[LenaLights]

I've done my AS levels. Just waiting my results next week.
Then onto the A2's.

I study Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Theology/Philosophy for my A Levels.
I enjoy them all really. But I know my strongest two subjects are Chemistry and Maths.

I got 4A*s, 5As and 1B at GCSE level, (and I had 6 months off school during the GCSE year due to a LOT of operations/illness)

I'm predicted for my AS Levels to get AAAA in all of them. But I've superbly messed up my Maths, to the point where I reckon I will have a C (because I KNOW I did terrible in a module - couldn't answer anything really!)

I was going to apply for Medicine at university, as it has been my dream ever since I was about 4. I have no family pressure for this.
Literally given up on this because I have not been able to get any work experience anywhere until AFTER the deadline for applications/interviews. Also, I couldn't even get in a hospice/care home/volunteer work or anything. Literally spent a whole month on the phone to be told i'm either too young (I'm 17) or that I don't live in the right area, or that they don't take volunteers.

So I gave up on that.
Then I decided Pharmacy. I did do a two day work experience placement, which I throughly enjoyed. I could honestly see myself doing somethign like this.

But, then I think about doing a Chemistry or Biology or Biomedical Sciences or Theology degreee, because I am so undecided...
I have no idea what to do now.

I'm slightly panicking, because on Pharmacy, they say they want me to have experience of working in a *caring role*. But I haven't been able to get in anywhere! The best I have done is some communitry action, helping out at my primary school with yr's 6 and 4 with ict and art class. I also am a peer mentor (anti-bullying stuff), academic mentor, form helper, prefect and I participate lots in choirs and orchestras.
I try and get as involved as I can, but it's difficult to have gotten into nurserys or care homes, so I think that maybe I couldn't get into Pharmacy?????

I did have a sort of caring role, which will always be with me which is my grandfather was diagnosed with terminal cancer. I along with my grandmother cared for him. I was the one to help give him his drugs everyday, setting out times and everything. It did make me realise the important of the drugs and how they helped to in a way, comforrt him on his passing.

I know that I can freely talk about my own experiences in being in hospital, not through work experience and shadowing, but personally, because of all of my sickness and operations. It did make me realise how many sides there are to working in a hospital and all of the roles etc.

I'm so confused about what on earth to do as a degree.
My family said maybe to pick a university I like and find a degree within it I want to do, but I'm so confused with what to pick, because I realise this decision is going to affect me, not just for the next 5 years whilst in university, but also with what job I am going to do and everything!!

I'm super worried I don't have enough experience. I know I can get the three A's I need if I set my mind to it, and possibly an A* in chemistry.

But how did you pick your degree? My friends just *know* what to pick, but I'm so confused.
My college want my personal statement in for checking by the end of September, and I'm getting more and more worried, because I can't even look at universities until I have my degree.

Any help appreciated. Thanks
- Lena x

[Rayquaza]

Just going on a hunch here, but I'm pretty sure for pharmacy, experience isn't given that high of a value than medicine. You can certainly get into pharmacy with those grades. I'm sort of in the same boat as you, confused! Everyone's just told me to wait till results day because you'll have a better idea of where you can go.

[fermium3]

Keep proof of all your attempt to get work experience/volunteering. It may compensate for lack of work experience/volunteering for pharmacy/optometry. What matters is not the quantity of work experience, but what you have learned about the role of a doctor/the hospital/the NHS/drugs(for pharmacy). Just go for it! I think pharmacy is for you from what i've heard.

How to pick? Imagine yourself in all 3 careers/courses, which one will you be the happiest in? Be honest, its not about money. (If you think it is about the money, still do something you enjoy, you'll be better at it so more likely to earn more money anyways, AVERAGE salaries are AVERAGES!) When thinking about this, DONT take into account how hard they are to do/get into, with determination YOU CAN get into it. If you know you WILL enjoy ... you will be very determined in the interview/studying to reach the offer!!

If that didn't work, when i put ... in, what did you imagine it to be? Thats LIKELY to be your sub-conscious mind kicking in, consider that course. (Please don't face your final decision on that alone)

I will not reply to anyone who criticizes my advice, I am not an 'active' TSR user and don't care for your opinions. This is because using the above method sorted out my whole life, why change it

Good luck!

