Biology vs Psychology :ooo

[Hutchoo]

Sup VCE notes  

This week at school we had a thing called 'course councilling'.. Pretty much 1 hour and a bit getting informed about next years subject choices [Year 11]

I've definetly got these subjects in mind:
Mathematical Methods CAS
Advanced General mathematics (has a topics that will strongly help with specialist mathematics)
Physics
Chemistry
English Language.

Theres one problem though :F
I can either drop 3/4 Psych [Note: I will have completed 1/2 this year] and pick up 1/2 or 3/4 Biology.
I don't know if its the same at every school but you can skip straight ahead to 3/4 Biology. [I have the choice of doing 3/4 Bio in year 11]

I was just wondering, if I do choose 3/4 Biology, will I be in a major disadvantage and do poorly in the 3/4 unit? My teacher said if i did choose 3/4 Biology i'd have to do a lot of reading over the Christmas break [Thats fine with me ]

I don't want to choose 1/2 Bio ( in year 11) because I'll have the biggest work load in year 12... Physics, Chem, Eng, Methods, Spec +Bio if i choose it.. Where as with Psychology I'd have a little more experience which might help with the 3/4 unit.

Ultimately, I can choose 1/2 Bio and ditch 3/4 psychology, or pick up 3/4 bio, without doing units 1/2 and ditch psychology, OR JUST KEEP PSYCHOLOGY.
Math methods, Advanced general, biology [3/4 or 1/2], chemistry, physics, English. [Spec in year 12]
OR
Math methods, Advanced general, Psychology 3/4, Chemistry physics, English. [Spec in year 12]
P.S I find that Biology is more interesting.

[Slumdawg]

Well 1/2 for Bio and Psychology aren't really crucial. So don't worry about not doing 1/2 for bio before 3/4.

I was in a similar situation last year choosing between Psych and Bio this year and I definitely made the right choice for me. I enjoy psychology so much more, btw bio in year 11 is sooooo crap. Just know that Bio will be harder to grasp whereas Psych will be easier to grasp however can be just as hard to get a great score in because its so competitive.

Can you do two 3/4s at your school? If you can you should do 3/4 psych and 3/4 bio.

I'd say go through some vcaa exams and look at the stuff you will be looking at so you can get a rough idea. I've heard year 12 bio is interesting.

[Hutchoo]

Units 3/4 bio is very interesting, i like psychology... but i'd much prefer Biology
If i did two 3/4's in year 11 I'd be screwed... Not only that but 7 subjects? I'd much prefer the 6 ~.~ Plus it will make me do a whole extra load of work for something that won't increase my enter by a lot.

[Russ]

I would say do 3/4 psych in year 11 (I did this) and 3/4 Bio in year 12.

3/4 psych isn't related to the previous year's content, it's a more medical/biological approach with the different lobes of the brain, visual perception, memory etc.

If you enjoy psychology, think about doing bio the next year since it'll be similar but a step up (people call psych a "soft science" for this reason)

[Hutchoo]

If i could have done biology in year 10.. Id be so much happier >.> Shame my school doesn't offer it.

If i do 3/4 Bio in year 12... I'd have the biggest work load, I wouldn't be able to study properly.. Mass amounts of homework + Stress = Good game

[Slumdawg]

maybe cut out physics or another subject you were originally planning on having in year 12. Otherwise just go with Bio, it will be tough though.

[Hutchoo]

I could do that .. I want to get into medicine or engineering... To get into engineering don't you need to have completed Physics?

[Russ]

If i do 3/4 Bio in year 12... I'd have the biggest work load, I wouldn't be able to study properly.. Mass amounts of homework + Stress = Good game

Oh right, sorry, i misinterpreted your post. Thought you were asking about which order to do them in.

If you could only do one, I would recommend biology, i love it a lot more than I do psych. Units 3/4 for biology are pretty interesting, especially unit 4 and it's a pretty good springboard into general science (you said you wanted to get into med). I prefer biology, but pick the one you best enjoy. They do have a bit of overlap, so you'll get a taste of them in each.

e, i think engineering is just maths, not physics as well, but don't quote me on that

[Hutchoo]

Hehe, I might actually be able to ditch Psychology unit 2 and jump into unit 2 bio >.> If its possible.
Im going to ask the teachers tomorrow.

WISH ME LUCK
I do prefer biology also >.>

[Russ]

Unit 2 biology is ecosystems and environments...interesting if that's your thing, but it's nothing like 3/4. Talk to your teacher though, good luck!

[vexx]

Hehe, I might actually be able to ditch Psychology unit 2 and jump into unit 2 bio >.> If its possible.
Im going to ask the teachers tomorrow.

WISH ME LUCK
I do prefer biology also >.>

yeah try out unit 2 biology and see which subject you like more, as 3/4 is not required for bio/psych as said. even if unit 2 biology is different, you can always read a bit of unit 1 bio during your unit 2 classes^^
i've heard they share equal amounts of work if not bio more.. but i personally would have loved bio more and probably done more work for it; so i think higher work load too. my friend thinks they are quite similar- everyone is different.
 psych is very interesting but extreme perfect rote learning required! biology is more concept based, and has more room for mistakes. psych is not as lenient as it is more competitive in terms of marks needed.

fine which you prefer more and choose it for that, you can do well in either!

[Hutchoo]

Sweet, I would really like that I will talk to my teachers very soon [probably tomorrow] about it.

Thanks for your help everyone ~

I will be posting back on what happened

[AzureBlue]

Oh right, sorry, i misinterpreted your post. Thought you were asking about which order to do them in.

If you could only do one, I would recommend biology, i love it a lot more than I do psych. Units 3/4 for biology are pretty interesting, especially unit 4 and it's a pretty good springboard into general science (you said you wanted to get into med). I prefer biology, but pick the one you best enjoy. They do have a bit of overlap, so you'll get a taste of them in each.

e, i think engineering is just maths, not physics as well, but don't quote me on that

Engineering is maths AND definitely physics (I'm doing it for work experience this week lol). If you want to do engineering, I'd recommend doing maths and physics subjects for VCE (not sure if it's compulsory).

Yeah, I'd recommend biology too, the school will cover all the 1/2 material you need again in 3/4 to allow those who haven't done 1/2 to catch up. However, unit 1 AOS 1 and unit 2 AOS 1 are very relevant to yr 12 biology and they build your basic foundations - I'd suggest reading through a 1/2 textbook if you can gain access to one, to facilitate straight transition into 3/4. Good luck!

[AzureBlue]

Unit 2 biology is ecosystems and environments...interesting if that's your thing, but it's nothing like 3/4. Talk to your teacher though, good luck!

I think the start of unit 2 is like homeostasis and adaptations then in AOS2 it goes into environments which isn't really relevant. However, unit 1 AOS 1 is almost replicated in some part of unit 3 (cell structure, function, transport, enzymes, that kind of stuff). Unit 2 AOS1 is also relevant apparently. However, you don't need units 1/2 to do decently in biology, as they will most definitely cover it again.

[Russ]

Engineering is maths AND definitely physics (I'm doing it for work experience this week lol). If you want to do engineering, I'd recommend doing maths and physics subjects for VCE (not sure if it's compulsory).

Meant in terms of prereqs, the course is obviously physics as well.