history bio chem alevels
hi, i think i want to go into medicine but i'm not 100% sure - i would like to keep my options open in case i have a full change of heart in year 12, but i told my teachers i'd like to do bio chem history alevels and i've been told its a strange combo
i do enjoy history and i think essay writing skills are valuable - would it be better to stick with a third stem subject (maths) which i could still do reasonably well in, or go with the one i like more but may have less career prospects after and have no link to my others?
also if i changed my mind halfway through sixth form and decided to do something like law for example, would i still be able to with two stem subjects and one essay subject?
thank you x
i do enjoy history and i think essay writing skills are valuable - would it be better to stick with a third stem subject (maths) which i could still do reasonably well in, or go with the one i like more but may have less career prospects after and have no link to my others?
also if i changed my mind halfway through sixth form and decided to do something like law for example, would i still be able to with two stem subjects and one essay subject?
thank you x
Reply 1
I think its a good combo if it works with your strengths and interests 🙂
@Daisy._.7777 you do this combo (with English) can you help?
Reply 3
Hi!
Sorry for the late reply. I don’t think this is a weird combo at all if it fits your interests and you think these are the three A-level you’ll be able to get the highest predicted/achieved grades in.
However, there are a few things to consider.
Firstly, you may have some difficulty applying for medicine without maths, or at least physics. This simply because Medicine has gotten so competitive, that it’s almost an expectation now that applicants are doing 3 stem subjects, even though it’s technically not required like bio and chem are. But, it’s 100% not impossible, I would just be weary of TOP TOP universities since you may be at a disadvantage. Saying that, I’m not an admission officer, so the best thing to do is email universities you are interested in and ask if this would be an issue. I’d like to imagine it won’t be though as long as you meet the grade requirement. Plus, like you have said, History provides and shows you have excellent essay writing skills, which are very valuable at university and beyond, so I think perhaps it could work in your favour.
In terms of other stem degrees, this shouldn’t be a problem in the slightest as far as I’m aware. Most usually just require two sciences, and the third can be a subject of your choice, so this combo is absolutely fine in my opinion.
Also, in terms of if you decide to apply to law or any other humanities degree, this combo should also be fine as well. It would probably be better if you were taking all essay, but law doesn’t require specific subjects, and if they do it’s usually something like ‘at least one essay subject’ so your combo is fine as long as you meet the grade requirements.
I hope this helps!
Sorry for the late reply. I don’t think this is a weird combo at all if it fits your interests and you think these are the three A-level you’ll be able to get the highest predicted/achieved grades in.
However, there are a few things to consider.
Firstly, you may have some difficulty applying for medicine without maths, or at least physics. This simply because Medicine has gotten so competitive, that it’s almost an expectation now that applicants are doing 3 stem subjects, even though it’s technically not required like bio and chem are. But, it’s 100% not impossible, I would just be weary of TOP TOP universities since you may be at a disadvantage. Saying that, I’m not an admission officer, so the best thing to do is email universities you are interested in and ask if this would be an issue. I’d like to imagine it won’t be though as long as you meet the grade requirement. Plus, like you have said, History provides and shows you have excellent essay writing skills, which are very valuable at university and beyond, so I think perhaps it could work in your favour.
In terms of other stem degrees, this shouldn’t be a problem in the slightest as far as I’m aware. Most usually just require two sciences, and the third can be a subject of your choice, so this combo is absolutely fine in my opinion.
Also, in terms of if you decide to apply to law or any other humanities degree, this combo should also be fine as well. It would probably be better if you were taking all essay, but law doesn’t require specific subjects, and if they do it’s usually something like ‘at least one essay subject’ so your combo is fine as long as you meet the grade requirements.
I hope this helps!
Reply 4
I did that combination for my A Levels. I enjoyed sciences and thought I might want to do a biomedical science degree or a history degree (very different I know). I ended up doing a history degree (1st year now) because I realised I hate practicals. I found them very good. Humanities give you lots of skills for essay writing and referencing (though the referencing in medicine and humanities are different).
From something that I saw maybe last year, I think biology, chemistry and history is the 10th most popular combination.
From something that I saw maybe last year, I think biology, chemistry and history is the 10th most popular combination.
Reply 5
14
Original post
by hamcheesegirlhi, i think i want to go into medicine but i'm not 100% sure - i would like to keep my options open in case i have a full change of heart in year 12, but i told my teachers i'd like to do bio chem history alevels and i've been told its a strange combo
i do enjoy history and i think essay writing skills are valuable - would it be better to stick with a third stem subject (maths) which i could still do reasonably well in, or go with the one i like more but may have less career prospects after and have no link to my others?
also if i changed my mind halfway through sixth form and decided to do something like law for example, would i still be able to with two stem subjects and one essay subject?
thank you x
i do enjoy history and i think essay writing skills are valuable - would it be better to stick with a third stem subject (maths) which i could still do reasonably well in, or go with the one i like more but may have less career prospects after and have no link to my others?
also if i changed my mind halfway through sixth form and decided to do something like law for example, would i still be able to with two stem subjects and one essay subject?
thank you x
Might even make you stand out? (possibly lol I am not an admission officer). But I do bio, chem, maths and politics. I get asked so much about politics and it's given me such an interesting perspective on my life. Took it purely to balance out the STEM because I was a really good essay writer at GCSE. One of the best decisions I made.
