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Further education

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

Bio, psych and history to keep options open?

18 replies

PinkChaires · 12/06/2024 19:08

dd has no idea what to do as a career but recently wants to do either med/law. She doesn't want to do chem A Level nor drop history as its a favourite subject but if she must do she will.At Manchester med school chemistry is not a requirement, just two sciences and the same for Newcastle. For law, i don't think her subjects limit her at all. She's naturally academic so whilst she performs better at humanities at gcse i think she can get a good grade (A/A*) at bio and has gotten 9s at psychology at gcse. Thoughts

OP posts:
Pinkypinkyplonk · 12/06/2024 19:13

She’s seriously limiting herself for medicine, otherwise it’s fine!

WASZPy · 12/06/2024 19:21

I don't think psychology will count as a science for medicine.

TBH, I'm not sure you can 'keep your options open' between medicine and law. Both will want evidence of supra-curricular and I can't see how anything would count for both?

PinkChaires · 12/06/2024 19:41

Psychology does count as a science for med as per the manchester uni website

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mumsneedwine · 12/06/2024 19:42

Some Unis count psychology as a science. These are the ones that don't need Chemistry for medicine. However, you are going to be v limited on choices and will need to ace the UCAT as it's very important at a lot of these Unis.

Bio, psych and history to keep options open?
PinkChaires · 12/06/2024 19:42

I think her thinking is to decide by oct and then pursue the super curricular stuff.

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PinkChaires · 12/06/2024 19:44

mumsneedwine · 12/06/2024 19:42

Some Unis count psychology as a science. These are the ones that don't need Chemistry for medicine. However, you are going to be v limited on choices and will need to ace the UCAT as it's very important at a lot of these Unis.

Thanks , shes got her heart set on Manchester uni no matter what. Are we being realistic in even considering med without chem? As i said she would be willing to drop history/psychology if necessary

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mumsneedwine · 12/06/2024 19:48

@PinkChaires do NOT set your heart on any Uni for medicine. They get to choose and one offer from anywhere is great.

It's v possible to do medicine without Chem as can only list 4 of those 11. But the skill is applying to your strengths. So if have a fantastic UCAT Newcastle is possible but without it it's not (they are using GCSEs this year too). Manchester use a bit of everything so harder to know exactly how they score.

Plymouth and UEA have the lower UCAT needs but UEA use it for half the score after interview so really helps if good

Applying to medicine needs strategy. There's a 2025 thread going which might prove helpful.

ramonaquimby · 12/06/2024 19:49

There's a great deal of chemistry needed during the actual degree, she'd be playing catch up with her fellow medics if she gets an offer/grades

mumsneedwine · 12/06/2024 19:52

@ramonaquimby most students manage fine. The Unis will teach what is needed. At Newcastle you don't even need a science A level

ramonaquimby · 12/06/2024 19:56

Chem is wanted by the majority of med schools, better to have that knowledge at your fingertips rather than not. Crazy that you don't need a science A level @ Newcastle!

mumsneedwine · 12/06/2024 19:58

@ramonaquimby but 11 don't need it as they can teach students to become doctors without it.
My own DD said biology was much more useful 🤷‍♀️

RainingCatsandDogs · 12/06/2024 20:22

Psychology isn't a facilitating subject for either career, so is the outlier.

If she goes down the medical route or allied careers nearly all want 2 sciences. If she doesn't want to take 2 science A levels, then she probably won't like the degree content.

Perhaps look at the modules in each year of a medicine degree at the universities. The reason Chemistry is often required is there is a high content of pharmacology.

Also when applying for a highly competitive medicine undergraduate place you are up against the candidates with Chemistry and Biology, so you are more dependent on your UCAT score. Once you get there you will have to work harder to make up some lack of knowledge compared to others in what is already a highly demanding degree.

With law at the top universities you need A levels you are capable of getting an A star in ideally.
What is her likely overall 8/9 profile for GCSEs?
Science A levels you really need high 8 to 9 for A at A level and taking one science only does tend to put you at a slight disadvantage.

2023 results for subject A/A stars:

Biology 9% A star, A 18%
Psychology 5% A star,13% A
History 5% A star, 19% A

Essay subjects tend to be harder to get A star in -which does not mean sciences are easier at all, just there is a definite right and wrong and accumulation of marks -so psychology isn't a safer bet of a top grade.

mumsneedwine · 12/06/2024 20:30

Sorry but for medicine that is rubbish advice. You do not need 2 sciences.

@PinkChaires if you send me a DM I'll send you my spreadsheet of all the requirements for each Uni and each one's selection for interview criteria.

Those A levels could get you 4 offers. All comes down to UCAT and then interview.

mumsneedwine · 12/06/2024 20:31

PS I sent one to medicine last year with history, psychology and PE. Just passed their first year exams

RainingCatsandDogs · 12/06/2024 20:34

Apologies -2 sciences were definitely needed in my day (no UCAT though).

mumsneedwine · 12/06/2024 20:37

@RainingCatsandDogs 😊 I struggle to keep up with the yearly changes !

PinkChaires · 12/06/2024 20:39

mumsneedwine · 12/06/2024 20:30

Sorry but for medicine that is rubbish advice. You do not need 2 sciences.

@PinkChaires if you send me a DM I'll send you my spreadsheet of all the requirements for each Uni and each one's selection for interview criteria.

Those A levels could get you 4 offers. All comes down to UCAT and then interview.

Can you only pm on the website ?x

OP posts:
mumsneedwine · 12/06/2024 20:40

If you're happy to put your email in here I can send it. PM is more secure though (think it works on laptop ?).

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