Medicine to Law

I’m in year 12 right now, about 6.. ish… days before the mocks and I’ve started to think that medicine just is not the right option for me. I’m not sure if it’s burnout, but I completely switched my mindset 2 days ago and I don’t feel much different now. Right now, I am doing Chemistry, Biology, English Language and I am predicted DBB with an A* in EPQ. I have spent so much time revising chemistry over the half term and nothing seems to be changing at all. It has taken so much time away from my other subjects - I don’t even think I have revised english this whole year because I am so focused on that subject. I was thinking and - for my GCSES, I had to work so so so hard to scrape a 7 in science and maths (which is the bare minimum for medicine??) . For english I did next to nothing the entire year and I got a 9 and an 8. I just think that maybe I am going for the wrong thing. I’ve been practicing the UCAT and so far my strongest area is verbal reasoning too and I’ve looked at the LNAT and it’s mainly verbal reasoning so maybe I would have a better shot at that?

I’ve always had an interest in subjects like history as well, I think I like debating, but I feel like because I was so driven to do medicine I disregarded any of my other interests and went straight for science. I’ve been super focused on being a doctor, I’ve organised work experience at 2 different hospitals, gp practices, I have a volunteering position in a hospital, I don’t know what to do now. What I do know is that, I’m considering dropping chemistry and staying for another year doing a different subject because there is no way I’m going to be able to slave my way through a subject that is insanely hard and I no longer have the passion for. I know law doesn’t require essay based subjects, but im gonna be real with myself, it will be insanely hard to get higher than a C for chemistry - and most law schools require AAA. I’ve thought about keeping biology incase I decide not to do law, keeping english language, taking up english literature and history. I know it’s four alevels but I’ve finished the first half of the course for english language and biology so perhaps it will be easier to manage.

Honestly, I’m in a tricky situation. I’ve spoken to all of my teachers and they seem quite supportive, I don’t mind doing an extra year, my mum is persuading me to keep going with biology but other than that she seems relatively supportive. I’ve watched videos on what type of areas I’d want to look into and I think international / human rights law is really interesting. The problems right now are that I haven’t told my dad, or sister, I told my brother and he called me an idiot. My sister did a whole law degree and decided not to do law - I’ve heard her reasons why, and whenever I’ve brought up she really discourages me from doing it. When I spoke about it a year ago, she thought I just wanted to do it for the money and that I thought it was like suits.. I don’t think she wanted to go into it because her teachers were saying that it was a male dominated field or something like that. It’s gotten pretty bad my mums telling me to lie to her and say I want to do teaching? Honestly I’m so confused why does the education system expect us to know what we want to do at the age of 17?? I wish I figured this out after the mocks because I don’t want to touch chemistry now!! Literally HELP

Reply 1

ageshallnot

Original post

by jennieeeeeeee

I’m in year 12 right now, about 6.. ish… days before the mocks and I’ve started to think that medicine just is not the right option for me. I’m not sure if it’s burnout, but I completely switched my mindset 2 days ago and I don’t feel much different now. Right now, I am doing Chemistry, Biology, English Language and I am predicted DBB with an A* in EPQ. I have spent so much time revising chemistry over the half term and nothing seems to be changing at all. It has taken so much time away from my other subjects - I don’t even think I have revised english this whole year because I am so focused on that subject. I was thinking and - for my GCSES, I had to work so so so hard to scrape a 7 in science and maths (which is the bare minimum for medicine??) . For english I did next to nothing the entire year and I got a 9 and an 8. I just think that maybe I am going for the wrong thing. I’ve been practicing the UCAT and so far my strongest area is verbal reasoning too and I’ve looked at the LNAT and it’s mainly verbal reasoning so maybe I would have a better shot at that?
I’ve always had an interest in subjects like history as well, I think I like debating, but I feel like because I was so driven to do medicine I disregarded any of my other interests and went straight for science. I’ve been super focused on being a doctor, I’ve organised work experience at 2 different hospitals, gp practices, I have a volunteering position in a hospital, I don’t know what to do now. What I do know is that, I’m considering dropping chemistry and staying for another year doing a different subject because there is no way I’m going to be able to slave my way through a subject that is insanely hard and I no longer have the passion for. I know law doesn’t require essay based subjects, but im gonna be real with myself, it will be insanely hard to get higher than a C for chemistry - and most law schools require AAA. I’ve thought about keeping biology incase I decide not to do law, keeping english language, taking up english literature and history. I know it’s four alevels but I’ve finished the first half of the course for english language and biology so perhaps it will be easier to manage.
Honestly, I’m in a tricky situation. I’ve spoken to all of my teachers and they seem quite supportive, I don’t mind doing an extra year, my mum is persuading me to keep going with biology but other than that she seems relatively supportive. I’ve watched videos on what type of areas I’d want to look into and I think international / human rights law is really interesting. The problems right now are that I haven’t told my dad, or sister, I told my brother and he called me an idiot. My sister did a whole law degree and decided not to do law - I’ve heard her reasons why, and whenever I’ve brought up she really discourages me from doing it. When I spoke about it a year ago, she thought I just wanted to do it for the money and that I thought it was like suits.. I don’t think she wanted to go into it because her teachers were saying that it was a male dominated field or something like that. It’s gotten pretty bad my mums telling me to lie to her and say I want to do teaching? Honestly I’m so confused why does the education system expect us to know what we want to do at the age of 17?? I wish I figured this out after the mocks because I don’t want to touch chemistry now!! Literally HELP