[Dukeofwembley]

take a year out, figure out what you want to do. Reason being, after you complete 4 years mpharm u cant go back, but taking a year out you can!!!

[Halogenation]

(Original post by LenaLights)
I've done my AS levels. Just waiting my results next week.
Then onto the A2's.

I study Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Theology/Philosophy for my A Levels.
I enjoy them all really. But I know my strongest two subjects are Chemistry and Maths.

I got 4A*s, 5As and 1B at GCSE level, (and I had 6 months off school during the GCSE year due to a LOT of operations/illness)

I'm predicted for my AS Levels to get AAAA in all of them. But I've superbly messed up my Maths, to the point where I reckon I will have a C (because I KNOW I did terrible in a module - couldn't answer anything really!)

I was going to apply for Medicine at university, as it has been my dream ever since I was about 4. I have no family pressure for this.
Literally given up on this because I have not been able to get any work experience anywhere until AFTER the deadline for applications/interviews. Also, I couldn't even get in a hospice/care home/volunteer work or anything. Literally spent a whole month on the phone to be told i'm either too young (I'm 17) or that I don't live in the right area, or that they don't take volunteers.

So I gave up on that.
Then I decided Pharmacy. I did do a two day work experience placement, which I throughly enjoyed. I could honestly see myself doing somethign like this.

But, then I think about doing a Chemistry or Biology or Biomedical Sciences or Theology degreee, because I am so undecided...
I have no idea what to do now.

I'm slightly panicking, because on Pharmacy, they say they want me to have experience of working in a *caring role*. But I haven't been able to get in anywhere! The best I have done is some communitry action, helping out at my primary school with yr's 6 and 4 with ict and art class. I also am a peer mentor (anti-bullying stuff), academic mentor, form helper, prefect and I participate lots in choirs and orchestras.
I try and get as involved as I can, but it's difficult to have gotten into nurserys or care homes, so I think that maybe I couldn't get into Pharmacy?????

I did have a sort of caring role, which will always be with me which is my grandfather was diagnosed with terminal cancer. I along with my grandmother cared for him. I was the one to help give him his drugs everyday, setting out times and everything. It did make me realise the important of the drugs and how they helped to in a way, comforrt him on his passing.

I know that I can freely talk about my own experiences in being in hospital, not through work experience and shadowing, but personally, because of all of my sickness and operations. It did make me realise how many sides there are to working in a hospital and all of the roles etc.

I'm so confused about what on earth to do as a degree.
My family said maybe to pick a university I like and find a degree within it I want to do, but I'm so confused with what to pick, because I realise this decision is going to affect me, not just for the next 5 years whilst in university, but also with what job I am going to do and everything!!

I'm super worried I don't have enough experience. I know I can get the three A's I need if I set my mind to it, and possibly an A* in chemistry.

But how did you pick your degree? My friends just *know* what to pick, but I'm so confused.
My college want my personal statement in for checking by the end of September, and I'm getting more and more worried, because I can't even look at universities until I have my degree.

Any help appreciated. Thanks
- Lena x

Hey! apart from the whole confusion of what to pick, I'm in a similar results worry to you!
I do the three sciences and maths. (fingers crossed I can drop Biology due to several reasons, albeit I mostly did pretty well I think, first exam was a joke though but shhh).
Like you, I am/was predicted four A's for AS, but DUE TO ONE MATHS MODULE THAT IS OCR D1, I doubt I will get an A for AS maths. What's the chance your exam from hell was OCR D1 too lol?

I am settled on doing Chemistry at uni. I just seem to click with it, and I love how diverse it is (AS phys Chem Module was VERY interesting).
Out of Biology, Chemistry, or any mixture; (excluding medicene!) a Chemistry degree is the best. A Pharmacy degree puts me off as it's so specialised from the start.
Like you, I think Chemistry is the one subject I can A* in.

The best thing to do is really research into the different types of courses.
Do google searches of 'Pharmacy vs Chemistry' or whatever. I spent ages deciding over Physics or Chemistry, but Chemistry prevailed (partially because my physics course is so badly presented, but OCR A chemistry is in such a nice format, heck the books could be classed as sexy!).

