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(URGENT) Picking A Levels

I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask at all, but I'm really hoping I can get the help I need here. Hi, I'm going to sixth form next year, and currently, I am tasked with choosing my A levels. But I am faced with a predicament. I am sure of 2 of my A levels, I want to do chemistry, and biology. I love the subjects and am predicted 9s in both of them. But I'm not so sure after that.
You see, in uni (my first choice would be Imperial) I want to do either medicine, biomedicine, or biochemistry, although I am not sure what exactly. I've heard that biomedicine is quite unemployable, even though it sounds interesting. I'm very interested in medicine, but I was thinking of maybe branching out into pharmacology from biochemistry because it may be well paid? I don't know. I'm quite misinformed. Either way, I must decide my last a level.
I have a predicted 9 in maths, and don't get me wrong, I don't think maths is super boring, but I'm not sure if I want to do it for 2 years, despite being good at it. Instead, I was thinking of potentially doing psychology, as I'm very interested in why humans act in the way they do, why we have certain emotions. I want to overanalyse everything, and recognise the reason for it.
If I choose maths, I will do an EPQ. If I choose psychology, I will do core maths as a 4th. And I was also thinking of doing all 4, but I am told that that is a poor choice if I'm not ready for it. I really want to do psychology, but I do not want to be placed at a disadvantage when applying to uni because I didn't do maths. FOR THE BLOODY LIFE OF ME, I CANNOT CHOOSE. PLEASE PLEASE HELP

Reply 1

Original post
by Bananaman575
I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask at all, but I'm really hoping I can get the help I need here. Hi, I'm going to sixth form next year, and currently, I am tasked with choosing my A levels. But I am faced with a predicament. I am sure of 2 of my A levels, I want to do chemistry, and biology. I love the subjects and am predicted 9s in both of them. But I'm not so sure after that.
You see, in uni (my first choice would be Imperial) I want to do either medicine, biomedicine, or biochemistry, although I am not sure what exactly. I've heard that biomedicine is quite unemployable, even though it sounds interesting. I'm very interested in medicine, but I was thinking of maybe branching out into pharmacology from biochemistry because it may be well paid? I don't know. I'm quite misinformed. Either way, I must decide my last a level.
I have a predicted 9 in maths, and don't get me wrong, I don't think maths is super boring, but I'm not sure if I want to do it for 2 years, despite being good at it. Instead, I was thinking of potentially doing psychology, as I'm very interested in why humans act in the way they do, why we have certain emotions. I want to overanalyse everything, and recognise the reason for it.
If I choose maths, I will do an EPQ. If I choose psychology, I will do core maths as a 4th. And I was also thinking of doing all 4, but I am told that that is a poor choice if I'm not ready for it. I really want to do psychology, but I do not want to be placed at a disadvantage when applying to uni because I didn't do maths. FOR THE BLOODY LIFE OF ME, I CANNOT CHOOSE. PLEASE PLEASE HELP


you won't be at a disadvantage if you don't do maths. all those courses don't require you to take maths and they don't have much maths in the course that would require anything past gcse. psych is a really strong and solid a level, and a really common subject combo with bio and chem. if you're still unsure, take all four and drop a subject in y12 once you get a feel for what maths and psych a level is like. also being in y11, you have lots of time to change your mind - so any decision you make rn won't be set in stone.
Original post
by Bananaman575
I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask at all, but I'm really hoping I can get the help I need here. Hi, I'm going to sixth form next year, and currently, I am tasked with choosing my A levels. But I am faced with a predicament. I am sure of 2 of my A levels, I want to do chemistry, and biology. I love the subjects and am predicted 9s in both of them. But I'm not so sure after that.
You see, in uni (my first choice would be Imperial) I want to do either medicine, biomedicine, or biochemistry, although I am not sure what exactly. I've heard that biomedicine is quite unemployable, even though it sounds interesting. I'm very interested in medicine, but I was thinking of maybe branching out into pharmacology from biochemistry because it may be well paid? I don't know. I'm quite misinformed. Either way, I must decide my last a level.
I have a predicted 9 in maths, and don't get me wrong, I don't think maths is super boring, but I'm not sure if I want to do it for 2 years, despite being good at it. Instead, I was thinking of potentially doing psychology, as I'm very interested in why humans act in the way they do, why we have certain emotions. I want to overanalyse everything, and recognise the reason for it.
If I choose maths, I will do an EPQ. If I choose psychology, I will do core maths as a 4th. And I was also thinking of doing all 4, but I am told that that is a poor choice if I'm not ready for it. I really want to do psychology, but I do not want to be placed at a disadvantage when applying to uni because I didn't do maths. FOR THE BLOODY LIFE OF ME, I CANNOT CHOOSE. PLEASE PLEASE HELP

Hiya lovely

It honestly sounds like you're overthinking this which is normal when choosing A-levels as I was like that as well but the most important thing is this: do subjects you actually enjoy and can see yourself sticking with for two years

For medicine, biology + chemistry are the essential ones. The third A-level does not need to be maths. Medical schools don’t prefer it over psychology, so you wouldn’t be putting yourself at a disadvantage at all. Psychology is perfectly acceptable, and loads of successful applicants take it. I was in a similar position I picked both chem and bio but couldn't decide on the 3rd because I wasn't sure what unis wanted but I just went with my gut and did english lit as I loved my professor and the subject.

