How important is physics for getting into medicine?

**Gizmo says -** · 06-07-2009, 12:48 AM

well physics keeps you on your feet, macca.

i used to fink that physics was important, then i realised that iw as trying to convince mysdelf it was important because i felt that i ad to do it (about age 16, that was when i was that fick).

**Rex The Red** · 13-07-2009, 08:12 PM

If i remember rightly, Glasgow actually wants to see candidates who have studied something other than just the big four - Maths, chem biology and physics - and i think by not studying physics you've made yourself a more intellectually broad candidate.

They even say for (from english students) they'd like English at AS level, which i think is equivalent to S5 for scots.
This probably because us science geeks generally have a phobia of 'continuous prose' (whatever that is!

) and generally lack skills at writing essays, which i guess is important for doctors. Though, i wasnt aware of doctors having to write anything more than memos to other doctors or to patients and in said patient's notes.

And in all honesty, my physics a-level course hasnt really shown me anything in medicine that couldnt be explained in 20 minutes by someone at uni, as the only 'medical' stuff has been the use of radioactive tracers for diagnostic imaging and also how radioactive isotopes can be used to kill cancers, and even that about killing cancers was only mentioned one lesson on a powerpoint just as background knowledge to the course module.

So you're fiiiine! that stuff about shooting yourself in the foot is just said out of ignorance

**Tap** · 25-08-2009, 09:52 PM

Originally Posted by Rex The Red

They even say for (from english students) they'd like English at AS level, which i think is equivalent to S5 for scots.

Really? I never came across that. :S

**Rex The Red** · 25-08-2009, 10:12 PM

I think it was on the website on some obscure .pdf i stumbled across, or maybe it was in the prospectus?
I dont know aha, but it doesnt matter as i for one didnt have AS english (in fact, i got a C in both english and english lit gcse) and still got an offer without interview, so nothing to worry about!

**Skyllo** · 26-08-2009, 04:31 PM

That's for dentistry, not for medicine. They also want Higher English for dentistry.

The wiki over at The Student Room used to say that it was the same for medicine but it doesn't any more. I emailed admissions when I was applying to ask as I don't have AS level English.I did chemistry, biology, physics and maths and it didn't seem to do me any harm.