A2 Options for Medicine

Not for medicine I wouldn't

This.

Yeah sure, I'll suck you off if you actually know what you're talking about, i.e. first-hand experience, until then you're just gonna have to suck it yourself mate.

Yes, I want to apply to Oxford, yes, I want to do medicine, have I done something wrong?

even though you seem to be so pretentious and stuck-up you might fit in.

Without being pretentious, I know I'm capable of getting into Oxford, and I personally feel going to Bristol/Sheffield/Cardiff Uni for Medicine would be an underachievement.

Bull****.

A hell of a lot of people are capable of getting into Oxford, and about 10% of them get anywhere near. Don't think just because you're applying there you have an even remotely good chance of getting in. I know several people with 4 A*s at A2 and a perfect PS/reference and weeks of work experience to not even get an interview, even though you seem to be so pretentious and stuck-up you might fit in.

Secondly, Bristol is an AMAZING medical school, and you seem to misunderstand the concept of MEDICAL school. There are NO BAD ONES. period. Because that would mean they produced bad doctors, which doesn't help anyone.

I seriously pity and patients you may eventually have if you think you're better than some of the best universities for one of the most competitive courses. if you get anywhere near that stage.

To answer your question, drop further maths. They really couldn't care less.

Who are you? Have you achieved anything with your life? Do you have any talents?

More importantly, do you even know me? No, so why are you trying to crack dead jokes on the internet acting like you're somebody?

I probably have more qualifications than you already.

"Pliable schoolchildren"? Really? Is that your attempt to patronise me, for being 16, over the internet? Funny guy. Top stuff.

Hello, I'm currently a L6 Student studying A-Levels in Maths, Biology, Chemistry and English Literature.

I would like to apply for Medicine at top uni's, first choice Oxford, second choice Imperial etc.. However I have a dilemma as to A2 choices, as I am presently in an accelerated Maths class (did C1 in Year 11, did C2 & M1 in Jan 2011 and doing C3 & S1 in May).

Option 1: Drop Eng Lit. and stay on in my accelerated Maths class which includes AS Further Maths as part of the course. However English Literature is something I enjoy.

Option 2: Drop Acc. Maths and just do C4 in January, effectively completing full A-Level in Maths (no Maths exams in summer 2012), then just focus on Bio, Chem and Eng Lit.. However, I wonder if doing Eng Lit. exams AND Science exams would be a bit of a mismatch?

Option 3: Drop Eng Lit. and drop Acc. Maths, thus leaving me with just Biology & Chemistry examinations in summer 2012. Easiest option.

The problem is, my school's head of Sixth Form, who handles all UCAS applications, advised me that the aforementioned option 3 would make me seem "lazy" to top universities, who are generally looking for students who can prove they're capable of handling intensive workloads.

The main decision I need help on is Accelerated Maths (Single Maths PLUS AS Further Maths) VS. English Lit. Neither are compulsory for Medicine, I understand. My best subject is Maths, closely followed by English Lit.

Would an A/A* grade in English Literature, although not compulsory, demonstrate diversity or would it just be dismissed by admissions tutors as irrelevant?

Thanks in advance

How ever much a small advantage you get from doing four A levels will be not worth the massive amount of extra effort compared to being able to focus on your other subjects yourself. (In my opinion) Finish your maths A level next January, then your Biology/Chemistry in June for your three A levels, and drop English Literature at AS. Work hard for preparing for the BMAT and possibly UKCAT depending on the other universities you apply to.
As for your decision to apply to 'top' universities, do it if you'd prefer the course and facilities, not based upon perceived prestige of that university. A degree in medicine will get you the exact same opportunities whatever university you went to. Also, Oxford isn't the most competitive university for medicine (neither is Cambridge), in fact according to 2010 entry statistics Bristol was over twice as competitive than Oxford.

Edit: Also you're ignoring Renal because he apparently doesn't have any first hand experience, despite the fact he is an actual doctor

Ok, firstly, actually thank you for answering the question.