Having strong grades in the subjects you enjoy is far more valuable than taking maths and burning out or hating sixth form.

If you genuinely think you’d enjoy psychology more, and it motivates you, that’s a completely valid choice. Psychology pairs really well with bio and chem, and a lot of people find it a nice balance between content-heavy and conceptual. If you still want some maths to keep that door slightly more open, doing Core Maths is a good compromise.

Doing all four is only worth it if:

your school is supportive,
you’re confident you can manage the workload,
and you want to.

But it’s not necessary for competitive courses, and it won’t give you a magical advantage.

Go with the option that won’t make you miserable for two years. That matters far more than trying to optimise for every possible degree path. This is a journey you should enjoy, ans I bet everything will work out thw way it needs to

Kind regards Aneta PhD Chemistry

Reply 3

Original post
by sasachla
you won't be at a disadvantage if you don't do maths. all those courses don't require you to take maths and they don't have much maths in the course that would require anything past gcse. psych is a really strong and solid a level, and a really common subject combo with bio and chem. if you're still unsure, take all four and drop a subject in y12 once you get a feel for what maths and psych a level is like. also being in y11, you have lots of time to change your mind - so any decision you make rn won't be set in stone.

This was exactly what I was considering, but I've also heard that choosing 4 simply to drop one is generally quite frowned upon as it uses up resources and space in the course

Reply 4

Original post
by Bananaman575
I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask at all, but I'm really hoping I can get the help I need here. Hi, I'm going to sixth form next year, and currently, I am tasked with choosing my A levels. But I am faced with a predicament. I am sure of 2 of my A levels, I want to do chemistry, and biology. I love the subjects and am predicted 9s in both of them. But I'm not so sure after that.
You see, in uni (my first choice would be Imperial) I want to do either medicine, biomedicine, or biochemistry, although I am not sure what exactly. I've heard that biomedicine is quite unemployable, even though it sounds interesting. I'm very interested in medicine, but I was thinking of maybe branching out into pharmacology from biochemistry because it may be well paid? I don't know. I'm quite misinformed. Either way, I must decide my last a level.
I have a predicted 9 in maths, and don't get me wrong, I don't think maths is super boring, but I'm not sure if I want to do it for 2 years, despite being good at it. Instead, I was thinking of potentially doing psychology, as I'm very interested in why humans act in the way they do, why we have certain emotions. I want to overanalyse everything, and recognise the reason for it.
If I choose maths, I will do an EPQ. If I choose psychology, I will do core maths as a 4th. And I was also thinking of doing all 4, but I am told that that is a poor choice if I'm not ready for it. I really want to do psychology, but I do not want to be placed at a disadvantage when applying to uni because I didn't do maths. FOR THE BLOODY LIFE OF ME, I CANNOT CHOOSE. PLEASE PLEASE HELP

You’d be better off doing 3 and epq or core maths than doing four but starting with 4 isnt a bad idea! You wont be at a disadvantage for not doing maths or epq if you opt for psychology, maths/physics would only be needed for Cambridge that i know of. I do biology and maths as a year 13 so happy to answer questions if you have them 🙂

Reply 5

Original post
by DerDracologe
You’d be better off doing 3 and epq or core maths than doing four but starting with 4 isnt a bad idea! You wont be at a disadvantage for not doing maths or epq if you opt for psychology, maths/physics would only be needed for Cambridge that i know of. I do biology and maths as a year 13 so happy to answer questions if you have them 🙂
I was definitely considering doing this, but while exploring choices for schools, I was told that this sort of practice was frowned upon (choosing 4 a levels with the intention of dropping one). I want to do it with the intention of not dropping one, but if I know I might and switch to epq or core math

Reply 6

Original post
by Bananaman575
I was definitely considering doing this, but while exploring choices for schools, I was told that this sort of practice was frowned upon (choosing 4 a levels with the intention of dropping one). I want to do it with the intention of not dropping one, but if I know I might and switch to epq or core math

Ive never heard of this being shunned, very unusual!

Reply 7

Original post
by DerDracologe
Ive never heard of this being shunned, very unusual!

There's been a lot of 'oversubscription' lately. Almost every school I've gone to has said that 'we are oversubscribed this year'. Maybe it's something to do with that

Reply 8

Original post
by Bananaman575
There's been a lot of 'oversubscription' lately. Almost every school I've gone to has said that 'we are oversubscribed this year'. Maybe it's something to do with that

That would make sense, it is unfortunate though because it also means youre unlikely to be able to change your mind and switch courses which a lot of people do need to do in the first term of a levels

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