Going to med school without A Level Chemistry

**premsut** · 16-07-2005, 10:42 PM

just checked, uea only ask for biology, and newcastle ask for biology or chemistry. and these are both for 5 year courses.

**Dangerbird** · 16-07-2005, 11:29 PM

I'm basically certain that I'm going to do biology.

I'm debating whether or not to do chemistry... I am confident in my academic ability and I think that if I work hard enough, read around the subject and really apply myself then I could get an A/B in chemistry. The problem is that I missed a year or my GCSE chemistry through illness and I have MASSIVE gaps in my knowledge. Would not knowling fundamental chemistry count against me in the A Level classes?

I am so confused after reading your advice on english A level too! I can definitely see the advantage of an A Level in English, and I guess the perfect A levels for me to choose would be English lit, biology, chemistry and something else I can definitely get an A in. The disadvantage is that I don't have a GCSE in science and I think I'd probably be better off taking one of my stronger subjects: such as politics or history.

I guess it'll become more clear when I get my GCSE results, but so far I'm leaning towards taking chemistry, biology, history and politics. Do you guys think that with enough work on my part I will be able to get a good grade at chemistry and biology even though I've missed so much work?

**Dan1979** · 18-07-2005, 02:02 PM

Originally Posted by Dangerbird

I'm basically certain that I'm going to do biology.

I'm debating whether or not to do chemistry... I am confident in my academic ability and I think that if I work hard enough, read around the subject and really apply myself then I could get an A/B in chemistry. The problem is that I missed a year or my GCSE chemistry through illness and I have MASSIVE gaps in my knowledge. Would not knowling fundamental chemistry count against me in the A Level classes?

I am so confused after reading your advice on english A level too! I can definitely see the advantage of an A Level in English, and I guess the perfect A levels for me to choose would be English lit, biology, chemistry and something else I can definitely get an A in. The disadvantage is that I don't have a GCSE in science and I think I'd probably be better off taking one of my stronger subjects: such as politics or history.

I guess it'll become more clear when I get my GCSE results, but so far I'm leaning towards taking chemistry, biology, history and politics. Do you guys think that with enough work on my part I will be able to get a good grade at chemistry and biology even though I've missed so much work?

I was in a similar position to you when I applied for foundation courses - no GCSE chemistry (or biology), and no A-level chem/bio. I successfully applied to 3 premed courses (Sheffield, Cardiff and Dundee) and found that the chemistry and biology at my chosen school, Sheffield, was much more relevant to medicine in my foundation year than equivalent A-levels would have been. I know there are at least one or two more unis which offer foundation courses.

Leicester/Warwick also offered me a place on their standard 5-year course based on all 'A's A-levels and AS-level chem and bio at 'A'.

So you do have options other than taking bio or chem

PM me if you want any more details.

**DH2005** · 18-07-2005, 02:31 PM

If I may chip in...

Were I you, I would ditch Business Studies and something else and take Chemistry and Biology in their place.

I have A levels in English and History and found them to be useful for the development of analytical skills and verbal reasoning, though I imagine that Politics could have a similar appeal... essentially, ditch the one that appeals to you least.

While premsut is correct in citing Newcastle and UEA as med schools not requiring Chemistry A level, you'll need more than two choices for a UCAS form.

You might also find that medical schools offering six-year courses incorporating a pre-medical year will reject you because you've taken A level Biology - I know that some of them only admit school-leavers with wholly non-science A levels. Look into this as a matter of urgency - by attempting to find a middle ground you could end up shafting yourself by taking Biology without Chemistry.

If I may split hairs for a moment, the pre-medical years of six-year courses are not Access courses per se (at least, none of the ones I looked into met the necessary criteria). If you are considering applying for Access to Medicine courses, I would advise against it. Very few school-leavers are admitted to these courses. You need to be a doddery old shit like me to get a place.

**aemms** · 18-07-2005, 02:48 PM

Speak for yourself DH2005. I'm not a doddery old sh!t!

**DH2005** · 18-07-2005, 03:04 PM

You are, too.

**Dangerbird** · 18-07-2005, 09:01 PM

If I may split hairs for a moment, the pre-medical years of six-year courses are not Access courses per se

I've heard that access courses are incredibly hard to get on to because there's so few places available. Does this pre-medical year work the same way? Or is it easier to get on?

My options currently are:

Take history, politics, english lit and business studies : four subjects that I am naturally good at and would be confident getting As at A Level for. I'd apply to med school to attend a six year course.

Take chemistry, biology, history and politics : I found GCSE chemistry (and biology to a certain extent) challenging, and I'd have to work very hard if I wanted to get an A for A Level in these subjects.

I think I'm siding towards the second option, my only inhibition is if I CAN'T manage A level chemistry... Imagine I get a C or a D... that would really mess up which uni I went to.

**DH2005** · 19-07-2005, 12:10 AM

I understand your concerns.

You must do what you think is right, but even if you manage to avoid Chemistry and/or Biology at A level and get onto a six-year course, the content of the first year will be materially similar to these subjects at A level, in any case. No matter how you cut it, A level standard Chemistry and Biology cannot be avoided.

I'd say the pragmatic approach would be to study Chemistry and Biology, now - take it on the chin and have a greater number of places and courses to apply for, rather than avoid it for a couple of years and give yourself a harder time applying for a far smaller number of places on a smaller number of six-year courses.

**Dan1979** · 19-07-2005, 11:16 AM

Originally Posted by DH2005

I understand your concerns.

You must do what you think is right, but even if you manage to avoid Chemistry and/or Biology at A level and get onto a six-year course, the content of the first year will be materially similar to these subjects at A level, in any case. No matter how you cut it, A level standard Chemistry and Biology cannot be avoided.

I'd say the pragmatic approach would be to study Chemistry and Biology, now - take it on the chin and have a greater number of places and courses to apply for, rather than avoid it for a couple of years and give yourself a harder time applying for a far smaller number of places on a smaller number of six-year courses.

I don't really agree there - the content of the premed courses is more focused on medicine (for instance, I know nothing about photosynthesis

), and so can raise motivation. The amount of people applying for the premed courses (in my limited experience, without trawling through the UCAS stats page!) also tends to be proportional to the number of places - I believe there were roughly 350-400 applications to Sheffield for 25 places last year, compared with ~4000 applications for 260 places on the standard 5-year. Just something to think about!

**Dangerbird** · 19-07-2005, 01:50 PM

I'd say the pragmatic approach would be to study Chemistry and Biology, now - take it on the chin and have a greater number of places and courses to apply for, rather than avoid it for a couple of years and give yourself a harder time applying for a far smaller number of places on a smaller number of six-year courses.

Yeah I'm becoming more keen on this route.

My only fear is if I can't manage A Level chemistry and end up getting a C/D. Then I'd be screwed, because no uni would have me for medicine and that would really mess up my career options...

I don't really agree there - the content of the premed courses is more focused on medicine (for instance, I know nothing about photosynthesis ), and so can raise motivation. The amount of people applying for the premed courses (in my limited experience, without trawling through the UCAS stats page!) also tends to be proportional to the number of places - I believe there were roughly 350-400 applications to Sheffield for 25 places last year, compared with ~4000 applications for 260 places on the standard 5-year. Just something to think about!

So what would you suggest? Apply to a 6 year course with straight As and no science, or apply for a 5 year course and hope to hell I can get a decent mark in chemistry?