pondering about AS levels + whatnot

**gymmet** · 15-01-2006, 04:40 PM

Hi... first post...

I'm one of those scarily-obsessed-about-getting-into-med-school people... especially since I'm only into first term of AS levels and have been looking at universities for about 6 months already. Which probably classes me as a bit of a geek/anorak but heyho. Anyway, I would LOVE to get into either Cardiff or Nottingham (Cardiff's top choice at the moment) and was just wondering about my AS levels.

I'm taking Biology, Chemistry, Maths, History (and if you want to include this, Critical Thinking, which is pretty much a sham seeing as most people at my school are going to get Us in it...) and I'm definitely keeping the first three onto A level. Critical Thinking is only an AS course, thankfully. I was just wondering about whether Cardiff prefers four subjects at A level... I know the official line is 3 A levels but do they secretly think 'oo what a clever sausage' if someone does 4?

I'm just not sure if I want to do A level History or not. I enjoy it, but it's stressful to revise - would it be better to drop it after AS to concentrate on getting the grades for the rest (I'm predicted As for all of my AS levels) because I'm going to be doing an Advanced Extension Award in Biology as well... or should I keep it as a sort of insurance? If that makes sense. I'm just not sure if it would help my case or not. I guess looking at these boards and seeing people with roughly 7 A levels has got me a little freaked out.

(P.S. Got 11A*s and 1A at GCSE, am a member of St John Ambulance, about to start shadowing a physiotherapist, been to Medlink and going to Medsim... if that helps.

am going to see if I can get more experience as well...)

Thankyou for any advice you're willing to give (even if it's

'stop stressing about piddly little problems, stupid girl')

Gemma xxx

**helenlicious** · 15-01-2006, 06:17 PM

I dropped psychology cos I knew I wouldn't get A's in chemistry and physics unless I worked really hard on them this year. As long as you have the standard three A-levels and are predicted AAB/AAA you should be absolutely fine. Plus thats a pretty impressive string of GCSEs! Blimey!

Just make sure you have lots of work experience/voluntary work to back up your application and you'll be fine

**devilwallride** · 15-01-2006, 07:21 PM

Just do the three... no university has an offer that includes 4 a-levels and it won't make a blind bit of difference to your application... If anything you will be disadvantaged because 4 a levels is a LOT of work, possibly to the detriment of your core subjects (ie. bio / chem).

**pilly84** · 15-01-2006, 10:35 PM

Originally Posted by gymmet

Hi... first post...

I'm one of those scarily-obsessed-about-getting-into-med-school people... especially since I'm only into first term of AS levels and have been looking at universities for about 6 months already. Which probably classes me as a bit of a geek/anorak but heyho. Anyway, I would LOVE to get into either Cardiff or Nottingham (Cardiff's top choice at the moment) and was just wondering about my AS levels.

I'm taking Biology, Chemistry, Maths, History (and if you want to include this, Critical Thinking, which is pretty much a sham seeing as most people at my school are going to get Us in it...) and I'm definitely keeping the first three onto A level. Critical Thinking is only an AS course, thankfully. I was just wondering about whether Cardiff prefers four subjects at A level... I know the official line is 3 A levels but do they secretly think 'oo what a clever sausage' if someone does 4?

I'm just not sure if I want to do A level History or not. I enjoy it, but it's stressful to revise - would it be better to drop it after AS to concentrate on getting the grades for the rest (I'm predicted As for all of my AS levels) because I'm going to be doing an Advanced Extension Award in Biology as well... or should I keep it as a sort of insurance? If that makes sense. I'm just not sure if it would help my case or not. I guess looking at these boards and seeing people with roughly 7 A levels has got me a little freaked out.

(P.S. Got 11A*s and 1A at GCSE, am a member of St John Ambulance, about to start shadowing a physiotherapist, been to Medlink and going to Medsim... if that helps.

am going to see if I can get more experience as well...)

Thankyou for any advice you're willing to give (even if it's

'stop stressing about piddly little problems, stupid girl')

Gemma xxx

Hiya Gemma

If you feel that doing 4 A levels would lessen your chances of getting A's in the ones that really matter (i.e. Biol and Chem), then by all means drop 1 and just do 3 A levels. It won't hinder your chances.

With regards to History, I'm very biased. I took it to full A level and would definitely say that it helped me get into Cardiff. My interviewers loved that I didn't have straight sciences. I know its stressful to revise (but to be honest, for the synoptic paper (I'm assuming your board does this) you need a superficial knowledge of everything rather than in depth detail). Although, having AS History would help to show you had a broad range of subjects too just don't think you have to do A level Maths for Medicine!.

I would suggest you see how AS goes and then decide what subjects to continue with (trust me - History gets better as you go along).

Kim

**welshgal** · 15-01-2006, 10:59 PM

Well I'm doing 4 at the moment (I'm in my last year of 6th form) and it's not as stressful as I thought, I think it very much depends on the subjects you take, so in your case I can't really comment!!! See how you do in exams, and perhaps start 4 A-Levels next september, if you decide in a few weeks that it's too much for you, you can always drop one! As for Unis prefering 4 A-Levels, I doubt thats true, most ask for 3, and if you have 3 then you're obviously meeting their requirements. It would obviously be better to have 3 really good A-Levels than 4 average ones?
Sorry if what I said doesn't make much sense.....!!! xx

**gymmet** · 15-01-2006, 11:06 PM

That's really helpful, thanks guys...

I think I'll wait till results day... it's good that Cardiff like a non-science subject so hopefully having History even as an AS will help my case a bit.

Merci

Gem xxx

**harman sandhu** · 20-01-2009, 02:21 AM

Biology Chemistry Maths are the A-Levels I am choosing. Can anyone tell me what the best fourth option would be?
It is out of...
Physics
German
English Literature
I am good at physics and enjoy it.
I am okay at german but enjoy it.
I am very good at english and enjoy it.
Also, at my school, you have the option to do medical physics at A2, is this advantageous?