University Applications: Medicine Requirements Help

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the requirements for university applications in medicine, particularly focusing on the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum choices of students. Participants express concerns about the necessity of biology as a subject for medical school applications and share their experiences and options regarding their current studies in mathematics, chemistry, and physics.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Homework-related
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses concern about choosing physics over biology for their IB course, noting that most universities require biology alongside chemistry for medicine.
  • Another participant suggests that some universities, like Cambridge, may allow students to apply with only two subjects from a specified list, which includes chemistry and physics.
  • A participant shares a link to Cambridge's admission requirements as a reference for others.
  • Some participants discuss their own experiences with the IB program and the difficulty of changing subjects at this stage.
  • There is mention of varying IB course offerings in different schools, with some allowing students to take five higher-level subjects, which raises questions about workload and options.
  • Several participants share their current academic standings and express their enjoyment or struggles with their subjects, particularly physics and mathematics.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the necessity of biology for medical school applications, with some arguing it is essential while others suggest alternatives. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the best course of action for the original poster.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention the pressure and workload associated with the IB program, as well as the differences in subject offerings and requirements across various schools and countries.

Who May Find This Useful

Students considering medicine who are navigating their IB course selections, as well as those interested in university application requirements for medical programs.

Turkish
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Hi, I'd like someone to help me out with a rather huge problem I have at my hands. there's 1 year for me to successfully complete my IB Course doing Maths-Chemistry-Physics as Higher, and the problem is that, I would like to do Medicine... However I've been looking through the University Requirements and reading through I've come to realize that I may have made the wrong choice In picking Physics, as every University has so far had 'Biology And Chemistry' as the Requirement. I am unsure about what to do, therefore I would like some people to suggest a few ideas please. Thanks
 
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Turkish said:
Hi, I'd like someone to help me out with a rather huge problem I have at my hands. there's 1 year for me to successfully complete my IB Course doing Maths-Chemistry-Physics as Higher, and the problem is that, I would like to do Medicine... However I've been looking through the University Requirements and reading through I've come to realize that I may have made the wrong choice In picking Physics, as every University has so far had 'Biology And Chemistry' as the Requirement. I am unsure about what to do, therefore I would like some people to suggest a few ideas please. Thanks

To my knowledge you nearly always need biology to study Medcine - I would change options ASAP as even if the Uni only wants chemistry - biology is a huge bonus
 
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I think at cambridge and some other Uk universities you might not need biology only two out of Chemistry, maths, F maths, physics, biology. I'm guessing your in Europe as your doing IB ignore this if you are not.
 
I do IB in the UK, and I'm having doubts whether I should change to Biology ASAP or not, Its a very hard choice as after looking through the UCAS and seeing most unis accepting Bio and Chem made me very upset.. so I am unsure :/
 
What point are you in your studies? How good are you at your current options/physics? And what does your school/college careers advisor suggest?
 
I've just started year 13, basically i'll be applying to Unis soon, and I havn't had a chance to talk to my Career adviser yet... But will get on that soon, and i'll be checking out that site aswell.. As for Physics, I enjoy it so much, best subject, and I am pretty much awesome at it I guess..
 
rho said:
I'm guessing your in Europe as your doing IB ignore this if you are not.
IB isn't only in Europe. I'm in my second IB year (similarily to Turkish) doing HL math, physics, chem, and english...and I live in Canada.
 
  • #10
I'm in IB2 as well... in Mexico.
Wow, 4 HL's. I wish MY school offered such options... but no, we're new to IB. We're like guinea pigs.
 
  • #11
somekid said:
I'm in IB2 as well... in Mexico.
Wow, 4 HL's. I wish MY school offered such options... but no, we're new to IB. We're like guinea pigs.

somekid...you didn't know that in some schools in Europe, they allow students to do 5 HL's, given that you're going to go to university to study medicine. For example, they may allow you to take:

HL Maths
HL Chem
HL Bio
HL History
HL Latin
SL A1 German
 
  • #12
IB said:
somekid...you didn't know that in some schools in Europe, they allow students to do 5 HL's, given that you're going to go to university to study medicine. For example, they may allow you to take:

HL Maths
HL Chem
HL Bio
HL History
HL Latin
SL A1 German
Which is a HUGE workload. I'm content with my 4 HL's thanks lol. But ya, IB is right, there are actually a few people I've made contact with on this forum that are taking 5 HL's in IB, and some are in the US.

Are you sure your school won't let you? I mean, I'm sure they have the courses, they just probably don't want you overwhelmed so they say that you have to limit it. You should talk to the Head of IB at your school and find out.

Nice to see fellow IB students here! Good luck guys!
 
  • #13
rocketboy said:
Which is a HUGE workload. I'm content with my 4 HL's thanks lol. But ya, IB is right, there are actually a few people I've made contact with on this forum that are taking 5 HL's in IB, and some are in the US.

Are you sure your school won't let you? I mean, I'm sure they have the courses, they just probably don't want you overwhelmed so they say that you have to limit it. You should talk to the Head of IB at your school and find out.

Nice to see fellow IB students here! Good luck guys!

Actually, rocketboy, I'm techincally taking 5 HL's over two years like those in Europea, too, but the only difference is that the 5th HL will not count on my diploma; it will count as a certificate. I'm really screwed up just on the first day. You must have seen that I've posted several posts asking for maths help in the homework help forum...

Technically I'm doing these subjects on diploma:
IBH A1 English
IBH A2 French
IBH History of Americas & World Hist (I wish I could take History of Europe instead)
IBH Chemistry (oh yeah, teacher said "if you could get a 7 on HL Chem, you can get an bachelor's degree in Chemistry with ease")
IBS Physics
IBS Maths Studies (my counsellor advised against my taking Maths Studies, but oh well, if you look at my certificates you'll know)

And these for certificates:
HL Physics (after taking IBS Physics first year, it's possible that I do Higher Level PHysics Year 2. That's cos the curriculum is the same, and first year HL is equivalent to SL)

Anyway, I'm checking the homework forum for a while and I'm out to work on my packet and then go to sleep. I'm too screwed even on the first day of school cos my IBS Physics teacher gave me a 10-paged maths review packet, IBH Chem teacher gave 20 pages of maths work in textbook(about (16 problems!), IBH History teacher loads of notes to read.

And I'm pretty sure the pressure will be much higher as I make more progress in the IB programme.
 
  • #14
Ya it is certainly going to be a "fun" year. I'm taking HL Math, and my had my first class today. The teacher scared us all by saying "you will probably all fail some of my tests...I've had kids come in who have never failed anything every before and fail my tests. It builds character, I tend to build a lot of character."

We all just started and thought..."help us". But the teacher is really good and the class is one of my favorites. She also said that for this course, a 75% or greater mark on the IB exam will likely get you a 7, because it is so difficult. So I think it's good that her tests are going to be really hard, because it will prepare us for the exam.

Last year 66% of her class got a 7 on the IB HL math exam, so I'm confident in her teaching :approve:

Sorry for hijacking this thread. :-p
 
  • #15
Sorry i didn't know people did IB outside of Europe, I like IB and I would have preferred to do it to A-levels it goes into much more depth in physics and chemistry than the A-level syllabuses. But I found when looking at maths exam papers that IB maths was easier than A-level. Can you do further maths like at A-level as a separate subject in IB?
 

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