Query about GCSE options for Medicine

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My DD has her heart set on studying medicine at Edinburgh Uni. She is only yr8 but very focused on this path! I do think the Uni itself is purely because her dad went there and she had a nice holiday there once so it may well change!
She is very academic and excels in Sciences and Maths so all good. However in the past few months she has found an arty side and is loving drama and art, plus also is starting to enjoy sports more. So much so that she is talking about wanting to do PE, drama and art as GCSEs-will then have one more option plus a modern language in addition to the core subjects and sciences.
Our concern is that for where she has set her sights it is not an academic enough selection. Are we right or wrong? Applications for the course are high as are grade requirements and GCSEs are mentioned. We are both from science/academic backgrounds and certainly back when we applied for uni these subjects (even at GCSE) wouldn't have cut it but I know subjects have changed and developed a lot since then! As a (medical) consultant friend of mine has said-she can always do those subjects as hobbies. Realistically she is not skilled enough for PE (her DB is taking it and is working hard despite being a very good sportsman) but she has received glowing reports from the teachers of the other two subjects.
I know it may seem a little premature but she will have to make the decision in a year's time and she has been set on this future for a good few years despite her age!

Hi. My dd is in Y13 & has applied for medicine this year. As it gets more competitive, some (not all) universities are looking at GCSE grades. However, I haven't come across any that ask for specific subjects outside the core three. They will, however, look at the grades. The question then is does your dd have the ability to get A/A* in the more arty/creative subjects?

My dd did Drama for GCSE and got a B. She said this year that she wished she had done something like Geography instead as it would have been easier to get a higher mark by just working hard, rather than having a talent in that subject.

Your dd will be competing with applicants who will have A* in every subject, I don't think it's too early to start planning to ensure she isn't disadvantaged by her GCSE choices!
Plus, if she changes her mind later it's good to have done a humanity & MFL.
I did hear someone say their dc couldn't apply to Cardiff due to low grade at GCSE in their MFL but could never find anything on their website to say that.
At the moment with medicine there is a huge amount of research to do when applying. Often the detail of how they assess applicants is buried in their website or only revealed at Open Days. And changes all the time!

Good luck & I'm sure you will be on many medical applicant threads over the years!

Forgot to say, at the moment Edinburgh is the only medical school that doesn't interview so it's all down to exam grades & personal statement, work experience, etc. Always worth a look on The Student Room website to see what current applicants think. My dd did consider applying but something on the uni website made her feel that there were a limited number of places for non-Scottish applicants.

I absolutely back the above. My DD got a B in drama and otherwise A/A and also said that she felt geography would have been a better choice. Also, the problem with drama is that you get put into groups and it depends on how hard your group are prepared to work as to how well your assessed performance can realistically be. If they won't meet up to rehearse, then realistically it won't be A/A standard. Her drama teacher also said A*s are very hard to achieve in GCSE drama. My DD was law, rather than medicine, but still after the best grades possible. It sounds like PE is best avoided but art sounds like a good idea.

Just to point out med schools place great emphasis on students having something other than medicine/academia - they recognise their students need down time, so doing drama or sport outside of school and continuing it would be seen in a positive light.

My observation of my DD's drama gcse is that it doesn't necessarily need them to be particularly talented to get A* grades in their controlled assessments but it certainly does take good groupwork. Everyone says Art is the worst for coursework (other high-load subjects are ones your DD isn't considering such as Electronics and Music) - but that presumably means that doing well in it shows the student's ability to self-motivate and it'll be more under their own control. Drama has quite a lot of coursework too, rehearsal time etc so you'd want to get her to think carefully about doing both drama and art. But doing at least one of them gives a bit more balance ... if I've counted right she'll be doing 11 subjects (assuming 3 sci, 2 english) whereas a lot of good schools only do 10 so I really doubt that one lower grade would count against her (most of what I've read says that admissions tutors look for at the most 8 strong grades at GCSE).

Also, if she's not doing the PE and only does one of art/drama, what other subjects would she do - she might not want to do too many 'essay' subjects.

Drama is actually quite useful for Medicine, lots of role-play! One of mine did Graphics and has found it really useful as a junior doctor.

Thanks for replies! I have been researching this route and learning all about BMAT and UKCAT, voluntary work etc and the different universities requirements-what a minefield! Seems like we need to work on a long term plan of work, choices and activities if she is this determined about her path. Interesting to hear that the drama grade can be influenced by the efforts of other pupils....

I'd also suggest she doesn't make Edinburgh her only aim ... they chose you, not the other way around!

I wouldn't do all of: PE, Drama and Art, as there is quite a heavy work load there. Art (and similar subjects) is well known for a lot of course work to produce the portfolios needed. Drama has a lot of on going work with the rehearsal time etc. PE also has a lot of coursework, and some quite talented athletes have struggled with the written work (I used to get the constant deadline updates from my DCs school for PE, although none of them did the subject, I'm not sure why - but there were a lot of them).

PE is a great one to do for Medicine. It is even quite good as a 4th A level. It starts to teach about the body.

Drama is perfectly possible to get an A with excellent teaching and pupils who are committed to this subject. In my DDs year, only one girl didn't get an A. I think Art and Drama is too much though. Most schools advocate one Arts subject, not two. I would ensure that she does History as it is an essay subject but I cannot see why Geography would be a huge problem. I think medical schools will want to see a broad range of subjects, which would not normally include two art ones.

