A level Business, Media Studies & Sociokogy/Psychology

I did both sociology and psychology at A level, they feel quite different to study, psychology is quite science like although did have to remember lots of dates and studies and findings and sociology has a much more history feel. Although I did study at sixth form and psychology was taught by my previous biology teacher and sociology by a history teacher so that may have added to that feeling.

@kimlek Well obviously not. I didn’t suggest she would or could. However C offer good general and sensible advice on subjects that lots of schools follow for academic Dc. I agree that Bath just listed possible options but they are a competitive uni. Clearly other subjects fit the essay category. Just keep looking for courses she might like and where she meets requirements.

Do you not understand the Bath web site is giving a few examples? It’s not a definitive list. As a result they are not citing every subject they accept. It’s not rocket science. History would be an essay subject. Many schools use the Cambridge guidance. It’s pretty standard advice for academic Dc. The problem here is if Dc is 6/7 grades, AAA at Bath is a stretch.

Bath does not say the combination you state is suitable though!

That's not what I meant. You said the Cambridge list is not just applicable to them, but is a suitable framework when looking at other competitive courses.

I am saying, no it's not, and here are examples, including Business at Bath, which lists media, sociology and business as suitable subjects, but not history or MFL.

Funny how Bath's suggested subjects are just examples, but Cambridge's are so valid that you should apply them to other universities!

Anyway, even I am getting tired of this discussion so let's stop derailing!

Also, Warwick don’t stipulate maths A level but want a 7 at GCSE. So if op’s DD gets a 6, that’s out too. Plus it’s higher A level tariff than Bath. Again I would expect many applicants to offer maths A level though.

As Bath say they want an essay based subject, of course history is allocable! They are just citing examples. I would also guess quite a few applicants to Bath offer maths A level.

Bath does not say the combination you state is suitable though! It says a numeracy subject must be included. So the DS is looking at Psychology.

I strongly believe, for competitive courses, eg Law, Economics, etc at higher tariff unis the advice from Cambridge is not duff. If you look at what the majority of successful applicants offer for such competitive courses, you will see that the advice makes sense. There’s a big difference in offering subjects a uni lists snd offering subjects that are more likely to be successful. Poor combinations are less likely to get an offer. This particularly matters where there’s a lot of competition, of far less importance for CCC courses. The Cambridge advice also mentions loads of subjects so I don’t see where the issue is.

I mean yes, obviously check what each course you are interested in wants, and maybe think about what would be good preparation for it.

And so - ignore the Cambridge info unless you want to go to there - those A level subjects are not somehow more valuable for being on their list and other universities, even those with very competitive courses, will not make decisions based on whether an applicant matches what Cambridge wants.

cf Management at Warwick, or Business at Bath, where they suggest that business, sociology and media studies are suitable. Interestingly history and MFL don't get a mention, but nobody would suggest that these are somehow lesser A levels because they don't suit this particular competitive course.

Horses for courses, yes (ha!) but your Cambridge advice is duff I think, and might lead to DC not taking the A levels that interest them and that they will do well in.

I’m widening out the debate! I’m aware Cambridge doesn’t offer this course. I’m also not saying this Dc should look at Cambridge’s A level leaflet snd slavishly follow it. Others, however, should. It’s a good framework for making decisions.

Huge numbers of DC don’t get offers for competitive courses, partly down to not very competitive subject combinations and poor advice. They might well apply to Bath without the numeracy A level! It’s always a good idea to read about courses and subject combinations. Why do the A levels that won’t get Dc on a course they might want because a teacher thought a combo was good? Surely advisers should point DC to relevant info? The info from Cambridge is relevant to many competitive courses. Plenty at Bath are competitive. So surely look at good subject combinations for what you might want to do regardless of where the info comes from? Unis do consider all students but, as we are all now acutely aware, not all get offers. It pays to have a competitive application. So find out what that looks like.

Cambridge are not iffy about business and media, they are not saying these A levels are bad, just that theory based A levels are the best preparation for their theory based degrees. If they did offer a broader range of courses, some more practical / vocational, then I'm sure business and media would be seen as appropriate, if not desirable.

In any case, why on earth would a DC base their A level choices on the suggestions of a university that they don't want to go to, that doesn't offer the course that they want, when anywhere else would be happy with them?

Warwick for example, has a very highly regarded BSc Management degree which includes business and marketing, and they mention Business Studies in their entry requirements (if you're doing business, accounting wouldn't count as a separate subject).

Surely it’s not too difficult to see this student isn’t looking at Cambridge! That’s not what I was saying. However students applying to those types of unis for highly competitive courses won’t want two subjects Cambridge are iffy about. One is a different matter but that would depend on subject. Bath are clear about their subject list so it makes sense to comply with it. Other unis such as Lancaster don’t want AAA so there’s wriggle room.

I know two students presently at Cambridge with a media and / or business A level.

Anyway, off topic.

The OP's DC wants to study business / marketing / communications, which Cambridge does not offer, and they are very clear that the suggested subjects are what they recommend if applying for their courses.

Saying that the more vocational A levels like business and media aren't a good preparation for a very theory based and academic degree in a completely different subject is not the same as saying they are rubbish.

Of course the students going to elite unis do neither. It really depends what you want to study and where.

There’s no point pretending all subjects are valued by all unis. Or all employers. The list prepared by Cambridge covers many subjects. These are obviously good prep for lots of courses at elite unis. If the OP’s DC eventually wanted Bath, we have already established the 3 latest subjects mentioned are not suitable. One needs to be substituted for a numeracy subject and all those suggested by Bath are in the Cambridge stem list. So surely, making sure you do the right A levels matters far more than sticking to the idea that all are equal? It’s poor advice to say “look at the spec” when a subject is not suitable as part of three being offered. All the specs might have challenge, but not the right challenge.

Agreed @Piggywaspushed!! as someone who both works at a uni and supports students pre entry with their progression I can categorically say that dealing with outdated perceptions of lightweight subjects is a much easier hurdle to overcome (as it’s mostly non existent) than students who take subjects because they’re ‘more serious’ or ‘heavyweight’ or because that’s what their parents want them to do, and either end up with poor grades or crumble under the pressure of subjects they don’t like that aren’t a good fit.

Crossing out not intended!!

Maybe but I don't think most of the media and marketing industry practise this dark art. As you say, it's actually all about experience. Media and specifics marketing, design etc degrees help to build these connections and skills

The OP's DD isn't Cambridge bound anyway, but I don't think event they object to any specific A level subjects any more? Except for ones that no longer exist! As I said it's a few employers who seem to exercise this disdain - and that's usually towards degree rather than specific A levels , outside of some law firms.

The route > best A levels you can get based on choosing the best subjects for your ambitions and abilities/skills (too many students fall at this hurdle choosing what they think they 'should' do)> the best university degree within reach of abilities as you always say - to open doors = doors opened to a range of satisfying , rewarding opportunities.

It’s highly possible that some take the Cambridge view though. It’s horses for courses surely?

For the record, I'd like to state media explicitly does all of the things you state at the beginning of this post. I'm sure it won't change your dated views.

It's funny how some employers remain at the end of this lightweight debate when so many top universities have dropped this unfounded assertion of unworthiness.

Have you ever even looked at an A level media paper?

@kimlek Yes. Agreed!

@kimlek What course at Bath? I can see a need for a numerical subject in management and marketing there. Is this the course? If so, this combination doesn’t comply.