MEGATHREAD - The 'What Subjects Should I Do' Megathread

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Reply 2020

i think youll be fine.. yeah youll have some restrictions due to no biol but you can still apply to medicine. I was in this situation last year, i was doing 5 As's so i dropped fmaths and i also dropped French earlier this year. Im now only doing 3 A2s (chemistry, physics and maths) and iv applied to 4 medical schools. As long as you choose unis that dont require biology youll be fine :smile:

Reply 2021

gcsejitters

Ok,
So, I'm doing Bio and Chem definitely.
I can either do physics and english lit,
Maths and english lit and/or further maths
Maths and Physics and/or further maths
What should i do?
Please help, deadline on friday! :confused:

Reply 2022

gcsejitters

I'm predicted A*s in all of them, is there any point doing further maths?
Does it matter if I don't do maths?

Reply 2023

RoryH

I have applied for at my sixth form (A specialist science college if that matters at all)

- Biology (A given that I obviously have to take)
- Chemistry ( " )
- History
- Maths? (I'm not sure if i'll be able to do the maths as it may be really hard, so might change within a couple of weeks)

Reply 2024

Hygeia

Original post by gcsejitters

I'm predicted A*s in all of them, is there any point doing further maths?
Does it matter if I don't do maths?

Some medical schools don't consider Further Maths separately from Maths but if it's something you're interested in doing then go ahead. Otherwise, any of those combinations are absolutely fine so just go with whichever you think you'll enjoy the most.

Reply 2025

gcsejitters

Thanks! Going to do Bio, Chem, Maths, Physics and Further Maths!

Reply 2026

pappymajek

Original post by gcsejitters

Thanks! Going to do Bio, Chem, Maths, Physics and Further Maths!

Further maths is practically useless for medicine. The only useful bit of maths for medicine is statistics. Choose your A levels carefully.

Reply 2027

wer343lit

Original post by pappymajek

Further maths is practically useless for medicine. The only useful bit of maths for medicine is statistics. Choose your A levels carefully.

Their A Level choices are fine. :s-smilie:

Reply 2028

arunadindane

When medical schools such a Kings or Liverpool ask for AAA and a fourth as-level, and they specify that either Further maths is not acceptable as an a2 or that Maths+Further Maths will be considered as one subject. Do they mean that from the AAA they will not count both maths and further maths as two of the a-levels respectively - which is obviously understandable, or that also you cannot have further maths counted as a 4th a-level?

Hopefully this makes some sense.

And for those of you wondering I have taken maths, fm, biology and chemistry and am in a bit of a pickle as to whether my choices of uni will be limited.

Thankyou

Reply 2029

Becca-Sarah

It appears from that info that you would have to offer them Maths, Bio & Chem at A2, with FM at AS. Your uni choice would be rather more limited if you tried to take Maths & FM plus one other anyway, seeing as the majority of medical schools set a bare minimum of Bio & Chem at A2.

Reply 2030

Renal

If you do biology, chemistry and maths to A-Level you have three A-Levels.
If you do biology, maths and further maths to A-Level you have two A-Levels.
If you do biology, chemistry, maths and further maths to A-Level you have three A-Levels and less time.

Reply 2031

nexttime

Original post by Renal

In most cases, clearly.

Reply 2032

arunadindane

Original post by Renal

I wansn't able to drop FM and take up another as-level as I did maths in a year and if I dropped FM and took up an as I would be doing 2 a2 and 1 as in second year and I'm not sure if thats acceptable with most medical schools. Basically I made the mistake in doing FM in my choices but do you know if unis who ask for a fourth as/a2 will consider further maths as that?

Reply 2033

adil12

Hey guys, I am currently studying Chemistry, Biology, Physics and Maths at AS Level and next year the teachers basically tell everybody to drop a subject, although they let a few people take all 4 provided they have a good reason. So is studying all 4 at A Level going to boost my chances even a bit? Is it at all beneficial? And if not, which subject would be best to drop? I am comfortable with all 4 so which would be the best combination for studying medicine?

Many thanks :smile:

Reply 2034

yourworstnightmare

Your combination is fine.

Dropping a subject is optional.

You will be made an offer based on 3, not 4 generally, thus having 4 has no advantage.

Infact Cardiff (not sure if you're applying there) encourage dropping the 4th A-level and doing 3 A2s and an AS.

Depends which you are best in; Maths or Physics - i'd keep Biology and Chemistry.

There's an entire thread/wiki full of Medicine and Medical Schools, have a read just at the top of the Medicine forum.

Good luck with your application :smile:

Reply 2035

Rob16

I have no idea if 4 is beneficial, I dont know if anyone really does know if it makes a difference. Most peopl only do 3 and get offers so..If you enjoy your subjects and are confident that doing the extra wont have a detrimental effect on the other 3 then go for it.

So basically if you want and feel able to do 4 then why not :smile:

As for which to drop I dont think it really matters, so long as you keep Biology and Chemistry :smile:

Reply 2036

Glen_Nichols

Original post by adil12

Would be a very good idea to carry on with four.

Reply 2037

nam2590

Original post by Rob16

As for which to drop I dont think it really matters, so long as you keep Biology and Chemistry :smile:

I think taking 4 can be a risk, because it puts more stress on achieving the required grades in the 3 main ones and it will be worth no more as well.

Original post by adil12

I would do three, not worth doing 4.

Original post by gcsejitters

Thanks! Going to do Bio, Chem, Maths, Physics and Further Maths!

I wouldnt do further maths, a lot of med schools dont accept it. You would be better off doing a contrasting subject, some med schools give advantages to those with clashing subjects.

Original post by pappymajek

Further maths is practically useless for medicine. The only useful bit of maths for medicine is statistics. Choose your A levels carefully.

I agree and tbh i think maths in general isnt really very useful, it never affected me when it came to my alevels, i did better in chemistry than most of my friends who were doing maths and further maths!!

Reply 2038

pappymajek

Original post by Jonty99

Their A Level choices are fine. :s-smilie:

Those A levels will definitely get you into med skl-no doubts. However, you need to start thinking beyond getting into med skl and what A levels would help you maximize opportunities within the medical field. When you start your clinicals, you'll understand better.
Courses like history of medicine, medical ethics, epidemiology/Public health, anatomy, biochemistry, pathology, immunology, pharmacology-these all form the foundation of med skl and do not require any knowledge of further maths.

You are much better off familiarising yourself with the bit of maths that you really need for medicine-statistics-how to read a paper, how to appraise a research paper, etc.

Just my little contribution.

Reply 2039

pappymajek