A Level Options
Hi everyone!
I’m currently in Year 11 and I’m debating on what A Levels I should do.
When I applied to sixth form, I chose Chemistry, History and Maths, but now I’m not sure on what to do and I’ve only got a few months..
I chose history because I really enjoyed the GCSE and my school good teachers, but now I’m not sure if I’d actually enjoy the A-level curriculum.
At the moment I’m thinking about doing psychology instead because it’s something I’m really interested in, but I’ve heard that it’s quite hard and I’m not sure topics you study.
I also think psychology might be important because I want to do neuroscience and university!
For science I’ve got pretty equal grades in them all (8s and 8s), but I don’t know which one to do. While I don’t really enjoy biology (and find it a bit confusing) I think it’s the best one to do for neuroscience. But there’s also chemistry, which I don’t hate, and I think it’s okay to do for neuroscience, but I believe that the A-levels meant to be really difficult. Physics is my favourite science (but I think that might be because it’s my teacher) and I’ve also got the best grades in it, but I think that it’s the worst one to do for neuroscience.
Maths is the only one I’m kind of sure of because it’s a well respected A level and I don’t mind doing it (usual I know).
I would appreciate any advice, especially what the best combination is for neuroscience. Thank you for reading!
I’m currently in Year 11 and I’m debating on what A Levels I should do.
When I applied to sixth form, I chose Chemistry, History and Maths, but now I’m not sure on what to do and I’ve only got a few months..
I chose history because I really enjoyed the GCSE and my school good teachers, but now I’m not sure if I’d actually enjoy the A-level curriculum.
At the moment I’m thinking about doing psychology instead because it’s something I’m really interested in, but I’ve heard that it’s quite hard and I’m not sure topics you study.
I also think psychology might be important because I want to do neuroscience and university!
For science I’ve got pretty equal grades in them all (8s and 8s), but I don’t know which one to do. While I don’t really enjoy biology (and find it a bit confusing) I think it’s the best one to do for neuroscience. But there’s also chemistry, which I don’t hate, and I think it’s okay to do for neuroscience, but I believe that the A-levels meant to be really difficult. Physics is my favourite science (but I think that might be because it’s my teacher) and I’ve also got the best grades in it, but I think that it’s the worst one to do for neuroscience.
Maths is the only one I’m kind of sure of because it’s a well respected A level and I don’t mind doing it (usual I know).
I would appreciate any advice, especially what the best combination is for neuroscience. Thank you for reading!
I’m not entirely sure, but I think you should do Chemistry, biology and psychology. I think you would really enjoy it and often you need two sciences, usually including biology
Original post by Sinncereli
Hi everyone!
I’m currently in Year 11 and I’m debating on what A Levels I should do.
When I applied to sixth form, I chose Chemistry, History and Maths, but now I’m not sure on what to do and I’ve only got a few months..
I chose history because I really enjoyed the GCSE and my school good teachers, but now I’m not sure if I’d actually enjoy the A-level curriculum.
At the moment I’m thinking about doing psychology instead because it’s something I’m really interested in, but I’ve heard that it’s quite hard and I’m not sure topics you study.
I also think psychology might be important because I want to do neuroscience and university!
For science I’ve got pretty equal grades in them all (8s and 8s), but I don’t know which one to do. While I don’t really enjoy biology (and find it a bit confusing) I think it’s the best one to do for neuroscience. But there’s also chemistry, which I don’t hate, and I think it’s okay to do for neuroscience, but I believe that the A-levels meant to be really difficult. Physics is my favourite science (but I think that might be because it’s my teacher) and I’ve also got the best grades in it, but I think that it’s the worst one to do for neuroscience.
Maths is the only one I’m kind of sure of because it’s a well respected A level and I don’t mind doing it (usual I know).
I would appreciate any advice, especially what the best combination is for neuroscience. Thank you for reading!
I’m currently in Year 11 and I’m debating on what A Levels I should do.
When I applied to sixth form, I chose Chemistry, History and Maths, but now I’m not sure on what to do and I’ve only got a few months..
I chose history because I really enjoyed the GCSE and my school good teachers, but now I’m not sure if I’d actually enjoy the A-level curriculum.
At the moment I’m thinking about doing psychology instead because it’s something I’m really interested in, but I’ve heard that it’s quite hard and I’m not sure topics you study.
I also think psychology might be important because I want to do neuroscience and university!
For science I’ve got pretty equal grades in them all (8s and 8s), but I don’t know which one to do. While I don’t really enjoy biology (and find it a bit confusing) I think it’s the best one to do for neuroscience. But there’s also chemistry, which I don’t hate, and I think it’s okay to do for neuroscience, but I believe that the A-levels meant to be really difficult. Physics is my favourite science (but I think that might be because it’s my teacher) and I’ve also got the best grades in it, but I think that it’s the worst one to do for neuroscience.
Maths is the only one I’m kind of sure of because it’s a well respected A level and I don’t mind doing it (usual I know).
I would appreciate any advice, especially what the best combination is for neuroscience. Thank you for reading!
