Biology vs. Human Biology?

[Katie_]

Do medical schools have a preference between Biology and Human Biology A level? It never even occurred to me until I read in one prospectus "Human Biology acceptable in place of Biology", in teeny writing at the bottom of the page. I vaguely remember a teacher saying at enrolment that Biology is more traditional and preferable to med schools, but at the time I wasn't sure about what I wanted to do at uni so didn't really think about it.

It seems slightly ridiculous to me as many of the units overlap the two subjects, and the Human Biology covers disease and diagnosis, which seems far more relevent to a would-be doctor than artificial insemination in cows!

Anyway, it's too late for me now as I'm a year into Human Biology (also, I'm applying to do the 6 year course with a foundation year as I don't do chemistry, so many people applying won't have any science at all - so I suppose it isn't relevent to me anyway!) but I'd be interested to know what the med schools think, if anyone knows?

[hash118118]

i wish they offered human biology at my school. I say that cos were studying ecology at the mo and it is so unbelievably shiite.

[ankit.kumar1]

they prefer biology but since your gonna do the foundation year. it shouldnt matter too much

[Medic2013]

most medical schools prefer biology over human biology as ankit has said, but i guess one of the main reasonings is that pure bio is meant to be a more traditional course, while human bio is a more further distance learning course etc etc. I think the best thing you can do Katie is get the A grade, and not worry about it, especially as you are doing the a2m course.

youll do alright...hopefully!

[Magnetic]

i wish they offered human biology at my school. I say that cos were studying ecology at the mo and it is so unbelievably shiite.

Im quite the opposite --- i love ecology, but i love evolution even more, to the extent it really made me wonder if i wanted to do medicine.... but i realised i love anatomy, cellular biology and immunity even more than that!

[Medic2013]

i think biology has that thing where the variety just kinda pans things out better than pure human stuff...

but im a medic through and through hehe

[iceman_jondoe]

i prefer the normal bio. i heard many unis dont consider human bio but do accept the normal bio as alevel

[gymmet]

I would have LOVED not to have to do ecology. However, despite me initially considering Human Biology, plant biology is really interesting (I like photosynthesis etc, but then I'm odd). Think Biology is better overall, you'll have plenty of time to learn about the human body, and Biology A level at least broadens your horizons a little.

[Katie_]

As far as I know, you do actually study plant biology as part of the Human Biology syllabus. 2/3 of the units are the same for each subject, so I think it's just the ecology I'll miss out on.

[blueberrypie]

I think plant biology will be quite helpful in medicine. You will need to know all about that really, when you think about where the cures come from in some cases.