Sixth year options for medicine? How many H's & AH's?

Good morning everyone

It's that time of year, the dreaded option form season!
I don't have a very good idea of what to take!
Firstly, what is the recommended subject combination for sixth year? I'm doing (highers) maths, biology, german, rmps and english. My dilemma is that my subjects aren't very relevant to medicine. However I am definitely taking advanced maths and advanced biology and higher chemistry. Should I do 3 AHs and a higher? Or 2 AHs and 2 highers?

if I did 3 AHs what subject (out of my highers) should I continue?
or, the second option ... What would be a good higher to take up?

thank you so much everyone!

If you pick an AH then choose the subject you like the most. If you choose a Higher, I'd recommend Physics, however it won't really matter.

Unless your applying down south (and I think you'd need AH Chem in that case anyway) your subject choice won't matter.

Thanks for your help! Would physics weigh more gravitas compared to something like art or another language? I've heard PE is good however I do not know how true this is

If you are applying in Scotland, advanced highers aren't really necessary. But if you are thinking of applying down in England, pick another advanced higher! I would say concentrate on chemistry next year, most universities look for chemistry at an A so to maximise your chances of getting in, get an A

If you pick an AH then choose the subject you like the most. If you choose a Higher, I'd recommend Physics, however it won't really matter.

Unless your applying down south (and I think you'd need AH Chem in that case anyway) your subject choice won't matter.

I'd recommend physics. It'll definately hold more weight than a subject like art or music when applying and can be useful if you wanted to specialise in something like radiography, nuclear medicine, ultrasound etc.

Well, no. It doesn't hold more weight than those subjects - not in any selection criteria for the Scottish universities that I'm aware of. In fact, just last year my friend doing AH Bio, AH Chem and AH Music got 3 offers (Glasgow, Aberdeen, St. Andrews) whereas I got 0 with AH Bio, AH Chem, AH Maths and H. Physics!

Radiography isn't a medical specialty, you're looking for Radiology.

No knowledge I gained studying Physics will be remotely useful for me in terms of using an ultrasound, or understanding how it works. And the radioactivity covered in Higher Physics can be covered in half a lecture at the most (although I'm not sure if it's even coveredl); you'll have more than enough time to learn about things relevant to different specialties when you get to training for those specialties!! Maybe the new-fangled Revised Higher is more useful, but the old Higher certainly hasn't been of any use to me so far, and I doubt it will be any time soon!

Well I think it depend on your results, ps and experience when thinking about offers. It doesn't matter what subjects your doing but how well you perform.

Well I don't think you'll be using the equations of motion in medicine, but I think it's more about showing you can handle the course and have the intelligence to understand the concepts and pass (usually with an A if your applying to medicine).

Exactly.



You're contradicting yourself here, bud. You can't say your subjects don't matter, and then go on to say that doing another non-required subject is advantageous!
There are many, many courses that are just as (and more!) difficult than Higher Physics (obligatory "difficulty is subjective" comment). It is seriously not afforded any special consideration by admissions stuff - Higher Physics, Higher Music, Higher History, it doesn't matter what you do as a bonus if you've got the required/recommended ones. You'll be surprised to see just how diverse the qualifications that people succeed with are!

I've not contradicted myself. If you would have read what I wrote under the first quote. Well obviously there will be cases where people have got in with unrelated subjects but considering the OP is wanting to apply for a science based course then picking another science can only help their chances and will probably hold more weight than a subject which has nothing to do with the course your applying to

I'd recommend physics. It'll definately hold more weight

It doesn't matter what subjects your doing

There are no specific requirements/preferred subjects from S6 but candidates are encouraged to study as widely as possible ... We do not give preference to applicants who study more than three subjects in S6. Advanced Higher French and Higher Physics would be considered equal and there would be no preference.

Candidates who have achieved the Entrance Requirements, i.e. five Highers @ AAAAB or better in S5, should continue their studies in S6 and are free to choose a programme of study which is of particular interest to them, noting:

Three full academic courses will gain a greater objective academic score.
Higher Biology will prove useful.

We have no subject/grade requirements from S6 in terms of Advanced Highers. The Medical School selectors normally expect applicants to do two Advanced Highers and one new Higher or alternatively three Advanced Highers. However, the subject choices are your own choice.

We have no requirements from 6th year in terms of Advanced Highers, but we do expect applicants to return to school for 6th year and to complete at least two Advanced Highers and one new Higher.

