A Level Subjects HELP

[ashmufc]

Well I have a few months still to choose what to take, currently in Year 11.
I am doing triple award science and further maths so this will hopefully help me in A Level.
I'm not sure what to do for uni yet, I like to leave my options open. It will either be finance related (like accountancy, economics etc) or medicine. To get into finance uni's, not many unis require a specific subject.
The problem is my Biology is very weak. Chemistry and Physics I can get A*/A but Bio I would be really happy just getting a B as I find it just so hard, and I am worried how I would cope with it at A Level, and if I dont take it at A level, I would still need to learn it at uni, which I might struggle with.

I was planning to do Biology for AS and then drop it. My other choices are Maths, Chemistry and Economics most likely. I think if I get a B for Biology would that be good enough? And also how essential is Bio at AS, could someone tell me what unis need Bio at AS and those that don't. I was hoping to go to a uni in London area, our outer London like Essex, so its close to home.

Thanks

[yeliab_cram]

most medical school still ask for AAB grades at A2 which must include chemistry (some state there must be an A in chem, others not) biology is very useful, but is not actually required by med schools. however it will but you at a slight disadvantage at the start of the first year if you dont have it, and as you state, you will have to do similar style learning at uni.

As far as i know the only subjects they dont accept are general studies etc. However you will need a descent reason to back up you A-level subject choices. But its not exactly difficult to get into medicine with slightly random A-levels - i had DT for example!

good luck

[Huw Davies]

Not doing any Biology at all will limit your choices somewhat (you can still apply to Oxford, Cambridge, Bristol, Southampton, Manchester, Leeds, Peninsula IIRC).

[ashmufc]

But I do maths which will help right? And also are there any London unis that allow you into medicine without Bio?

Also say one uni says you need AAB and I have AAB in Chem, Maths and Eco. And another student has AAB in Chem, Bio and Maths. Would the 2nd student get in, if both of us got A in the science, or will it be the interview that decides it?

[yeliab_cram]

check the website of the medical schools you are interested in; they all clearly state their requirements for GCSEs and A-levels. As long as you meet the requirements, there should be no discrimination between the any two students. Both would be called for interview and it would go from there!

Grades are only one of many facets integral to the applications process, you need to achieve in all areas to get in (ie work experience, extracurricular activites etc)

[Huw Davies]

You'd have to check the individual website, but I think all the London medical schools wanted Biology AS at least. Maths is nowhere specifically asked for but is a second science which is a common entry requirement.

[sea tea]

Originally Posted by Huw Davies

Not doing any Biology at all will limit your choices somewhat (you can still apply to Oxford, Cambridge, Bristol, Southampton, Manchester, Leeds, Peninsula IIRC).

dunno 'bout anybody else's, but my bristol offer was A in chem, B in Bio at a2. so maybe you do need it? plus, if you find it hard at gcse, surely you'd die at med school - i'd have thought that de facto a lot of the stuff you do would fall under the overall heading of human biology.

[Huw Davies]

Bristol's requirement is Chemistry\1 other science, so if you only have one other science your offer will state that you need it. Mine said A in Chemistry, A\B in one of physics or maths.

[sea tea]

Originally Posted by Huw Davies

Bristol's requirement is Chemistry\1 other science, so if you only have one other science your offer will state that you need it. Mine said A in Chemistry, A\B in one of physics or maths.

i do chem, maths and bio. they still asked for the B in bio.

[little_miss_phonics]

If you're not too keen on biology then why do you want to do Medicine?? Surely thats a lifetime of studying human biology?