S5 subject choices HELP PLEASE🙏
Hi everyone! I'm currently in the process of picking my subjects for S5, and I could really use some advise. This year S4, I took N5 Maths, English, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, and Modern Studies. I know that choosing the right Highers is essential, but I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed.
I'm leaning towards Maths, English, Biology, and Chemistry for my Highers, leaving me with two additional slots to fill. I generally do well in these subjects, except for English, which I find challenging especially RUAE but I want to still take it. I'm unsure about what to choose for those last two slots. While I do well in Modern Studies, I’ve decided against it because the writing and memorization stress me out.
My parents want me to take Physics, even though I’m not doing well in it and I don’t enjoy it. They promise to continue paying for tutoring, but I’m not still interested. Since I’m considering dropping Modern Studies I'm thinking of taking N5 German, as I performed well in it with an N4 pass in S3. I'm not sure though. Or should I take it?
Now this leaves me with Physics. Should I just take it or take another subject? To be honest taking 3 sciences this year was a lot of work.
I don't really want to crash a higher but I'll do it if I have to.
By the way I’m interested in a career in healthcare or science, but my parents are pushing for medicine, which isn’t my goal. Any advice or subject suggestions from anyone who has had this experience in the past or anybody at all would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
I'm leaning towards Maths, English, Biology, and Chemistry for my Highers, leaving me with two additional slots to fill. I generally do well in these subjects, except for English, which I find challenging especially RUAE but I want to still take it. I'm unsure about what to choose for those last two slots. While I do well in Modern Studies, I’ve decided against it because the writing and memorization stress me out.
My parents want me to take Physics, even though I’m not doing well in it and I don’t enjoy it. They promise to continue paying for tutoring, but I’m not still interested. Since I’m considering dropping Modern Studies I'm thinking of taking N5 German, as I performed well in it with an N4 pass in S3. I'm not sure though. Or should I take it?
Now this leaves me with Physics. Should I just take it or take another subject? To be honest taking 3 sciences this year was a lot of work.
I don't really want to crash a higher but I'll do it if I have to.
By the way I’m interested in a career in healthcare or science, but my parents are pushing for medicine, which isn’t my goal. Any advice or subject suggestions from anyone who has had this experience in the past or anybody at all would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
(edited 11 months ago)
Reply 1
Hey, so i did pretty much the same N5s as you except for physics. I ended up doing Higher english, biology, chemistry, modern studies out of my N5s and I'm now doing advanced higher english, bio and chem
Some advice about the science subjects in general is that if you feel you don't enjoy it it might burn you out and lead to you not doing well in it and higher grades really do matter and you should do something that doesn't make you miserable.
In my experience healthcare or science courses really require only two science, I applied for pharmacy this year and they only wanted chemistry and another science so look into a few courses that interest you and decide then if you NEED to take physics. Also for medicine, its similar to pharmacy as people say if you don't really have a passion for it, it will be a struggle and honestly quite miserable since there really tough courses and they have quite a direct career path. There are so many other healthcare related fields you could go into (Pharmacy, radiography, nursing...) and look into other stem careers to give you an idea of what you need.
Hope this helped in some way!
Some advice about the science subjects in general is that if you feel you don't enjoy it it might burn you out and lead to you not doing well in it and higher grades really do matter and you should do something that doesn't make you miserable.
In my experience healthcare or science courses really require only two science, I applied for pharmacy this year and they only wanted chemistry and another science so look into a few courses that interest you and decide then if you NEED to take physics. Also for medicine, its similar to pharmacy as people say if you don't really have a passion for it, it will be a struggle and honestly quite miserable since there really tough courses and they have quite a direct career path. There are so many other healthcare related fields you could go into (Pharmacy, radiography, nursing...) and look into other stem careers to give you an idea of what you need.
Hope this helped in some way!
Reply 2
16
Reply 3
I find it best to approach these things from both ends.
Make a list of all the possible courses you could take at uni, and then go check the entry requirements all the top unis for those courses. Some might need five highers, some might specify certain subjects. If at all possible you should try and pick subjects that will help you meet those requirements in S5 (always nice to get an unconditional). That way you won’t rule things out. I would err towards doing five highers even if you only need four, as that gives some wiggle room for one poor grade.
On the other hand, it’s best to do things you like and are good at. So once you’ve made sure you’ve ticked all the boxes and not ruled yourself out of anything, then pick things you would enjoy to fill the gaps. Whilst I normally would advise against crashing highers in S5, some subjects are a lot easier to crash than others.
But remember at the end of the day, if you don’t get what you need the first time round, you still have S6 to fill the gaps (for example if you change your mind about uni courses and need a higher in different subject).
Make a list of all the possible courses you could take at uni, and then go check the entry requirements all the top unis for those courses. Some might need five highers, some might specify certain subjects. If at all possible you should try and pick subjects that will help you meet those requirements in S5 (always nice to get an unconditional). That way you won’t rule things out. I would err towards doing five highers even if you only need four, as that gives some wiggle room for one poor grade.
On the other hand, it’s best to do things you like and are good at. So once you’ve made sure you’ve ticked all the boxes and not ruled yourself out of anything, then pick things you would enjoy to fill the gaps. Whilst I normally would advise against crashing highers in S5, some subjects are a lot easier to crash than others.
But remember at the end of the day, if you don’t get what you need the first time round, you still have S6 to fill the gaps (for example if you change your mind about uni courses and need a higher in different subject).
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