Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Further education

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

Original poster

What 3rd a level would you add to these two?

39 replies

TeenLifeMum · 08/09/2023 19:15

Dd isn’t sure career wise what she wants to do but knows she wants to do something science/research/healthcare medical maybe.

so far she wants to do biology and chemistry and is considering psychology but also enjoys history and English. What would you recommend would be a good combination? I want her to have options open so she can decide uni courses later and not be too restricted due to choices made at this point because she is so unsure. Keen to hear other’s thoughts as I’m English/history/politics subjects so science is very new to my world (other than I did them at gcse).

OP posts:
GinandDubonnet · 09/09/2023 13:33

DD is doing biochemistry at uni. Her A levels were biology, chemistry and English lit. She had 5 offers from good universities. Doing an essay based A level definitely improved her writing ability and she has found this really useful in her degree.

Original poster
TeenLifeMum · 09/09/2023 13:40

It’s interesting there’s a mix of responses. She’s good enough at maths but wouldn’t want to do it at a level. She’s predicted a 7 but all other subjects is predicted 8s.

OP posts:
clary · 09/09/2023 13:43

TeenLifeMum · 09/09/2023 13:40

It’s interesting there’s a mix of responses. She’s good enough at maths but wouldn’t want to do it at a level. She’s predicted a 7 but all other subjects is predicted 8s.

I agree with the PP who said if she hates or struggles with maths then that will impact her science A levels; but if she is good at it an on target for a 7 then that shouldn't be an issue.

A level maths with a 7 is OK of course, but if she prefers other subjects then she is likely to do netter at them. Does she love biology and chem? Or is it more "I better do these as I want to be a doctor"? which I have certainly come across., and feels the wrong way round somehow.

Original poster
TeenLifeMum · 09/09/2023 13:47

She loves biology above everything and enjoys chemistry. She doesn’t necessarily want to be a doctor and I imagine her preferring a more research based role rather than being a doctor but because she doesn’t know yet I’m advising her to keep all of those kind of jobs open. A year ago I’d have said definitely not dealing with people because she was such an introvert but she’s changed a lot and grown in confidence so now it’s less clear to me as a mum. Plus it’s her life so trying too knowledgeably guide her.

OP posts:
mumsneedwine · 09/09/2023 14:07

@TeenLifeMum no medicine course cares what the 3rd A Level is, so if that's an option she can choose whichever she'll enjoy most, and get the highest grade in. Vets and dentistry are the same. Hope that helps,

mathanxiety · 09/09/2023 15:12

Science research roles are rare as hens' teeth and rarely pay enough to keep a roof over your head.

If she likes the science and isn't opposed to medicine but would find life as a GP exhausting, she could do medicine and specialise in radiology, pathology, or anesthesiology. I think she'd need a good maths background for all three though.

She needs to research options after university graduation very carefully if she's thinking of an A level combination that usually leads in a specific direction. The people I know who have done biology/ chemistry degrees are currently working in the Civil Service, in finance, and in medicine. Frankly, only the last one really needed that science background.

Daisymay2 · 09/09/2023 15:20

One of my DS started chemistry English , Biology and History A Level. He struggled with the sciences without maths ( —as I told him he would — ) .He gave up Chemistry

catlovingdoctor · 09/09/2023 15:53

hopsalong · 09/09/2023 00:19

She should do maths. If she doesn't like maths or isn't good enough at it to do A level then she may not enjoy A-level science as much as she imagines, and will find her choice of science degree courses really quite limited. For medicine she would really need to do maths or physics.

Otherwise I might suggest biology, psychology, English. They would be a great fit for both an English or psychology degree.

Not the case. Only biology and chemistry are prerequisites.

catlovingdoctor · 09/09/2023 15:58

mathanxiety · 09/09/2023 15:12

Science research roles are rare as hens' teeth and rarely pay enough to keep a roof over your head.

If she likes the science and isn't opposed to medicine but would find life as a GP exhausting, she could do medicine and specialise in radiology, pathology, or anesthesiology. I think she'd need a good maths background for all three though.

She needs to research options after university graduation very carefully if she's thinking of an A level combination that usually leads in a specific direction. The people I know who have done biology/ chemistry degrees are currently working in the Civil Service, in finance, and in medicine. Frankly, only the last one really needed that science background.

I'm looking to specialise in either path or radiology longer-term, and nobody mentions maths beyond being functionally numerate. But the OP hasn't said her DD even definitely wants to do medicine!

Walkiesandtalkies · 09/09/2023 16:03

My DD did Biology, Chemistry and History and got 4 offers for Biomedical Science -including Russell Group unis if that matters to your DD. Definitely do what they enjoy as A Levels are hard work!

mumsneedwine · 09/09/2023 16:29

You do not need maths to do medicine. Repeat ad infinitum every year. You need Chemistry and/or Biology, and a 3rd. Or apply to Newcastle and they don't care what your A levels are in.

Wanttobekind · 09/09/2023 20:23

@mumsneedwine I’d love to know how many of the people here being prescriptive with authority about what a levels are required - especially for medicine - are either admissions staff or admissions officers. I suspect very few….

mumsneedwine · 09/09/2023 20:33

@Wanttobekind I think none 😊. Loads of rubbish talked about medicine ever year. Never understand why people can't read websites.

Wanttobekind · 10/09/2023 09:10

@mumsneedwine 😂 Found a glorious meme once that said something along the lines of “it used to be thought that the reason for collective stupidity was lack of access to information…well, turns out it wasn’t that”….

New posts on this thread. Refresh page