help

[talithachasya]

Hey! so I've just started year 12 and I really want to do medicine after school BUTTT I got like 18% for prelim chemistry and 13% for 2U prelim maths. should I drop subjects and choose a new career path or is it actually possible to fix all this before trials next year. I've had the 'dream' of becoming a doctor (pediatrician in particular) since I was like 3. replies are much appreciated. Thanks in advance!   

[jamonwindeyer]

Welcome to the forums Talitha!

So there's a few things here.

- First, you don't need to study Chemistry or Maths to do Medicine. So if you aren't enjoying them you should drop, and dropping doesn't mean changing careers!
- Any score can be improved, but you are going to have to work really to turn those sort of results into something that would make you competitive for Medicine, all while studying for UMAT and Interviews and such. A huge feat, so you want to make sure you've got subjects you can handle and that you enjoy. Don't make your life harder doing a course you don't enjoy with the aim of getting into X course or getting Y ATAR.
- There are always pathways to get where you need to go - If you don't get into Medicine straight away you can try again, or go the graduate entry route. The door never closes, you might just not go in the way you had envisaged. So, don't let anything that happens now stress you out too much, because nothing will ever disqualify you from getting where you want to go!

I can't say if you should drop or not, this could be good reading, but you should definitely not give up your career goals. Keep working and pushing hard, and if you work hard enough you will get where you need to be

[Lumenoria]

Jamon's response is exceptional, I agree. But I came here to say that I have been in almost the exact position as where you are now (I'm going into year 12 too haha), in terms of wanting to be a doctor—and surprisingly also a specialist in pediatrics aswell! I literally took biology for this, but I ended up realising I hated science as a whole (got 21% in this with 90% average in everything else) and so I dropped it today. There is no point taking a subject you hate for the sake of it being a science because it's probably not going to be relevant knowledge if you undertake medicine anyway! You may as well do subjects you love and give it your all. I ended up coming to terms with the fact that I, personally, am not suited to the medical profession due to my complete lack of interest in sciences—and medicine seems to be all about it! I think I was swept into the idea of being a doctor through my addiction of Grey's Anatomy and Chicago Med lol, but realistically I wouldn't be able to live through a life of science tbh. Not saying it's the same for you at all, go for it if you will—but just some insight hahaha. Good luck in your decision!