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Secondary education

A levels for chemistry

9 replies

GnomeDePlume · 21/10/2011 20:07

DD (year 11) is wanting to study chemistry at university. She is wanting to keep open the possibility to study in the Netherlands (in Dutch) but isnt certain yet. At the moment her A level choices are:

Chemistry, Biology, Maths, French

If she stays in the UK will the above still be okay?

Any wise mumsnet Chemists out there please?

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littlemisslozza · 21/10/2011 20:09

Yes, they'd be fine. I did Chemistry, Biology and Physics at A-level then went on to study Chemistry. In hindsight Maths would have been a better choice instead of Physics so she would be well prepared.

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kritur · 21/10/2011 20:35

Yes they are absolutely fine. I did biology, chemistry, history and french at A-level and then did a degree and PhD in chemistry. I am currently lecturing in a RG chemistry dept. I should have taken maths but it didn't do me any harm in the end. Those are good A-level choices, the french will open up opportunities to apply for degrees with a year in Europe as well.

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GnomeDePlume · 22/10/2011 09:32

Thanks all, I wasnt sure if dropping physics would be a problem. My brother is a physicist and is worrying that DD will struggle without it. I did wonder if that was just him wanting to pass on the physics flame to someone!

The sixth form DD is planning to go to offers Critical Thinking at AS but they also offer a financial studies course which DD would rather do. I know that CT is relevant for Oxford/Cambridge but that isnt the direction DD wants to go so FS should be more useful.

It was all so much easier in my day when you just did 3 A levels and then hoped for the best.

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gelatinous · 24/10/2011 22:41

There is some overlap between physics and chemistry, most especially when you get into quantum theory and it explains the electron energy states, but to be honest A-level physics doesn't really go that deep, so I don't think not doing it will be a problem at all. It looks like a very strong set of A-levels that she has chosen that should keep a lot of doors open if even if she decides later that chemistry isn't her thing after all.

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crazymum53 · 25/10/2011 19:42

That sounds fine to me too. Having Maths is a good idea, as it is needed for some parts of Chemistry and I seem to remember that when I was at university you had to study some Maths in the first year of the degree course. I studied Chemistry at Bristol University and the current degree options include Chemistry with a year in Europe for which A level languages would be very useful.

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kritur · 25/10/2011 20:28

My first years who don't have physics are struggling with some of the introductory chemistry, wave functions etc but it's not insurmountable so I wouldn't worry too much.

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ASuitableGirl · 25/10/2011 20:34

I did chemistry at university having done maths, further maths, chemistry and physics. I found the biology parts a bit hard but as I specialised I went more the physics way - friends who were more biology focused went the biology way. I think her choices sound fine.

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TalkinPeace2 · 25/10/2011 21:10

DH did Maths Physics Chemistry
then Chemistry

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GnomeDePlume · 26/10/2011 12:43

Thanks all for the further advice. I guess if there were any topic difficulties then DD would be able to appeal to her physics uncle for extra advice.

One of our worries now is whether the Erasmus scheme will even exist in a couple of years. I know that it was funded until 2013 but dont know beyond that.

DD has the possibility of either starting abroad then coming to the UK for a year or starting in the UK and going abroad for a year. Her preference at the moment would be to do the former.