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how to balance plan A and plan B careers for A-levels?

I know A-level choice picking is over but just in case I end up deciding to change in the early stages of year 12.
My Plan A is to study pharmaceutical sciences, and plan B is real estate management.
(For reference I picked biology, chemistry & geography)

I only gained interest in pharmaceutical science very early on in the year as 1) science is one of my strong points 2) not necessarily involves healthcare and seeps into the corporate sectors 3) I had to quickly pick a career path so that i could apply to sixth forms.
The only thing I’m worried about is that I end up realising that PS isn’t something that I want to do, which is why RS is my Plan B as I have interests in property, law etc. so I was thinking of changing Biology, to Business Studies (I didn’t take BS at gcse). PS only really strongly requires chemistry but I know it’s still good to have biology to pair with it. If I changed it to business studies it would be a bit with to have a science, social science and humanity, right? But at the same time that combo fits better incase I want to change career paths,

Although real estate doesn’t actually require any specific a levels. Instead I’m thinking of doing Pharmaceuticals as a BSc and then Real Estate as MSc?? I need help!!
You can go into the property development sector from any background. You don't need any specific A-levels (or degree).
Original post by ekhsaa_18
I know A-level choice picking is over but just in case I end up deciding to change in the early stages of year 12.
My Plan A is to study pharmaceutical sciences, and plan B is real estate management.
(For reference I picked biology, chemistry & geography)
I only gained interest in pharmaceutical science very early on in the year as 1) science is one of my strong points 2) not necessarily involves healthcare and seeps into the corporate sectors 3) I had to quickly pick a career path so that i could apply to sixth forms.
The only thing I’m worried about is that I end up realising that PS isn’t something that I want to do, which is why RS is my Plan B as I have interests in property, law etc. so I was thinking of changing Biology, to Business Studies (I didn’t take BS at gcse). PS only really strongly requires chemistry but I know it’s still good to have biology to pair with it. If I changed it to business studies it would be a bit with to have a science, social science and humanity, right? But at the same time that combo fits better incase I want to change career paths,
Although real estate doesn’t actually require any specific a levels. Instead I’m thinking of doing Pharmaceuticals as a BSc and then Real Estate as MSc?? I need help!!

I'm with artful_lounger; you don't need anything to go into real estate. It's nice to have a degree to become a quantity surveyor or civil/structural engineer, and you will definitely need degrees to become an architect. Otherwise, you need nothing to go into real estate.

If you are interested in property law, you would probably want to study law. Whilst you strictly don't need a degree to become a solicitor to become a property lawyer, you would need the equivalent of a degree to study the SQE and qualify as one later on (law firms tend to prefer people with law degrees or PGDLs even though you don't legally need a degree in law to do the SQE)

In terms of PS, what do you intend to do with the degree? If you intend to go into research in pharmacology, then it's fine. Otherwise, you will have to think things through. Any occupation involving life sciences and healthcare will require specific degrees. Whilst you sometimes get the option of doing a conversion or master's degree to pivot into another career with an undergrad in life sciences, you can't always do so with certain occupations or degrees. I would tread carefully here.
Have you looked into any work experience or internships in this area? Have you networked and asked professionals working in this sector for second opinions? It's kind of key if you want to know whether the sector is right for you.

If for some very random reasons you want to do Pharmaceuticals BSc + Real Estate MSc, you can do so without any problems. The MSc for real estate accept undergrads in any subjects.

In terms of AL Business, you don't really need it for any degree. It provides a good foundation for the theory you could use to build a business, but it's not strictly required for anything. If you do AL Business, there's not much point in doing a degree in business unless you intend to go into academic research in business.

Reply 3

Original post by MindMax2000
I'm with artful_lounger; you don't need anything to go into real estate. It's nice to have a degree to become a quantity surveyor or civil/structural engineer, and you will definitely need degrees to become an architect. Otherwise, you need nothing to go into real estate.
If you are interested in property law, you would probably want to study law. Whilst you strictly don't need a degree to become a solicitor to become a property lawyer, you would need the equivalent of a degree to study the SQE and qualify as one later on (law firms tend to prefer people with law degrees or PGDLs even though you don't legally need a degree in law to do the SQE)
In terms of PS, what do you intend to do with the degree? If you intend to go into research in pharmacology, then it's fine. Otherwise, you will have to think things through. Any occupation involving life sciences and healthcare will require specific degrees. Whilst you sometimes get the option of doing a conversion or master's degree to pivot into another career with an undergrad in life sciences, you can't always do so with certain occupations or degrees. I would tread carefully here.
Have you looked into any work experience or internships in this area? Have you networked and asked professionals working in this sector for second opinions? It's kind of key if you want to know whether the sector is right for you.
If for some very random reasons you want to do Pharmaceuticals BSc + Real Estate MSc, you can do so without any problems. The MSc for real estate accept undergrads in any subjects.
In terms of AL Business, you don't really need it for any degree. It provides a good foundation for the theory you could use to build a business, but it's not strictly required for anything. If you do AL Business, there's not much point in doing a degree in business unless you intend to go into academic research in business.


with PS I’m more into the regulatory affairs side of pharma so i was hoping to get into that kind of sector rather than lab/clinical work. Tbh I think I’m just going to stick with biology
Original post by ekhsaa_18
with PS I’m more into the regulatory affairs side of pharma so i was hoping to get into that kind of sector rather than lab/clinical work. Tbh I think I’m just going to stick with biology

So a regulatory affairs officer? See:
https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/regulatory-affairs-officer#qualifications
https://ckgroup.co.uk/candidate/job-profiles/regulatory-affairs-specialist-job-profile/

If so, your choice of degree subjects can be in say:

biochemistry

biology

biomedical engineering

biomedical science

biotechnology

chemical and physical sciences

chemistry

epidemiology

engineering

medicine

pharmacology

pharmacy.


With your A Level choices, I think you're good for most of the above except for engineering and physical sciences - all need physics and maths.
(edited 1 month ago)

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