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Original poster

ughhh! School advising DD to 'up' her number of A-levels because top Universities want them....

40 replies

NotnOtter · 18/10/2011 21:01

DD was just going to sit 4 A levels - she is pretty aspirational but can also be pretty lazy

She does want to do well and go somewhere good so will need to do well. We had advised her against ten zillion a levels thinking it is better to just do 3-4 and do well

School have today frowned on her decision not to do general studies and indicated critical thinking would be good.... they also suggested she maybe drop one of her current four (science /maths) subjects at AS and take up a subject which has no relevance to her future prospects.

Feel as if we are swimming against a tide as DD has tonight come home unsure about her previous convictions iyswim

Are we wrong in saying ' just do well at the four'??

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Original poster
NotnOtter · 18/10/2011 22:44

wow thank you all so much for the very clear advice

I am thinking that senuas advice may be good as have just looked up her course with her her on cambridge website and quite a few colleges ask for TSA

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bbboo · 18/10/2011 22:32

strangely enough, was having a very similar conversation with my neice at the weekend. She goes to a very academic girls school in Surrey. They were told not to bother with critical thinking as it was a waste of time (if you were really desperate to do it, only do it to AS level apparently).Her school gets a high proportion of pupils into "good" universities, so do seem to know what they are talking about.

senua · 18/10/2011 22:32

I agree with quality, not quantity.

However, I have heard people argue that CT is useful for scientists to prove that they can also demonstrate essay/communication skills. If DD did CT then I presume that it would be AS Level / Lower Sixth only, so that would leave her free to concentrate on STEP in Upper Sixth.

NotJustClassic · 18/10/2011 22:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

chopchopbusybusy · 18/10/2011 22:24

That should of course read get your DD to email, don't do it for her!

chopchopbusybusy · 18/10/2011 22:21

In my experience schools can offer some really bad advice about university entrance. 3 or 4 good subjects at A2. If in doubt about which subjects are OK email the admissions tutor and ask. GS and CT are a waste of time.

Milliways · 18/10/2011 22:14

Sorry - at DS's school they do 3 or 4 A2's (don't all drop to 3)

Milliways · 18/10/2011 22:13

DS is at a school where 23 boys went to Oxbridge last year, none did GS or CT. They do 4 AS levels and 3 A2s.

DD is at Cambridge, she did 4 A2's in straight subjects

spiderpig8 · 18/10/2011 22:07

Am i right in thinking your DD is at SGH School?
At our school they do GS but don't spend any time on it at all.It's just really an A level in general knowledge, so no harm in it.

Original poster
NotnOtter · 18/10/2011 21:21

thank you irregularegular - she is doing further maths so i think it will be four

DS said maybe critical thinking could help her if she is asked to sit a TSA (?) but he said doing well at a STEP might me harder and better to devote her energy to a good maths result in that?

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Original poster
NotnOtter · 18/10/2011 21:18

thank you - will have a read of that

DD did say words to the effect of 'my mum says' and i think they kind of raised their eyebrows at her (!)

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irregularegular · 18/10/2011 21:18

I'm an Oxford admissions tutor for PPE and other Economics subjects. In my college/subject at least, we are interested in quality, not quantity. Do 3-4 A-levels is traditional subjects and do them well. Three is usually fine - I would only advise 4 if doing Further Maths, or if you want to do an extra, less academic subject ( or if you really, really can't choose, but I don't recommend this)

General Studies and critical thinking are essentially ignored. There are probably better ways to spend your time.

Not official advice and possibly specific to my subject/college.

Bluestocking · 18/10/2011 21:13

There's some very clear advice here from a largish group of universities including Oxford and Cambridge - dating from February 2011 so not totally up-to-date, but their policies are unlikely to have changed radically since then.

JordanBaker · 18/10/2011 21:11

Pretty sure that's rubbish. General Studies definitely not required. There are some admissions tutors on MN though so hopefully one of them will come along soon to advise.

Original poster
NotnOtter · 18/10/2011 21:02

they said critical thinking helpful for oxbridge applicants...?

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