Neuroscience BSc | Prospective Students Undergraduate - UCL – University College London
this might not speak for all universities requirements for neuroscience but its a good starting point. if you know what you want to study at university, check what subjects they want first. if you don't have the right subject combination they won't give you an offer, even if your grades are amazing
so the link above says
'Chemistry required plus one from Biology, Life and Health Sciences, Mathematics or Physics'
that should partly answer your question. you have to take chemistry if you want to study neuroscience, no question about it. i also think its a good idea to take maths - as you said, its a well-respected a-level. also the combination of chemistry and maths will keep your options open in case you change your mind later on in the year.
physics isn't exactly the worst one to do. it would make more sense to take biology/psychology, but if physics is your favourite then there's no harm in taking it, especially because its an academically rigorous, well-respected science a-level.
but honestly, everything you've said if making me wonder one thing - why do you want to study neuroscience? i'm sure you have a reason behind it, but i just find it slightly strange that you don't like biology and love physics but want to study neuroscience. that might just be me being judgy though, so feel free to ignore this last paragraph 😅
(to summarise, chem + maths + physics sounds like a good choice. if you think physics might disadvantage you in some way because its not what a neuroscience applicant would typically have then bio/psychology + chem + maths works well)
good luck!!
Original post by saraalegria
I’m not entirely sure, but I think you should do Chemistry, biology and psychology. I think you would really enjoy it and often you need two sciences, usually including biology
Thank you for the feedback! 😁
Original post by klafow
Neuroscience BSc | Prospective Students Undergraduate - UCL – University College London
this might not speak for all universities requirements for neuroscience but its a good starting point. if you know what you want to study at university, check what subjects they want first. if you don't have the right subject combination they won't give you an offer, even if your grades are amazing
so the link above says
'Chemistry required plus one from Biology, Life and Health Sciences, Mathematics or Physics'
that should partly answer your question. you have to take chemistry if you want to study neuroscience, no question about it. i also think its a good idea to take maths - as you said, its a well-respected a-level. also the combination of chemistry and maths will keep your options open in case you change your mind later on in the year.
physics isn't exactly the worst one to do. it would make more sense to take biology/psychology, but if physics is your favourite then there's no harm in taking it, especially because its an academically rigorous, well-respected science a-level.
but honestly, everything you've said if making me wonder one thing - why do you want to study neuroscience? i'm sure you have a reason behind it, but i just find it slightly strange that you don't like biology and love physics but want to study neuroscience. that might just be me being judgy though, so feel free to ignore this last paragraph 😅
(to summarise, chem + maths + physics sounds like a good choice. if you think physics might disadvantage you in some way because its not what a neuroscience applicant would typically have then bio/psychology + chem + maths works well)
good luck!!
this might not speak for all universities requirements for neuroscience but its a good starting point. if you know what you want to study at university, check what subjects they want first. if you don't have the right subject combination they won't give you an offer, even if your grades are amazing
so the link above says
'Chemistry required plus one from Biology, Life and Health Sciences, Mathematics or Physics'
that should partly answer your question. you have to take chemistry if you want to study neuroscience, no question about it. i also think its a good idea to take maths - as you said, its a well-respected a-level. also the combination of chemistry and maths will keep your options open in case you change your mind later on in the year.
physics isn't exactly the worst one to do. it would make more sense to take biology/psychology, but if physics is your favourite then there's no harm in taking it, especially because its an academically rigorous, well-respected science a-level.
but honestly, everything you've said if making me wonder one thing - why do you want to study neuroscience? i'm sure you have a reason behind it, but i just find it slightly strange that you don't like biology and love physics but want to study neuroscience. that might just be me being judgy though, so feel free to ignore this last paragraph 😅
(to summarise, chem + maths + physics sounds like a good choice. if you think physics might disadvantage you in some way because its not what a neuroscience applicant would typically have then bio/psychology + chem + maths works well)
good luck!!
Thank you for the feedback! It was really helpful 😁
I think exagerated in my post I find biology a bit less interesting than the other subjects I mentioned here (I do still find it interesting), but I definitely don't hate biology l've just had bad teachers and my physics teacher is my best science teacher.
For why I want to study neuroscience it's because it not a necessarily widely researched field and I think it's important for it to be looked into more.
I've also had some personal experience with mental health (and I'm close to a lot of people with mental health struggles) so I want to find more ways to help people with mental health struggles.
Also, ever since I was younger l've had quite a big interest in psychology and personality types (for example), so I want to find out more about it through research!
Original post by Sinncereli
Thank you for the feedback! It was really helpful 😁
I think exagerated in my post I find biology a bit less interesting than the other subjects I mentioned here (I do still find it interesting), but I definitely don't hate biology l've just had bad teachers and my physics teacher is my best science teacher.
For why I want to study neuroscience it's because it not a necessarily widely researched field and I think it's important for it to be looked into more.
I've also had some personal experience with mental health (and I'm close to a lot of people with mental health struggles) so I want to find more ways to help people with mental health struggles.
Also, ever since I was younger l've had quite a big interest in psychology and personality types (for example), so I want to find out more about it through research!
I think exagerated in my post I find biology a bit less interesting than the other subjects I mentioned here (I do still find it interesting), but I definitely don't hate biology l've just had bad teachers and my physics teacher is my best science teacher.
