A level choices for medicine?!?

[House Jr.]

I'm currently in Year 11 and so I still have a chance to change my a level choices, but right now it stands at:
A2 Biology, A2 Chemistry, A2 Mathermatics, and AS/A2 History (depends on how I find it).

I chose history because i like the subject and its one of my stronger subjects. Also, some of the skills that i'll learn in history may be useful in medicine (writing long essays, analysing sources which can be useful when determining the reliability of a new drug or something).

However, I'm not sure if i'll be at a disadvantage or not when others have chosen bio,chem,maths, and phys.

Also, I heard that you don't really need 4 A levels for medicine as getting the minimum requirement (which is usually AAB or AAA) is enough to get you an interview and after that, its all about your public speaking skills. Is this true?

One last query (i ask a lot of questions XD), will the A* grade at A level be available for my year? and if so, will most universities increase their minimum requirements? or will it just be the top ones like cambridge and oxford?

thanks for any help that anyone may give

[JordanUK]

Medical schools like people with variety and i think you have just as much chance as someone with all the sciences and maths. Med schools normally only ask for Chemistry and Biology and if you have these your sorted.

And your correct you dont need for a levels infact i read somewhere (cant remeber where but i definetly saw this on a university site) that people with 4 a levels wont be at a higher advantage then someone 3 a levels.

And i dont think there will be much change with the inntroduction of the A* grade but ofcourse oxford cambridge and proably birmingham will ask for 3A*'s they will always ask for the highest grade after all they only want the best

Hope this has answerd most of your questions good luck

[Kinkerz]

I chose history because i like the subject and its one of my stronger subjects. Also, some of the skills that i'll learn in history may be useful in medicine (writing long essays, analysing sources which can be useful when determining the reliability of a new drug or something).

I wouldn't go that far. It will certainly help with essay writing though.

However, I'm not sure if i'll be at a disadvantage or not when others have chosen bio,chem,maths, and phys.

If anything, you'll be at an advantage (other than applying to, perhaps, Cambridge).

Also, I heard that you don't really need 4 A levels for medicine as getting the minimum requirement (which is usually AAB or AAA) is enough to get you an interview and after that, its all about your public speaking skills. Is this true?

There's more to it than 'public speaking' skills, but generally that is true, yes.

One last query (i ask a lot of questions XD), will the A* grade at A level be available for my year? and if so, will most universities increase their minimum requirements? or will it just be the top ones like cambridge and oxford?

If you're doing AS now, then the A* will be available. Only certain universities and certain courses are upping grade requirements. I believe Cambridge are going upto A*AA, but 1) I'm not sure, and 2) there may be others that do the same (i.e. Oxford/Imperial).

And i dont think there will be much change with the inntroduction of the A* grade but ofcourse oxford cambridge and proably birmingham will ask for 3A*'s they will always ask for the highest grade after all they only want the best

Right, and obtaining A*A*A* makes you the best...

[House Jr.]

thanks for answering my questions both of you. very helpful ^_^

[Singh.Simran]

It's just the one A* needed.. but it's really no change as they'd have expected similar percentages anyway.

[JordanUK]

They only want the best grade i ment and your sarcasium is a very distasteful part of a personality

[Clairey_Fairy]

I did AS and A-level History and got 4 offers so I'm almost certain that it will not disadvantage you in anyway

[Kinkerz]

They only want the best grade i ment and your sarcasium is a very distasteful part of a personality

In your opinion...

EDIT -

If that's what you meant, that's what you should've said.

[Singh.Simran]

I don't see how it changes anything any which way..

The maximum (3-grade, standard) offer for any uk university stands at A*AA..

But know. Sorry for my sarcasium and all that.

[Kinkerz]

I don't see how it changes anything any which way..

The maximum (3-grade, standard) offer for any uk university stands at A*AA..

But know. Sorry for my sarcasium and all that.

I think Jordan was referring to my sarcasm actually, in my initial post.

As for the grade malarkey, it does change things a bit. To get an A* you need 90%+ in all A2 modules and 80%+ in all AS modules. If you got an AAA offer - people applying to Cambridge et al generally have pretty tasty AS UMS scores - then it's likely that you could take your foot off the gas at A2 and get Cs or even Ds, still coming out with AAA. If there's an A* requirement, you'd need to continue the hard work and high UMS scores.