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want to go to uni but unsure on the course pls help!!

hi i’m in year 13 doing bio chem maths a level (predicted A*AA but will most likely get AAA/AAB). most of my friends with this combo are going into things like medicine, dentistry, biomed etc but i don’t really think that’s my thing. i’m decent at maths defo wouldn’t mind some maths in my course but honestly a level maths is hard enough. i really dislike chemistry and whilst i find biology ok i cant imagine myself doing a job in just science in the future. i have considered many options for a degree like economics, law, psychology, politics/IR, radiography but im just not sure what would be right for me and if these would be ok seeing as i don’t take anything related to these at a level and im not sure if id even enjoy them!? im taking a gap year as i want to travel and reapply for uni next year but im honestly just so confused what to do. i want decent grad prospects but mainly just want to enjoy my degree if im spending 30k on tuition fees 😅pls help!

Reply 1

Original post
by evieb2007
hi i’m in year 13 doing bio chem maths a level (predicted A*AA but will most likely get AAA/AAB). most of my friends with this combo are going into things like medicine, dentistry, biomed etc but i don’t really think that’s my thing. i’m decent at maths defo wouldn’t mind some maths in my course but honestly a level maths is hard enough. i really dislike chemistry and whilst i find biology ok i cant imagine myself doing a job in just science in the future. i have considered many options for a degree like economics, law, psychology, politics/IR, radiography but im just not sure what would be right for me and if these would be ok seeing as i don’t take anything related to these at a level and im not sure if id even enjoy them!? im taking a gap year as i want to travel and reapply for uni next year but im honestly just so confused what to do. i want decent grad prospects but mainly just want to enjoy my degree if im spending 30k on tuition fees 😅pls help!


Google "what uni course to choose" there are several quizzes you can try to pin point your best option and always pick a topic you enjoy.
Taking a gap year is a great idea to give yourself some time to choose. Good luck.

Reply 2

Original post
by evieb2007
hi i’m in year 13 doing bio chem maths a level (predicted A*AA but will most likely get AAA/AAB). most of my friends with this combo are going into things like medicine, dentistry, biomed etc but i don’t really think that’s my thing. i’m decent at maths defo wouldn’t mind some maths in my course but honestly a level maths is hard enough. i really dislike chemistry and whilst i find biology ok i cant imagine myself doing a job in just science in the future. i have considered many options for a degree like economics, law, psychology, politics/IR, radiography but im just not sure what would be right for me and if these would be ok seeing as i don’t take anything related to these at a level and im not sure if id even enjoy them!? im taking a gap year as i want to travel and reapply for uni next year but im honestly just so confused what to do. i want decent grad prospects but mainly just want to enjoy my degree if im spending 30k on tuition fees 😅pls help!


Hi,

It’s completely normal to feel unsure about what to study, and it’s great that you’re taking a gap year to give yourself time to think.

As mentioned above, you can try different quizzes to see what courses may suit you. Ultimately, focus on subjects that genuinely interest you and that you can see yourself being motivated to study for three or four years. Enjoying the degree usually makes a big difference in your overall experience and the field you’ll end up in. You could choose a more open-ended subject or a more specific one, depending on your interests. E.g, I’m a pharmacy student, and one thing that drew me in was how open it is in terms of different sectors you can work in as a pharmacist, the pharmaceutical industry, research and regulatory roles, teaching, and more.

I’d recommend researching courses in detail by looking at the modules on university websites, talking to current students, and checking careers on the Prospects website to see where different degrees can lead.

Hope this helps,

Tayba
Student Rep

Reply 3

Original post
by evieb2007
hi i’m in year 13 doing bio chem maths a level (predicted A*AA but will most likely get AAA/AAB). most of my friends with this combo are going into things like medicine, dentistry, biomed etc but i don’t really think that’s my thing. i’m decent at maths defo wouldn’t mind some maths in my course but honestly a level maths is hard enough. i really dislike chemistry and whilst i find biology ok i cant imagine myself doing a job in just science in the future. i have considered many options for a degree like economics, law, psychology, politics/IR, radiography but im just not sure what would be right for me and if these would be ok seeing as i don’t take anything related to these at a level and im not sure if id even enjoy them!? im taking a gap year as i want to travel and reapply for uni next year but im honestly just so confused what to do. i want decent grad prospects but mainly just want to enjoy my degree if im spending 30k on tuition fees 😅pls help!

Hey @evieb2007,

If you're not too keen on a science-based course but do still want some Maths, Engineering or Finance-based courses might be good options. There's lots of different types of engineering courses (aersopace, electrical, automotive) so one or two might be of interest - alternatively, you could also consider more IT-focused courses with your A-Levels.

