HELP! Medicine - Physics or Biology

cuppcakes!

I've to decide my subjects by tomorrow (I know, last minute or what?). I'm really interested in Medicine and always have been.

Am definitely doing French and Chemistry, but I am torn between which second Science to do.I'm definitely stronger at Physics, but have been told Biology is, nowadays, a lot more helpful.

I would do all three, but I want to take another Art, either Music or Geography, as I'm interested in English, too.

PLEASE HELP. Thanks.

Brooke01

cuppcakes! wrote: »

I've to decide my subjects by tomorrow (I know, last minute or what?). I'm really interested in Medicine and always have been.

Am definitely doing French and Chemistry, but I am torn between which second Science to do.I'm definitely stronger at Physics, but have been told Biology is, nowadays, a lot more helpful.

I would do all three, but I want to take another Art, either Music or Geography, as I'm interested in English, too.

PLEASE HELP. Thanks.

Science at JC it’s so easy. don’t even consider it’s anything like it or a little problematical... there is a huge different in it at all subjects in science , if you are into the body then choose biology it’s really a essential to know would u like to studied Medicine at level 8 after all Medicine is over 560 +++ and not everyone gets into the course. If you choose Physics you will need higher level maths

cuppcakes!

We'll I'm in TY now and we've started the physics course and I'm well able for it. I'm definitely doing higher maths and I intend to do Medicine in Ireland, yeah. I hope I'd get the points anyway. I'm doing Chem for a chance to get into the five yr course...

Delphi91

Brooke01 wrote: »

...If you choose Physics you will need higher level maths

Untrue.

Fad

well very obviously (at least to me anyway) Biology is definitly the option if your doing medicine:)

Fad

Brooke01 wrote: »

Medicine is over 560 +++ and not everyone gets into the course. If you choose Physics you will need higher level maths

well, i have two problems with this post.

first is less of a problem but more of your (or mine) misinformation, wasnt the change to 450 with aptitude etc confirmed for next years CAO applicants?

and two, while it may be advantaeous to have higher maths IT IS NOT essential, im doing it and am doing OL maths

Overheal

cuppcakes! wrote: »

I've to decide my subjects by tomorrow (I know, last minute or what?). I'm really interested in Medicine and always have been.

Am definitely doing French and Chemistry, but I am torn between which second Science to do.I'm definitely stronger at Physics, but have been told Biology is, nowadays, a lot more helpful.

I would do all three, but I want to take another Art, either Music or Geography, as I'm interested in English, too.

PLEASE HELP. Thanks.

woa, wait, what?

Choosing subjects for the leaving cert? Now? March?

Thats silly. In my day you pretty much chose your classes on the first day of 4th year: those sheets youve been given are just a guideline so they know how many teachers to assign to where. If you change your mind later its not the end of the world.

me2gud4u

Chemistry and biology. absolutely.
forget physics, whilst you will do it in pre med(assuming u go to UCD but you mentioned five yr course so i'm guessing that is where you want to go) it reallyis not needed after. Anyway, pre med physics first semester is impossible.......there are some serious physic's brains in our class (you know the type 6,7,8 A1S all in the mathsy kind of subjects) and they found physics impossible in fist semester because the lecturer we have likes to hate pre meds.......even the post grads giving us tutorials told us they would not have been able to do some of our tests.......and apparently he used to put sums on it that he could not even do. Don't ask....bane of our lives in semester one.
Anyway, rant over. A good grounding in biology will set you up for a better understanding in modulea such as medical genetics, cell biology. Chemistry is vital. Esp on first med onwards........................BIOCHEM!

Thomas_S_Hunterson

I know quite a few people in pre-med UCD, and from what they tell me, the hardest part of the pre-med course is the physics, so I would recommend you do the physics for leaving so set some foundations.

Biology is something that's easy enough to catch up on.

Overheal

Considering they'd pretty much have to re-teach you biology from the ground up in a medical degree, yes, I'd wager the one to ditch might be biology. But take it anyway because you would be more interested in that so it'll be an easier A1H for you.

joe_chicken

cuppcakes! wrote: »

I've to decide my subjects by tomorrow (I know, last minute or what?). I'm really interested in Medicine and always have been.

Am definitely doing French and Chemistry, but I am torn between which second Science to do.I'm definitely stronger at Physics, but have been told Biology is, nowadays, a lot more helpful.

I would do all three, but I want to take another Art, either Music or Geography, as I'm interested in English, too.

PLEASE HELP. Thanks.

Not choosing Biology shows a distinct lack of interest for medicine (even if you do need to relearn it all)

If there is one place left on a course and they are choosing between 2 people with exactly the same points, one who did Physics and the other Biology, they'll take the person with Biology.

I've heard people in first year medicine (in UCD anyway) give out about Physics, but it's more an annoyance for them than a major block to their studies.