For why I want to study neuroscience it's because it not a necessarily widely researched field and I think it's important for it to be looked into more.
I've also had some personal experience with mental health (and I'm close to a lot of people with mental health struggles) so I want to find more ways to help people with mental health struggles.
Also, ever since I was younger l've had quite a big interest in psychology and personality types (for example), so I want to find out more about it through research!
that makes sense, teachers can really make or break your opinion of a subject 🙁. i'm sorry for slightly judging you earlier, it sounds like you're really passionate about neuroscience.
will you be doing an epq next year?
Original post by klafow
that makes sense, teachers can really make or break your opinion of a subject 🙁. i'm sorry for slightly judging you earlier, it sounds like you're really passionate about neuroscience.
will you be doing an epq next year?
will you be doing an epq next year?
It’s ok! I thought about doing an EPQ next year, I think it might be interesting although I don’t know too much about them. Some people told me it would be too much to do, so I’m not sure 😅
Original post by Sinncereli
It’s ok! I thought about doing an EPQ next year, I think it might be interesting although I don’t know too much about them. Some people told me it would be too much to do, so I’m not sure 😅
personally, i think you should do one. it's a really good way to show how interested you are in a subject and could also lower your predicted grade requirements if you do well
but yeah i never did one myself (which i really regret) so i can't comment on the workload. some of my friends who did it said it was quite a lot of work, but in the end i think its benefits outweigh the downsides as long as you have the time
Original post by Sinncereli
Hi everyone!
I’m currently in Year 11 and I’m debating on what A Levels I should do.
When I applied to sixth form, I chose Chemistry, History and Maths, but now I’m not sure on what to do and I’ve only got a few months..
I chose history because I really enjoyed the GCSE and my school good teachers, but now I’m not sure if I’d actually enjoy the A-level curriculum.
At the moment I’m thinking about doing psychology instead because it’s something I’m really interested in, but I’ve heard that it’s quite hard and I’m not sure topics you study.
I also think psychology might be important because I want to do neuroscience and university!
For science I’ve got pretty equal grades in them all (8s and 8s), but I don’t know which one to do. While I don’t really enjoy biology (and find it a bit confusing) I think it’s the best one to do for neuroscience. But there’s also chemistry, which I don’t hate, and I think it’s okay to do for neuroscience, but I believe that the A-levels meant to be really difficult. Physics is my favourite science (but I think that might be because it’s my teacher) and I’ve also got the best grades in it, but I think that it’s the worst one to do for neuroscience.
Maths is the only one I’m kind of sure of because it’s a well respected A level and I don’t mind doing it (usual I know).
I would appreciate any advice, especially what the best combination is for neuroscience. Thank you for reading!
I’m currently in Year 11 and I’m debating on what A Levels I should do.
When I applied to sixth form, I chose Chemistry, History and Maths, but now I’m not sure on what to do and I’ve only got a few months..
I chose history because I really enjoyed the GCSE and my school good teachers, but now I’m not sure if I’d actually enjoy the A-level curriculum.
At the moment I’m thinking about doing psychology instead because it’s something I’m really interested in, but I’ve heard that it’s quite hard and I’m not sure topics you study.
I also think psychology might be important because I want to do neuroscience and university!
For science I’ve got pretty equal grades in them all (8s and 8s), but I don’t know which one to do. While I don’t really enjoy biology (and find it a bit confusing) I think it’s the best one to do for neuroscience. But there’s also chemistry, which I don’t hate, and I think it’s okay to do for neuroscience, but I believe that the A-levels meant to be really difficult. Physics is my favourite science (but I think that might be because it’s my teacher) and I’ve also got the best grades in it, but I think that it’s the worst one to do for neuroscience.
Maths is the only one I’m kind of sure of because it’s a well respected A level and I don’t mind doing it (usual I know).
I would appreciate any advice, especially what the best combination is for neuroscience. Thank you for reading!
Hi,
Just some advice, don't take a level subjects because you enjoy them, take them based on what you want to be in the future. For neuroscience i would take the same subjects as you would for medicine in general: Biology, Chemistry, Maths
Ok! Thanks for the advice, I think I might take Chemistry, Psychology and Maths. since I’ve also seen causes where you study neuroscience and psychology together!
Original post by AnonymousShark07
Hi,
Just some advice, don't take a level subjects because you enjoy them, take them based on what you want to be in the future. For neuroscience i would take the same subjects as you would for medicine in general: Biology, Chemistry, Maths
Just some advice, don't take a level subjects because you enjoy them, take them based on what you want to be in the future. For neuroscience i would take the same subjects as you would for medicine in general: Biology, Chemistry, Maths
but if you don't enjoy your a-level subjects, and what you're studying at a-level is related to what you're doing at uni, then why apply for that uni course in the first place...
i think it's better to do what you enjoy at a-level and let that lead you onto your uni choices, as long as your a-level choices are sensible and leave a lot of options open
plus neuroscience is quite niche so i don't think not taking biology would really disadvantage you in any way (especially because a-level biology also includes a lot of plant biology + ecology and stuff)
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