In 2 minds for A-level choices...

Hi guys, not really sure if this is the correct section for this, but I'm going into GCSEs and thinking about A levels for sixth form. The problem is, I'm not 100% sure on what I want to do - be it medicine or investment banking (two separate things, I know!). I think I would enjoy both, but I'm yet to do any work experience. Would Maths, Biology, Chemistry, Economics keep my options open for top universities for both courses?

Forgot to mention, I'm predicted all A*s for GCSE and I think if I put my mind to it i can get mostly A*s for A-Level.

Thanks

(edited 9 years ago)

Reply 1

ImagineCats

19

A few universities don't even ask for economics a level to do economics, but its so much more useful. My sister does economics at Cardiff and she did history, maths and economics a level which was deemed the 'perfect' choice. Having two of them, I'd say you're pretty set to go :smile:

Reply 2

MAINE.

3

Sounds like a good choice to me.

Reply 3

Schmitzel

2

Original post by neilthomas

Hi guys, not really sure if this is the correct section for this, but I'm going into GCSEs and thinking about A levels for sixth form. The problem is, I'm not 100% sure on what I want to do - be it medicine or investment banking (two separate things, I know!). I think I would enjoy both, but I'm yet to do any work experience. Would Maths, Biology, Chemistry, Economics keep my options open for top universities for both courses?

Forgot to mention, I'm predicted all A*s for GCSE and I think if I put my mind to it i can get mostly A*s for A-Level.

Thanks

If you wanna do economics at a target then doing further maths helps.

but those a levels are fine if you wanted to do A&F at LSE or Warwick, or medicine if that's the route you want to go down.

Reply 4

1219269

3

You're fine with maths and ECON but if you're seriously trying for a top 5 you should consider further maths. Cambridge and LSE want FM and its really not going to harm if you don't apply to those 2!

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Reply 5

elle77

7

Definitely do further maths to keep your options open when applying for Economics etc at top universities. Banks love it too. Beware that some Med schools consider a combination of Maths and Further Maths as one A level, not two.

If your school allows it, the best option would be to study Further Maths and the four A levels you've mentioned, doing the entire Maths A level in year 12 and the entire Further Maths A level in year 13. I was in a similar position when choosing my AS levels and followed this path. By the end of year 12 I'd decided not to go the Medicine route so I was able to drop Biology (and eventually Chemistry after my offers came through), so I'm essentially doing one A level and an A2 this year!

Reply 6

dragonkeeper999

17

I agree with everyone above - Further Maths will be extremely helpful for economics and most science related courses - and Economics is rarely requested as an A level since not many schools offer it.

You could also consider doing 5 ASs if you want to keep economics? If you are doing well in your GCSEs you could probably cope with the workload fine, particularly since Maths and Further Maths complement each other very well...

Reply 7

Brubeckian

9

No further maths = No Imperial, Cambridge, LSE or anywhere that matters.

Do FM

Original post by Brubeckian

No further maths = No Imperial, Cambridge, LSE or anywhere that matters.

"Or anywhere that matters" - I'm suspecting a troll post here, eg Durham, UCL don't require FM!

OP watch out, Imperial doesn't do economics at undergrad nor does it require FM for medicine.

Also be aware though that Durham see's FM and Maths as too closely related and sees FM as a 4th A2 option.

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(edited 9 years ago)

Reply 10

Schmitzel

2

Original post by Brubeckian

No further maths = No Imperial, Cambridge, LSE or anywhere that matters.

Yes for subjects like maths, econ, and engineering, but other than that, no you dont need FM.

Reply 11

Brubeckian

9

Original post by Audi

"Or anywhere that matters" - I'm suspecting a troll post here, eg Durham, UCL don't require FM!

OP watch out, Imperial doesn't do economics at undergrad nor does it require FM for medicine.

Also be aware though that Durham see's FM and Maths as too closely related and sees FM as a 4th A2 option.

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Durham, UCL?

You're the troll.

Reply 12

Brubeckian

9

Original post by Schmitzel

Yes for subjects like maths, econ, and engineering, but other than that, no you dont need FM.

OP said he/she is interested in medicine/investment banking, either way economics is not needed and FM is superior to it in every way (in terms of being able to apply to more courses should OP change their mind).

Reply 13

1219269

3

Original post by Brubeckian

Durham, UCL?

You're the troll.

Eh? What about Durham and UCL?

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Reply 14

fuuji

6

Original post by Audi

Eh? What about Durham and UCL?

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Never met anyone from Durham or UCL in investment banking. Thats probably just happenstance with UCL since they are recruited from, but Durham isn't a target school.

To answer the question take further maths, chemistry and biology. You'd easily get into LSE with 4As probably imperial and oxbridge and you'd still keep your options open for Medicine.

Reply 15

Chief Wiggum

20

Original post by neilthomas

Hi guys, not really sure if this is the correct section for this, but I'm going into GCSEs and thinking about A levels for sixth form. The problem is, I'm not 100% sure on what I want to do - be it medicine or investment banking (two separate things, I know!). I think I would enjoy both, but I'm yet to do any work experience. Would Maths, Biology, Chemistry, Economics keep my options open for top universities for both courses?

Forgot to mention, I'm predicted all A*s for GCSE and I think if I put my mind to it i can get mostly A*s for A-Level.

Thanks

I think the lack of Further Maths might potentially be a problem if you want to study Economics at a top uni.

Reply 16

neilthomas

OP

Original post by Chief Wiggum

I think the lack of Further Maths might potentially be a problem if you want to study Economics at a top uni.

So what would you drop in these circumstances? Economics?

Reply 17

Chief Wiggum

20

Original post by neilthomas

So what would you drop in these circumstances? Economics?

I think you would need to do some further research on what specific medical schools' views on Further Maths as a separate subject to Maths are.

In an ideal world, given your uncertainty between Medicine and Investment Banking, I would recommend doing Further Maths on top of what you've already suggested. However, I know you may not want to do that, or indeed, your school may not be able to accommodate it anyway.

The issue with Further Maths and Medicine is that, as far as I'm aware, some universities only view Maths and Further Maths as one subject for Medicine. Therefore, if you dropped Economics and did Further Maths, some medical schools would only consider that you were doing 3 subjects, which they may not accept, given that I think most would want 4 to AS level, then 3 to A2. So what you want are medical schools that consider Maths and Further Maths to be at least separate AS Levels. So, eg if you did Maths, FMaths, Bio, and Chem, they'd accept that as 4 AS Levels and 3 A2 levels, or perhaps even 4 A2 levels. It probably wouldn't be OK if they just viewed it as 3 AS Levels.

Eg, see here: http://www.furthermaths.org.uk/files/Medical_Schools_entry_requirement_June_2011_1.1.pdf

EDIT: It seems Maths, FMaths, Chem, and Bio would be fine for a lot of medical schools. But probably not all of them. The problem would arise if the medical school requires 4 AS Levels, but doesn't consider Maths and FMaths to be separate, even at AS Level (some would count FMaths as an AS, but not an A2).