Should I choose Biology or Chemistry?

[turtlesforeveryone]

Hi there!

I'm going into year 11 next year and completed Biology 1/2 last year. Right now I'm having a bit of a crisis as to whether I should take Chemistry 1/2 or Biology 3/4 next year. My other subjects include English 1/2, Methods 3/4, Specialist 1/2, Physics 1/2, and Chinese SL 1/2.

• I'm currently enrolled for chemistry but am wondering if I should change, because I suddenly qualified for the National Biology Summer School and am learning tons of content in preparation for the IBO. That means I probably will do very well in VCE Biology.
• Personally my other subjects are too important to switch out and I initially chose chemistry (even though it's the weakest of my 3 sciences) for the opportunities it presents. I'm not even sure if I'll do well in chemistry (though I probably won't flunk it).
• I have no idea what university course I want to go into, though right now I'm thinking Bachelor of Science. I definitely won't do direct entry Med but there's a possibility I might choose Biomed.

What do you guys think?

[Sine]

I would stick with chemistry. It is much more versatile in terms of usage as a prerequisite. Especially since you are not 100% sure what you want to do after year 12.

E.g. biomed at melbourne/monash both need chemistry but don't need biology.

Whilst biology is a great VCE subject it is rarely a prerequisite - of the "popular" courses it is only a prereq for dent @ latrobe.

[Snow Leopard]

It depends I guess. Do you enjoy Bio and did you do well in 1/2? If so and given that you've qualified for the National Biology Summer School and you reckon you can handle two 3/4 subjects, then I'd go with Bio.

However, I'd consider keeping Chem as you may change your mind in terms of trying out for undergrad med (and if you think you'd enjoy it more than Bio and do better in it in terms of your SS).

[turtlesforeveryone]

It's kind of annoying but that does seem like the best choice right now, especially since I don't have much wriggle room for my other subjects. Although, I'm planning to revisit this subject at the end of this year since hopefully then I'll have a better idea of what I want to pursue. Thanks for the input!

[^^^111^^^]

It's kind of annoying but that does seem like the best choice right now, especially since I don't have much wriggle room for my other subjects. Although, I'm planning to revisit this subject at the end of this year since hopefully then I'll have a better idea of what I want to pursue. Thanks for the input!

Hey turtlesforeveryone, since you are going to go to John Monash, what about trying to do VCE Computational and Mathematical physics? As you may know, it is a mixture of spesh and physics combined and covers almost all of 1/2 for both subjects. This way you may do both biology and chem. But that's really my opinion, if you feel like doing Specialst and Physics seperately, then I'll just echo what the other have mentioned.

[turtlesforeveryone]

Hey turtlesforeveryone, since you are going to go to John Monash, what about trying to do VCE Computational and Mathematical physics? As you may know, it is a mixture of spesh and physics combined and covers almost all of 1/2 for both subjects. This way you may do both biology and chem. But that's really my opinion, if you feel like doing Specialst and Physics seperately, then I'll just echo what the other have mentioned.

I am already doing Computational Mathematics and Physics. It counts as two subjects, therefore, it's the same as if I did Specialist and Physics seperately.

[^^^111^^^]

I am already doing Computational Mathematics and Physics. It counts as two subjects, therefore, it's the same as if I did Specialist and Physics seperately.

I see. There is also the choice of doing your unit 3/4 subjects in year 12.(Like for example continuing Biology in Year 12 or Maths Methods in Year 12.