Psychology without science?

Hi there,
I have just finished my A level exams and am now on my gap year. I managed to achieve 3 A's in English Literature, Media and Music technology and now have to make my decision in what i am to study at university.

Here is my problem: All of my A level courses point towards a more arty/creative direction in what i will study at uni and even do with my life, but as i look through the possible courses on the ucas website i feel much more drawn to the science based subjects, psychology in particular. Generally my interests are more creative, I make music and love watching films but I feel that if I try to make a career out of these and fail I wont have anything solid to fall back on. It seems that with the creative industries a career is some what hit and miss and a lot down to luck. If I study a science or psychology I can have a stable career and still pursue the creative side of my life as a hobby.

I think it's also partly down to the fact that i want to have a career in something that matters and that will help the world a bit. I think i could possibly do well in something like advertising, my A level courses are better geared towards something like that, but i would feel like a sell-out having a career that manipulates people like that.

I am very interested in science and philosophy but my A levels dont reflect this interest and i feel that if i apply to do psychology at university i might not get accepted into the universities that i would aim for.

With 3 A's i would like to go to somewhere like UCL or even Oxford, but i dont know whether it's realistic enough to apply for a psychology course when i have next to no science background.

One option that i have come up with would be to do an intensive science A level or a foundation/access course during my gap year. Is this a realistic idea and would a prestigious university like Oxford appreciate this?

Is it possible that this idea to do science comes from someone who hasnt done science for two years and i dont know what i would be letting myself in for? I have bought a couple of books on psychology to help confirm if this is really what i want to do.

At the moment my ultimate goal is to study the PPP course at oxford (psychology, philosophy, physiology). If i am to make this my final decision i feel i need to decide soon so that i can gear my gap year towards getting into the course by doing things like work experience etc.

This is quite a long post so any help on my situation would be much appreciated. To whoever reads this, do you think that aiming for the PPP course at Oxford or the psychology course at UCL is a realistic goal? How best can i gear my gap year towards maximising my chances into getting into these courses?

Dan.

Reply 1

Itchybrain

I know that UCL definitely requires at least one science.

If you do want to study a course with a science component, I think it's highly likely that the universities you apply for will want to see some evidence that you have an aptitude for the sciences.

I think that it's best you email university admissions officers and enquire about the subject requirements of the courses you're interested in.

I study Psychology with Neuroscience at Westminster (which I realise people will think isn't too fussy about intake), and they now require Chemistry and Biology A' Levels for the course. This is largely because although the degree is 75% Psychology and 25% Neuroscience, 50% of the first year is biological science based. I've had to re-learn A' Level Biology with extra material thrown in for good measure (I certainly didn't have to learn about bones and in depth cellular communication for A' Level!).

I personally think it'd be wise to have a look at what material science foundation courses near you cover and whether you are actually interested in learning in depth about the physiology of the body. You obviously have an aptitude for the arts, and it's completely possible that you could be gifted at the sciences as well, but some concrete evidence would most likely be required from the top universities.

Best of luck with your choices.

Reply 2

GodspeedGehenna

Grix

At the moment my ultimate goal is to study the PPP course at oxford (psychology, philosophy, physiology). If i am to make this my final decision i feel i need to decide soon so that i can gear my gap year towards getting into the course by doing things like work experience etc.

I'm not too sure if your A-levels are suited for an Oxford application, keeping in mind you'll be competing with students who have straight As in things like Physics/Chemistry/Maths/Biology. I think generally you are expected to have atleast one science, which may prove to be a bit of a problem; the same could be said for UCL.

Honestly, I think Oxford/UCL is a little unrealistic and you should probably aim at less picky universities to gain a better chance of receiving offers. But hey, if you have spaces left on your 5 choices, then meh, why not go for it anyway?

Reply 3

xkayelzx

I had this problem when i was applying
although i did have Psychology, Sociology and Media studies, some universities require you to have one science (even though i was applying for psychology, they didnt include it in the science list)
I was looking at applying to Oxford for the PPP course and my rep said it would of been fine, i choose cambridge after anyways so im not sure what would of happened there, but my rep said it was okay!
Plus, if you look at Scottish universities they do MA/BA, the MA you do not need any science based subjects, yet with the BA you do.
St Andrews is a really good university for Psychology and you do not need any science subjects.
Its number 3 in the united kingdom for Psychology, after Oxford and UCL, so you might want to look into it? Basically im saying, its probably the best university you would get into not having science based subjects for Psychology :smile:

...however judging by your Oxford/UCL im guessing youd rather stay down south?

xxxx

{I should also add, i emailed st andrews before applying asking whether having an MA in psychology would ruin my changes of going into Clinical psychology later on, they replied saying that it would not as the course is the same basically)

Reply 4

username152292

They are getting rid of the PPP course for next years applicants (entry 2010) and will not accept deferred entry applicants this year (entry 09) http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate_courses/how_to_apply/forms/changes_to_the.html (scroll to bottom)

So if you want to try oxford, it would have to be Experimental Psychology. The entry requirements for this say it is highly desirable to have one or more science subjects http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate_courses/how_to_apply/requirements_for_each_course/index.html. However on the experimental psychology page, they have chosen a student profile of somebody who has no science a-levels, so make of that what you will...http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate_courses/courses/experimental.html

Best idea, if you really are dead set on doing psychology, would be to talk to the admissions folk of your chosen universities and see what they think. :smile:

Reply 5

courgette

okay I'm about 88% in the same position as you right now!!

I'm predicted A*, A*, A for my final A2 year an I'm applying for psych despite coming from an arts background. I had my heart set on going to the more prestigious unis like you but have found out that I am quite restricted.

BUT!

Don't give up hope..I have done my research and contacted many different unis and the most reputable ones which have a good psch department and don't fuss about science subjects include...

Durham
Southampton
Nottingham
Birmingham
Sheffield
Liverpool

(in order of preference).

Hope this helps you :smile:

Reply 6