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Further education

You'll find discussions about A Levels and universities on our Further Education forum.

Original poster

Help- which A level to drop? Biology or History

33 replies

Swarskid2184 · 09/09/2018 17:37

My DD is doing Maths, further maths and chemistry....and currently also doing history and biology. The school will let her do both until half term- but then she has to choose. She has literally no idea of what she wants to do at Uni, so no help there...

Currently she is enjoying both!

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mumsneedwine · 27/09/2018 13:13

V glad she's sorted. It's a tough decision when you like a lot of subjects. Good luck to and hope she get to where she wants.

Original poster
Swarskid2184 · 27/09/2018 11:41

Thankfully DD does not want to do medicine or be a vet.... I think that the school advisor just mentioned that to highlight that even the most ‘sciencey’ of careers can be pursued with maths and chemistry.....

Anyway she is happy with her choice and workload is now more manageable

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donquixotedelamancha · 26/09/2018 19:44
  1. She should drop history. With those 4 a-levels she can walk into a huge range of careers. Dropping biology narrows it a bit.
  1. If you want to do medicine you should take Biology. I know many places don't require it but everywhere likes it. The exact same is true of Maths and Physics. Which one is most preferred depends on the uni but having Biology and either Maths or Physics is the ideal combo.
cathyandclare · 26/09/2018 19:35

For medicine ( and I'd guess the vet med and dentistry too) even you don't need biology, it really, really helps. Maths helps too for the stats but biochemistry is really hard work without A level biology. You can do it, but it's a slog, in my experience.

However, if humanities or social sciences are a consideration history will help.

mumsneedwine · 24/09/2018 20:02

Not saying there aren't Unis you can still choose without biology - just that it narrows your options. That's all. Trying to help.

BubblesBuddy · 24/09/2018 18:43

You don’t need Biology for Bristol vet school. Chemistry and Maths are fine. I think a neighbours DD had to do foundation vet science at Nottingham because she didn’t have Chemistry. There are also loads of med schools so you choose one where you do have what they want. Also there are other science degrees out there!!!! Chemical Engineering for one.

mumsneedwine · 20/09/2018 19:13

Aston, Birmingham, Brighton, Cardiff, Exeter, Hull, Imperial, Kings, Lancaster, Liverpool, Nottingham, Lincoln, Queens, Southampton, St George's and UCL all need both.
My DD was repeatedly told she must have maths for medicine which is rubbish as no one requires it !

mumsneedwine · 20/09/2018 19:09

For some. But for others you need both - each Uni has different rules. This is the vet one and only Cambridge doesn't need both. I just hate kids getting bad advice do hope it's useful

www.rcvs.org.uk/document-library/admissions-requirements-aug-2010/AdmissionsReqAug2010.pdf

Original poster
Swarskid2184 · 20/09/2018 18:17

Have just looked at the link and says that for medicine you need chemistry and one of EITHER maths, biology or physics....so in line with schools advice

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mumsneedwine · 20/09/2018 18:04

I'm sorry but that is rubbish advice. Lots of Unis do need biology to do medicine and a few for vet I think. You are limiting choices without it. And that's the last thing you want to do when applying for medicine !

Original poster
Swarskid2184 · 20/09/2018 13:16

So after lots of conversations with her teachers and research on line, DD has opted to do history rather than biology, so is doing Maths, further maths, chemistry and history.

Advice was that you don’t need biology to do medicine or veterinary- but do need chemistry. And a less obvious mix of A levels both interests universities and gives a wider skill set../

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Xenia · 15/09/2018 08:06

It probably won't matter unless she will do really well at one and worse at another (in which case pick the one that will get her a high grade). If she wants to go into a science career it might make sense just to have science A levels and drop history. If she wants to go into law science A levels are fine too although you write an awful lot so essay type subjects can be very useful for that including history.

Original poster
Swarskid2184 · 12/09/2018 06:53

I had thought it was until half term - but she was told yesterday end of September.

Fucksgiven- it would be 5 as maths and further maths and absolutely definites...

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Fucksgiven · 11/09/2018 23:50

I'd look for somewhere where 4 A levels is allowed, then encourage history as a counterpoint to the sciences. It's weird to only allow further maths as a fourth

BackforGood · 11/09/2018 23:45

I'm confused.
There is a lot more than 2 weeks until half term. You said she had until half term.
My dd is in Yr 12 and hasn't even completed the first week of lessons yet.
Why not let her see how she feels end Sept / first couple of weeks of Ot and have the discussion then. Maybe it is chemistry that will need to go.

Original poster
Swarskid2184 · 11/09/2018 21:22

DD is year 12...now has 2 weeks to choose between biology and history...

And now saying that she is not enjoying chemistry 🤨

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LIZS · 11/09/2018 20:13

Is she y 12 or 13?

mumsneedwine · 10/09/2018 22:03

Maybe advise biology. If like mine they'll then do history 😂😂

Original poster
Swarskid2184 · 10/09/2018 21:45

I am advising history....but subtlety...as a parent recommendation is currently not favoured!!

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mumsneedwine · 10/09/2018 21:05

I'd say definite History then. Keep options as wide as can. Do what he loves the most as that tends to lead to higher grades

YetAnotherThing · 10/09/2018 20:44

Agree history will keep her broad and develop different soft skills to the sciences. If she doesn’t know what she wants to do then she’ll keep more options open. If she wants to do science it’s good to have a different dynamic and strength/outlook beyond science too (particularly medicine). I’ve done med school interview panels for uni and love students like this. I suspect pure science UG courses similar.

Racecardriver · 10/09/2018 20:37

*analytical research skills

Racecardriver · 10/09/2018 20:37

Drop biology. She is doing chemistry so she will learn all the lab skills, data analysis etc there. She won't gain any skills from biology whereas history will be useful in developing her writing and anyltical skills (I know they do this in sciences as well but at a lower level).

Original poster
Swarskid2184 · 10/09/2018 20:35

Maths is a definite, as is chemistry. No plans for medicine...

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