Subject Combination in JC

[sunshineee]

Hello everybody!

I just got admitted into arts stream in a jc and i opted for the following subjects: h2 econs, h2 elit, h2 geog and h1 math. Actually, i have always wanted to get into sci stream and pursue medicine/biosciences in uni. However, the funny thing is that i am rather weak at science and math and i do not score well in them! I do much better in humanities and language subjects instead.. As seen from my o lvl results:
Eng- b3
Chi- a1
Hchi- a2
Emath- a2
Amath- b3
Bio- b3
Phy- b3
Chem- b3
geog + ss- a1

My worries about my chosen jc subject combi are that 1) my choices in uni is very limited and no matter what i have to get straight As to pursue Law or Business(which i am unconfident of) 2) i have no elit background 3) i am giving up my dream of studying medicine.
If i really want to go to sci course, i have to appeal from arts to sci course.. Is it worth it? At the same time i am also apprehensive that i would not score well in sci stream and regret my choice..
Really in a dilemma and time is running out!!
Seriously do appreciate your views and sorry for the long post

[Tigerbear]

Thanks for the advice guys really appreciate it. The lesson i learnt from O levels was that i should take the subjects im more interested in and do better in, wanted to do trip humans but everyone told me trip sci was better so i followed them, regret it now. However, i really want to do buisness,econs or law at uni. For that im willing to take up H2 math if it is required for top overseas unis(business/econs), as i do not like to be in a position where an option is totally ruled out based on my subject combination, although sg unis for econs and buis i believe only require h1 math(correct me if im wrong but im quite sure on this). Can anyone who knows info about the above please give me some insight thanks If i wanna change to h2 math gotta do it before form classes are formed.

[Mdm Koh]

Have you seen this thread?


http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=30879

A university degree is only a means to an end, so you should choose the subjects that will help you get the careers you want.

[Mdm Koh]

If you’re really more interested in Science, you should go for it. Although you say that you’re weak at Science, I think B3 for a pure science subject is an average grade and not really "weak". You can probably improve if you work hard.


However, I don’t suggest you appeal if you’re only thinking about it to increase your options and are not really interested in the Science subjects.

[mensch]

This link might be of some help for NUS biz and econs requirements. It appears that H1 Math should be ok.


http://bba.nus.edu/dualdegree_economics.html

That said, agree with quintessential mum about the importance of H2 Math. You have also seen this yourself in your research. For better or worse, social sciences are very into the quantitative approach nowadays, so even if H2 Math is not absolutely required, maintaining that level of engagement can help you in future work.

Business courses can involve a fair bit of math too, so again the H2 Math would be useful. If you managed to work hard and get the A2 for O level A Maths, you definitely have the potential to do fine for A level H2 Math too. Might just be a sacrifice you need to make for the sake of your intellectual and career interest.

Good luck!

[micko07]

mensch:

This link might be of some help for NUS biz and econs requirements. It appears that H1 Math should be ok.


http://bba.nus.edu/dualdegree_economics.html

That said, agree with quintessential mum about the importance of H2 Math. You have also seen this yourself in your research. For better or worse, social sciences are very into the quantitative approach nowadays, so even if H2 Math is not absolutely required, maintaining that level of engagement can help you in future work.

Business courses can involve a fair bit of math too, so again the H2 Math would be useful. If you managed to work hard and get the A2 for O level A Maths, you definitely have the potential to do fine for A level H2 Math too. Might just be a sacrifice you need to make for the sake of your intellectual and career interest.

Good luck!

This.

If you can, I would really recommend taking H2 math though. If you look at Cambridge's entry requirement for reference: http://www.study.cam.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/economics/ A level Maths is listed as essential/ highly desirable. Similarly, LSE asks for an A in Maths (since we don't do A* here): http://www2.lse.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/degreeProgrammes2013/economics/L101_BSc_Econ.aspx

I don't mean to put you off, but really think carefully about whether you want to do a pure Econs degree which will involve at least a fair bit of Maths (I did H3 Game Theory - I remember coming out of the final exam and telling my dad I never want to do Econs at Uni!) If you decide you're not that into Maths, you can always look at other social science subjects (eg Psychology, Law, Business) or pure Arts (eg History, Geography). That said, if you can, take H2 Maths and see how it goes, because that allows you to keep your options open.

If you genuinely prefer Humanities, do a triple Arts combi + maths. That's what I did - went from triple Science to triple Arts (+ H2 maths). Worked out fine in the end, although I must say my Literature grades were very dodgy at times.

[micko07]

sunshineee:

Hello everybody!

I just got admitted into arts stream in a jc and i opted for the following subjects: h2 econs, h2 elit, h2 geog and h1 math. Actually, i have always wanted to get into sci stream and pursue medicine/biosciences in uni. However, the funny thing is that i am rather weak at science and math and i do not score well in them! I do much better in humanities and language subjects instead.. As seen from my o lvl results:
Eng- b3
Chi- a1
Hchi- a2
Emath- a2
Amath- b3
Bio- b3
Phy- b3
Chem- b3
geog + ss- a1

My worries about my chosen jc subject combi are that 1) my choices in uni is very limited and no matter what i have to get straight As to pursue Law or Business(which i am unconfident of) 2) i have no elit background 3) i am giving up my dream of studying medicine.
If i really want to go to sci course, i have to appeal from arts to sci course.. Is it worth it? At the same time i am also apprehensive that i would not score well in sci stream and regret my choice..
Really in a dilemma and time is running out!!
Seriously do appreciate your views and sorry for the long post

Have a look at the degree requirements of the local unis (or whichever overseas unis you have your eye on) - do you feel like you'd be interested in taking a course that requires Science subjects? (I imagine yes since you said you're interested in Med). In that case, I would consider appealing if that's what you really want.

I don't think you'd need straight As to get into FASS, and last I checked I think someone managed to get into Law with AAB/B this year for both SMU and NUS? Definitely possible, although not easy! At any rate, if you mind doing a lot of readings, I wouldn't recommend doing an Arts or Social Science subject because you'd end up dreading your degree. You don't have to like it, but you must at least not mind it.

At the end of the day, you need to decide whether your desire to pursue Medicine/ Biomed in Uni outweighs your concern that you won't score well. I generally find that I do better at things I'm actually interested in, so if you think you're willing to put in the extra effort to achieve the grades, then go for it.

[headquantum]

Hi all,


Thanks in advance for the replies. Okay, so I'm asking a very general question here: is it possible to change your subject combination after term 1 or term 2?

Have you heard of anyone doing so? Or is it even allowed and logical to do so?

Thanks!

[TheAnswer]

What subject combination are you talking about? Which level?

[headquantum]

Oh crap! Sorry missed out that part!


I’m in J1 doing PCME. Does subject combi affect the change?