If you have predictions of DBB, then medicine is pretty much out of the question anyway.

Reply 2

jennieeeeeeee

Original post

by ageshallnot

If you have predictions of DBB, then medicine is pretty much out of the question anyway.

We haven’t had mocks yet though, and nobody in my all classes have been predicted higher than an A, like even the ones applying for medicine are on B’s and C’s

Reply 3

jennieeeeeeee

Original post

by ageshallnot

If you have predictions of DBB, then medicine is pretty much out of the question anyway.

also it’s not out of the question… many people have failed their alevels and gone on to be great doctors, like take david nott he failed them first time 😭😭 I know i don’t want to do it but you don’t have to be so horrible

Reply 4

ageshallnot

Original post

by jennieeeeeeee

We haven’t had mocks yet though, and nobody in my all classes have been predicted higher than an A, like even the ones applying for medicine are on B’s and C’s

Useful information that you didn't include.

Reply 5

ageshallnot

Original post

by jennieeeeeeee

Horrible? Good grief...

Reply 6

stilllearning123

Original post

by jennieeeeeeee

Ask stupid questions get stupid answers. Average for medicine is A's, so if you don't have evidence you will get them, it is assumed you won't.
Best of luck on them all the same.

Reply 7

daflip

You would have to get predicted AAA for med - maybe a bit lower if you’re contextual, but that’s the minimum. In terms of dropping a subject, it would be better to keep chem rather than bio if you do ever want to consider med again since otherwise you would need bio and maths/physics. But if your back up is something different then that’s fine. Honestly, it’s your future so do some work experience that’s law related - since you jumped to med quite suddenly you want to make sure that you’re not doing the same for law. So get some experience, try out some debating societies or clubs if that’s available and then make a sensible decisions. If LNAT doesn't go well then there are some unis that do law without LNAT as a requirement. But overall, no one is being harsh, just realistic. Good luck with the future!

Reply 8

Chelsabels

Original post

by jennieeeeeeee

I’m in year 12 right now, about 6.. ish… days before the mocks and I’ve started to think that medicine just is not the right option for me. I’m not sure if it’s burnout, but I completely switched my mindset 2 days ago and I don’t feel much different now. Right now, I am doing Chemistry, Biology, English Language and I am predicted DBB with an A* in EPQ. I have spent so much time revising chemistry over the half term and nothing seems to be changing at all. It has taken so much time away from my other subjects - I don’t even think I have revised english this whole year because I am so focused on that subject. I was thinking and - for my GCSES, I had to work so so so hard to scrape a 7 in science and maths (which is the bare minimum for medicine??) . For english I did next to nothing the entire year and I got a 9 and an 8. I just think that maybe I am going for the wrong thing. I’ve been practicing the UCAT and so far my strongest area is verbal reasoning too and I’ve looked at the LNAT and it’s mainly verbal reasoning so maybe I would have a better shot at that?
I’ve always had an interest in subjects like history as well, I think I like debating, but I feel like because I was so driven to do medicine I disregarded any of my other interests and went straight for science. I’ve been super focused on being a doctor, I’ve organised work experience at 2 different hospitals, gp practices, I have a volunteering position in a hospital, I don’t know what to do now. What I do know is that, I’m considering dropping chemistry and staying for another year doing a different subject because there is no way I’m going to be able to slave my way through a subject that is insanely hard and I no longer have the passion for. I know law doesn’t require essay based subjects, but im gonna be real with myself, it will be insanely hard to get higher than a C for chemistry - and most law schools require AAA. I’ve thought about keeping biology incase I decide not to do law, keeping english language, taking up english literature and history. I know it’s four alevels but I’ve finished the first half of the course for english language and biology so perhaps it will be easier to manage.
Honestly, I’m in a tricky situation. I’ve spoken to all of my teachers and they seem quite supportive, I don’t mind doing an extra year, my mum is persuading me to keep going with biology but other than that she seems relatively supportive. I’ve watched videos on what type of areas I’d want to look into and I think international / human rights law is really interesting. The problems right now are that I haven’t told my dad, or sister, I told my brother and he called me an idiot. My sister did a whole law degree and decided not to do law - I’ve heard her reasons why, and whenever I’ve brought up she really discourages me from doing it. When I spoke about it a year ago, she thought I just wanted to do it for the money and that I thought it was like suits.. I don’t think she wanted to go into it because her teachers were saying that it was a male dominated field or something like that. It’s gotten pretty bad my mums telling me to lie to her and say I want to do teaching? Honestly I’m so confused why does the education system expect us to know what we want to do at the age of 17?? I wish I figured this out after the mocks because I don’t want to touch chemistry now!! Literally HELP

