Help with A-level choices...

heatherxelizabeth · 07-05-2009, 02:40 PM

id say go for french. i think it will open so many more doors for you. i took biology, chemistry and psychology but looking back i wish i had taken french instead of psychology.
i really enjoyed it and did really well at GCSE but just didnt take it on for some reason!
if you did french at a-level or just for AS level you can study french alongside medicine and work in french hospitals and everything. really amazing oppurtunities that others that havent studied languages dont get.
dont worry about your diversity, you've got chemistry and biology which you need, the other 2 are up to you

do not take on 5 subjects and only take 3 through to A-level. you get no extra credit for doing more than that.
hope this helps

x

**Kinkerz** · 07-05-2009, 04:48 PM

Originally Posted by Hughman

Oxbridge (particularly Cambridge) and Imperial get a hard-on over the 3 sciences. I'd personally recommend a 3rd science to keep max options open, but if Physics/Maths is not your thing and you don't want a tradition med school, then just make sure you have Biology and Chemistry to A2.

Okay then, OP, there are two, three, maximum four medical schools that seem to like sciences -- in reality, only one of those would reject you for a lack of science subjects: Cambridge.

So you're cancelling out one medical school - Cambridge - by not doing three or more sciences.

**Hughman** · 07-05-2009, 09:11 PM

Originally Posted by Kinkerz

Okay then, OP, there are two, three, maximum four medical schools that seem to like sciences -- in reality, only one of those would reject you for a lack of science subjects: Cambridge.

So you're cancelling out one medical school - Cambridge - by not doing three or more sciences.

I'd say far more. Just because they don't specify 3 sciences they doesn't mean they don't have a bias for them. (even Cambridge don't explicitly ask for 3, you have to really prod them to get them to admit they give virtually nil offers to people without at least 3 sciences)

But then again I have a very elitist mindset - I did advise the poster to take what they are comfortable with if they don't want traditional universities. I certainly wasn't happy about taking physics at the time, but I'm glad I did it now.

**Kinkerz** · 07-05-2009, 11:02 PM

Originally Posted by Hughman

I'd say far more. Just because they don't specify 3 sciences they doesn't mean they don't have a bias for them. (even Cambridge don't explicitly ask for 3, you have to really prod them to get them to admit they give virtually nil offers to people without at least 3 sciences)

But then again I have a very elitist mindset - I did advise the poster to take what they are comfortable with if they don't want traditional universities. I certainly wasn't happy about taking physics at the time, but I'm glad I did it now.

I see that point. I've been subject to that point! (Just not with A-level subject choice.)

But I will stand by my 'only ruling out Cambridge' statement. I just don't think Imperial/Oxford would reject someone for having two sciences.

**agneishd** · 08-05-2009, 02:11 AM

Originally Posted by Kinkerz

I just don't think Imperial/Oxford would reject someone for having two sciences.

Imperial have very specific subject requirements wrt science subjects last time I checked. If interested, see the site/prospectus.

**Kinkerz** · 08-05-2009, 03:36 AM

Originally Posted by agneishd

Imperial have very specific subject requirements wrt science subjects last time I checked. If interested, see the site/prospectus.

Medicine (MBBS/BSc) | A100

Originally Posted by ICL Medical Admissions

The minimum entry requirements for this course are as follows: three A levels, including chemistry and/or biology and one science or mathematics subject, and one additional subject at AS level. If either chemistry or biology is offered alone at A level, then the other is required at AS level with at least a grade B.

Chemistry and/or biology and one science or mathematics.

**Hughman** · 08-05-2009, 03:37 PM

Originally Posted by Kinkerz

Medicine (MBBS/BSc) | A100

Chemistry and/or biology and one science or mathematics.

Cambridge say the exact same thing, and then I called them and found out the truth of the matter.

**belinda** · 08-05-2009, 07:09 PM

i've heard that maths A level is useful - especially statistics.
my brother's in liverpool right now, and he said some people have to take extra classes, since they didn't do S2
but yes, i agree with the people before - if you're aiming high, they have more stringent entry requirements on your A levels, so you should check up on the prospectus.

I'm doing Bio, Chem, Geo and Maths AS level, and I'm hoping to carry them onto A level.
[edit: i already did chinese and german AS last year, since they were both compulsory for my school. but i really don't think they'll make much of a difference.]

**Gizmo says -** · 08-05-2009, 07:11 PM

Originally Posted by belinda

if you're aiming high,.

oh my dayz...

**Kinkerz** · 08-05-2009, 07:54 PM

Originally Posted by Hughman

Cambridge say the exact same thing, and then I called them and found out the truth of the matter.

You could well be right, I just don't think you are (edit: with respect to Imperial, not Cambridge)

Let's say you are right: the OP would be ruling out two, tops three medical schools for potentially dodging a subject he/she hates and carrying on with subjects they like. I think it's worth it.

Originally Posted by belinda

my brother's in liverpool right now, and he said some people have to take extra classes, since they didn't do S2.

This is why anecdotal evidence is weaker...

I cannot fathom a belief that people who don't do a secondary statistics A-level maths module are pushed into an extra class.