Further maths a-level or an EPQ?
11
Originally I was thinking about an EPQ alongside bio chem and maths at sixth form, but I'm also thinking about doing further maths as a 4th A level. For context, I'm not completely set on a career even though med and dentistry interest me. So should i do further maths, an epq, OR both? (would it be physically possible to do both if i can't make up my mind?)
Reply 1
14
to be honest, they really aren't comparable. further maths alevel will always get you further unless you don't think you can handle it, as it IS a whole alevel. epq is relevant if you're doing it on a subject relevant to the career you want to go into, mainly so that you can talk about it in your personal statement and/or in your interviews. if you're not set on a career i would suggest do further maths instead of an epq. i changed career path aspirations after year 12 and basically my epq didn't do anything for me after that, it's as if i didn't take it in the first place.
Reply 2
a1ici4
OP
11
Original post
by zero7to be honest, they really aren't comparable. further maths alevel will always get you further unless you don't think you can handle it, as it IS a whole alevel. epq is relevant if you're doing it on a subject relevant to the career you want to go into, mainly so that you can talk about it in your personal statement and/or in your interviews. if you're not set on a career i would suggest do further maths instead of an epq. i changed career path aspirations after year 12 and basically my epq didn't do anything for me after that, it's as if i didn't take it in the first place.
thank youu thats such a good point
Reply 3
Funny thing, I actually asked the exact same thing about a year ago. I was pretty set on med and have already applied for it XD, so I'll give some advice on what I can.
First I'd probably say the same as zero7, if you feel like you could handle the workload FM should be worth it especially if you're not 100% sure on med or dent and could potentially pivot in the future, it does give you quite a lot of versatility. However one thing I will say is that I did end up dropping it because I felt the workload was affecting my other subjects, and doing 4 A levels does not give you an advantage in med application (especially since it means your conditional offer will take into account 4 subjects then).
I was also considering an EPQ (which turned out to be futile since my school didn't even do them in the first place), and from what I know it's not ESSENTIAL to a med application if that's what you want to go for, but it can definitely boost your application and give you something to talk about in interviews (I'm not sure about MMIs though since they may have set questions each station and be a bit impersonal). From what I hear certain unis do value EPQs (e.g UCL potentially?) so as I said not necessary but could definitely be beneficial.
This is mostly for if you do choose to pursue med though as that's what I did so I can't say much for if you chose to pursue something else 😅. I do hope you find this helpful though
First I'd probably say the same as zero7, if you feel like you could handle the workload FM should be worth it especially if you're not 100% sure on med or dent and could potentially pivot in the future, it does give you quite a lot of versatility. However one thing I will say is that I did end up dropping it because I felt the workload was affecting my other subjects, and doing 4 A levels does not give you an advantage in med application (especially since it means your conditional offer will take into account 4 subjects then).
I was also considering an EPQ (which turned out to be futile since my school didn't even do them in the first place), and from what I know it's not ESSENTIAL to a med application if that's what you want to go for, but it can definitely boost your application and give you something to talk about in interviews (I'm not sure about MMIs though since they may have set questions each station and be a bit impersonal). From what I hear certain unis do value EPQs (e.g UCL potentially?) so as I said not necessary but could definitely be beneficial.
This is mostly for if you do choose to pursue med though as that's what I did so I can't say much for if you chose to pursue something else 😅. I do hope you find this helpful though
Reply 4
Original post
by a1ici4Originally I was thinking about an EPQ alongside bio chem and maths at sixth form, but I'm also thinking about doing further maths as a 4th A level. For context, I'm not completely set on a career even though med and dentistry interest me. So should i do further maths, an epq, OR both? (would it be physically possible to do both if i can't make up my mind?)
Also with some other courses if you do an EPQ (sometimes in a relevant topic) you can actually get a lower offer grade which is great! For one of my offers it was AAA or AAB with A in epq and my EP is in CAR-t cell therapy which is unrelated. Further maths is only really advantageous if you are applying for a course which requires rigorous maths but that being said I have all my offers for civil engineering without FM - I just couldn't apply to Imperial/oxbridge but I didn't want to go somewhere that competitive anyways.
Also FM is very tricky especially as a fourth A level, and with med/dent it won't really help at all imo so not worth the stress or the strain your other subjects will take.
Hope this rambling helps provide a bit of insight!
Original post
by a1ici4Originally I was thinking about an EPQ alongside bio chem and maths at sixth form, but I'm also thinking about doing further maths as a 4th A level. For context, I'm not completely set on a career even though med and dentistry interest me. So should i do further maths, an epq, OR both? (would it be physically possible to do both if i can't make up my mind?)
I would go for the further maths.
If the worst comes to the worst, then you could always ask to swap after the first couple of weeks or so.
Reply 6
Original post
by a1ici4Originally I was thinking about an EPQ alongside bio chem and maths at sixth form, but I'm also thinking about doing further maths as a 4th A level. For context, I'm not completely set on a career even though med and dentistry interest me. So should i do further maths, an epq, OR both? (would it be physically possible to do both if i can't make up my mind?)
Reply 7
Original post
by a1ici4Originally I was thinking about an EPQ alongside bio chem and maths at sixth form, but I'm also thinking about doing further maths as a 4th A level. For context, I'm not completely set on a career even though med and dentistry interest me. So should i do further maths, an epq, OR both? (would it be physically possible to do both if i can't make up my mind?)
Ask your prospective school how these courses are organised. In some schools, further maths content is taught from the start of year 12, in others it is not. Some schools begin EPQ from the start of year 12, some give you a term before you start it and some do EPQ in year 13. If neccesary, start with both and see which you get more out of. Fm will benefit you if you might consider a degree in maths, econ or comp sci. An EPQ is really good to do if you might struggle to motivate yourself with your wider reading and projects independently as you will be given a little bit more guidance and urgency (good prep for uni style work and you can focus on something that interests you). As you are considering med and dent, i would say that you do not actually need to do either of these so if you go into year 12 and are struggling to get As then you should stick with 3 subjects because med and dent are very competitive and you will need to be doing volunteering, work experience, admissions test prep and interview prep all whilst maintaining As.
Reply 8
Original post
by thegeek888A-Level Further Maths will allow you to apply to Oxford or Cambridge and Imperial. 🙂
It will only give an advantage to your application for some degree courses, just to be clear 🙂
Reply 9
a1ici4
OP
11
Original post
by thegeek888A-Level Further Maths will allow you to apply to Oxford or Cambridge and Imperial. 🙂
for which courses?
Reply 10
Original post
by a1ici4for which courses?
1.
Computer Science
2.
Computer Science & Philosophy
3.
Earth Sciences
4.
Engineering Science
5.
Materials Science
6.
Maths
7.
Maths & Statistics
8.
Maths & Computer Science
9.
Maths & Philosophy
10.
Medicine
11.
Physics
12.
Physics & Philosophy
Reply 11
a1ici4
OP
11
Original post
by thegeek8881.
Computer Science
2.
Computer Science & Philosophy
3.
Earth Sciences
4.
Engineering Science
5.
Materials Science
6.
Maths
7.
Maths & Statistics
8.
Maths & Computer Science
9.
Maths & Philosophy
10.
Medicine
11.
Physics
12.
Physics & Philosophy
tysm! i wasnt aware it could help in medicine
Reply 12
Original post
by a1ici4tysm! i wasnt aware it could help in medicine
Reply 13
Original post
by a1ici4tysm! i wasnt aware it could help in medicine
It will help you in the sense that it is valuable knowledge to have before starting the course. It will not provide ANY advantage to your application AT ALL. This true for many of the degrees that thegeek888 listed.
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