Over Ambitious?

[Exeson]

Well, I have been discussing my future with my mother and sister recently and I have been left wondering... Am I being over ambitious?

My basic plan at the moment is to take chemistry, Biology, Maths and Classical Civilization for AS and then drop CC and do Maths, Chem and Bio A levels. After that I am planning to do biochemistry moving towards toxicology.

The basic doubt is have I over-planned? Have I decided on things to early? (It is worth mentioning that being a teacher is my back-up plan.) I have heard that biochemistry is very difficult, and I know from my sister that the Chemistry AS level is a bitch.

Bottom Line: Have I over planned my future? am I being over ambitious or just playing safe? This is the first time I have ever had doubts about my future and it is a very strange feeling, a very vulnerable feeling.

[Hoggy]

Um, how old are you again? Chances are you've not, but coming from me that may not be right. I seriously underplanned.

[Exeson]

Um, how old are you again? Chances are you've not, but coming from me that may not be right. I seriously underplanned.

Whoops, I should have mentioned that, I am turning 16 in June, so I am doing my last year of GCSE's at the moment

[Timberwolf]

As I see it, you have a whole load of science A levels with Classical Civilisation sticking out like a sore thumb. I would trade that out for physics which will be, while undoubtedly less interesting, considerably more useful. Then, should toxicology not work out you have the basic qualifications to take any engineering / medical course ( dependent on grade naturally). The Classical Civilisation will not help you. Take it from an out and out humanities person.

[Eldred]

As you're planning to take AS Levels, I'm guessing you're 16, right? In that case, be glad you have a plan! I know plenty of my friends are at the same age and haven't got much of an idea of what they want to do.

As for over-planning... I wouldn't have said so. I'm 16, and already have plans for my future. If you're ambitious to be a biochemist, then keep that ambition and work hard (especially with AS Chemistry :smalleek: ).

However, bear in my mind that a lot can change at this age. You may find that you want to do something else by the time you've finished your first year in college.

[Vuzzmop]

Yes, AS Chem is a bitch, but don't let that stop you. Your plan sounds so much like my own it's frightening, but I've decided against Biochemistry to go into drama. To each their on, but don't drop cc, your 16, so you're going to change your mind at some point. Mak yourself a little more well rounded, and you should be fine.

[Exeson]

As I see it, you have a whole load of science A levels with Classical Civilisation sticking out like a sore thumb. I would trade that out for physics which will be, while undoubtedly less interesting, considerably more useful. Then, should toxicology not work out you have the basic qualifications to take any engineering / medical course ( dependent on grade naturally). The Classical Civilisation will not help you. Take it from an out and out humanities person.

The reason why I have CC there is because it DOES stick out like a sore thumb, I love Ancient Greek and Latin (well the culture part of it, not the language) because it gives me a break from all the sciences. I fear that if I went with physics, which I am not very fond of, I would get sick of sciences. But thanks anyway :smallsmile:

[Bor the Barbarian Monk]

I have a buddy who was telling me of his plans to be a doctor since he was 14. His life could well be diagrammed at that age. The only diversion along the way was when there was a debate to gain a PhD as well as an MD. He is now an MD, PhD radiology oncologist, married, two kids...all right on schedule. Nothing wrong with making the plan if that's your style. :smallsmile:

[potatocubed]

Looks like a good plan to me. The only thing I wonder about is when I was planning A-levels (over ten years ago *sob sob*) we were told that if you wanted to take bio you should take chemistry, and if you wanted to take chemistry you should take physics.

I took none of the above, though, so while there is a ring of truth to it I can't personally vouch for or against. It might be worthwhile asking your teachers - science teachers specifically - what they would recommend. If anything, I'd drop maths in favour of physics since, depending on concentration, they're more or less the same thing at A-level, and keep CC as a handy non-sciencey subject.

On the subject of planning, it's certainly beneficial if you're looking towards a sciencey future and/or you know what you want to be. (Both things you seem to have nailed.) If you're angling for a less useful degree (like mine: philosophy and politics) you can get away with doing 'whatever' at A-level. Of course, then you end up paying for it when you start trying to get jobs. :smalltongue:

[Tom_Violence]

I'd really be careful about that Classic Civilisation. That game nearly ruined me.

[PlatinumJester]

Maybe you should have a back up career in mind. I want to be a film director but since that's unlikely, I will also try and become and Archeologist.

Still, no one knows what the future holds. You could be hit by a bus tomorrow (not trying to get you down on anything) or we will all be killed within the next 10 years by global warming/terrorism/AIDs/drugs or whatever the media decides is gonna be the next World Threat that will cause our absolute and complete destruction.