We have vetoed PE as she isn't able enough-as far as we were concerned (and it has been confirmed by research on here and elsewhere) she needs to be aiming for A*s all round and short of a huge physical change (she is a little dot!) and shift in attitude there is no chance she will achieve near this in the practical side of the subject. I do think more academic subjects for her would be easier as she flourishes in test type environments. I guess a couple of heavy coursework based subjects will give her some idea about self motivation and organisation though but she has also voiced wanting to study music GCSE out of school as well as aiming for her Grade 8 in at least one instrument. What with volunteering, wanting to do DofE, other hobbies-there aren't going to be enough hours in the day!! I think we'll have to sit down next week (half term) and if she is absolutely determined this is what she wants to do, then we shall have to start a life plan for the next 4-5 yrs!! A complete contrast to her older brother who has started his GCSEs and hasn't a clue what he wants to do in life-which does make life a lot less complicated.
Edinburgh as a uni is just her lack of knowing anywhere else-apart from Oxbridge which we have actively discouraged her from considering! As the time comes she will no doubt consider pretty much anywhere!!

Looking at last year's results for DD's school, a large majority got A* or A for drama. It's worth checking how your DCs school does in each subject if they need a tie-breaker between a couple of subjects they'd like to do.

I believe that there are some new med schools opened recently or planned - don't know how good they'll be relative to the old established ones but it may mean that there are more places and some mightn't be quite as 'all A*' focussed as you think.

DD is also y8 & has sights on Medicine at the moment.
I pushed PE GCSE (DD excels at sport) but I think she's rebelling...

We aren't 5 yr planning, DD won't be able to volunteer until 15+yo anyway. There are lots of nursing homes in walking distance, no shortage of opportunities, but volunteering rules might change by then, etc.

I wouldn't tailor everything to Edinboro, all kinds of reasons that might not happen. Kids can still change minds, too.

I know a bit about the 'newer' med schools, the standard of what they accept is still extremely high. Nobody should fool selves into thinking that some UK med schools aren't difficult to get into. Admission to any is a high achievement. If you scan StudentRoom plenty Med students declare they didn't have perfect GCSEs, but they had high competence demonstrated in many other areas.

Drama is great. It's all about communication and empathy. Art shows skills to manage a huge workload. DD wants to do art gcse, too, but drama only for fun.

I think there's only UCLan Errol and that won't open to UK applicants fro another 5 years. (Has AAB+ minimum though...)

I'd say if you've vetoed PE then art or drama are both great subjects to take, if only to get out of a classroom setting for a few lessons a week. Also, all medical schools want to see a well rounded person or at the very least evidence of outside interests to provide a stress buster for the student - and that includes Oxford and Cambridge. DS1 (third year) did art at GCSE and got a range of offers so clearly it does no harm. I don't get the impression that law gives two hoots either but then neither I nor my DC have ever been too concerned about the academic package at GCSE. Surely one or two creative choices are to be encouraged provided a student enjoys them, on the all work and no play makes Jack/Jill dull sort of basis?

I'd say if you've vetoed PE then art or drama are both great subjects to take, if only to get out of a classroom setting for a few lessons a week. Also, all medical schools want to see a well rounded person or at the very least evidence of outside interests to provide a stress buster for the student - and that includes Oxford and Cambridge. DS1 (third year) did art at GCSE and got a range of offers so clearly it does no harm. I don't get the impression that law gives two hoots either but then neither I nor my DC have ever been too concerned about the academic package at GCSE. Surely one or two creative choices are to be encouraged provided a student enjoys them, on the all work and no play makes Jack/Jill dull sort of basis?

I'd say if you've vetoed PE then art or drama are both great subjects to take, if only to get out of a classroom setting for a few lessons a week. Also, all medical schools want to see a well rounded person or at the very least evidence of outside interests to provide a stress buster for the student - and that includes Oxford and Cambridge. DS1 (third year) did art at GCSE and got a range of offers so clearly it does no harm. I don't get the impression that law gives two hoots either but then neither I nor my DC have ever been too concerned about the academic package at GCSE. Surely one or two creative choices are to be encouraged provided a student enjoys them, on the all work and no play makes Jack/Jill dull sort of basis?

I'd say if you've vetoed PE then art or drama are both great subjects to take, if only to get out of a classroom setting for a few lessons a week. Also, all medical schools want to see a well rounded person or at the very least evidence of outside interests to provide a stress buster for the student - and that includes Oxford and Cambridge. DS1 (third year) did art at GCSE and got a range of offers so clearly it does no harm. I don't get the impression that law gives two hoots either but then neither I nor my DC have ever been too concerned about the academic package at GCSE. Surely one or two creative choices are to be encouraged provided a student enjoys them, on the all work and no play makes Jack/Jill dull sort of basis?

I think Y8 is quite young to be focused solely on medicine! I would encourage her to do her favourite subjects, which will hopefully also be the ones that she gets the best grades in. I would also keep medicine in the background, and ensure that she doesn't rule it out with her choices. I think it's so much more important to go where their natural interest, abilities and talents take them, rather than choosing a particular career just because it's what they've always wanted to do!

No idea why four posts! Sorry :)

My Y8 has just had her options interview at school and said she hadn't got a clue what she wanted to do career-wise - I much prefer that myself, at this stage at least. Far easier.

I'd keep the "soft" stuff to no more than one subject. But there's a lot more emphasis on communication skills in med training these days so the drama might be a good idea. Med schools are looking hard at the wider aspects of a kids character, and some appreciation that kids know what they are in store for. So maybe later on some work in an old people's home would go down well - that sort of thing (but maybe not in Y8). But the rounded aspects sadly have to come on top of impeccable academics, so think of those matters as additional to a solid core of proper subjects.

As much relevant work experience as is reasonably possible is the only way to go! There is a reason why sons and daughters of Doctors get into med school! It is about more than being clever, you have to get on the same playing field!

I knew what I wanted to do from about the age of 8 yrs. And I did it! Sometimes people do just know, particularly with careers that are quite visible to kids from a young age.