Are bio, chem, music and EPQ enough for me to competitively apply for medicine?

I’m currently doing 4 a levels (maths, music, bio and chem) but am struggling with maths. I’m not sure whether I will be able to get the highest possible grades that are needed for Oxbridge medicine if I continue with these 4. I was thinking of dropping a level maths and picking up an EPQ. Are a level music, a level chem and a level bio + EPQ enough for me to get into the top med schools? Am I putting myself at a disadvantage by only doing 2 scientific a levels? I know music is the obvious choice to drop but I love it and play several instruments (violin to diploma standard) and stand a good chance of getting an A*.
Is dropping maths a smart choice? Would doing so limit me?

(edited 1 year ago)

Reply 1

TSR Hippocrates

10

Hey there, thanks for posting a question in the Medicine forum. :biggrin:

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Reply 2

GANFYD

18

Original post by LRakelle

I’m currently doing 4 a levels (maths, music, bio and chem) but am struggling with maths. I’m not sure whether I will be able to get the highest possible grades that are needed for Oxbridge medicine if I continue with these 4. I was thinking of dropping a level maths and picking up an EPQ. Are a level music, a level chem and a level bio + EPQ enough for me to get into the top med schools? Am I putting myself at a disadvantage by only doing 2 scientific a levels? I know music is the obvious choice to drop but I love it and play several instruments (violin to diploma standard) and stand a good chance of getting an A*.
Is dropping maths a smart choice? Would doing so limit me?

The only med school who will care about your 3rd A level is Cambridge, who favour 3 sciences, none of the others will care.
And there are no "top med schools", they all give exactly the same degree and career opportunities for UK clinical practice

Reply 3

bigplongus

15

"Candidates are required to achieve at least a grade A in both Chemistry and at least one of Biology, Physics, Mathematics or Further Mathematics. "
ditch maths
https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses/course-listing/medicine
and i cant find anything saying it would benefit your application to do an EPQ
but it will benefit you with other medical universities, my suggestion is don't do an EPQ just cause you think its good for your application you wont enjoy it and you may do well but it will be quite stressful