Thoughts on DD's A Level choices

I didn't mean your daughter would probably fail maths, I typed quickly without thinking, I mean it may not be worth it etc

Daughter of course GCSEs are relevant. They will be a potentially decisive factor in determining the offer of a place at university. If she wants to read law at a university with a good reputation - so one employers will regard well - she will struggle with mostly Bs at GCSE. In that sense they are extremely important. One B here or there won't matter but a majority at B very likely will.

Oh sorry daughter I thought you meant law too I didn't read your post properly! I'm not sure on architecture.

I do know on some courses with a maths/formulaic element (again not sure on architecture) that if there's no maths at a level sometimes they won't take you, or if they do they want very high gcse maths. Would definitely be worth a check on maybe a few of each 'tier' of universities to see entry standards.

Those were the traditional type ones I meant, although geography perhaps not as much. But with the others all being very strong subjects I don't think it would matter. Definitely look further into the maths issue though just incase it is a 'preferable' subject, saying that if she doesn't enjoy maths there wouldn't be any point in we doing an a level in it as she would probably not be interested and fail at the expense of a subject she enjoyed and could do very well in! Minefield isn't it!

• ILEX?

Titchy she got 2 As, 1 A*, 7Bs and 1 C. She is already 'got on' to A levels at 6th form science specialist school doing A levels Physics, History, Biology and Geography.

What is ITEC?

Physics may well be a struggle without at least an A in maths at gcse, and whilst gcse results shouldn't matter to career choices and it is important to do something that fits with your personality type, gcses are what gets you onto A levels which are what gets you to university, so gcses are an indicator (not the only one) of future academic success.

People do return to education later on of course, but it's harder as a rule when you have job, family etc, and if you've already started at university when you were younger there are no loans for fees, so kids need to think carefully about what they want and realistically how and if they can achieve that.
ILEX for example may be a better route for a child with B and C grade gcses. (I know nothing about this as a route though!)

You don't need maths for architecture, physics is fine.

Thanks Molio, I was under the impression that A level and Degree qualifications would be what employers would be looking at. But surely careers aren't mapped out by GCSEs alone and there are changes over time based on an individual's ability to do the job well?

DaughterDilemma, I suspect your DD would find it hard to get an architecture offer without maths at A-level (but I gather that architecture was your suggestion rather than something she actually wants to do).

Sorry, I meant things may have eased in the HE world, but law isn't likely to be one of those courses needing to lower its grades - it's likely to remain very competitive.

Daughter those in the legal sector include many who are highly creative. One contemporary of mine left the Bar to write Hollwood scripts. Lots belong to the uni drama groups such as Footlights. Many are exceptionally musical. Etc. I think you're pigeonholing incorrectly. Unfortunately your DDs GCSE results may hold her back from getting onto a reputable law course, as things stand at the moment, as they would be very much at the lower end of results for those applying. Of course in a couple of years time things may have eased generally, but law is not likely to be one of those needing to lower its grades anytime soon.

You may be right about the arts. Which traditional subjects do you mean? Hers are all traditional - History, Geography, Physics, Biology.

Not including music as I didn't take music!

Daughter, sorry if I sounded harsh, the better universities definitely have preferred subjects (traditional ones) for things such as law etc even if they say they don't want particular ones. Also work experience of course will stand her in good stead.

I was an all rounder at school, but like your daughter I am very logical and not particularly creative personality, I just found a couple of the more creative subjects easier to blag! Not saying this is the same but that's how I found it so maybe that could be it!

Sesamstr. I think I find it odd that my DD got top marks in the creative subjects yet her personality isn't particularly creative. As people have said, law doesn't require any particular subjects other than academic then surely personal suitability to the sector will give her advantage in the long term?

I think the four she has chosen will suit for a lot of different sectors. We are all a bit of a mix at home, Dad with creative mind but non-creative job and me, vice versa. That has probably added to her confusion!

I think that economics, english and psychology go together for business type courses.

Psychology and physics are science courses covered.

Physics is excellent for law, as is chemistry. There are no specific requirements for law, if a student has a minimum of three 'academic' subjects.

I wouldn't worry too much about what's 'usual', unless one subject really is essential to support another or a degree requires set subjects. One of my DC did History along with the three sciences for medicine, and having an essay subject has helped a good deal, even though it's not 'usual'.

Daughter - her personality will not make a shred of difference if she has not chosen the right subjects xx

Depends what type of university she wants to go to - best off checking on their particular law entry requirements. I would also remove physics for history.

Titchy the problem is she doesn't know what degree she wants to do. Up until yesterday it was architecture. Complete change after her first day back.

Titchy, I think the main question is whether to be a successful scientist or lawyer you need the right personality, whether that is more important than the qualifications long term and will give her the edge at uni, ie logical, impartial and factual. Given that my daughter is an all rounder, academically she can go in whichever direction she chooses (she has 7 Bs and a C (astronomy) in addition to her 3 As in more creative subjects).

Someone said upthread that maths isn't needed with physics at A level, that they go through it again. She will take two sciences, physics and biology (I understand the gap between physics and biology but she is also doing geography which links both).

Sorry to hijack OP

Not quite sure what you're asking daughterdilemma - is your dd interested in dong a law degree? What do you mean by personality is more important? The best personality in the world won;t get you an interview if you haven;t got the right stuff on paper...

Is she interested in science? Maths normally goes better with Physics, and Biology is normally taken with Chemistry. If she's interested in a science degree she'll need two sciences.

I hope you don't mind me joining in here, my DD is an all rounder, with A's in music, English language and Art and Bs in everything else. She wants to take History, Geography, Physics and Product Design.

She wanted to go into science research but I suggested architecture because it involves her creative side and they were her strongest subjects. However her personality is actually very logical, impartial and she likes facts. Today she is going in to talk to staff about exchanging Product Design for Biology as she was put off by the long-term project involved in the PD curriculum. I think at the back of her mind she really preferred to do science.

But would people say that personality is more important to choose something like law than subjects chosen - so if you study the obvious Law choices but have a sparky unpredictable nature it's kind of pointless? So having two science subjects doesn't matter because she has the right mental approach towards working in the legal profession?

I think we need to hear back from the OP.
Crucial questions are;
How committed and set on Law is she? (if totally certain,her choices are fine. If not, then her choices do not allow the flexibility to continue Physics or Econ at uni)
How good are her GCSEs, particularly her Maths....important in having a sense of it she is up to Physics A Level.