[purple gelatinous cube o' Doom]

I don't think having a plan is a bad thing, but I think a good thing to keep in mind is that what you want to be now, may not be what you end up doing. In high school, I worked maintenance at a county park one summer, and was all for working for the DNR in fisheries and wildlife, or parks and rec. management. But, when I got to college, and started taking said classes, I found out that it was in no way, shape or form for me. I then majored in turfgrass management, and have found out that it was the best decision I've ever made. Did I ever think this is what I'd be doing, or want to do, no, but now that I"m doing it, I love it. I guess my advice to you is that, if what you think you want to do, turns out not to be for you, don't think you have to go through with it anyway, and find something you want to be doing, otherwise you will be miserable.

[Monney Dhoo]

One peice of advice I would give is to have a quick look at Biochemistry degrees and see what they actually require in terms of A-Levels. I know it is early to be thinking of uni, but you don't want to close off your chosen degree because you didn't think things through. Though for now I would just concentrate on doing well in your GCSEs and think about this more fully once the exams are over. Though one thing to consider would be to try and find work experience for next summer in the sort of place you would like to work later.

[Last_resort_33]

Have a plan... it's a LOT better to have some sort of direction than it is to flounder with no idea of what to do. My plan from your age, was to do A level Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Computing and then do a degree in computer science and then get a job as a high class Network Admin/Network Designer.
I did my A levels.... poorly.
Then I did my degree.... and failed it.
Then I got a job in tech support and am working my way up so that I can become network admin.

Having a plan is good, even if you have to deviate slightly. BUT if you change your mind in the future, don't let your plan hold you back.

[Exeson]

I'd really be careful about that Classic Civilisation. That game nearly ruined me.

How? damn 10 charecters...

[Cyrano]

Over ambitious? OVER ambitious? Where's your triple PhD and MD specialisation in neurosurgery?

[sktarq]

Overplanned? Not really. Biggest thing is to remember that while you have a plan you don't want to put that plan in stone or tie yourself too it mentally if things come up that would recomend changing your plan. Not to say you should drop the plan when it gets tough (which it looks like it may) but that if you really are not enjoying yourself the material and are thinking that the whole sciences field should take a long walk off a very short pier then you should do so. Plans are fine-inflexible plans are not so great. IMHO

[Ishmael]

Overplanning is a good thing. It helps give direction. Well, maybe I'm biased. I've had an ambition to be a Professor for years, now. That means I am planning to get a B.A. in History, with a minor in either Economics or Literature, and a area of concentration in Early Modern Europe. Then, I want to get a PhD in Early Modern European History, and have a slight desire to write a dissertation on something involving social or intellectual history. Then, for me, it's life as a postgraduate fellow, for the next five to ten years. At the age of thirty or so, I might finally start getting a salary! And begin getting a tenure-track position! Then, maybe by the time I'm fifty, I'll become a full professor. Hoo-ray!

So no, planning isn't necessarily bad. It's a better option then going to college and realizing you really don't have any interests or academic passions.

[unstattedCommoner]

Well, I have been discussing my future with my mother and sister recently and I have been left wondering... Am I being over ambitious?

My basic plan at the moment is to take chemistry, Biology, Maths and Classical Civilization for AS and then drop CC and do Maths, Chem and Bio A levels. After that I am planning to do biochemistry moving towards toxicology.

The basic doubt is have I over-planned? Have I decided on things to early? (It is worth mentioning that being a teacher is my back-up plan.) I have heard that biochemistry is very difficult, and I know from my sister that the Chemistry AS level is a bitch.

Bottom Line: Have I over planned my future? am I being over ambitious or just playing safe? This is the first time I have ever had doubts about my future and it is a very strange feeling, a very vulnerable feeling.

To be honest, I don't think it's reasonable to do any less planning than to ensure that your A-levels are relevant to your intended degree. Unless you aren't on course to get A*-C in your GCSEs, four A-levels and university is arguably what you should be doing. Your choice of university will be important but it's too early to make that decision at this stage.

I would consider taking either Further Maths or Physics in addition to Biology and Chemistry.

[Ashtar]

Having a plan is always good.

I'd say aim for the moon, that way if you fail you will still hit the sky!

At around 12-13, I decided I would study some kind of engineering.
At 14, I knew I was going to study computer science at one of the premium polytechnic universities in switzerland (EPFL). I toured the campus and loved the place, even the air on the campus felt like it was screaming "Brains....".
At 15, leaving compulsory school, I enrolled in a technical college, had fun for three years knowing I was aiming for EPFL.
At 18, after the army, I enrolled in the special maths course to enter. It's one year, 50+ hours of maths, physics, chemistry per week prep course.
At 24, got my Bachelor's in Computer science.
At 25, got my Masters in CS.

[tannish2]

i already have a plan for how im going to conquer earth. but long term specific plans dont work terribly well, things change, you want to make them more vauge and work out the specifics when you get closer

[Flying Elephant]

How?

Man, I spent way too much time on that, too. And all the new expansions... And the mods...