Not doing English at higher

[Nospringflower]

My son wants to study medicine, preferably at Oxford but if not the best he can get a place. We are in Scotland and so do Highers and Advanced Highers after doing National 5s in S4.

He is now at the stage of choosing his Highers and wants to drop English. He doesn't enjoy it and it isn't on the list of required subjects for medicine other than at Nat5/GCSE level.

I get his reasoning but when I was at school anyone academically able to do it was strongly advised to. Not sure if things have changed.

Does anyone think this will cause difficulties? Thanks for any advice

[LunaLoveg00d]

In "my day" (sat highers in the late 80s) everyone did English. In our school it was VERY much the norm to do Highers in English, Maths and then three other sibjects. I remember a friend who really didn't get on with maths having a real battle with the department to let her drop it and do something else instead.

Reading this thread with interest though as my son is picking options for his Nat 5s and is definitely heading down a biology/biochemistry type path. We may be having this "but can I drop english" discussion soon too.

[Nospringflower]

Well since writing this I have met a friend whose son is planning to drop English.

I think there has been a shift and I am now completely happy to support my sons decision to drop it! I have said he should make sure he gets an A in his Nat5 though.

[wigglybeezer]

My good friends son dropped English and did economics higher instead. He is now a fourth year med student at St Andrew's/ Manchester like the city doc's DS.

[Salmotrutta]

thecitydoc - Higher Human Biology is absolutely fine for medical applicants.

One school I used to work at only offered Higher Human Biology and no Higher Biology (this is not uncommon actually) and they had lots of successful applicants to medicine!

[starving]

My suggestion would be to check the course requirements. My dd also wasn't keen on English. The course she was interested in (not medicine) asked for Maths & English at Nat 5 or equivalent. She did not do English at Higher, preferring to get the required number of Highers in subjects she was interested in and stood a better chance of getting good grades. She got 5 offers and is currently midway through third year.

[thecitydoc]

Salmotrutta - my son's school offered both and those applying for medicine had to have full biology - if they did human in 5th form they had to do full in 6th, and therefore only received conditional offers. The med schools may accept human if ful not offered by school - best to check with med school

[Salmotrutta]

Well citydoc a very quick google shows that Edinburgh and St Andrews websites both state that Higher Human Biology may replace Higher Biology as one of the suggested requirements, Aberdeen simply states Biology/Human Biology as a requirement (so the same really) and Glasgow just says Higher Biology and Higher Human Biology will not be considered as separate subjects but this implies they both have equal weighting in the selection procedure.

Not sure about English universities but it is a fact that Higher Human and Higher Biology are both acceptable at Scottish Universities.

[thecitydoc]

Salmotrutta - times have obviously changed in 10 years