Wrong A’levels

[Fruitflylady]

Looking for a little advice, or to hear others’ experiences in similar situations…
Ive recently started on the Open Day rounds with DS, who was planning to apply to do a music degree. He’s currently studying for A’Levels in music, French and biology.
After our first uni visit, and what I thought was a rather good talk at the music department in Manchester, he’s realised he doesn’t want to do music after all and would much rather apply to do biology! We’ve since been to both music and biology talks at another uni and his thoughts remain the same.
The question now is how do we best get him in a place to apply successfully? All the courses we’ve looked at require biology and at least one other science/maths, so we are thinking;
a) take a gap year and try and get an A’level in maths or chemistry in his own time plus do some relevant part time work, or
b) apply for a university offering a foundation year and stump up for a year of extra fees/accommodation etc?
Has anyone else been here before, and what would you advice in our situation?
Thanks in advance…

It might depend on the course. The vet Sci foundation is competitive. From that course you do get into the degree course. There’s only a handful of places. It’s a better bet than starting an A level and then applying all over again for one of the most competitive courses in the country.

In this case, biology is nowhere near as competitive (top few excluded) as so many universities do it and now you have the option of environmental science where biology without maths would mostly be fine. Obviously maths/chemistry gives more/better options for DS but he could look at Env Sci. The DD we knew simply was not going to get on a vet Sci course. The Nottingham foundation was a much better bet than going away and doing another A level. The odd thing for her was that her mother is a teacher at a grammar school. So unbelievably poor research into being a vet. (Arrogant, know-all father though who taught Latin!) I queried her choices with him but he said they were the correct ones.

Also take a look at UCL’s arts and sciences degree

Might work

I would think carefully here - I think that people studying biology at university who have not studied chemistry Alevel struggle with the biochemistry areas of the degree as well as with courses on cells and physiology. However, if his interest lies more in the ecology area of a biology degree, then the lack of chemistry is not so much of an issue. So I would be considering which bits of a biology degree interest him and move forward from there. A second science could be psychology for instance which is much more doable in a year than chemistry so the question is, are you trying to tick the science box or will he actually want to do options where chemistry is a key advantage.

Look at the universities that offer broad combined-honours programmes. Not all universities insist on a specific course but will have a range of modules available and a set number of module points that need to be completed each year. There are lists of the modules you need to have included if you want your degree to be in "Biology" but you don't have to follow a list

In year one he can take a music module, a biology module that doesn't have any prerequisites, and whatever modules are needed as prerequisites (given not having the right A-level) to be able to access further biology modules in years 2 and 3.

There are a few universities that will allow a pick&mix dehree like this. Exeter and Durham are the ones I am familiar with but I just did a quick google and found a chat on The Student Room where this was being discussed and more than a dizen universities were given as examples.

I often see on MN the bald statement “it’s impossible to do biology degree without chemistry A level” or a version thereof. Just asked DS2 who has just finished his second year of a biology degree without chem a level (he did do maths) and he says it is “nah bother”.

That’s just one person it’s true, and maybe he has avoided biochem modules? but even tho he is my son, he is not a genius. So another science – maybe; chemistry as a must – probably not. I don’t think many unis if any specify the second science, if required, must be chem.

My dc did a Biology degree without Maths or Chemistry A level and is now doing a PhD! (Did have Geography as the second science though.)

@clary @titchy Both of your DC had a second science. Geography might be marginal but maths isn’t. The Dc in question has music and French. So no second science at all. So maybe just biology is good enough, but where? Would another science A level open up biological possibilities? Or indeed a foundation course?

Yeps ds does have another science (two if you count PE!) but my point was it’s not chemistry, which a pp suggests is essential, and I have seen that on mn before. I was just offering an alternative anecdotal view.

I agree this doesn’t help the op’s dc. But unis which don’t ask for a 2nd science have been mentioned here (and include ds’s as it goes) and I imagine there are others,.

Another possibility might be to pick up Core maths in yr 13? No idea if that is feasible tho.

Could he add Chemistry or Maths AS level in Year 13? Obviously check with admissions tutors if it would be helpful!

@clary We don’t know if Dc with a second (and third!) science are preferred on a course that just asks for biology. It seems highly possible he might have been chosen over a Dc with just biology and no other science. Although we don’t know. It depends how competitive the course is, or is not. I agree chemistry is not vital but judging what is useful is best done by looking at what’s in the foundation year. Does that include much chemistry? Or not.

A student I know has 3 science A levels and is doing Environmental Science at a RG uni that asks for one. I suspect checking what the typical student has on a biology degree might help make a decision about what to do or where to apply. I don’t think Env Sci or biology are competitive everywhere.

Yes agree with all that @PresentingPercy, just bc xyz is not required doesn’t mean it’s not useful. Could well be that ds extra sciences helped him get offers (and he did apply to places that required two sciences too).

Sorrh @Fruitflylady not super helpful to your ds! I think it’s worth asking unis if core maths or as chem in yr 13 would help tho.

@Jackonary that would be ideal but the college won’t support that option unfortunately.

Thanks for all the comments. We have a lot to think about. I suppose it’s possible to get in somewhere to do biology without a second science, but as others have commented, he’d almost certainly benefit and find things easier with a broader science background.
His preferred option at the moment is a gap year and do probably maths A’level. With the best will in the world I don’t think he’d manage two in a year, so chemistry’s not really an option, which is a shame as it would be useful for biology too.

Just throwing an idea out there.

I'm currently studying with the OU. some universities accept some OU courses as A Level equivalent.

If he studied part time without a student lean I don't think it would affect funding.

It might be worth asking the universities if they take any modules. I've seen people claim MST 124 is equivalent to A Level maths but I don't know how universities interpret that and obviously you would have to look in to the financial implications.

Obviously DCs ideas about their future path can evolve and change, sometimes abruptly. Your DS may already have been analysing why they felt set on Music at uni and then suddenly not. Thinking about that might help them working out whether they do, in fact, want to commit wholeheartedly to an exclusively scientific pathway.

As others have suggested, a NatSci (or Birmingham LANS) type course might keep options open, have greater appeal and future proof against another possible sharp change of tack. Such courses are looking for people, like your son, who are motivated by having a wide range of interests.

Thinking about life after uni might also help clarify thoughts and the Prospects report linked below might help. Many Bio grads do indeed stay in the bio/med/scientific world, but many do not.
https://luminate.prospects.ac.uk/what-do-graduates-do

Thank you @PerpetualOptimist , I’d never heard of that course at Birmingham. We’ll definitely be looking into that one!

thanks @sashh , I’ll check that out. I had looked at OU before but not realised Unis might consider their courses in place of A’level. Will check it out.

I think you’re thinking about medicine or biochem. This is not correct for Biology

OP
What bits if biology does he like?
If it is more conservation or anatomy related topics, he may want to investigate more specific degrees