Apparently my GCSE's are undesirable of uni's, is it true?

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I think it depends more on what you do/get at A-level. Unis may glance at your GCSE grades but I don't think it matters what it they were. :smile:

Reply 41

Misspinkypoop

Original post by gwagon

They would be more worried about the grades than the number of GCSEs you took.

Yeah but what about the subjects individually don't they look at them as 'soft' and 'academic' wont people with 9/10 Gcse's that are considered academic be more desired

Reply 42

outgoingpopcorn

My friend and I are both currently doing GCSEs and we both applied for the same school for sixth form and although her predicted grades are amazing, she didn't get in and when she asked them why just out of curiosity they told her she didn't have many 'desirable' subjects. They have put subjects into 3 different lists based on how desirable they are. I don't know about universities though.

Reply 43

Misspinkypoop

Original post by niv1234

I can imagine it's the same for uni's, what were the different subject lists

Reply 44

outgoingpopcorn

Original post by Misspinkypoop

I can imagine it's the same for uni's, what were the different subject lists

It's really weird and confusing, I don't know why they have done it like this, look on page 8 and 9 on here.

http://www.hbschool.org.uk/userfiles/henriettamvc/pdf/admissions/policies-and-documents/2016%20policy/2016%20Entry%20Policy.pdf

Reply 45

gwagon

Original post by Misspinkypoop

Yeah but what about the subjects individually don't they look at them as 'soft' and 'academic' wont people with 9/10 Gcse's that are considered academic be more desired

That's a problem for A levels. Admissions don't really look at your GCSEs in depth.

Reply 46

fuzz13

Original post by Misspinkypoop

They are;
Maths
English-lit/lang
Core/double science
Re
Business studies
Health and social care
Sociology
French

I think you'll be absolutely fine with those! Most universities tend not to look at GCSEs more at A-Levels. Just do as well as you can :smile:

The only thing I'm wondering is why are you taking double/core science if you are interested in medicine?

Reply 47

TooFocused

Original post by Misspinkypoop

They are;
Maths
English-lit/lang
Core/double science
Re
Business studies
Health and social care
Sociology
French

Maths - extremely valuable
English lit/lang - as above
Core/double science - as above, although triple would've been better
RE - Meh
Business studies - definitely a soft subject sorry to say - at GCSE it really is quite straight forward and easy to blag your way through - personally I didn't even revise for it and got full ums - and that isn't me being big headed or acting like I'm einstein, I'm just being honest, it's not a hard GCSE.
Health and social care - soft subject
Sociology - again, meh
French - really valuable

Of course this is just my opinion. As has been said, A levels, extracurricular and aptitude test scores matter more for medicine.

Reply 48

Misspinkypoop

Original post by fuzz13

I think you'll be absolutely fine with those! Most universities tend not to look at GCSEs more at A-Levels. Just do as well as you can :smile:

The only thing I'm wondering is why are you taking double/core science if you are interested in medicine?

Yeah as i said earlier, our school practically forced everyone- except for a select few who were "capable" to do core/additional instead of triple.

Reply 49

returnmigrant

Original post by fuzz13

Most universities tend not to look at GCSEs more at A-Levels.

ALL Universities will state a minimum GCSE requirement (subjects and grades) for each course.
If you don't meet these in full, your application will go straight on the No pile - whatever your A level predictions are.

Read this TSR article 'How to avoid 5 Rejections : http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/content.php?r=20445-how-to-avoid-getting-five-university-rejections

Reply 50

2375261

As long as you have over 8 good GCSE grades. Universities don't really care which subjects because most people do Maths, English, Science and a couple of others to give you an all-rounded knowledge. As long as you get good grades in your GCSEs, universities won't care which subjects you took.

A Levels are what matter; make sure you pick subjects related to what you want to do and get good grades in them.

Reply 51

returnmigrant

Original post by roadmanchasin£££

well you aint getting an EBacc without history bruv

No British University asks for 'EBAC' or gives extra points for it.

Reply 52

returnmigrant

Original post by ajaxxay

As long as you have over 8 good GCSE grades. Universities don't really care which subjects

This is total rubbish.

See my post above.

Reply 53

roadmanchasin£££

Original post by returnmigrant

No British University asks for 'EBAC' or gives extra points for it.

i know bruv, just means you got a good range of subjects.

Reply 54

username2165807

No university gives a flying **** what your GCSEs are, unless you only did maths, english, and BTec mountain biking level 1.Your grades matter at GCSE 100x more than your choices, it's only really at A-level where your choices matter.

edit: as the person said above there are usually a couple minimums, but if you do double award science or core+additional you will almost definitely be fine for the majority of medicine courses. Oxford/Cambridge do not ask for minimum requirements at GCSE usually except cambridge which I believe is CC in double award and C in english.

(edited 7 years ago)

Reply 55

2375261

Original post by returnmigrant

This is total rubbish.

See my post above.

What do you mean? GCSE subjects don't matter as long as they can get you onto the A Level courses that you need to do to get into your chosen degree course?
It's very rare that a uni's entry requirements say "Must have ____ at GCSE level." is it not?

Reply 56

returnmigrant

Original post by ajaxxay

It's very rare that a uni's entry requirements say "Must have ____ at GCSE level." is it not?

If you look at Uni course requirements you will see this is precisely what they DO say.

ie. Uni of Bath http://www.bath.ac.uk/study/ug/prospectus/subject/mechanical-engineering-manufacturing-management/entry-requirements/, Uni of Manchester : http://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/2016/01428/medicine-5-years--mbchb/entry-requirements/, UCL https://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/undergraduate/application/requirements/a-level-gcse

Reply 57

returnmigrant

Can I suggest that all of you do some research into University requirements before you comment further.

Even for Medicine, your application could fail because didn't actually bother to read the GCSE requirements and just assumed it didn't matter. I am an Admissions Tutor at an RG Uni. Every year I turn away many otherwise good applicants for exactly this reason. Read the course requirements IN FULL - never, ever, just assume.

Reply 58

2375261

Original post by returnmigrant

All of these require English and Maths at a specific level, which are compulsory subjects so OP can't have picked the wrong subjects.Manchester is the exception which asks for either a GCSE or A Level in specific sciences. Still, OP meets requirements and hasn't picked any subjects which will disadvantage them in the future.

Sure, OP could've helped themselves more by taking History or something, but other than that the GCSEs are fine.

Reply 59

returnmigrant

Original post by ajaxxay

It isn't the specifics of the OP's case I'm commenting on. Its the subsequent sweeping statements like 'Unis aren't interested in your GCSEs' which, as you can see, are highly misleading and totally incorrect.