5AS to get into Medicine

I did 5 A levels. But trust me you DONT!! need 5 A levels to get into Medicine. Most med schools only want AAA.

Looking at the stalking page for medicine, it seems like you need to do 5AS level exams to even stand a chance to be accepted?

What do you think?

I'm planning only to do 3 full A -Levels but I'm saying do I need to do 5AS levels?

I'm planning only to do 3 full A -Levels but I'm saying do I need to do 5AS levels?

Medical schools only require 3 A levels. You need 3 or 4 good (A grade) AS levels to make your (AAA or higher) A2 predictions seem reasonable. If you take 5 AS levels, you are massively increasing your workload and stress levels, making it much less likely that you will achieve AAAAB (and really, you will want to get AAAAB at AS Level if you take 5 subjects). Considering you are recommended to do 4hrs per subject per week of studying, are you really prepared to do 20+ hours a week of work outside of classes?

Medical schools often won't even consider any "excess" grades you achieve, as most 6th forms and colleges don't allow you to take 5 AS levels.

What subjects would you take? Biology, Chemistry, and Maths (or Physics) are the subjects that you need to take to A2 level if you want to keep all the medical schools open to you. Further Maths is NOT considered an extra A level by medical schools.

I was planning to take Bio, Chem, Maths, Economics and Spanish.

20 hours a week ? I'd be more than happy to study 25 hours a week - maybe even 28 if I push it. I thought this was standard since these are a levels which narrate your future.

My worry is that admission tutors will obviously accept a student who has 5As at a level(AS) than a student who has 4 a's. Isn't it a no brainer?

Medical schools only require 3 A levels. You need 3 or 4 good (A grade) AS levels to make your (AAA or higher) A2 predictions seem reasonable. If you take 5 AS levels, you are massively increasing your workload and stress levels, making it much less likely that you will achieve AAAAB (and really, you will want to get AAAAB at AS Level if you take 5 subjects). Considering you are recommended to do 4hrs per subject per week of studying, are you really prepared to do 20+ hours a week of work outside of classes?

Medical schools often won't even consider any "excess" grades you achieve, as most 6th forms and colleges don't allow you to take 5 AS levels.

What subjects would you take? Biology, Chemistry, and Maths (or Physics) are the subjects that you need to take to A2 level if you want to keep all the medical schools open to you. Further Maths is NOT considered an extra A level by medical schools.

I was planning to take Bio, Chem, Maths, Economics and Spanish.

20 hours a week ? I'd be more than happy to study 25 hours a week - maybe even 28 if I push it. I thought this was standard since these are a levels which narrate your future.

My worry is that admission tutors will obviously accept a student who has 5As at a level(AS) than a student who has 4 a's. Isn't it a no brainer?

Wait so you need to take maths to A2 I swear you don't well I hope you don't. Can't you do let's so bio chem maths psychology. Then drop maths for A2 as long as it's at a B grade or higher ? Or are you only saying that as some of the top medical universities want maths to A2 ?

Some medical schools need only Chem+Bio to A2, some medical schools need Chem+Maths, some need just 2 sciences in general, some need Chem+Bio+Maths

Check out TSR's medical school entry requirements page! http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/wiki/Medical_School_A_Level_Requirements

Ohh okay I apologise it makes sense now. I just initially thought you meant all medical schools, then I was like I will just check ... just being an over paranoid person aha

I don't think anyone actually *requires* Maths except for Cambridge, and even then it's not true of all of the colleges. Maths is specified as a valid science option by several universities, but only in the context of 'we require Chemistry and one other science from Biology, Physics or Maths'. Don't stress about taking Maths if you don't fancy it!

Some medical schools need only Chem+Bio to A2, some medical schools need Chem+Maths, some need just 2 sciences in general, some need Chem+Bio+Maths

Check out TSR's medical school entry requirements page! http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/wiki/Medical_School_A_Level_Requirements

Which ones?

Is it just Magdalene at Cambridge that requires Maths? Figured you'd probably know..!

Also, completely off topic and purely nosey, but if you don't mind me asking, what date did you get married? Just saw the ticker in your sig and it looks like you must have got married at almost exactly the same time as I did (2nd September 2011)?

It was, but now they've stopped listing it on their main site (as far as I can see) and I can't be bothered to check all the college websites!

Good spotting - we got married on 10th Sept 2011!