Top uni won't accept just biology they need another science for many subjects? Is the true

[Fabulousfeb]

My dd wanted to do biology, pyscology and history but now she sisd all top uni want another science?..

for most courses they will count psychology as a science.

She said not.
But I'm sure now in depth her research has been

Have a look on the UCAS website and the entry requirements for courses she may be interested in.

It would be fine for biology at Bristol for example - first one I looked at. Check the entry requirements on the university websites.

Many years ago I studied biology at Bristol and needed two science A- levels. I had to stay a third year at college and take chemistry in a year.

Yep, pretty normal. For most Science subjects you need some chemistry knowlege and mathematical grounding. Many good unis insist on one or the other.

From my vague recollection they'd like chemistry as well right?

It does vary, as does whether psychology will be counted. But if that's what your DD wants to study, I'd recommend prioritising that over a science she doesn't want. My DS had to do Physics because Biology clashed with Psychology and he hated it .. and everywhere he applied only needed Biology <headdesk>. We now both really wish he'd done History or Psychology instead.

As @Singleandproud says, have a look at the UCAS website.

To study what course, Biology?

I'm not sure that's true at good unis for pure science courses. There is limited science content in A level psychology.

It's saying to study biology, sciences /maths.
It also says you need an a* and that gives us a long list which i?ncudes phycology??

Also is an a* a 9

I'm wondering if the a* makes up for the lack of science??

It wouldn’t work for Oxford, Cambridge, Edinburgh or St Andrews but ok for Durham, Bath and Exeter.

A* at what level, gcse or A level?

Oh dear. What if she slugs away in chemistry and doesn't get into those top ones...

What a waste!

She's definitely looking at potentially a run of 9s for gcse but who knows for a level?

Liz i think a level?

Are a level marks back to normal grades?

Durham would accept it for a biological Sciences.

Sure. Some will, some won't. As as been mentioned upthread- she should do what she enjoys but might be a bit limited on either uni or course if she takes the options described rather than some chem or maths.

I think as much as anything it would be very hard to embark on studying biological sciences these days without having a background in other Sciences / Maths. So much of the latest advances are cross disciplinary. The ability to manipulate data for instance. I would have thought this would become obvious at A level even. Psychology would go someway but still would be a steeper hill to climb without others?

Though there are issues of ethics, communication, policy where History would also provide useful skills. I would try to get advice from someone studying at uni or even a research Institute?

For Cambridge Nat Sci you need two sciences plus maths and psychology doesn’t count as a science.

They say something about “in exceptional circumstances” biologists don’t need maths but I suspect that Cambridge’s version of exceptional is very very exceptional indeed!

A levels have always been alphabetical, your query about grade 9 made me wonder. Most top unis require them to meet the exact offer, some will not only want grades but in certain subjects. The alternative may be a foundation year to cover potential gaps.

Biology, Psychology and History is an odd combination.
If she wants to study Biology or a biological science, I'd rethink,and would recommend ditching Psychology and doing Chemistry instead. I'd only do History if she loves it. Maths would be more useful.

DS in 2nd year Biology at Bristol. He's not suffering through lack of Chemistry A Level, but did have maths and physics. Some courses have a lot of chemistry in them but his doesn't (or he could choose appropriate options).

Have a look at the admissions criteria. One of my children is doing a biological science at Bristol. She had to have 2 sciences, including biology, but they did not have to be one of the “hard” sciences. There was a list of the science subjects they would accept. (Psychology may have been one of them, from memory. I know PE was.) A lot of universities did demand 2 hard sciences, though, so she is limiting her options by not choosing another hard science.

Yeh for many courses psych will count as a science.

Also a lot of unis will accept only biology - but maybe with a higher offer.

DS took biology and not chemistry - the horrors! I recall an MN thread where people said he would get no offers for biological sciences if he didn;t have chem. He did take maths tho. Anyway he got RG offers so all was good.

Chemistry is certainly not specifically needed despite what some pp say.

I just checked Warwick for bio sciences and they offer AAB with a second science (not inc psych as it goes) or just biology but AAA; Lboro (where DS is, doing this course) AAB with two sciences, list inc psych; Leeds AAA inc biology or chemistry and "another science or science-related subject" no list given; UCL offers AAA with biology and one of chem, maths or physics - so that's the strictest I have found in my quick trawl. But plenty of options without chemistry.

Agree no use taking chem if you are not keen and doing less well.