I'm not really sure what I'm going to do after school but I know I like doing science subjects. For the LC, I'm doing English, Irish, Maths, French, Biology, Accounting and Geography. My school doesn't offer chemistry but would I need it for medicine? I've gotten mixed reviews from different universities. Would it be too difficult to study it on my own along with the other 7 subjects?
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AllHonours Q&A » LCers - General Chat
Should I do Chemistry outside school? not available in school
(8 posts)-
Posted 1 year ago #
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I have a friend who didn't do chemistry for the leaving cert, but got 550 and top 15 percentile in HPAT and got into medicine in RCSI. She had to do pre meds though..
8 subjects is more difficult but if you can put in the time and effort it will be rewarding
Posted 1 year ago # -
Hi. First of all im going to say i find that a school not offering chem as a lc subject is absolutley ridiculous in this day and age,, i know it's difficult and not many people opt for it but still no class what so ever?. it's ridiculous
My school is also awful at helping people do subjects for 5th year next year i can't do any of Physics, DCG, Economics, Accounting,Ag-Science, Engineering or Construction..
But anyway more to the point are u going into 5th/6th year?.. Have u done ty?
I've just finished ty and loved chem. nearly everone else found it hard but i didn't, i loved it..
However.. it it s huge course and very difficult..
In our school if you put down your name for chemistry you needed at least a "B" in both Higher Level Maths and Science in your JC, to be considered for a limited number of places.. We were all competing for our place in the class it was ridiculous!!
But because the school is private they only wanted the best grades that's why they only selected 17 people with the best grades..
Thankfully i got accepted.. Basically what im saying is that you would have to be talented at the Sciences and Maths to attempt it..
Best of luck
Posted 1 year ago # -
I done leaving cert chemistry in one year as my eight higher level subject and i think i did well. as well as anyone else in the year. i had to do alot of it my self. if you are good at maths and science you should be able to do it. you don't need it i think for all medicine courses but to get into a five year course you would need it. in ucc you defo need it. also i think it is ment to be very difficult to pick it up in college
Posted 1 year ago # -
In our school if you put down your name for chemistry you needed at least a "B" in both Higher Level Maths and Science in your JC, to be considered for a limited number of places.. We were all competing for our place in the class it was ridiculous!!
that's stupid!! I do chemistry and absolutely love it and I do OL maths and I am terrible at it. Get your parents to "talk" to your principal ... you will be surprised of the outcome..
Posted 1 year ago # -
Nah won't work paulol, it's a system the school has had in place since it opened to do a subject for LC you must achieved at least a "C" in the specific subject in the Junior Cert. exams.
If you wish to do physics or chem or engineering you must have a HL "B" in Science and Maths :/..
I ended up picking Geography Business French Music because i got an A in HL in the 4 of these for JC,
If you get an A in HL Subject in the JC they basically force u into doing it for LC because they want high grades
Posted 1 year ago # -
I am science tutor, I've a BSc (honours) in Chemistry. I teach a lot of leaving cert chem students. I think the chemistry syllabus is quite short in comparison to Biology, however, it is not a subject you can learn off by heart, you must understand what is happening to achieve high grades where as with Biology there is very little understanding. This is why some schools ask for a higher level B at Junior Cert because they want to know you have some level of understanding when it comes to Chemistry. At the same time a good teacher should have no problem making the chemistry curriculum understandable.
As regards taking Chemistry outside school I just want to point out that you have a lot of mandatory lab practicals that you must carry out, this can be quite hard to organise if your school wont let you. If you do decide to take Chemistry outside school I would highly recommend taking weekend classes at the Institute of Education they have an amazing Chemistry teacher.
As regards Uni most courses like Medicine need a higher C3 in Chemistry i think physio and vet med do as well so be sure you check carefully with the colleges. If your looking to do a science degree like I did you need a science subject but not specifically chemistry.
At the end of the day the Chemistry course is shorter but requires understanding, Biology's long but very easy to understand. I don't recommend you take subjects outside school it's a lot of work and it can be very hard to motivate yourself so only do it if you need the subject for college. Whatever subjects you do I can't stress enough : DO THE PAST PAPERS this is the key to good results you can correct them yourselves by downloading the marking schemes on the dept of educations website!
Goodluck!
Posted 1 year ago # -
Woooooow... This sounds scarily like my chem teacher (nit that that's a bad thing - she's amazing!!)
I am science tutor, I've a BSc (honours) in Chemistry. I teach a lot of leaving cert chem students. I think the chemistry syllabus is quite short in comparison to Biology, however, it is not a subject you can learn off by heart, you must understand what is happening to achieve high grades where as with Biology there is very little understanding. This is why some schools ask for a higher level B at Junior Cert because they want to know you have some level of understanding when it comes to Chemistry. At the same time a good teacher should have no problem making the chemistry curriculum understandable.
As regards taking Chemistry outside school I just want to point out that you have a lot of mandatory lab practicals that you must carry out, this can be quite hard to organise if your school wont let you. If you do decide to take Chemistry outside school I would highly recommend taking weekend classes at the Institute of Education they have an amazing Chemistry teacher.
As regards Uni most courses like Medicine need a higher C3 in Chemistry i think physio and vet med do as well so be sure you check carefully with the colleges. If your looking to do a science degree like I did you need a science subject but not specifically chemistry.
At the end of the day the Chemistry course is shorter but requires understanding, Biology's long but very easy to understand. I don't recommend you take subjects outside school it's a lot of work and it can be very hard to motivate yourself so only do it if you need the subject for college. Whatever subjects you do I can't stress enough : DO THE PAST PAPERS this is the key to good results you can correct them yourselves by downloading the marking schemes on the dept of educations website!
Goodluck!
Posted 1 year ago #
