Question about EPQ topics

[Thisismynewname123]

DD is in year 11. She is planning on taking Biology, Chemistry and Psychology A levels and I think is unlikely to change these options as she wants to do Medicine. However, she loves Physics and it's such a shame that won't be able to continue it based on her current priorities. She's now thinking she may do an EPQ is Astrophysics (previously she was thinking she's unlikely to do an EPQ but now considering it out of a genuine love of learning about space).

My question is - do students usually pick an EPQ topic based on their future goals, or do they usually pick something unrelated - like in this case - out of an interest in the subject? If she is hoping to pursue Medicine, should her EPQ topic be related to that?

I would suggest that doing an EPQ related so something medical would strengthen her personal statement. Both my two DC found that and it provided a good discussion point in their uni interviews (admittedly not medicine)

There is though a huge field of medical physics e..g diagnostics, radiography equipment etc so could she look into that and bring together her medical and physics interests.

Good luck to here she sounds super motivated and enthusiastic.

Former STEM admissions tutor here. @Juja ‘s advice is excellent. Admissions to Medicine is very competitive and it would be good strategy for your DD to use her EPQ to showcase an aspect of her interest in the field

My dd is year 13 and in the process of applying for medicine. She has had good opportunities to bring up her EPQ topic in university interviews, so I do think that it's worth doing something medicine related.

If she is reluctant to give up physics, could she potentially swap psychology for physics as one of her A-level choices? I don't think psychology would give her any particular advantage for medicine that physics wouldn't offer. Or is she reluctant to give up psychology as well? Would she have the option of starting four and then dropping one, maybe?

I know it's not what you asked (and admittedly I am retired and so out of the loop rather) but I would choose physics over psychology any day for someone wanting a career in medicine.
I would say that of my A levels, physics was the one that I found most useful in my career. I was an anaesthetist, but there are quite a lot of other specialities which are physics heavy. Of course it's possible to succeed in those fields without having done physics but I think I would have found my professional exams a great deal harder without a decent understanding of basic physics. And the physics/maths elements of the radiology exams that my friend was doing at the same time as I was studying for my FRCA looked terrifying to me! My best friend from medical school is now an interventional cardiologist and again, his work is highly technical and requires a good understanding of some elements of physics. If she enjoys physics and is capable of a high grade then I would think it would be a better choice than psychology to be honest. I probably wouldn't have said that when I'd just graduated and would have said it was biology that I'd used most, but later on I was really pleased that I had that physics understanding languishing somewhere in my brain.
But, if she is set on psychology then I think the PP's suggestion of doing an EPQ with both a physics amd medicine element is an excellent idea. Or if it's an alternative at her school I would give serious consideration to doing core maths instead of an EPQ as it may be more useful long term. But I am of course harking back to my days when it would have been nigh on impossible to go to medical school without either physics or maths A level so I could be completely wrong in the current situation.

I appreciate the comments and it is something to discuss.

Those who have talked about taking Physics A level - this was a big dilemma at the time of choosing as she really didn't want to drop physics. In the end, as chemistry and biology are required to keep all Medicine options open, it was felt that she didn't really have a choice as there is a strong recommendation to take maths with physics, which she can't do unless she takes 4 A levels (not an option to do 4 if she stays at her current school, unless the fourth is Further Maths.

I'm not sure medical physics would excite her. I think it's space that she's particularly passionate about! Is an EPQ generally a definite advantage when applying to medical school? She was in two minds about whether to bother with one before she started talking about doing it on astrophysics.

If it was any other course other than medicine I'd say go with what she's passionate about. But I defer to those above - it may tip the balance in a competitive field. EPQs are ALOT of work (my daughter just finished hers earlier this year, in a subject not directly related to her future plans).

I am head of psychology and EPQ at my school. Sixth form tutor so lots of experience of UCAS applications.

I would say that students with career plans in mind often focus their EPQ on these, it helps to add subject extension to their personal statement and gives something to talk about in interviews.

With a medicine application I would definitely encourage her EPQ to link to this. I wouldn't worry about which element of medicine.

With regards to the physics / psychology decision I think how useful both are is likely be will depend on the sphere of medicine that she goes onto do. Therefore the choice at the moment is which medical career is she most interested in? This might also direct the focus of her EPQ.

Is EPQ a definite advantage - it can be. The most important thing will be that she has done more than "just" her A levels.

Relevant work experience, additional study, read widely about current issues in medicine / NHS, comes across as knowledgable at interview. Evidence of good "soft skills". DofE or something else to tick those boxes.