How is saying that I'm "capable" of getting into Oxford pretentious? How is saying that I would like to apply to Oxford pretentious? Did I say I will get in? Did I say I'm the smartest human being to have ever lived? WTF? I'm not being pretentious.

You don't know me or my academic record for all you know I could be an absolute imbecile with 10 C's at GCSE, or I could be a ****ing genius with 225245536 A*'s at GCSE alogn with a host of other BS credentials.

Bristol is a good university, but for medicine it is not an excellent one, obviously I've never studied there ergo, I'm basing this on sources from uni rankings etc.

Of course there are no BAD universities, but there certainly are "average" unis for medicine.

If you must know, my family of three (incl. me) are pretty poor, we're first generation immigrants here and education is pretty much the only ****ing way I'm going to earn a living, and I'm not your average straight B's and C's student, so shut up unless you're going to give me advice to help me.

That's not really a valid point, is it? "Prestige" as you say, doesn't arise from nowhere, and I would like to be in the best possible learning environment for the duration of my university education, I don't think I deserve to be judged by strangers on the internet for saying I want to apply to a "top" uni.

"There's not really any `top` unis for medicine."

Then why do rankings exist? Why is Oxford held in higher regard by applicants and employers as a better university than Lincoln University? I'm sure the courses at Kingston Uni etc. will have courses with a lighter workload, which I'd prefer, but it doesn't mean I'd want to go there.

Do you really think that I'm naive enough to not even have looked at what the Medicine course at Oxford (arguably one of the most competitive in the world) entails?

Is it really so bad that I would like to make the most of the exorbitent tuition fees that I'm obliged to pay? Give me a break.

I am Steven, hello. I have achieved a fair bit more than you in the same number of years, contributing to which achievements is the knowledge that medical schools are more or less plateaued as regards which is best.
Do I have talents? No, not really. Sorry. And if I do humour isn't one of them, so in whatever you're interpreting as dead jokes, you are wrong; imagine them said in a most serious manner.

If by more qualifications you mean more GCSEs or grades on the Hornet, I don't give a ****.

You act as though my attempt to partronise you didn't work?


I really shouldn't have said anything, so you, and others like you would apply, come next UCAS, to the "best medical schools", and leave the ****ty ones to underachievers like me.

Thanks for an actual answer.

I'm not ignoring Renal, I just said that unless he's going to help me with some valid information, rather than suggesting I give him a blowjob, he should just not bother replying.

You live up to your name Newbie. You are grossly underestimating how difficult it is to get into the unis you want. I made similar mistakes in my first year of applying, and trust me when I say, if someone gives u conflicting advice on TSR, and they have "xxx university medic", chances are they know more about the system than you do. Take their advice.

In bold, unfortunately you seem to be incredibly naive about applying for medicine. Do your research properly, because your attitude shows you haven't.

I meant that I, at 16, PROBABLY am doing better in life (academically, sports, socially etc.) than you, when you were 16 (you could be 16 right now, I don't know).

You live up to your name Newbie. You are grossly underestimating how difficult it is to get into the unis you want. I made similar mistakes in my first year of applying, and trust me when I say, if someone gives u conflicting advice on TSR, and they have "xxx university medic", chances are they know more about the system than you do. Take their advice.

In bold, unfortunately you seem to be incredibly naive about applying for medicine. Do your research properly, because your attitude shows you haven't.
EDIT: So i've read through some of your replies on this thread, and you seem very arrogant that what you think is right and everyone else is wrong. With this attitude I can guarantee you 4 rejections for medical school. Change your attitude, make yourself a blank slate, forget what people say about prestige, etc. etc. especially for medicine it matters very little what university you go to, other than massaging your own ego when you mention it. Do your research. I can't stress this enough. You must know how the whole system works if you are to have a chance of getting in ANYWHERE, let alone oxford.