I have the 2024 as ocr paper 1&2 if u want it

Reply 9

UniofLawstudent2

Official Rep

Original post

by jennieeeeeeee

I’m in year 12 right now, about 6.. ish… days before the mocks and I’ve started to think that medicine just is not the right option for me. I’m not sure if it’s burnout, but I completely switched my mindset 2 days ago and I don’t feel much different now. Right now, I am doing Chemistry, Biology, English Language and I am predicted DBB with an A* in EPQ. I have spent so much time revising chemistry over the half term and nothing seems to be changing at all. It has taken so much time away from my other subjects - I don’t even think I have revised english this whole year because I am so focused on that subject. I was thinking and - for my GCSES, I had to work so so so hard to scrape a 7 in science and maths (which is the bare minimum for medicine??) . For english I did next to nothing the entire year and I got a 9 and an 8. I just think that maybe I am going for the wrong thing. I’ve been practicing the UCAT and so far my strongest area is verbal reasoning too and I’ve looked at the LNAT and it’s mainly verbal reasoning so maybe I would have a better shot at that?
I’ve always had an interest in subjects like history as well, I think I like debating, but I feel like because I was so driven to do medicine I disregarded any of my other interests and went straight for science. I’ve been super focused on being a doctor, I’ve organised work experience at 2 different hospitals, gp practices, I have a volunteering position in a hospital, I don’t know what to do now. What I do know is that, I’m considering dropping chemistry and staying for another year doing a different subject because there is no way I’m going to be able to slave my way through a subject that is insanely hard and I no longer have the passion for. I know law doesn’t require essay based subjects, but im gonna be real with myself, it will be insanely hard to get higher than a C for chemistry - and most law schools require AAA. I’ve thought about keeping biology incase I decide not to do law, keeping english language, taking up english literature and history. I know it’s four alevels but I’ve finished the first half of the course for english language and biology so perhaps it will be easier to manage.
Honestly, I’m in a tricky situation. I’ve spoken to all of my teachers and they seem quite supportive, I don’t mind doing an extra year, my mum is persuading me to keep going with biology but other than that she seems relatively supportive. I’ve watched videos on what type of areas I’d want to look into and I think international / human rights law is really interesting. The problems right now are that I haven’t told my dad, or sister, I told my brother and he called me an idiot. My sister did a whole law degree and decided not to do law - I’ve heard her reasons why, and whenever I’ve brought up she really discourages me from doing it. When I spoke about it a year ago, she thought I just wanted to do it for the money and that I thought it was like suits.. I don’t think she wanted to go into it because her teachers were saying that it was a male dominated field or something like that. It’s gotten pretty bad my mums telling me to lie to her and say I want to do teaching? Honestly I’m so confused why does the education system expect us to know what we want to do at the age of 17?? I wish I figured this out after the mocks because I don’t want to touch chemistry now!! Literally HELP

Wow, its like reading a reflection of my own situation 2 years ago.
My gcses were also the same haha, 9 and 8's for english, but 7's for sciences and I had the same problem with A level, with you it's chemistry where as with me it was physics, would put 10x the time and get D's or C's at best while with minimal effort would get B's and A's in psychology.
And honestly? It didn't get better in year 13, and I was let down by my results, I was no where near achieving a B in physics, and while recieving decent scores in my other 2, I always knew I could have done better if I had put a fraction of the time I put into physics, into them instead.

