Am absolutely livid.......subject choice denied

[HopeNotFear]

DD going into 3rd year, thinking about a career in architecture so one of her choices for starting 3rd year was Graphics. She’s just been told this morning by her year head that the class is over subscribed and as she has also chosen Art, and they are similar she cannot do Graphics, she needs to choose History or Business Studies.

I am livid, DP is waiting for a call back from the year head to discuss but no way are we accepting this.

Bit of background, she works hard & is doing really well in all subjects, she received awards last year in Design Engineering Technology & represented school in a DET competition. She has spoken to her DET teacher and he had no idea she didn’t make the cut.

I realise if the school don’t have the places for all, some students will miss out but surely it should be based on effort / performance and not what other subject choices they have made. Had we known this, she would have picked something else other than art.

Anyone had experience of similar and how did you deal with it, what was the outcome?

Thanks.

[Snowysky20009]

Do the timing of any of the classes clash? (I'm assuming she's year 9?)

[hellsbells99]

I would have thought art was more important for architecture?

[HopeNotFear]

Timings don’t clash as the subjects are in different columns, she’s in 2nd year going into 3rd year in Scotland.

Sorry, didn’t make myself clear re career, she wants to be an architect so graphics is a must. Art is simply a subject she’s good at and enjoys, but doesn’t want a career in it, had she known it would affect her graphics choice, she would have chosen different subject in that column, ie, drama.

[ZandathePanda]

My DDs friend is doing graphics at A level and says she wishes she'd done art as she wants to study architecture and they prefer art?! This surprised me and you'll have to check that but it may reassure you?

[TeenTimesTwo]

I too would think Art is more important than Graphics for Architecture.
(Maths, Physics & Art are the key subjects I thought?).

Steps you could take:

• take advice on subjects needed for Architecture
• ask school how many denied a Graphics place (1 or 2, could they squeeze them in, more than that, can they split the class in 2?)

Were the subjects blocked into columns before you picked? I'm slightly surprised they weren't in the same column anyway.

3 outcomes

• persuade them to change their mind
• put up with it
• move schools to somewhere that will allow both

[bruffin]

Graphics is not a must for architecture, where do you get that from.

[weebarra]

Graphics really isn't a must: www.ed.ac.uk/studying/undergraduate/degrees/index.php?action=view&code=K100

[ZandathePanda]

www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2022808

This link may help?

[zgaze]

Graphics isn’t essential to study architecture, for one thing it’s not that widely available is it? Art though - you still need to be able to sketch freehand as an architect, it’s not all CAD by a king chalk.

[TwitterQueen1]

Calm down! No need to be livid at all. Doing both art and graphics at this age is restricting in terms of career choices. She may change her mind later. And as other posters have said, art is surely the most appropriate choice? You really need art and history of art to study architecture.

[DrEustaciaBenson]

she wants to be an architect so graphics is a must.

Do all schools offer graphics as a subject option? How do people become architects if they went to a school where it wasn't offered, or if they didn't know at 13/14 that that was what they wanted to do?

[squeaver]

Could she do Graphics in a year when she's in 5th or 6th year?

Also agree re architecture and art. I can't imagine anyone getting a place on an architecture course without art.

[MyKingdomForBrie]

Agree with PP, check your research on key subjects for her chosen career path.

[nellly]

My brother is an architect and didn't do graphics, he did art maths and history!
And yabu to be livid. Subject choices are surely within what can be accommodated? Not everyone will get their first choice and not all schools offer the same

[Keel]

History together with art are better subjects for studying architecture than graphics. As pps said not all school cover graphics.

[xyzandabc]

Sorry, graphics is not a must to be an architect. Many schools don't even offer it. Art however is offered by all schools and is what would be expected from a student applying to study architecture.

I do think that doing both art and graphics is a very narrow subject area and she may well be better off doing one of them along with something different, to keep her options open when choosing further study and career paths.

Starting off a discussion with the school being 'livid' and 'no way are we accepting this', isn't really a great way to get the outcome you are hoping for.

Also do stop, calm down and actually listen to what they have to say. They have years of experience in student subject choices and how that affects their later study/career options. They may have some valid points that you haven't thought of yet.

[MistyMeena]

It is frustrating but there are options, as a last resort could she study graphics as a private candidate and take the exam at either her school, or another exam centre? This is what HE kids do but I know art can be a tricky subject because of the coursework.

[GinIsIn]

I think you’ve been misinformed - art and maths are a must. Graphics isn’t.

[ShowMeTheElf]

The school is right on this one OP.
Art and science good for Architecture. More than one 'arty' subject not so good. A breadth of subjects is better and she'll need the Art over the Graphics.

[pigmcpigface]

Don't assume that two art subjects will stand her in better stead for an architecture course - that's unlikely to be the case. Subjects that lead to good essay-writing skills will be every bit as important (a spatial discipline, like geography, may be helpful). Good maths/physics are worth having too.

[gryffen]

Hi lass, Scotland myself so I know where your coming from.

Have you a local college nearby with a prospectus for what she wants to study, find out from them what's required and then if graphics is needed then hammer it to them with the evidence.

History won't do anything for her as it's ww2, Mary qos and wars of independence in standard year along with a few others.

Art is a defo must but also maybe speak to a local art group or opt in for a course at college via an ILA?

A good few of those places will open up on graphics due to drop outs so you can ask for a cull of students who just want to take it for the sake of it.

Good luck

[LIZS]

Many schools don't offer graphics . Architecture students need to demonstrate skills other than multiple art courses, business might be useful as would history especially if there are cultural options. She can still create an appropriate portfolio.

[bengalcat]

Suggest as some other posters have indicated looking at universities ( if that's her goal ) that offer architecture and look at the requirements at A level

[HopeNotFear]

Thanks for all the advice, obviously I wasn’t going to call school all guns blazing - that’s what this forum is for .

Anyway, didn’t get to speak to her year head, but he just called DD into his office and told her a space has been made in the graphics class for her, so all good.

DD has also chosen Physics, Chemistry, Modern Studies as well as taking the mandatory subjects of English, Maths and Italian, so she still has a good subject choice if she decides after 2 years a career as an architect is not for her.

Lastly, if art & graphics are in different columns, then you have the choice to pick both of them if you want, and the school should not penalise a student by picking one over the other. Just to make it clear, my gripe with the school was how they chose the students for the graphics class, as it doesn’t appear to have been based on merit.

[squeaver]

Glasgow School of Art asks for English and Maths or Physics and preferably art at Higher.

Edinburgh requires art at either Nat5 or Higher.

Maybe do some research before you go in all guns blazing to the school??