Will 4 a levels be too much for me?
So I just started year 12, and im doing Maths, Biology, Chemistry and Politics. I was going to drop the one I liked the least but right now I can't decide which to drop.
The problem is, I have no idea what career or degree I want after doing A levels so i cant decide which I need. I think chemistry is my least favourite right now, but i also know that if i want to do medicine I will need chemistry. I also like the look of natural sciences at Cambridge which needs maths, bio, chem - so i would have to drop politics. However I enjoy politics a lot and find it interesting.
At gcse i got nine 9s and two 8s, so I think im in a good position so far to apply to oxbridge or to medicine. My college said they recommend starting with 4 and dropping one, but said I might be able to cope with 4 because of my GCSE results.
I cant decide whether I want do a science degree or a humanity, like economics or politics. And i really dont want to not meet the entry requirements because I picked the wrong subjects.
How hard would it be to just stay with the four A levels, and does anyone have recommendations for careers or degrees i might be interested in?
The problem is, I have no idea what career or degree I want after doing A levels so i cant decide which I need. I think chemistry is my least favourite right now, but i also know that if i want to do medicine I will need chemistry. I also like the look of natural sciences at Cambridge which needs maths, bio, chem - so i would have to drop politics. However I enjoy politics a lot and find it interesting.
At gcse i got nine 9s and two 8s, so I think im in a good position so far to apply to oxbridge or to medicine. My college said they recommend starting with 4 and dropping one, but said I might be able to cope with 4 because of my GCSE results.
I cant decide whether I want do a science degree or a humanity, like economics or politics. And i really dont want to not meet the entry requirements because I picked the wrong subjects.
How hard would it be to just stay with the four A levels, and does anyone have recommendations for careers or degrees i might be interested in?
Reply 1
I'm not doing 4 separate A-levels like you, but personally I'm doing a Vocational subject, an A-level and a Double A level (which is the same workload as 4 A-levels). You seem to have the smarts for it, so from my experience it really just depends on if you're able to handle staying on top of your workload. If you think you'd be able to consistently put in 8-10 hours of work per weekday (at least in the busier times of the year) you'd be just fine, especially if you start going ahead of your timetable and preparing for tests/applications as early as possible. This might involve spending less time with friends during weekdays, so if you're very extraverted then it might be a bit more difficult. You could try spending a week doing as much work as you can to see how that would feel, and if you think that would be sustainable.
All in all, if you end up wanting to continue with 4 A-levels, then as long as you stay on top of it it won't be too much of an issue from my experience. Though if you think that you won't be able to stay on top of it then it'll be better to drop one to bolster your other 3 A-levels, since universities only really take into account 3 of your A-levels. Keep in mind that for Cambridge you'll probably need to be at an A*AA level, preferably triple A*s.
There's also the option of dropping one of the A levels, then doing the A level during a gap year. Or simply taking a foundation year if you want to do a different degree than the A-Levels you have let you - though that may rule out some of the most prestigious unis.
All in all, if you end up wanting to continue with 4 A-levels, then as long as you stay on top of it it won't be too much of an issue from my experience. Though if you think that you won't be able to stay on top of it then it'll be better to drop one to bolster your other 3 A-levels, since universities only really take into account 3 of your A-levels. Keep in mind that for Cambridge you'll probably need to be at an A*AA level, preferably triple A*s.
There's also the option of dropping one of the A levels, then doing the A level during a gap year. Or simply taking a foundation year if you want to do a different degree than the A-Levels you have let you - though that may rule out some of the most prestigious unis.
Reply 2
Original post
by kalgaeSo I just started year 12, and im doing Maths, Biology, Chemistry and Politics. I was going to drop the one I liked the least but right now I can't decide which to drop.
The problem is, I have no idea what career or degree I want after doing A levels so i cant decide which I need. I think chemistry is my least favourite right now, but i also know that if i want to do medicine I will need chemistry. I also like the look of natural sciences at Cambridge which needs maths, bio, chem - so i would have to drop politics. However I enjoy politics a lot and find it interesting.
At gcse i got nine 9s and two 8s, so I think im in a good position so far to apply to oxbridge or to medicine. My college said they recommend starting with 4 and dropping one, but said I might be able to cope with 4 because of my GCSE results.
I cant decide whether I want do a science degree or a humanity, like economics or politics. And i really dont want to not meet the entry requirements because I picked the wrong subjects.
How hard would it be to just stay with the four A levels, and does anyone have recommendations for careers or degrees i might be interested in?
The problem is, I have no idea what career or degree I want after doing A levels so i cant decide which I need. I think chemistry is my least favourite right now, but i also know that if i want to do medicine I will need chemistry. I also like the look of natural sciences at Cambridge which needs maths, bio, chem - so i would have to drop politics. However I enjoy politics a lot and find it interesting.
At gcse i got nine 9s and two 8s, so I think im in a good position so far to apply to oxbridge or to medicine. My college said they recommend starting with 4 and dropping one, but said I might be able to cope with 4 because of my GCSE results.
I cant decide whether I want do a science degree or a humanity, like economics or politics. And i really dont want to not meet the entry requirements because I picked the wrong subjects.
How hard would it be to just stay with the four A levels, and does anyone have recommendations for careers or degrees i might be interested in?
Hi there!
