Discussion: Advice on Between Specialist Maths and Physics

[tong]

thank you very much, running horse and youngyew

[evening_go_jogging]

Hi, runninghorse!
I just finished my SSABSA exam two weeks ago in INTEC.

For someone who is going to pursue medicine in Australia, it would be advised for him or her to take up physics. But since you are going to study pharmacy, it doesn't really matter if you choose physics or specialist maths. For my friends who are going to study pharmacy, some of them chose physics and some chose specialist maths.

As mentioned by the others above, instead of torn between those two subjects due to various reasons, I would advise you to go for the subject that you think you can handle and do best.

All the best for your studies in INTEC and may you be blessed...

[runninghorse]

Originally Posted by evening_go_jogging

Hi, runninghorse!
I just finished my SSABSA exam two weeks ago in INTEC.

For someone who is going to pursue medicine in Australia, it would be advised for him or her to take up physics. But since you are going to study pharmacy, it doesn't really matter if you choose physics or specialist maths. For my friends who are going to study pharmacy, some of them chose physics and some chose specialist maths.

As mentioned by the others above, instead of torn between those two subjects due to various reasons, I would advise you to go for the subject that you think you can handle and do best.

All the best for your studies in INTEC and may you be blessed...

Thanks

If you dont mind, can you please share some experiences on your friends who take physics and specialist maths like have they ever complaint to you that the subject is hard and they regret taking that or the lecturer is boring etc. ?

So far i dont know anyone who will be majoring in pharmacy taking specialist maths at INTEC. All that i know opt for physics instead.

And is it true that all those who takes specialist maths will be streamed into a class or are we streamed according to our major or final exam result?

[evening_go_jogging]

Ah, for those of my friends who take specialist maths, it seemed like it is very easy for them. One of the main reason is that they have a good foundation of maths and that's why they have the confidence to opt for specialist maths. And yes they did quite well. In comparison, there are more people who get better results for specialist maths compared to physics. Not much people managed to get A for physics. No, they never regret about it.

About boring lectures, haha... This is difficult. I'll say that it depends on the lecturers. But that's not the most important thing. The more important thing is how you look at the subject and how is your attitude during the class.

About streaming... At the beginning of your second semester, you will be put into a new class, different from the one in first semester. Basically it can be divided into four types - physics, specialist maths, malay literature and business/accountancy/actuarial science. so yes all the specialist maths students will be in one class.

It is not according to the results of the first semester. It is said to be so. It is said to be random. But for my batch, all the brilliant students seemed to gather in one class. anyway don't worry about that. the purpose of putting you all in classes if that towards the end of the year, your results will be moderated according to your class (most of the time it is known as group).

Hope that I have helped you much.

[tong]

Any seniors from Intec that can give their experience on specialist math especially in terms of the exam questions. Is it the queations mostly based on the types of the questions as being shown in the text book? Or the other way?

[weiz]

Originally Posted by evening_go_jogging

Hi, runninghorse!
I just finished my SSABSA exam two weeks ago in INTEC.

For someone who is going to pursue medicine in Australia, it would be advised for him or her to take up physics. But since you are going to study pharmacy, it doesn't really matter if you choose physics or specialist maths. For my friends who are going to study pharmacy, some of them chose physics and some chose specialist maths.

As mentioned by the others above, instead of torn between those two subjects due to various reasons, I would advise you to go for the subject that you think you can handle and do best.

All the best for your studies in INTEC and may you be blessed...

Hi.You mentioned that for someone who is going to pursue medicine in Australia, it would be advised for him or her to take up physics.Why?
BTW,I'm going to pursue dentistry in Aus.Is it more advisable for me to choose physics over spec maths for year 12?
thx.

[evening_go_jogging]

Originally Posted by weiz

Hi.You mentioned that for someone who is going to pursue medicine in Australia, it would be advised for him or her to take up physics.Why?
BTW,I'm going to pursue dentistry in Aus.Is it more advisable for me to choose physics over spec maths for year 12?
thx.

It is mentioned in the university admission that the universities prefer physics for their medicine course. I would advise you to choose physics. Where are you taking SAM or AUSMAT now? Nice to meet you!

[henry_yew]

Strange as it may seem, but universities that accept students specialising in physics for medical courses are not an out-of-earth phenomenon. Even our local universities accept students studying physics to take up medical courses and become medical doctors.

Some universities do not specify Physics as one of the prerequisites to do a medical course, some do. Some universities accept students who did Physics but not Biology to do a medical course, some want only purely Biology students for medical courses.

In the end, there is a possibility that, no matter how much you hate Physics, you might need to live with it for another year or so!