Four A levels? Vet Sci/Med aims

[CervixSampler]

Dd is doing chemistry, biology and was doing history but is doubting her choice now. She’s aiming to go on to study veterinary science/medicine at uni. She got a 6 in history which was unexpected. I think she was predicted at least a 7. It’s been a strong subject and she doesn’t know what happened and can’t figure out the grade boundaries because the codes don’t match, or something. She’s now considering physics or maths as her third A level and would like to do a fourth subject too, for fun. Maybe French (she got a 6 taking it two years early). When I was at school most people did 3 plus general studies but that was a long time ago and things have changed.
Do people do 4? Is it a regular thing or do most do 3?
Any recommendations on the third and potentially fourth subject?

She took history, geography and drama as her options for GCSE. Geography is strong with an 8. She was doing extended maths but dropped it to focus on actual maths and her sciences.

TIA

For vet medicine do 3 and get the highest grades possible. Spend the time saved on whatever work experience is possible.

I did vet med 20+ years ago, we did AS levels then, so I did chem/bio/maths and added on geography in case maths was too hard, thinking I could drop one of them down to an AS level at the end of year 12 if necessary. I did manage to do all 4 in the end, but it was hard work and no study periods during the week and I did mine modular which spread out the work/revision.

if she wants to go to vet school she will need straight As and work experience in her own time. I would be worried about doing anything extra “for fun” unless you genuinely think she has capacity. If she spreads herself too thin and misses her A in chemistry then she could blow it.

Hi, Sixth Form tutor here. For vet/medicine Chemistry is the most important A Level. In addition, taking Biology plus Maths/Physics (or both) will give her the widest choice of universities re entry requirements. As with all very competitive subjects there will be many candidates applying for every place and achieving the highest grades is a given. To give herself the edge she needs to do some volunteering/work experience in a related field. For example, Hedgehog rescue centres often accept and train volunteers from age 16. This will show her commitment and give her a talking point at interview.

Thank you. I’ve reminded her about the experience she needs. Nowhere would take her prior to 16. She emailed the local vets today to see if things have changed now she’s left school. The hedgehog one is as good option, I’ll get her to look into that.

Don't lots do EPQ now instead of general studies?

My friends kid has just got into Vet school, has been volunteering at various farms, rescue centres, horse stables etc for a while now. As others have said, not only does she need those top grades she also needs that work experience, so probably no time to do an Alevel just for ‘fun’.

DD has just finished her A levels. She took maths, physics and chemistry and got straight As. Our local sixth form wanted at least a 7 (but preferably an 8) at GCSE to study these subjects. The only 4th subject she considered was further maths. As far as we could see three As was preferable to taking four and dropping grades.
DD said chemistry was the toughest of the three, and the one she was most concerned about the grade. Your daughter will need chemistry, mine didn't and regretted taking it as the grade boundaries are so high due to the calibre of students who need chemistry. She never felt that with maths and physics.

She’s definitely taking chemistry and biology. She was 3 marks off a 9 in chemistry and got 9s in her other sciences. She enjoys physics so might do that.

I would stick with 3 and get the best possible grades in them because she will need top grades for vet/medicine. Most people who do 4 only do a 4th because it’s maths & further maths.

Geography fits better with Biology and Chemistry and she did well in it at GCSE, I would do that.
Physics without maths is quite difficult and she may struggle to get the top grades.

Is maths A level a possibility? Many schools aren’t keen on physics A level without it.

Sorry cross post and agree with this

Maths is a very useful third choice with chemistry and biology.

Regarding animal experience - start with pets! Ride a horse and help look after them. Be aware of the horse’s vet needs. All are possible below age 16. Help neighbours with dogs, eg walking them etc. Get to know animals. Ask farmers if you can observe lambing. Just doing a tick box in the 6th form puts dc behind dc of vets and farmers in terms of experience. They have had a lifetime of experience. Being around animals is such good prep.

For medicine and vet 3 is enough. And no one needs maths, or cares.

