What A-levels did you get?

[JP18]

First off hi everyone. I've been nosing round this forum for a while now and it seems to be a nice and friendly community So I have decided to join.

I would really appreciate if a couple of people would answer this question.


What A-levels did you get that allowed you to studying pharmacy at uni? Specifically the subjects and grades and which uni?

Thanks a lot and I hope you all have a good day, or night for those who have been slaving away at work all day

[JonF]

I did

Chemistry
Biology
Maths
General Studies

I got A grades in all and got in to Nottingham University. I think I needed 3 A's to get in, although this was in 1990, so entry requirements may have changed now!!

I feel old now!!

[JP18]

Are you still glad you chose pharmacy Jon?

[JonF]

If I am honest, some days yes, some days no. Try and get some work experience before you make a decision and find out as much as you can about the different areas in which a pharmacist can work.

There's a lot of info on these forums about the good and the bad things in pharmacy.

[JP18]

Yes I completely agree, I have been trying to do some shadowing , but unfortunately the pharmacies around here say they are too busy to take me on.

Running my own pharmacy in a quiet town somewhere would be quite nice. What, in your opinion is similar to but better than practising pharmacy?

[Nik]

Chem: A
Bio:A
Maths: A
General Studies: B

Aston Uni
Grades required are usually ABB-BBB but may go up ( i think manchester uni have AAB-ABB ?) because of increasing competition

[JP18]

Im predicted ABB should i be worried? i droppd maths because it was soooooooo boring

[Jen the 3rd]

I did

Chemistry
Biology
Maths
General Studies

I got A grades in all and got in to Nottingham University. I think I needed 3 A's to get in, although this was in 1990, so entry requirements may have changed now!!

I feel old now!!

3A's to get in in 1990? I got into Manc with an offer of BBC in 1991. No way! I got AAB though

[funkeeduck]

Chemistry B
Physics B
Biology C

and got into De Montfort with that in 1998...

Still I believe that GCSE grades are actually a better predictor of degree success (8A, 1B), and I did indeed come out with a 1st , plus a few prizes for highest attainment in several modules.
No point getting 3 or 4 As but having no common sense or people skills -both v important in Pharmacy.

I expect competition is hotter these days mind, which tend to be what entry requirements are about in the main for the popular courses.

[funkeeduck]

Oh forgot to say JP18, I dropped Maths too, and to be honest there were times at uni where I struggled -so make sure you're mates with some maths bods who can teach you to differentiate cos you might need that now and again. Mind you those who had Maths but not Biology struggled in other basic science modules in first year. And those without physics found pharmaceutics quite tricky.

So overall everyone is probably in the same boat.

Having said that, with regard to the calculations you need as a pre-reg for the exam, and more importantly in day to day life as a pharmacist, they're not that complex so as long as you practice hard at uni and during pre-reg then not having Maths A level is not a disadvantage in the long run.