Thoughts on options please

[maiacam]

Hello

My son is choosing his GCSE options shortly. He has decided on English Lit English Lang Maths 3 Science French Geography History. His last one is to be either Statistics or PE but can't decide.

Any ideas which might be best he wants to keep his options open (considering medicine) thinking of Maths and 3 Science for Alevel.

Any opinions welcome.

Thanks

[MissScatterbrain]

Either should be fine as he already has all the main subjects he should be doing. I would go for the one he would enjoy doing the most.

[KatAndKit]

Either is fine since all his others are academic subjects. Statistics would stand him in good stead for a level maths but it is not necessary. If he is considering medicine he will need top grades all round so he should only choose PE if he is talented enough at sports to achieve an A. If he would be on target for a top grade then there is no reason not to do PE.

[tortoisesarefab]

I would say statistics as lot of medicine involves research now so he could use his understanding of statistical analysis as a plus point on his application forms

[CareersDragon]

As grades are more important than the subject for these 2 subjects, he should choose the subject that he enjoys most, or is best at.

By the way, to get into Medicine at uni, it is not necessary to take Maths & 3 sciences at A level. Two sciences, to include Chemistry, is usually fine. But the grades would need to be high for all A level subjects.

To look at A level subjects required by the top universities in the Russell Group for different degree subjects, see their leaflet, "Informed Choices":
www.russellgroup.ac.uk/informed-choices/

[maiacam]

Thanks for your input I think ds choice is likely to be statistics as he thinks he will enjoy it more x

[eatyourveg]

I would agree with statistics especially if he wants to do maths later - irrc PE is one of the gcse exams that will be scrapped in the future along with media studies and law

[Choccybaby]

Stats will definitely be of use if he does do medicine.

It's one area of the course where a significant proportion of students (and later qualified drs) struggle so having an early start will be advantageous.

[NorthBucksMum]

PE A level is useful for medicine. It studies the body and could be better than biology in that respect. Should be the 4th A level though and is not looked upon as worthless by RG university med schools. Just throwing this in as very many would be medics don't do statistics.

[eatyourveg]

you can do PE A level without the GCSE at our school