Another A level choices question....please bear with me!!

[andrii92]

I'll start this off by apologising in advance for asking what is probably the 100th question regarding A level choices and solemnly swear that this is the first and last time I am asking this!

I have to give in my sixth form application when I get back to school after the holiday and just wanted to make sure that I am not forever gravely compromising my chances of gaining a place at medical school. The subjects that I am considering choosing are Chemistry, Biology, English Literature and French. I really enjoy these subjects but, as I said, I do not want to compromise my chances of gaining a place at med school.


So, what do you think? Should I go for it or do I need to do some more thinking?

[exen-]

Crap advice, possibly irrelevant:

Maths is a good A Level. Also in my opinion, the easiest to get an A in. It'll be useful for you in university and after (I know they say that any maths you need will be taught to you, but... =/).. not to mention in your other A Level subjects.
Sooo consider that instead of English or French.

Up to you though. I'd say definitely stick with Chem and Bio.

[andrii92]

Crap advice, possibly irrelevant:

Maths is a good A Level. Also in my opinion, the easiest to get an A in. It'll be useful for you in university and after (I know they say that any maths you need will be taught to you, but... =/).. not to mention in your other A Level subjects.
Sooo consider that instead of English or French.

Up to you though. I'd say definitely stick with Chem and Bio.

The advice is not crap or irrelevant but rather useful and answers my question.

I never considered dropping either Chemistry or Biology so that's not a problem- they are certainly at the top of my list of favourite subjects at the moment.

Maths does sound like a good A level but I am worried about how well I'll do in it...fair enough I am doing well at the moment and am predicted A/A* in the subject but I'm not sure I'll do quite so well at A level. See, the problem is that although I do well, I find it quite tedious and tend to get very easily distracted during a maths lesson. I'm not really motivated in it beyond the fact that I know that what I am learning is useful and vital to me getting anywhere beyond GCSE but have no real enthusiasm for it.

I would do physics as I enjoy it but my sixth form has decided that no one is allowed to take Physics A level without also taking Maths A level...

[exen-]

Don't be intimidated by maths, a lot of it is very repetitive. The first module has a lot of stuff you've covered at GCSE, sooo it's not a massive jump or anything.

As for Physics... I do Physics.... not my favourite lesson tbh, just cos I get bored quite easily. A LOT of it is just using formulas and doing maths. I dunnoooo, do you want to be doing all science and maths subjects?

I did. It's alright =/

lol

[andrii92]

Don't be intimidated by maths, a lot of it is very repetitive. The first module has a lot of stuff you've covered at GCSE, sooo it's not a massive jump or anything.

As for Physics... I do Physics.... not my favourite lesson tbh, just cos I get bored quite easily. A LOT of it is just using formulas and doing maths. I dunnoooo, do you want to be doing all science and maths subjects?

I did. It's alright =/

lol

lol I wouldn't really like to be doing all science and maths subjects... a bit of variety would be nice :S

But I could have a look into maths and maybe swap English Literature or French for it (now the question is WHICH??). One last question, and I am sorry if it comes across as a bit silly, but how much are vectors involved in A level maths? It is the one thing I have always struggled to understand...not trigonometry (which I quite enjoy), algebra or anything else ...but vectors

[musama91]

I'll start this off by apologising in advance for asking what is probably the 100th question regarding A level choices and solemnly swear that this is the first and last time I am asking this!

I have to give in my sixth form application when I get back to school after the holiday and just wanted to make sure that I am not forever gravely compromising my chances of gaining a place at medical school. The subjects that I am considering choosing are Chemistry, Biology, English Literature and French. I really enjoy these subjects but, as I said, I do not want to compromise my chances of gaining a place at med school.


So, what do you think? Should I go for it or do I need to do some more thinking?

Go for it mate. Med schools can only ask for A level subjects which are available in every single college and sixth form in the UK. Therefore, all of them ask for Chemistry and Biology (Apart from Newcastle - Only Chemistry). I think you will be at an advantage because you are doing a Language which shows quite a bit of depth as a person and English will definitely help you get top marks in the essays and courseworks you will have to do.

If these are the subjects that you want to do then GO FOR IT AND DONT COMPROMISE. I am doing DT Graphics for A level because even though people think it is a soft subject it shows I have more qualities than just being a bookworm and that alone will separate me from everyone who has done Chemistry Biology and Maths. Another reason which is good is that as this is a coursework based subject (Like English and French to an extent) and it means that I will be able to spend more time on the Chemistry and Biology after I have done that.

[exen-]

One last question, and I am sorry if it comes across as a bit silly, but how much are vectors involved in A level maths?

Not at all.

There's vectors in Mechanics 1 module, but that's it as far as I remember. M1 is a lot like Physics, fyi.

=]

[Labradoodle]

In answer to the vectors question: I do A2 maths and I can't even remember what vectors are. I'm not sure if that means I'm really bad at maths or if vectors just don't appear. I have got A's in all my modules though so

In terms of A level choices, I was in a very similar place to you. I eventually chose maths over English =S

I loved English but I didn't want to cut my chances for med school and my preparation for med school. I don't particularly like maths so it was definitely a big choice but I don't regret it -yet =D

I chose bio, chem, maths and history. If I was in your position I would choose maths again. However, whatever you do decide, it has to be right for you. Hope this helps

[Labradoodle]

Oops, I did Mechanics, kind of remember vectors now =S

Oh well, I've already done it, got my A, all is well... hopefully

[giella]

You should do A levels you enjoy, as much as anything, particularly with regard to any humanities subjects you take. The only thing you should really consider, given the fact you intend to apply to medical school, is the fact that your A level choices may impact on your choice of university. If you want to apply to Oxbridge or UCL, your chances will probably be lowered or even eliminated by excluding physics from your A levels.
This isn't a decision you necessarily have to make right away. You have between now and when you begin sixth form to make this decision, so send in your application as it is or with an amendment to your choices, secure in the knowledge that it is in no way binding.