A2 Subject Choice Dilemma

[Lottielo]

DD is in Year 12 and has just finished her AS exams. She's taking Maths, Chemistry, Biology and Psychology and feels that she's doing equally well in all of them. However, the subject that she is excelling in and enjoys the most is Psychology. Her school says that she should drop one subject for A2 but the problem for her is choosing which one should go, especially as she does not know what she wants to study at Uni (although considering Law at the moment). DD believes that Psychology is not a respected A level and that it will limit her options as the other subjects fit better together.

My advice to her has been to take the subjects she enjoys the most and finds she copes with the best. I also said that the AS results may focus her mind. But she feels that results wise they will all be pretty similar and says she enjoys all of them.

Just wondered whether anyone has any advice that could help her decide whether to drop one subject in favour of Psychology. TIA.

[MummaGiles]

Does she HAVE to drop one? If she could cope with the workload, then would she consider carrying on with all 4? She probably needs an 'essay' subject if she is applying for law, so psychology would be useful in that respect. It is a respected a level, just not as traditional as the maths/science subjects she is also doing.

[Lottielo]

She is supposed to be doing an EPQ this summer, so would that help in terms of an essay based subject if she does decide to study law?

I think we are both worried about the workload being too much for her if she does keep all four subjects and that perhaps her grades could be diluted.

If she carries on with 2 plus Psychology, would that limit her choice of uni if Psychology isn't regarded as a facilitating subject?

[MummaGiles]

If she is interested in law as a career she doesn't need to do a law degree. She can do a one year course called the graduate diploma in law after doing ANY degree beforehand (including sciences). I did that, and am very pleased I didn't do a law degree as it isn't particularly practical in its application. Law firms see a law degree and GDL equally, it would have no detriment in her looking for a job afterwards. I can't speak for barristers chambers, but there are plenty of excellent and well respected barristers who did the GDL rather than a law degree.

[bojorojo]

As a very quick snapshot, Law at the a University of Bristol does not specify any particular A levels. However it wants 3 A levels and not 4. There is no need to do 4. Law is an essay subject so if other well respected courses have a similar opinion of A levels, then Psychology is just fine with Chemistry and Maths. Psychology would give better preparation for Law than Biology in my view. There is also LNAT to consider as well.

Also, although the GDL is an alternative, it is expensive if you do not get a scholarship or training contract that covers the fees and may be after a four year undergrad course - as in the case of my DD. So 5 years to get the Law degree equivalent. It is very difficult to get the year funded if you are intending to be a barrister as the scholarship funds are relatively small for this course. After a 3 year law degree, lots of students do a year of internship or further study to enhance employment prospects so this is also a consideration.

[catslife]

You don't need to have all 3 subjects as facilitating for the top unis 2 our of 3 will be fine. Your dd can confirm this by looking at entry requirements for different degree courses across a range of unis.
Giving up the subject you enjoy the most and that you excel in, isn't the best way to go.

[PurpleDaisies]

She should definitely carry on with psychology of she's really enjoying it and doing well in. Her other three subjects are all great a levels to have so she's best just picking the two she likes the best. I'm not sure there's a particular advantage or disadvantage to any of them if she's going to do law at uni.

I would warn as a science tutor (I do all three sciences and maths at a level) that there's a big jump in difficulty between AS and A2 so doing three rather than four is a very good idea.

[boocha]

I could have written the exact same post as your original one, my daughter is doing the exact same subjects at AS and has decided she wants to do a law degree.
She is doing equally well in all of them and has decided she is dropping chemistry at A2 as she thinks psychology being an essay subject would be better to keep to A2.
She is also doing an EPQ which will be law related.

[titchy]

Agree with others - keeping Psychology is absolutely fine, even recommended as it'll be her only essay subject, and will not rule out high ranking RG given that her other two subjects are good solid academic ones.

I'd recommend Maths, Psychology and whichever of Bio or Chem she prefers, or does better in once she has her results.