As someone said above, I would consider emailing unis but an 'A in a third subject' just means in a third subject.
I don't think law has any requirements (what I've heard from my friends who applied for law), they just prefer essay writing subjects but will not toss your application in the bin straight away just because you don't do one.
Reply 6
Original post
by hamcheesegirlhi, i think i want to go into medicine but i'm not 100% sure - i would like to keep my options open in case i have a full change of heart in year 12, but i told my teachers i'd like to do bio chem history alevels and i've been told its a strange combo
i do enjoy history and i think essay writing skills are valuable - would it be better to stick with a third stem subject (maths) which i could still do reasonably well in, or go with the one i like more but may have less career prospects after and have no link to my others?
also if i changed my mind halfway through sixth form and decided to do something like law for example, would i still be able to with two stem subjects and one essay subject?
thank you x
i do enjoy history and i think essay writing skills are valuable - would it be better to stick with a third stem subject (maths) which i could still do reasonably well in, or go with the one i like more but may have less career prospects after and have no link to my others?
also if i changed my mind halfway through sixth form and decided to do something like law for example, would i still be able to with two stem subjects and one essay subject?
thank you x
hey my friend does bio chem english lit and she got an offer for law at LSE so i think history is good dw if u wanna not do mediicne later
also it is more diverse than maths it sets u apart and a lot of unis recognise it is a rlly academic subject, so if u rlly like it u shld def take it
Reply 7
Original post
by hamcheesegirlhi, i think i want to go into medicine but i'm not 100% sure - i would like to keep my options open in case i have a full change of heart in year 12, but i told my teachers i'd like to do bio chem history alevels and i've been told its a strange combo
i do enjoy history and i think essay writing skills are valuable - would it be better to stick with a third stem subject (maths) which i could still do reasonably well in, or go with the one i like more but may have less career prospects after and have no link to my others?
also if i changed my mind halfway through sixth form and decided to do something like law for example, would i still be able to with two stem subjects and one essay subject?
thank you x
i do enjoy history and i think essay writing skills are valuable - would it be better to stick with a third stem subject (maths) which i could still do reasonably well in, or go with the one i like more but may have less career prospects after and have no link to my others?
also if i changed my mind halfway through sixth form and decided to do something like law for example, would i still be able to with two stem subjects and one essay subject?
thank you x
Hi, that sounds like a great combo for medicine. The only thing is that you wouldn't be able to apply for Oxbridge but if you're not bothered about that then go for it
Also you only need 1 essay subject for law anyways, and it's not even a requirement it's just reccomended. So you'll be able to do law as well. One of my cousins did law at a top russel group uni with Maths, Further Maths, Chemistry and Physics so you'll be absolutely fine
Reply 8
Original post
by hamcheesegirlhi, i think i want to go into medicine but i'm not 100% sure - i would like to keep my options open in case i have a full change of heart in year 12, but i told my teachers i'd like to do bio chem history alevels and i've been told its a strange combo
i do enjoy history and i think essay writing skills are valuable - would it be better to stick with a third stem subject (maths) which i could still do reasonably well in, or go with the one i like more but may have less career prospects after and have no link to my others?
also if i changed my mind halfway through sixth form and decided to do something like law for example, would i still be able to with two stem subjects and one essay subject?
thank you x
i do enjoy history and i think essay writing skills are valuable - would it be better to stick with a third stem subject (maths) which i could still do reasonably well in, or go with the one i like more but may have less career prospects after and have no link to my others?
also if i changed my mind halfway through sixth form and decided to do something like law for example, would i still be able to with two stem subjects and one essay subject?
thank you x
hi, I do this combination (year 13) and honestly if you enjoy history and think you could do well in it I say you should pick it. When I’ve told people the combination i got the a similar reaction of people saying it’s strange or curious as to why I chose it. But at the end of the day if you think these are subjects that will work for you then it doesn’t matter what other people think.
History is a nice break from 2 STEM subjects but it is a lot of work especially when it comes to coursework but the essay writing does prepare you for uni especially if you end up choosing law. Maths could give you a slight advantage in chemistry but it won’t be anything crazy because the chemistry maths is no where near a level maths standard. For healthcare courses (like medicine), most if not all unis want you to have studied chemistry and one other stem subject. They won’t care what your third subject is.
Reply 9
it’s not weird at all my friend has this combo and it gives wide options for university. even history which is one essay subject could get you to law but you have bio chem which can get you to medicine. but the thing about keeping your options wide is when it comes to finding work experience and the supercurriculars because there is just so much that you can do, even i struggle now to what work experience i could do 😭
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