Thomas_S_Hunterson

joe_chicken wrote: »

If there is one place left on a course and they are choosing between 2 people with exactly the same points, one who did Physics and the other Biology, they'll take the person with Biology.

Generally the CAO use random selection to allocate places when results are tied.

Peleus

Sean_K wrote: »

Generally the CAO use random selection to allocate places when results are tied.

here is what you do: chose french chemistry biolgy and physics. then next year, after a week of each subject, change the one you like least to music/art/geography.

that's assuming they let you change subjects next year. they did in my school. i think biology would be better. i do physics, and there not much about medicine in it, only Xrays. if you wanna be a doctor, you're better off doin biology.

GLaDOS

Biology definately

Very little in the physics course, if anything, you could apply to medicine.

ian.f

I do all 3 sciences because I thought I was going to do medicine and apply to UCAS. If you have UCAS in mind I would do physics but otherwise I would choose a nice handy points subject like Geography. You'll learn everything you need science wise in Medicine, the Leaving Cert is a points getting excercise and little more.

Of course it is good to do things that will interest you but you have to make sure you have a few bankers in there too.

suprfantastisch

Might be a little harsh of me to say biology is science for dummies compared to the other two..but that's the idea..definitely the easiest..genetics is annoying but then again, so is electricity. Hope you chose biology. I feel I was born to drive people away from physics.

ZorbaTehZ

Doesn't matter imo which you take(took?), I suppose the priority at this stage is getting the points to get into the course.

ScienceNerd wrote: »

Very little in the physics course, if anything, you could apply to medicine.

Wrong. Name an area of the physics course and Ill give you an example of a medical technique/concept based on some principle from it.

Sean_K wrote:

I know quite a few people in pre-med UCD, and from what they tell me, the hardest part of the pre-med course is the physics

qft, quite a few people in my pre-med class are worried about the physics final. That said, it's not so hard that one ought take physics for te LC to get a foundation imo.

ZorbaTehZ

joe_chicken wrote: »

Not choosing Biology shows a distinct lack of interest for medicine (even if you do need to relearn it all)

I lol'ed.

carlowboy

ian.f wrote: »

I do all 3 sciences because I thought I was going to do medicine and apply to UCAS. If you have UCAS in mind I would do physics but otherwise I would choose a nice handy points subject like Geography. You'll learn everything you need science wise in Medicine, the Leaving Cert is a points getting excercise and little more.

Of course it is good to do things that will interest you but you have to make sure you have a few bankers in there too.

I wouldn't call Geography an "easy" subject. Had I done it, I know I would have still done better in physics. If you're mathematically minded, Physics should be an easy A1. A lot of it problems based and the definitions are mostly repeating formulae.

GLaDOS

ZorbaTehZ wrote: »

Wrong. Name an area of the physics course and Ill give you an example of a medical technique/concept based on some principle from it.

Electromagnetism?
Reflection?
Velocity?
Gravity?
Moments?
Circular Motion?

ZorbaTehZ

ScienceNerd wrote: »

Electromagnetism?
Reflection?
Velocity?
Gravity?
Moments?
Circular Motion?

Electromagnetism: MRI scanning
Reflection: Optics and vision, far points, near points
Moments: Forces on joints and tendons
Circular Motion: G-forces, motion sickness, centrifuge testing etc.

The (immense) area of medical imaging and diagnostics is where a knowledge of physics would be most handy, especially in areas where radiation is used. Its not necessary, but the point you made was about application, and to be quite honest physics can be applied to nearly any semi-technical field :rolleyes:But this is somewhat off-topic.

(is it me, or do the same topics seem to be rehashed every few months on this forum in particular?)]

GLaDOS

Heh, ok , I take it back so.

But in the L.C course, very little reference to medicene is made, apart from in radiarion and lenses. I'd still recommend biology over physics.

Thomas_S_Hunterson

ScienceNerd wrote: »

Heh, ok , I take it back so.

But in the L.C course, very little reference to medicene is made, apart from in radiarion and lenses. I'd still recommend biology over physics.

From what I hear, you pretty much have to relearn the biology course once you get to college, so the benefit of LC biology is debatable.

Peleus

ZorbaTehZ wrote: »

Electromagnetism: MRI scanning
Reflection: Optics and vision, far points, near points
Moments: Forces on joints and tendons
Circular Motion: G-forces, motion sickness, centrifuge testing etc.

The (immense) area of medical imaging and diagnostics is where a knowledge of physics would be most handy, especially in areas where radiation is used. Its not necessary, but the point you made was about application, and to be quite honest physics can be applied to nearly any semi-technical field :rolleyes:But this is somewhat off-topic.

(is it me, or do the same topics seem to be rehashed every few months on this forum in particular?)]

but im sure if someone gave you a list of biology topics, you could talk for hours abiut how it relates to medicine.

where does Keplers third law come up in medicine?

