course on it, but not taking the exams.

[myyrh]

(Original post by wl1)
Hello everyone,

Just 2 quick questions, I tried searching for them but couldn't find anything relevant; apologies if I missed anything.

I have seen from various posts that medical schools tend to frown on people who take A levels over 3 years without extenuating circumstances. I did not take A level Chemistry, so plan on doing that over the next academic year, but this would mean I will technically have taken them over 3 years. Is this more of a problem for people applying to do medicine as a first degree, or is it still an issue for GEM applicants?

I last did Biology in college, quite a while ago, and I don't really remember much of it. I was wondering whether this would be problematic, or will anything relevant be covered again in first year? In the first year of my current degree, one or two of the modules went through a lot of stuff that was covered in A level maths, but at a much quicker pace. Would something similar happen in medical school? If it will be a problem, I was considering following a course on it, but not taking the exams.

When they mean three years, they mean resitting a particular subject (taking three years to complete the subject). As long as you don't take three years to do an A level in Chemistry you should be fine. I say this because I'm currently studying an intensive A level Chemistry course in one year and most of my class mates are graduates who have now received offers for medical school so don't worry.

[TheDannyManCan]

(Original post by wl1)
Hello everyone,

Just 2 quick questions, I tried searching for them but couldn't find anything relevant; apologies if I missed anything.

I have seen from various posts that medical schools tend to frown on people who take A levels over 3 years without extenuating circumstances. I did not take A level Chemistry, so plan on doing that over the next academic year, but this would mean I will technically have taken them over 3 years. Is this more of a problem for people applying to do medicine as a first degree, or is it still an issue for GEM applicants?

I last did Biology in college, quite a while ago, and I don't really remember much of it. I was wondering whether this would be problematic, or will anything relevant be covered again in first year? In the first year of my current degree, one or two of the modules went through a lot of stuff that was covered in A level maths, but at a much quicker pace. Would something similar happen in medical school? If it will be a problem, I was considering following a course on it, but not taking the exams.

As the poster above me said, it's really only for taking 3 years to do a particular A levels. My circumstance was similar to yours; I didn't have the required sciences for the A100 course, but too many for the foundation course (Maths and Chemistry), so I took a third year (did AS Chem in my 2nd year), and am now on A2 Chem and fast tracking Bio. If you explain it, they shouldn't mind, but make sure you do email to check. All the best

[Richyp22]

Quick question cause I havent really had a clear answer.

Im taking Chem, bio, maths and business at AS-level and I want to drop Maths and keep business studies. Cause i could be at risk of getting a B in Alevel maths.

If I kept business instead of maths would this effect my application strength at all? Im probly going to apply to Manchester, leeds sheffield and one other if everything else goes to plan.

Thanks for any answers,

[myyrh]

(Original post by Richyp22)
Quick question cause I havent really had a clear answer.

Im taking Chem, bio, maths and business at AS-level and I want to drop Maths and keep business studies. Cause i could be at risk of getting a B in Alevel maths.

If I kept business instead of maths would this effect my application strength at all? Im probly going to apply to Manchester, leeds sheffield and one other if everything else goes to plan.

Thanks for any answers,

It shouldn't really matter to your application unless you apply to a medical school which actually asks for three sciences. You have Biology and Chemistry which are the main subjects you need, so take Business if you're more confident in getting an A in it.

[lilmissarah]

Hey I am currently in year 11 and thinking about doing medicine as a career! I am predicted all A* and As at GCSE....I am also doing my maths AS level this year i.e. a year early, and I am predicted an A. I have heard that this puts people at a disadvantage if they want to do medicine....is this true??
At A level I am doing Biology Chemistry Maths and History which I hope will be okay!
What else should I be doing and how do I know it is right for me? I don't want to put in any effort when it is not really right for me!! Can anyone help??

x

[Elwyn]

I don't think you'd be disadvantaged to do AS maths early. I assume this means you'd have an A2 level in maths at the end of year 12? If this is the case then remember most (if not all) universities won't let you only do two A2-levels in year 13 (making 3 in total) as they like you to do all three at the same time. Sorry if that's a little confusing.

You should be doing lots of work experience over the next year or so, how can you know it's right for you if you don't?

[tania<3]

(Original post by lilmissarah)
Hey I am currently in year 11 and thinking about doing medicine as a career! I am predicted all A* and As at GCSE....I am also doing my maths AS level this year i.e. a year early, and I am predicted an A. I have heard that this puts people at a disadvantage if they want to do medicine....is this true??
At A level I am doing Biology Chemistry Maths and History which I hope will be okay!
What else should I be doing and how do I know it is right for me? I don't want to put in any effort when it is not really right for me!! Can anyone help??

x

One of my friends was in the same position as you but it didn't disadvantage her, and she's currently got an offer for Barts. They even took her maths grade into account when giving her the offer and so she only has to get AA to get in. She did continue with her other subjects, so definitely don't drop anything.

It's a bit of a strange system because on one hand unis say any A Levels taken outside the 2-year period won't count, yet they don't seem to mind when its something youve taken a year early. I think best thing to do is just email whatever uni you intend on applying to and see what they say

You need to organise work experience and voluntary work, and there's plenty of ways to go about it - have a look around on the site and you'll see

[Pretty-Eyes]

Hey everyone,

So I want to take a medicine gap year and apply for the 2014 entry instead of the 2013 entry. This is because I'd like to get more work experience and volunteering experiences. However, I don't understand one thing...med school applications have to be in by October, which is quite early in the academic year, so how would I put all my new experiences(which I hope to gain over the gap year) into my personal statement, if I haven't had the time to get them, since the application deadline is so early? Someone please enlighten me? Thanks.

[dongonaeatu]

no

[Helenia]

You would write down what your plans are. And then talk about what you have done so far and what is still to come when you get to interview.

[Pretty-Eyes]

(Original post by Helenia)
You would write down what your plans are. And then talk about what you have done so far and what is still to come when you get to interview.

Ah ok, thank you Also, I was wondering...when I apply during a gap year, after getting my full A levels, would I still need to out down my AS grades? I'm getting bad AS grades, so I'm going to have to retake 2 units in January, to bump them up.

[Helenia]

(Original post by Pretty-Eyes)
Ah ok, thank you Also, I was wondering...when I apply during a gap year, after getting my full A levels, would I still need to out down my AS grades? I'm getting bad AS grades, so I'm going to have to retake 2 units in January, to bump them up.

I'm afraid it's a long time since I filled in a UCAS form so I don't know how it works at the moment. You should be able to find out either from your school or on the form itself.

[AtomicMan]

What would happen if I didnt take the actor seriously and laughed (at them) in an OSCE?

[Penguinsaysquack]

(Original post by AtomicMan)
What would happen if I didnt take the actor seriously and laughed (at them) in an OSCE?

You wouldn't get the marks for professionalism and maintaining the patient's dignity and would probably get a 'borderline' at best for the station I would think