Recommendations for S6 would include further study. In particular, Advanced Higher Chemistry and Biology would be welcomed although other subject combinations would not disadvantage an applicant.

No need to get snappy with me, sir! I've read what you've written:





You recommended Physics as it's an advantageous subject; then said that the subjects you're studying don't matter; then proceeded to give reasons why Physics is advantageous - so surely based on that: the subjects you're studying do matter? That's a contradiction my friend - the premises lead to a conclusion that cannot coexist.

I'm not lying to you, buddy. No selection criteria in Scotland advantages Physics as a fourth subject (she's got Maths, Biology and Chemistry covered) over any other subject. In fact, it's quite the opposite in some cases:
Edinburgh

e-mail from Glasgow

The same is said here: http://www.gla.ac.uk/media/media_168916_en.pdf - Ctrl+F "Scottish Sixth Year"

Aberdeen


Also e-mail from Aberdeen:


Dundee


St Andrews

Boeuf I'm not mistaken, in these photos maths or physics is clearly stated, showing they clearly value physics as a subject.

Imperial
Aberdeen
Glasgow
Edinburgh


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Correct! The argument was never that Physics isn't valued as a subject (I did Physics, and love it. Would've studied it if I hadn't chosen medicine instead) - simply that it was no more advantageous over any other subject in most places.

The mention of Physics in those 4 images is as part of the entry requirements, because admissions want to see a certain number of sciences. If I'm not mistaken, Entry requirements are as follows:

Imperial = Chemistry, Biology, Maths, Physics, English (had to check this one! Surprising requirements)
Aberdeen = Chemistry, and one of Biology/Maths/Physics
Glasgow = Chemistry, Biology and one of Maths/Physics
Edinburgh = Chemistry, and 2 of Biology/Maths/Physics

Once you meet minimum requirements, it doesn't really matter what you choose as long as it's not some diddy subject like an SVQ in Personal Development or something.

Well OP only has one science (biology) so if they are doing chemistry this year they could also do physics.

And I did say in my original post that it holds more weight- by which I meant more valued. And well, physics is certainly more valued than art or music when applying to a science course.

I really cannot think of another way that I can possibly say this. I've given you the words of the universities themselves - what else could you possibly want? You can feel free to e-mail any of the Scottish medical schools yourselves asking them if they'd prefer Physics to Art/Music (both are very rigorous and acceptable courses) as a 4th subject in S6 in addition to AH Maths, AH Bio and H Chem. I can guarantee you, as has been said by every single university I've linked, there is no advantage or preference. No additional weight or value is given to Higher Physics over other subjects unless otherwise stated by the university (Imperial's is the first time I've seen Higher Physics classed as compulsory). Otherwise, it's normally stated in entry requirements as a "one of these" stipulation. Once you have met the minimum requirements - there is zero extra weight/value given to undertaking other optional sciences/maths by admissions.

Sorry, I bundled "maths" into the science banner, and since she's already got those 2 under her belt, with Chemistry (the required one; so it's not like she's got a choice if she wants to do medicine), Physics will advantage her application in no way.

I'm afraid I don't have anything else to say on the matter of Physics; everything that can be said; has been said. If you're in doubt about the suitability of a subject as an additional course after meeting the entry requirements/recommendations, you can feel free to e-mail admissions with enquiries - that's what they're there for.

I really wouldn't consider medicine a science course by any stretch of the imagination.

Quit the condescending tone eh.

If the universities have clearly listed physics or maths as required subjects then they obviously value it highly.

Do you honestly think someone with an A in higher photography or higher home economics would be valued with the same regard as someone who had an A at higher physics when applying to such a competitive course?

Yes: unless the subjects mentioned are otherwise blacklisted, or listed as non-preferred by the university in question.
And they haven't been listed as required subjects. They have been listed as subjects choose-able to fulfil the science requirement.

You're also picking on the subjects that're generally seen as softer. What about perfectly well respected ones like languages? History? Geography? Plenty of options that're seen as "rigorous" that aren't physics.

Ok. But history and geography have no relation to medicine whatsoever. Physics, like I've said, contains the nuclear part -although you've mentioned it could be learned in a lecture or two, its still 1 more thing you know relevant to the course.

Languages are good if you plan on taking one further and mention in your ps you plan to utilise it. I.e. in a hospital or you plan on moving away.