Thomas_S_Hunterson

Peleus wrote: »

but im sure if someone gave you a list of biology topics, you could talk for hours abiut how it relates to medicine.

where does Keplers third law come up in medicine?

That's a silly point.

One could just as easily ask where does plant reproduction come up in medicine?

ZorbaTehZ

Peleus wrote: »

but im sure if someone gave you a list of biology topics, you could talk for hours abiut how it relates to medicine.

You're right - but if you had followed the posts, you would see that I was making that point about physics because its relevance to medicine was being disputed.

raver22

hey, well im in 1st yr med now and i'd recommend biology after all it is the basis of alot of the subjects you will be studying....but then again gettin into med is all about the points (unfortunately) so perhaps you would be better off doing physics if you can guarantee yourself getting the a1.:D

Brooke01

Fad wrote: »

well, i have two problems with this post.

first is less of a problem but more of your (or mine) misinformation, wasnt the change to 450 with aptitude etc confirmed for next years CAO applicants?

and two, while it may be advantaeous to have higher maths IT IS NOT essential, im doing it and am doing OL maths

I comprehend that but that subjected to 2009 course, also I still not contemplate it will be so low of points; we will all just have to wait and see. But some why I don’t believe medicine could go so low. And also for Physics you would require a large deal of knowledge and penchant of maths to attempt this course. You will not merely want to trust the newspapers of what they say about the points. After all the newspapers are been know for erroneous information and ambiguous and misleading information

Vorsprung

From a final med student - Physics is the better choice!

Doctor Dee

Do Physics.

biology is easier to pick up in first year in college.

Most of my students who are set on medicine have been advised to do Physics and Chem.

Definitely do physics.

Even if it wasnt your strongest, I'd still say do it.

Doctor Dee

Fad

Brooke01 wrote: »

I comprehend that but that subjected to 2009 course, also I still not contemplate it will be so low of points; we will all just have to wait and see. But some why I don’t believe medicine could go so low. And also for Physics you would require a large deal of knowledge and penchant of maths to attempt this course. You will not merely want to trust the newspapers of what they say about the points. After all the newspapers are been know for erroneous information and ambiguous and misleading information

never read it in a paper

Chunky Monkey

Do whichever one you feel you will get the A1 in and of course whichever one you'll enjoy the most as this will make it easier to study and make the two years more bearable.

Someone said above that if you want to apply through UCAS do physics. I'm not sure why they said this. I don't think any of the med schools in the UK require chemistry and physics and not biology. Cardiff requires all three. The majority require at least chemistry and many require chemistry and biology. UEA requires biology alone.

cuppcakes!

Went with physics in the end.
Sure here goes.

eoinalmighty

Id say pick physics! Physics is definitely harder and this is coming from a straight a physics student! Ul b comfortably force fed n secondary school but itl b harder to try get your head around physics wen your left to fend for yourself at third level! Biology is just learnin stuff off, no understanding, no concepts, except maybe genetics, much easier to pick up quickly

stripypumkin

eoinalmighty wrote: »

Id say pick physics! Physics is definitely harder and this is coming from a straight a physics student!

hmmm...somethings never change!

happy birthday:rolleyes:

Kwekubo

I was given the same choice and opted for Biology. Its more relevant to medicine, and although you will be going over most of the material again in much more detail, it helps to give you the "big picture" to make things easier when you're starting out.

Chunky Monkey

eoinalmighty wrote: »

Biology is just learnin stuff off, no understanding, no concepts, except maybe genetics, much easier to pick up quickly

What a load of nonsense. Biology is not just learning a load of stuff off. Apart from the genetics chapters (which are very bloody hard) you also have photosynthesis, respiration, reproduction in plants and animals etc which are also 'hard concepts to get your head around'.

reganovich

Kwekubo wrote: »

I was given the same choice and opted for Biology. Its more relevant to medicine, and although you will be going over most of the material again in much more detail, it helps to give you the "big picture" to make things easier when you're starting out.

Thats good advice...Biology is a nice subject but it's concepts are the basis of medicine and believe it or not you will have to do plant biology in first med as well.(I was in science with med students(plonkers ))

As for first physics, well i never did physics in school and i found it grand in first science.Its just the theoretical stuff which is quite interesting and not too intensive as they only want to give you a basic grounding in the subject, very little maths involved at all(DEFO NOT Rocket science)...i.e thats what first year of college is all about basic grounding..so pick chemistry(compulsory to get medicine) and or biology.The concepts in them will carry through and serve you better in first year...

Thomas_S_Hunterson

Chunky Monkey wrote: »

What a load of nonsense. Biology is not just learning a load of stuff off. Apart from the genetics chapters (which are very bloody hard) you also have photosynthesis, respiration, reproduction in plants and animals etc which are also 'hard concepts to get your head around'.

