Originally, I chose:
Chemistry, biology, history and maths.
Then, I thought to myself that it's going to be suicide for me next year because all those subjects involve masses of work. I want to study medicine in uni and I love chem and bio. I especially love history - it's my favourite subject, the thing is, it involves so much work and essays and along with all my other choices, I know that I will struggle.
So I swapped the history for French instead.
I also love french but not as much as history, however, it's not as much work....do you think I've done the right thing? Will I be at a disadvantage for taking french instead of history? Is a language really desired by universities? Med students, doctors or anyone, please help, I'm so confused!
2007-03-16 23:54:21 · 11 answers · asked by don't stop the music ♪ 6 in Education & Reference ➔ Primary & Secondary Education
hahaha shut up Mariam!
Now I've announced your name to the whole of yahoo answers...loser!
Tra butt, x
2007-03-18 00:03:04 · update #1
Personally I think you have done the right thing in dropping History as it is a time consuming discipline and perhaps not relevant to your chosen career path in medicine; chemistry, biology and maths should form a solid scientific foundation. Learning French may well throw up opportunities for advancement later in life and should not be considered an easy option. You will probably find French literature the most mentally taxing subject on earth!
2007-03-17 00:08:44 · answer #1 · answered by zoomjet 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Firstly, I sympathise with you for having to make such a difficult decision but full marks for your carefully thought- through approach. I hope there might be someone in your school or college who knows you personally and is aware of your academic record who could counsel you on a one to one basis.
In my experience you will find that it won't make much difference to Medical Schools whether you take History or French as long as you also have Chem and Biol too. I have heard that some universities like the idea of med students having taken a language. Check out their websites or phone them up. If they express no preference then it's really down to what you enjoy studying the most. History is heavily essay based, I agree, but French is no doddle either - maybe slightly less written work but you have the pressures of oral work instead.
You are quite right to think ahead and consider the possible pressure of work in your courses, but the real answer is, despite what the media and critics say, all AS and A level courses require a big commitment and you need to be well organised and focused. Remember - A Levels will be the hardest exams you will have to tackle - university will be much less pressurised and more flexible.
Good luck. I hope you make the right decision.
2007-03-17 00:18:21 · answer #2 · answered by Sioned 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I know choosing your subjects is a really frustrating time, i remember being there myself, I personally think you have chosen the right subjects for getting into med school with biology, chemistry, maths and history...
I studied biology and chemistry along with political history and english at school, went on to study Bsc (hons) forensic science at uni and am soon to be taking a post grad medical degree myself.
the subject i found hardest was biology (but you love it so your half way there)... your maths will go hand in hand with your chemistry and really work to your advantage when it comes to balancing chemical equations, enthalpy, hess's law and all that sort of stuff.. history, i only had one major essay and that was instead of sitting an exam so i wouldn't worry too much about coursework...
if you love history, it's going to be easier for you to study, your better off sticking with subjects you enjoy rather than taking something you don't like so much... plus you'll probably have just as much work if not more in taking a language subject.
language isn't a REAL big issue when applying to medschool, especially if your planning on practicing in a predominatly english speaking country anyway (if you want to impress the universities, fill your UCAS form with charity work and extra curricular activities with school) , if you would like to learn french i'd say your probably better off taking a begginers class or something in the evenings once a week when you have the time in the summer holidays.
i hope this was of some help to you, also, if i can help you in anyway during your studies, keep a hold of my username and drop me a mail or IM, i'll aid you all i can.
take care and best of luck at school
j x
2007-03-17 15:20:37 · answer #3 · answered by jorja_leigh 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You don't seem to be confused at all. All you seem to need is a confirmation that you've done the right thing. And you did. In this rat race world, a second language will take you much further than a knowledge of history. And if ever you head out after graduation in medicine, to say,Canada, your knowledge of French will give you an edge over the competition. So hang tight on your decision and put your head down. I'm an Engineer and worked four years in Toronto. On my trips to Quebec during that period, I felt like an uneducated bimbo, with only english at my tongue, however I speak Spanish fluently and my interaction with Latin American counterparts is a breeze. So take this advice, do get a second language.
2007-03-17 00:17:23 · answer #4 · answered by john R 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Check the uni course you want to take. Some subjects will be a must eg biology, the others will just be to get the grades and points. Obviously you have to do the compulsive ones and the others just for fun. You've chosen some pretty hard subjects there so you are right to pick an "easy" option. Check the course requirements first and go from there. Good luck!
2007-03-17 00:04:54 · answer #5 · answered by hiddenmyname 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I also am a prospective medical student and would say this.
As long as you do Chemistry and Biology you are fine really; the Maths also is a big advantage; and chances are you'll drop French (or maybe maths) next year anyway.
All the universities want is for you to get AAB at A2 level. Equally as important as the subjects you study are your BMAT and UKCAT scores, work experience, and anything extra curricular you have done.
2007-03-17 00:05:47 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
i've got only complete 3 hundred and sixty 5 days 11 and you supply them a coarse instruction manual so as that they are able to handle the timetable till now christmas yet for many folk they alter their techniques by employing september, i'm nevertheless not sure. maximum folk choose what there taking for definate after GCSE ends up in august.
2016-10-01 01:52:14 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I left school at fourteen with no qualifications, but then I never aspired to be a doctor, however, my daughter who takes after her mum (she's intelligent) had a similar problem with her choices of A levels.
Like you, she dropped one of her favourite subjects, science, for French, and although she obtained her A levels, ten years later she still regrets her decision. She found French less work, but far harder to assimilate than he favourite subject, science, would have been.
Don'y overload yourself, but it has been my experience, over the last hundred years or so, that it is far easier to study a subject you love than one you do not.
I wish you well and hope that whatever you decide, you achieve your ambition.
2007-03-17 00:22:56 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Choosing a language is always an asset whatever job you choose in the future and yes universities do value it.
You can always pick up History at any point in your live by reading or watching History channels on TV.
I think you have made the right choice.
As for having less work... it will be worth it at the end :-)
2007-03-17 00:07:56 · answer #9 · answered by Sam 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Be careful with what you choose, because at the end of the day, you will be the one stuck with all the work load and because of the work load, it will be much harder for you to get the right grades for entry into medicine.
I did biol, chem, phys and maths for my ALevel, I thought it was a good combination but in the end, I was stuck with bad grades because it was just too much work.
As long as you do what the med school require you to do eg/ biol and chem, then work extra hard on those two subjects (they would expect at least AAB), and choose something that you are good at. As long as you get the grades for biol and chem, it doesn't really matter what other subjects you do as long as you get their entry requirement.
Hope that helps and good luck :)
2007-03-17 00:14:53 · answer #10 · answered by cindeee_y 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