I totally get the struggle - during sixth form, I was struggling to choose between Graphic Design or Psychology! I had taken both Psychology and Fine Art - I think what helped me choose was honestly just time, kind of waiting it out over the course of sixth form. I ended up developing my career interests the more I studied each subject.
As the above comment have said, doing 4 A-Levels or three just depends on if you'll be able to manage the workload. A lot of students generally already struggle with balancing three, which is why 3 is the usual recommended amount for entry. It might be worth taking all 4 just to see how you'll fare - there is always an option of dropping one in case it gets a bit too much - this is something I know a few students did.
For the degrees - many humanities subjects actually don't specify certain subjects in their entry requirements, compared to healthcare subjects such as medicine. For example, for the Cardiff Politics course, you don't need any specific A-Levels, you just need to get the grades. The same goes for our International Relations courses, or social science courses. Subjects like Economics, you might need Maths A-Level in, which you're already taking. So, that might be something to consider
~ Fatiha, Cardiff University Alumni Rep
Reply 3
10
Original post
by kalgaeSo I just started year 12, and im doing Maths, Biology, Chemistry and Politics. I was going to drop the one I liked the least but right now I can't decide which to drop.
The problem is, I have no idea what career or degree I want after doing A levels so i cant decide which I need. I think chemistry is my least favourite right now, but i also know that if i want to do medicine I will need chemistry. I also like the look of natural sciences at Cambridge which needs maths, bio, chem - so i would have to drop politics. However I enjoy politics a lot and find it interesting.
At gcse i got nine 9s and two 8s, so I think im in a good position so far to apply to oxbridge or to medicine. My college said they recommend starting with 4 and dropping one, but said I might be able to cope with 4 because of my GCSE results.
I cant decide whether I want do a science degree or a humanity, like economics or politics. And i really dont want to not meet the entry requirements because I picked the wrong subjects.
How hard would it be to just stay with the four A levels, and does anyone have recommendations for careers or degrees i might be interested in?
The problem is, I have no idea what career or degree I want after doing A levels so i cant decide which I need. I think chemistry is my least favourite right now, but i also know that if i want to do medicine I will need chemistry. I also like the look of natural sciences at Cambridge which needs maths, bio, chem - so i would have to drop politics. However I enjoy politics a lot and find it interesting.
At gcse i got nine 9s and two 8s, so I think im in a good position so far to apply to oxbridge or to medicine. My college said they recommend starting with 4 and dropping one, but said I might be able to cope with 4 because of my GCSE results.
I cant decide whether I want do a science degree or a humanity, like economics or politics. And i really dont want to not meet the entry requirements because I picked the wrong subjects.
How hard would it be to just stay with the four A levels, and does anyone have recommendations for careers or degrees i might be interested in?
I was in a very similar situation when I did my A-levels. I took Bio, Maths, Chem and Physics and thought I was going to become a doctor. Not long after starting sixth form I realised that I was nowhere near motivated enough to become a doctor. I kept all 4 subjects anyway and ended up with decent grades (4As), but I firmly believe I could have done much better if I hadn't done 4. I actually missed my entry requirements for my dream uni because of this (they let me in anyway, but it was scary). For context, I got 11 grade 9s in my GCSEs, so I really did expect to do better. 4 alevels is a LOT of work, especially with 3 intense stem subjects. It's definitely achievable if you work hard, but if you're burnt out and unsure of whether you'll be able to work hard enough (as I was), it's safer to drop one. It also doesn't really help you with getting into uni, they don't really care whether you did 3 or 4 a levels as long as you meet the entry requirements.
So yes, I would suggest you consider dropping one. I can't really help with deciding what you want to do, but maybe take some time to write out what careers/degrees would be possible with each combination of 3 a levels and using that to help you. Politics seems to be the odd one out, so unfortunately that one should probably be the first to go, unless you'd really like to do a politics degree.
That said, keep 4 if you think you can handle it and really want to. It's totally possible to do well in 4 subjects if you out the work in. But keep in mind that it's quite exhausting.
Reply 4
Hi there!
Firstly - what fantastic grades, huge congrats for all of the hard work to get those!
You've already had some great advice so I won't repeat it. I would just keep in mind...
If you enjoy science but also wish to work with people, then might you consider going into Pharmacy? (example) Alternatively, how about Radiography? If you like politics, then potentially Law with the view to specialise in medical law? If you did medicine where do you think you'd like to specialise? With Nat Sci you could also go into research, big pharma, biotech, science writing/communication or lecturing?
I hope this helps a bit, best of luck! 🙂
Firstly - what fantastic grades, huge congrats for all of the hard work to get those!
You've already had some great advice so I won't repeat it. I would just keep in mind...
•
Unis will only really ever ask for 3 A-Levels
•
Be careful not to spread your time/effort too thinly and to protect yourself from burnout
•
Have you looked on prospects.ac.uk for career ideas, or plugged your A-Levels into TSR's A-Level matcher to see what degrees your A-Levels might set you up for?
•
Beware the great majority of Econ degrees will ask for A-Level maths - be sure to keep Maths and Politics if you'd defo like to do this degree
If you enjoy science but also wish to work with people, then might you consider going into Pharmacy? (example) Alternatively, how about Radiography? If you like politics, then potentially Law with the view to specialise in medical law? If you did medicine where do you think you'd like to specialise? With Nat Sci you could also go into research, big pharma, biotech, science writing/communication or lecturing?
I hope this helps a bit, best of luck! 🙂
(edited 8 months ago)
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