I don't think that's true at all.

There's very little, if anything, on the Biology course that's conceptually obtuse. It's all reasonably easy to get your head around. The only difficulty is learning it all.

Chunky Monkey

Well maybe you're just unusually smart but take a moment to empathise with your fellow classmates. Protein synthesis and the transfer of ATP during cyclic photophosphorylation aren't exactly things you can relate to with every day life hence they can in fact be deemed 'conceptually obtuse'.

Fibonacci23

eoinalmighty wrote: »

Id say pick physics! Physics is definitely harder and this is coming from a straight a physics student! Ul b comfortably force fed n secondary school but itl b harder to try get your head around physics wen your left to fend for yourself at third level! Biology is just learnin stuff off, no understanding, no concepts, except maybe genetics, much easier to pick up quickly

This coming from a guy with no experience with biology OR medicine.....




The body came first, (biology) then the remedies (chemistry) theeeen the gadgets..... (physics...)


Did they have MRI scanning back in the 1800's...? No.... Biology is more relevant, and therefore the better option....


I know plenty of people who have done medicine, (friends and family...) and they all said the lecturer's assume that everyone has a biology background, and fly on with out explaining anything.....


And you can't assume biology's easier when you haven't done it...



And in 2007, 12.8% got an A1 in phsyics,

and only 10.7% got an A1 in biology.....


So, harder??

Fringe

That's what I really don't like about Biology. Most of the stuff is learning. I'm doing the 3 sciences and when we did Genetics, I loved it. Now we're just on the boring stuff doing plants. We're doing ecology soon so that's going to be horrible. Physics and Chemistry are much better subjects where you actually need to understand all the topics and use that understanding to answer questions.

eoinalmighty

Fibonacci23 wrote: »

This coming from a guy with no experience with biology OR medicine.....




The body came first, (biology) then the remedies (chemistry) theeeen the gadgets..... (physics...)


Did they have MRI scanning back in the 1800's...? No.... Biology is more relevant, and therefore the better option....


I know plenty of people who have done medicine, (friends and family...) and they all said the lecturer's assume that everyone has a biology background, and fly on with out explaining anything.....


And you can't assume biology's easier when you haven't done it...



And in 2007, 12.8% got an A1 in phsyics,

and only 10.7% got an A1 in biology.....


So, harder??

Firstly I do have experience of biology and if you don't believe me sarah give me a biology exam any day of the week and i guarantee you i would pass! Did it in 4th year!

Secondly the big bang came first (physics) then the exanding numbers of elements (chemistry) and then life forms (biology). Biology can't even exist without physics!

Yes but if you were to compare medicine in the 1800s to medicine nowadays what was more primitive? Which is harder to understand! Biology is more relevant yes but I stand by my statement that biology is easier to pick up at third level and it would be better to be spoonfed physics in 5th and 6th year!

Lets take French for an example! Would it be easier to teach yourself a list of nouns and what they mean, how to use them or do the same with a verb. Biology is a list of facts or nouns! Physics is the verbs that tie the universe together!

And back in 4th year when I wanted to do medicine, remember, I asked around and chose physics!

In 2007 6.1% failed biology
In 2007 8.6% failed physics

Thats a 2.5% difference in fails compared to a 2.1% difference in A1s

Watcha make of that one

eZe^

Debating which science is the most fundamental is a very silly thing to do indeed. Its quite obviously physics .

Thomas_S_Hunterson

eZe^ wrote: »

Its quite obviously physics .

+1

Everything we observe in a chemical or biological context is as a result of, and secondary to, physical happenings. QED

eZe^

Even in the L.C chemistry, the entire section on discovering sub-atomic particles and Heisenbergs Uncertainty Principle and up to the gas laws, thats all actually physics. We derived the shapes of the s,p,d,f orbitals in quantum mechanics the other day, felt like my brain was being pulled out of my ass. Hahahah.

Fibonacci23

eoinalmighty wrote: »

Secondly the big bang came first (physics) then the exanding numbers of elements (chemistry) and then life forms (biology). Biology can't even exist without physics!

That's a completely valid statement, but irrelevant in terms of medicine... read the name of the thread....



And i'm not trying to get into a "which science is better" debate... I'd probably agree that it's physics and i'm not even doing it, but....chemistry kicks its ass..

Fibonacci23

eoinalmighty wrote: »

Firstly I do have experience of biology and if you don't believe me sarah give me a biology exam any day of the week and i guarantee you i would pass! Did it in 4th year!

Righteo, i'll have one in for ya tomorrow....

eoinalmighty

Fibonacci23 wrote: »

chemistry kicks its ass..

Eh not so much! Though it does in school terms. Class is booring for physics with mr d

This is all irrelevant seeing as the girl already picked physics!

Bring it on.