Although... I don't think you should give up hope on Medicene. Your experience of operations is excellent for showing your fascination for the workings of a hospital.
Is your Maths misfortune one of the reasons you're put off it? If it is, it shouldn't be. I read in the Cambridge 2013 prospectus that they realise that even the best candidates have off days, and accept one or two retakes. [I'm tempted to teach myself M1 for January].
Don't give up on work experience. I recall one candidate working with St John's Ambulance. There's a chance you'll find other ideas by reading the personal statements of medicene applicants on TSR.

My two cents:

Pick Pharmacy, go with what you've got and exploit it, and you'll probably get into a good uni
OR
Pick Medicene with the intent of a gap year, say on your statement that you have experience lined up, blah blah blah, work your socks off during your gap year, and who knows..... sky's the limit with that one.

[Dollyandra]

(Original post by LenaLights)
I study Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Theology/Philosophy for my A Levels.
I enjoy them all really. But I know my strongest two subjects are Chemistry and Maths.

Then I decided Pharmacy. I did do a two day work experience placement, which I throughly enjoyed. I could honestly see myself doing somethign like this.

But, then I think about doing a Chemistry or Biology or Biomedical Sciences or Theology degreee, because I am so undecided...
I have no idea what to do now.

But how did you pick your degree? My friends just *know* what to pick, but I'm so confused.
- Lena x

Hi there. In terms of the current economic climate, I would go for either Pharmacy or Medicine - at least then you are very likely to get a job at the end of it. They both grant you skill sets that are going to be always desired and valued, no matter when and where you are in life.

Unfortunately I don't think the same can be said for pure Science degrees as they are not tailored towards any job in particular; the job market is narrow and very specific. You'd probably have to go all out and get a PhD in order to get a sustainable job (just generalising here, I am sure there are exceptions).

I am sure you can get into Pharmacy; I know for a fact that unis like Liverpool John Moores requires no prior experience in the field. However, without work experience you may be eliminated from some of the higher end unis in the Russel Group. If you can't for the life of you get any conventional work experience, you could 'interview' some high street drug store pharmacists about their job and routine - this can all be included in your PS. They are more than happy to do so, and it only takes a few minutes. Besides this, even things like leading amenities in a local care home count.

Scrape the bottom of the barrel! Unis understand that not everyone can get work experience, and that this is therefore not necessarily an indicator of a lack of dedication to the subject. Talking passionately about your interest and books you've read may even suffice.

Work experience is imperative for Medicine - you'd need a wide range of WE spanning over at least 6 months (they like to see a long-standing interest in the subject from an early age).

I know Pharmacy is less hands-on than Medicine, and holds less responsibility for the patient. However, the NHS aims to bring in more involvement to the healthcare system in coming years such as prescribing and monitoring meds independent of doctors; consultations and general health advice - much like a GP.

Pharmacy is more flexible in terms of where and when you work - it's an accommodating career in terms of maternity leave, and you can work either in industry, hospital settings or in a drug store. It's a 9-5 job and is a lot less stressful than becoming a doctor. However, there are downsides - less holiday and lower pay (see NHS pay bands for an indication). It averages at 40-50k, but can extend to as much as 80 for management roles.

If it turns out you dislike the job, the degree is very transferable; it is valued in the business and management sector, as well as teaching. A lot of pharmacists go private/run their own pharmacy, another example of the freedom you have as a pharmacist.

I think you can tell I am a little bit biased! Haha. Sources- applicant for Medicine, did work exp and found it didn't suit my personality > work exp for Pharmacy, found it much more enjoyable. Now have an offer to study this Sept

I picked my degree by scouting out a job I liked the look of, then researching what it took to get there. I then chose the appropriate degree and did the work exp. Kind of worked backwards really! The most important factors for me were - does it utilise the science I learned in preparation for it? Does the role suit my personality? Pay? Job market? It's very well doing a degree in a subject you find interesting, but if there's no job waiting for you at the end of it it's not much use - you may as well keep learning the topic that interests you as a hobby on the side! That's what I did with art and english, and I'm hoping it pays off!

P.S. good luck for your results next week!

[Lambo_93]

(Original post by LenaLights)
X
- Lena x

To be fair I can't wait to start Pharmacy!

But if you get the grades you want, then just have a break. Then when you know what you have to play with and can apply once you have decided. It's your life so I wouldn't rush it. Just make sure you end up doing something you really want to do.

I wish you all the best

Remember that at the end of the day its your life, so your decision