gcse's and A levels

**Echni** · 27-01-2007, 03:40 PM

ok heres the story, sorry if its a bit long:

back in 2004 when i did my GCSE's I didn't really know what i wanted to do and then ended up drifting through school getting quite low GCSE's.

5b's (biology, English language, German, maths and physics)
3c's (art, chemistry and ict)
2d's (electronics and English literature)
1e (cant remember what that was!)

i have however spent the last two years trying out a wide variety of jobs (i cashed in on a few friends and relatives :P) but i never found anything. so i enrolled on a general ict course (something that comes in handy whatever you choose to do!) at my local college.

arround the beginning of august last year i managed to get a shadowing oppertunity at my local GP. I instantly loved it and still do even though im only in 1 day per week. i got in touch with connexions who said that because medicine takes a looooooong time and it was so close to September I should wait till next year to ensure i really like it before cancelling my ict course.

now here's my dilemma.

ive been researching the forums and so far I haven't found anyone with GCSE grades as low as mine so do i need to redo them before i take my A levels or are they good enough?

what A levels should i do for medicine. I know Chemistry is almost a must do but what about any others. And what would you guys recommend for biology as my college does both regular bio and human bio.

theres the life story over and done with and ive prolly left alot out so feel free to ask away if theres anything else you need to know

**Huw** · 27-01-2007, 03:51 PM

what i'd do is forget about the gcses and try and get some impressive a-level grades instead, and only apply to do medicine after u've gained those grades.

as for what to take, obviously, chemistry is almost always a must with all med schools, so i'd choose that. As for biology or human biology, i don't know a lot about the latter one, but on all the universities websites I've been on, they ask for 'X' grade in biology rather than human biology.

as for the third a-level, basically go for anything u like e.g maths, physics, english...

**Fawaz** · 27-01-2007, 03:58 PM

I agree with Huw. Don't redo your GCSEs. Apply for medicine after you have your A Level grades. I think you should do biology rather then human biology as some med schools don't like human biology.

**Echni** · 27-01-2007, 04:03 PM

so i should do my A levels, spend a year doing something else and then apply?

also (pardon my naivety im still weighing things up) would it be pointless to do both types of biology?

**Fawaz** · 27-01-2007, 04:05 PM

Most places don't let you do human biology and biology, it's kind of a waste. Do something you'll find really easy, maybe ICT. Something which you can get a guaranteed A in.

**Echni** · 27-01-2007, 04:16 PM

well i will have 2 AS levels in ICT if i leave the course I'm on after this school year so I spose that's a bonus as I'm 98% sure that they will both be A grade. then again I remember reading somewhere that AS levels didn't matter that much

**kate999** · 27-01-2007, 04:32 PM

AS levels are important- as they show your potential of achieving 3 A's at A level.
Regarding the GCSE's- I would start looking at university entry requirements. Some want things like 5 A*'s at GCSE- whilst others aren't that bothered.
Don't take biology and human biology- one of the modules is the same- so they're classed as too much of an over lap.

**Echni** · 27-01-2007, 04:45 PM

would it matter that 2 of my AS levels were taken a year before my other 4 and if i quit my ICT course half way through would they see it as lack of commitment or uncertainty or something else that will work against me