For vet you're going to have to get your skates on to get the required work experience. Each Uni requires different amounts (& some v little) but if you don't have the required amount they won't even look at your application. It's also v useful to have some vet and animal care for interviews as you will be asked. This MOOC counts.

https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/vet-school-application-support

This is a snapshot of Notts. Others need 35 hours of each. Each Uni has its own selection form you'll need to fill in after UCAS and they'll ask for evidence if each placement on letterhead do get as you go along

For medicine, some long term volunteering or a customer facing job are useful. You don't need medical wex / this MOOC is good.

https://bsmsoutreach.thinkific.com/courses/VWE

Forgot the snapshot. Each Uni differs so check now as only have a year. And they get v booked up.

Thank you. We have/have had pets here and at her dad’s. She’s done stable management and volunteered at a small farm that took get on for a few weeks a but 3 years ago. She did ride so some experience of horse care there. She’s also helped a neighbour with their dogs with grooming. Our cat is an allergy cat so she’s got some experience of medicines for that condition and the care required. So not totally without experience so far. She’s adding up the hours at the 3 stables she’s volunteered at (just remembered there was another one).

@mumsneedwine She needs a 3rd A level. Maths is useful with chemistry and recommended in many schools. Not necessary but useful if she doesn’t get into vet school because it gives her other options - so she might care.

Dd is doing vet med. I'd reiterate to aim for three A levels. Chemistry, Biology and a third subject she is likely to score highly in. Doesn't matter too much which one.

With work experience it's worth looking af the requirements of unis she might be interested in. Not that many unis offer it. They are quite specific about what work experience they want and also the evidence/reference required each time.

@CervixSampler she'll need much more formal work experience I'm afraid. With evidence. Own animals don't count. Please research carefully as needs to have been done by ucas deadline.

@TizerorFizz no vet or medical school needs it recommends maths. 3rd A level can be anything, not one Uni cares. They care about grades. I've had students get in with drama, PE, textiles etc,

@mumsneedwine Do all applicants get an offer then? I don’t think so! If someone was good at maths, most schools believe it sits well with chemistry. As a result it’s very much a gateway subject for many degrees. It’s all very well being so sure dc will get a vet school place and doesn’t need it but everyone knows loads of dc don’t get on these courses. You are very blinkered in your advice when the success rate for vet degrees is around 50%. Many dc need to find another degree so having maths never ever does any harm, even though not needed. Obviously swerve of dc aren’t great at maths!

@TizerorFizz can we try not to be rude. I help many students every year and yes, most get at least one offer. Because we give good advice from v early on. Maths is not needed, asked for or helps with any vet degree. Here we are talking about a student wanting to do medicine or vet so that's the advice given. Better to get an A in drama than a B in maths.
Work experience, with references is more important for vet med. Without it you won't get an interview (or in Bristol's case an offer). Each Uni has their own extra selection form(s) as like medicine they don't read PS.

And as a A level chemistry teacher you don't need maths.

Who was being rude? I asked if all applicants get an offer. The stats overall say 50% don’t. I’m merely saying what’s a good back up and many who take chemistry do take maths as well. They give dc an ability to consider chemical engineering for example. Not that it’s relevant here but maths is by far and away the most popular A level because it keeps options open. You might give good advice but clearly 50% don’t get in. It’s not maths vs animal experience either is it?! It’s possible to do both.

Also, there may be a time frame the experience needs to be completed with - for RVC, for example, its within 18 months of the application deadline - so don't count on experience from younger teen years. The entry requirements vary from uni to uni.

I'd go for 3 A Levels + work experience, then have a hobby / sport etc for fun.

Dd has her enrolment on Friday and will ask them about her 3rd option. She’s doing the Medics, Dentists and Vets programme at college. Local unis take them with lower grades as part of some kind of initiative for local students. I can’t remember all the details from the open day. They did say that there’s 1 uni place for every two applicants and we knew that a couple of years before.
I said about our pets because somebody said about having pets being advantageous. Dd is applying for jobs and experience. Up to now nobody has been willing to take her on due to prioritising actual vet students. The local vet hospital has said they are keeping her details for when the current volunteers leave which is positive as last time they just said no.

@CervixSampler You probably don’t have local universities for vet Sci though. Possibly just the one?

Having pets and caring for them and understanding their needs is a starting point. If she can, I’d get as much horse expertise as she can and wait for other WE to materialise. What about any farm experience?