Biology, Chemistry and Maths A level help!

1

Hi im in year 12 and thinking of studying medicine. I have never known what I want to do nor had any particular interest in becoming a doctor but I study biology chemistry and maths so I don't know what else to do. I have thought about studying medicine a lot this year and talked to many supervisors but I'm still on and off about it. I have AAA grades but I can't really be bothered to study for the UCAT. I don't know what to do. Should I just try for the UCAT? I also play hockey, have a job and like to go out with my friends. I do like the idea of biochemistry and natural sciences but I don't want to work in a lab because I did weeks work experience in a research lab and didn't like it. I also don't know what I could do after as a job. Please help!

Reply 1

kitty15

Study Forum Helper

15

Original post

by islamcgill

Hi im in year 12 and thinking of studying medicine. I have never known what I want to do nor had any particular interest in becoming a doctor but I study biology chemistry and maths so I don't know what else to do. I have thought about studying medicine a lot this year and talked to many supervisors but I'm still on and off about it. I have AAA grades but I can't really be bothered to study for the UCAT. I don't know what to do. Should I just try for the UCAT? I also play hockey, have a job and like to go out with my friends. I do like the idea of biochemistry and natural sciences but I don't want to work in a lab because I did weeks work experience in a research lab and didn't like it. I also don't know what I could do after as a job. Please help!

Hi, it’s normal to be on and off about medicine at times, but since it’s summer, you should do some work experience to help you decide. I would recommend Brighton Sussex Medical School Virtual Work Experience. If you decide you want to do the UCAT, you should really book it soon as slots can book out at your preferred centre.

I’m honestly also not a sort of lab work person. But it is often unavoidable to have lab work with biology courses. I would attend uni open days/taster lectures and see from there how you feel about biochem/nat sci. You can also chat to students/professors there about career opportunities.

But don’t force yourself to apply if you really don’t like it or have no interest as that will really show during interview and also impact your motivation to study for UCAT.

Reply 2

Flamingo10

12

Original post

by islamcgill

Hi im in year 12 and thinking of studying medicine. I have never known what I want to do nor had any particular interest in becoming a doctor but I study biology chemistry and maths so I don't know what else to do. I have thought about studying medicine a lot this year and talked to many supervisors but I'm still on and off about it. I have AAA grades but I can't really be bothered to study for the UCAT. I don't know what to do. Should I just try for the UCAT? I also play hockey, have a job and like to go out with my friends. I do like the idea of biochemistry and natural sciences but I don't want to work in a lab because I did weeks work experience in a research lab and didn't like it. I also don't know what I could do after as a job. Please help!

Don't study medicine because you can't think of anything else to do with your A levels. For medicine you have to be committed because the course is extremely difficult and long and you will end up with a lot of debt. So you really need to be sure that you want to do it.

Have you considered that you might not need to go to university at all and you could get an apprenticeship instead? Just because you have studied A levels doesn't mean that you have to go to university.

Reply 3

Reality Check

22

Original post

by islamcgill

Hi im in year 12 and thinking of studying medicine. I have never known what I want to do nor had any particular interest in becoming a doctor but I study biology chemistry and maths so I don't know what else to do.

I mean, are you actually being serious? Medicine isn't something that you do 'because you can't think of anything else'.

Reply 4

University of Strathclyde Student Ambassador

Official Rep

15

Original post

by islamcgill

Hi im in year 12 and thinking of studying medicine. I have never known what I want to do nor had any particular interest in becoming a doctor but I study biology chemistry and maths so I don't know what else to do. I have thought about studying medicine a lot this year and talked to many supervisors but I'm still on and off about it. I have AAA grades but I can't really be bothered to study for the UCAT. I don't know what to do. Should I just try for the UCAT? I also play hockey, have a job and like to go out with my friends. I do like the idea of biochemistry and natural sciences but I don't want to work in a lab because I did weeks work experience in a research lab and didn't like it. I also don't know what I could do after as a job. Please help!

Hey! (:

Completly normal being a bit unsure at this stage for what you want to do!, as others have mentioned spending the summer doing a bit of research into each course, some work experience to see the type of enviorment and attending open days is a great way to get a bit of an idea what you like and what you dont like about courses! - id suggest writing a pros/cons list for each course so you can see clearly which alligns with you more😊

Also just felt worth mentioning, if your really unsure your always able to take a gap year!! - a few of my friends done this and found it was great for giving them that year to work out exactly what it was they were passionate about, also means with a-levels you dont also have the stress of UCAS applications + UCAT, interveiws and all that type of thing

In this gap year you would be also able to get a job and save up some money prior to uni or any other pathway that interests you, look more in depth into courses, just in general get a bit more of a feel for things before you commit + a lot more time to spend on applications & you will have your a-level grades so will know which courses you qualify for without the stress of awaiting grades - just worth considering if you havent thought about it before!🤗

hope this helps, best of luck!!

Emily
Year 3, Chemistry
Official University Of Strathclyde Rep

Reply 5

University of Bath

Official Rep

14

Hi there,

Thanks for reaching out.

It sounds like you've picked a very good and complementary set of A-Level subjects which can set you up for a lot of science-based uni courses, not just medicine. You could do... Biochem, Biomedical sciences, Clinical sciences, Pharmacy, Biology, Pharmacology, Chemistry for drug discovery. And, if you wanted something a bit different... Chemical Engineering, Electronic engineering, Business/Management, Accounting and finance. All of these you would be eligible for at many unis with AAA grades 🙂

Open days are a good call, as are uni websites' course catalogues, the complete university guide for initial research into which unis are good for your chosen subject, and talking to student ambassadors online, for example via Unibuddy or The Ambassador Platform.

And did you know there are plenty of jobs you can do with any degree? ... Project management, marketing, copywriting, science writing/journalism, working with animals or children, working at a uni, for the intelligence services, in consultancy, in systems/process engineering, you could go into air traffic control, banking, teaching, do a PhD if you wanted, lecturing.

You don't have to have your whole life planned out yet - just focus on what you enjoy, go to a few open day course presentations and see what you think would suit you best.

Hoping this helps 🙂

University of Bath

(edited 8 months ago)

Biology, Chemistry and Maths A level help!

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