Let’s take this apart gently and practically, piece by piece. You’ve actually already done the hardest part, which is being honest with yourself.
But I hope you may be able to make a choice I wasn't brave enough to do myself.

Burnout.
You’ve spent months pushing yourself through chemistry for medicine, even though your instincts (and past performance) say English and verbal reasoning are your strengths. That mismatch is exhausting, not because you’re lazy or incapable, but because you’re not wired for that specific kind of problem-solving.
You can push a square peg into a round hole, but eventually it snaps, and that’s not your fault it didn't work, what's foolish is trying to continously force it.
You clearly can work hard, you’re doing an EPQ, volunteering in a hospital, prepping for the UCAT… that’s grit. But grit means nothing if it’s pointed at a future you don’t want anymore.

Let’s lay out why law might be a good direction, not because it's easy (it’s not), but because it aligns with the skills and interests you're already showing:

You’ve shared that verbal reasoning is your strongest area in the UCAT, and that you’ve always enjoyed subjects like English and history. That’s really significant, because these are precisely the kinds of skills that law degrees value most. The LNAT, which some top universities use for law admissions, focuses almost entirely on verbal reasoning and critical thinking. Your strengths in English and your interest in debating align very closely with the demands of a law degree, which involves analysing dense texts, building arguments, and writing essays. You also mentioned being drawn to international or human rights law, that’s a real and meaningful pathway within the legal profession, and many people working in that field started with the exact same interests you’ve described. This isn’t about chasing prestige or being swayed by TV shows like Suits, from what you’ve written, it sounds like law actually plays to your natural strengths, in ways that medicine hasn’t.

If you’re considering law, here's the good news:

•

No specific A-level subjects are required. Most top universities for law care most about your grades, not the exact subjects.

•

Subjects like English Literature, History, Politics, Philosophy are fantastic prep for law. You’re already doing English Language and Biology, and if you swapped Chemistry for English Lit or History, you’re on a strong track.

You're also considering an extra year, which is okay.
Loads of students take a “Year 14” to reset or rework their A-levels. It doesn’t ruin your chances, most unis are understanding if you explain why (burnout, subject mismatch, change of career path). And while i'm not supposed to say this, I would bet money you will look a lot more attractive to universities taking an additional year and achieving higher grades as opposed to forcing your way through chemistry and achieving average-low grades, especially if your school is known for high-achievers.

Now onto the touchy topic...
You’re facing pressure from:

•

Your dad and sister (who might misunderstand your reasons)

•

Your brother, who called you an idiot (which must've hurt)

•

And your mum, who’s trying to protect you (even if that means suggesting white lies)

Firstly you don’t owe anyone a life path that makes them feel better. Especially when you’re the one who has to live it.
Your sister may be projecting her own experience, and that's fair but it doesn’t mean your path through law will be the same. Law is still male-dominated in some areas, but it’s also changing fast, especially in human rights and international law. And if you do law and later change your mind? You’ll still have a versatile, respected degree.
And speaking from personal experience i've met many brilliant female law students, in fact i've lost to many in university and national level moots haha, but the point is there are many opportunities for them, especially with particular opportunities targeted to attract more females in law.

You don’t need to fight your family, I understand the difficulty of being a people-pleaser. But you do deserve to be heard, i'm not a councellor or qualified to tell you how to deal with your families expectations, but I can tell you one thing, I regretted not dropping physics in year 12 and taking an additional year.
My grades, mental health and social life would have all been drastically improved, and so what if I had to deal with some condescension and spite from my family, compared to my future it's minimal, but this is a lesson I learned too late in the year.

Lastly,
You don’t need to know exactly what you want right now. But you do need permission to explore other paths, and you’ve earned that.
The bravest thing you can do is pivot when your instincts tell you you’re on the wrong track.
You’re allowed to quit chemistry. You’re allowed to question medicine. You’re allowed to change your mind.
And you are absolutely not alone.
If you want help exploring LNAT prep, law schools that accept retakes or year 14, Ill do my best to help, you’ve got this.

Regardless, I recommend changing chemistry into a more suitable subject and taking another year,
I also recommend law, but remember the better your grades the more options you will have, so even if you're not sure about going through a law route for Uni, changing chem and getting better grades will only benefit you across the board, as it leaves the most options available and doesn't harm you, besides losing a year which is honestly negligible, as most first year students in my class were 21-23.