Third A level choice - hoping for Medicine

[Thisismynewname123]

DD (Y11) is hoping to study Medicine, so will definitely be choosing Chemistry and Biology A levels. Until recently she was hoping/assuming her third would be Physics as she's naturally good at it and enjoys it, however it looks unlikely school will allow Physics without maths. Although good at maths, she doesn't love it so it's thrown her a bit and she's feeling tied to a corner as if she has no choice but to do maths. She is doing AS level maths with her GCSEs, if that makes any difference.

We have checked Medicine degree requirements for many unis, and very few (some Cambridge colleges being the exception) require the third to be physics or maths. But in reality, do most unis prefer the third to be maths (given that physics isn't really an option for most, unless they take 4, and DDs school doesn't allow 4 unless the fourth is further maths)? Should she be looking to take maths as it will give her a better chance of success as getting into Medicine? Or a curve ball subject that she has never considered, but is just something she really enjoys (which would likely be geography) or something new like psychology.

She should choose the subject based on what will get her the best grade. So usually the one she enjoys most. You don't need maths or physics. DD has friends who have drama, history, psychology, PE and history as 3rd A levels. Newcastle don't even need any science A levels at all !
Grades come first.

And only do A level maths if you're really going to do well - it's tough these days ! If she has AS maths I'm surprised they won't let her do Physics A level - she must have the aptitude.

As far as I know Chemistry biology and physics are a normal combination for medicine. And there’s no point her doing maths if it’s not her thing.

I would talk to the school forcefully. And if that doesn’t work send her somewhere else. But it should work.

DD knows no one who has physics. Lots have maths (because they hated essay subjects and were good at it). But loads have a 3rd that has no relation to science. A few Unis actually like it.

She can do whatever she wants and is good at. She needs at least an A. Almost all subjects are fine.

Push on the physics. If she's got AS level maths that ought to be enough, and you could perhaps offer that if there's the odd topic she needs to cover then you could get her a session or two with a tutor. The "no physics without maths" rule is probably there more to deter those who find the maths hard.

@Luredbyapomegranate that was probably true a few years ago but not any more. Her school is not the only sixth form we have spoken to who have said thr same. Given that she is doing AS level maths, I could possibly plead her case, but I don't want to make it harder for her to get an A/A* because she isn't doing maths alongside it

DD did Chem, Bio and Eng Lit. Got 4 offers <proud mum emoji>

Of her current close medic friends, 3rd subject ranged from Philosophy to French to Law to PE. Plus a few Maths and Physics, of course. She didn't apply to BMAT unis, but I can see that an 'essay' subject might give you an advantage there.

Most important thing is to pick a subject where she will be predicted A star or A.

They 100% won't care. The requirements on their websites are their requirements. Only Cambridge want 3 sciences. She should pick the 3rd A level based entirely on the one she is likely to get the best grade in.

That’s interesting

In which case I’d talk to the physics teacher who knows her, to see what they think, and then plead her case if they’re supportive

If you haven't already @Thisismynewname123 I'd join the Medicine 2023 thread under Higher Education and get DD to join TSR. There will be other students in there in Y11 for 2025(?) entry.

Choose what she enjoys and what she will do well in.
I did Biology/Chemistry/Physics (no maths). It was hard work doing physics without maths but my then school couldn’t accommodate me doing what I wanted (history).
It made absolutely no difference by the time I started med school in early 2000s and I can’t remember most of what I learnt at A level anyway now!
Being a well rounded student who can communicate well, work as a team and has the stamina and resilience to stick at a full on course are more important than subjects other than the obligatory ones.

DD in her 3rd year of medicine did English Lit, Bio and Chem. She was v close to choosing an English let degree

I disagree. Push on the subject she will get an A or A* in.

Also look at medic mentor. You don’t need to do the summer school (£££) - though a friend’s child did it and said was great , but their book club and virtual Wexp are free and v good, and their “get into medicine “ days are c helpful too.

I did Politics for my third (admittedly 19 years ago 😯) and went to Manchester. Seems like from PP that it's still similar and not a requirement. Just choose what she'll do best in, I was shit at physics!

Psychology. DD wants to do biochemistry so doing 3 sciences and maths but lots in jer uear doing chemistry biology and psychology with hope of medical school

I would ditch the physics AND the AS maths (unless wanting Cambridge). Very few places care about anything other than Biology and Chemistry. Third subject can be anything and some places will drop a grade offer with a high EPQ. AS maths was just a distraction, especially if she doesn't love maths. Maybe something new like psychology goes well with Biology, or something she is likely to get a high grade in without much extra work. It is hard with volunteering, ucat, interviews etc she wants the third subject to be a relatively easy one for her. Three A levels and an EPQ would be my recommendation.

My DD has just started medicine. She took Chemistry, Biology and German (we don't speak German at home!). What really mattered it transpired was the scores she got in the pre-Med tests, that determined to a large extent where she applied. She had 4 offers in the end. I'd choose an interesting third A-level if I were your daughter, whatever it is.

For medicine her grades need to be very high so she must absolutely do the subject she thinks she will get the highest grade in which is often the subject she enjoys the most.

I would also take any 'advice' from school with caution unless they regularly have successful medicine applicants. As @PritiPatelsMaker says join the thread in higher education and look for answers by @mumsneedwine and @Monkey2001 particularly. Also get your dd to look on the student room pages, especially posts by GANDFY and ecolier on reddit. It is confusing at first but there is a lot she can do to maximise her chances of getting a place.

I have been involved in our local (UK) medical school admissions on and off for some years. It is one of the more competitive medical schools to get into.

chemistry is a must, typically ‘another science/maths’ + another academic subject

I.e. Anything like history/classics, English, a language, geography, theology or philosophy, music (esp if quite talented musician)- I’m sure there are more

i probably would not go for the subjects often thought of as slightly easier less academic options (not saying I agree with that view …) - media studies, environmental studies, food tech - again there are lots

better to have the grades and not have physics/maths than not have the grades!

I really all appreciate all of these comments. The dilemma is that if you asked her right now approaching GCSEs what she enjoys the most and feels is her strongest subject, she would have said Physics. But we obviously don't want her to be disadvantaged at Physics A level if she isn't doing Maths, which we're hearing from various sources that she's quite likely to be from sixth form open days. So she now feels as though she needs to totally rethink what she had always assumed she would choose, and maybe take Geography instead because she's very strong at it, although she'd never considered it beyond GCSE before because she's so focussed on the sciences. Today she's suggested considering RS as well, as another subject she's strong at (although she doesn't love essay subjects generally).
How is Psychology viewed if you're applying for Medicine? If she's rethinking Physics which is now likely, she needs a few options of what to choose between.

A few of DSs friends went off to do me second. They were told that they didn’t need biology - most seemed to do maths/physics and 1 other (mostly chemistry) some did further maths too.

DS says if you can do maths they physics is ‘easy’ (I can do neither). They do tend to go together (so I have been told).