Take some time to look through the websites of any universities you might be interested in and see what courses they have on offer. Try not to worry too much about it at the moment - since you're taking a gap year, you have lots of time to figure out what you want to do. There's no rush. 🙃

Enjoy your gap year travels!
Eve (Kingston Rep).

Reply 4

Original post
by evieb2007
hi i’m in year 13 doing bio chem maths a level (predicted A*AA but will most likely get AAA/AAB). most of my friends with this combo are going into things like medicine, dentistry, biomed etc but i don’t really think that’s my thing. i’m decent at maths defo wouldn’t mind some maths in my course but honestly a level maths is hard enough. i really dislike chemistry and whilst i find biology ok i cant imagine myself doing a job in just science in the future. i have considered many options for a degree like economics, law, psychology, politics/IR, radiography but im just not sure what would be right for me and if these would be ok seeing as i don’t take anything related to these at a level and im not sure if id even enjoy them!? im taking a gap year as i want to travel and reapply for uni next year but im honestly just so confused what to do. i want decent grad prospects but mainly just want to enjoy my degree if im spending 30k on tuition fees 😅pls help!
Hello,
A lot of students feel that way! That’s okay I am glad you decided to take a gap year and explore what you truly want to do as a degree, rather than just impulsively choosing something.
I study BSc Psychology at City St George’s University of London, and in my opinion Psychology is one of the most interesting and useful degrees, not only professionally but personally as well. Psychology gives you a better understanding of yourself and the world. It is not all about mental health (although it is my favourite part). We also study the human brain, its structure and functions, and how it affects human behaviour.
You also mentioned that you enjoy maths. Psychology includes a lot of statistics, which are essential for research. We use statistics to analyse data, test hypotheses, and identify trends.
It is also a very broad field, so even if later on you decide you do not want to pursue a career in mental health as a therapist, you could still pursue careers in marketing, neuromarketing, business, PR, or HR.
City St George’s has amazing courses. I am leaving the link here in case you want to take a look: https://www.citystgeorges.ac.uk
I would love to share more about my experience or answer any questions you might have. Remember, it is all about you your interests and your priorities. Do your own research, be curious, and follow your passion.

Yulia (City St George’s Student Rep)
Original post
by evieb2007
hi i’m in year 13 doing bio chem maths a level (predicted A*AA but will most likely get AAA/AAB). most of my friends with this combo are going into things like medicine, dentistry, biomed etc but i don’t really think that’s my thing. i’m decent at maths defo wouldn’t mind some maths in my course but honestly a level maths is hard enough. i really dislike chemistry and whilst i find biology ok i cant imagine myself doing a job in just science in the future. i have considered many options for a degree like economics, law, psychology, politics/IR, radiography but im just not sure what would be right for me and if these would be ok seeing as i don’t take anything related to these at a level and im not sure if id even enjoy them!? im taking a gap year as i want to travel and reapply for uni next year but im honestly just so confused what to do. i want decent grad prospects but mainly just want to enjoy my degree if im spending 30k on tuition fees 😅pls help!

Hi @evieb2007 ,

It's perfectly normal to not know which degree to study - I was exactly in the same position and, for me, looking at joint honours/combined honours degrees was a good compromise! I did History, Geology and English Literature at A-level, studied Anthropology and Archaeology (with a Placement Year in Marketing) for my undergraduate degree and am now doing a postgraduate law conversion course... so as you can see I didn't know what I wanted to do for my career for a while 😅

This was absolutely fine for me, as anthropology is a very broad subject (with elements of sociology, biology, history, human geography and statistics) offering transferable skills which can apply to various careers - and many careers don't require a specific degree. For example, with law and marketing (the two main graduate routes I looked at), it's more important that you simply have transferable skills, relevant work experience (which you can gain through part-time roles, societies, summer internships etc.) and commercial knowledge. Any technical/practical skills you need for the role can then be taught through further education (like the PGDL) and on the job - so you don't need to worry too much about what undergraduate subject you choose at this stage. However, there are some career paths which will require a specific degree (which it seems many of your friends have chosen - like medicine, dentistry etc.), so make sure you've got a general idea of your preferred careers before making your final decisions.

Honestly, if you enjoy maths and biology, I would recommend looking into anthropology (specifically biological anthropology modules), including joint/combined honours degrees (such as Anthropology and Psychology, for example). As you say, you're committing three years of your life (and finances), so you want to study something you enjoy! And law will always be available as a conversion course if you decide to consider it later down the line 😊

Good luck with whichever path you choose to take and let me know if you have any further questions.

Holly - PGDL Student
University of Law

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