A-level choices to keep options open? (For architecture maybe..or finance..or who knows!)

Thank you very much Wonky and Milly. Very useful.

Sorry here's the link
www.hesa.ac.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2071
It may give some idea but you'd be better looking up the individual professional bodies / publishers as they usually prodI've this kind of thing

A quick google though links to the higher education statistics agency which might give you some data.

Www.archdaily.com has the 2013 statistics from the BD survey for the UK. You only have to google "unemployed architects statistics" to find the survey results. However, anyone who is employed in construction knows that the recession had a massive effect on employment, in all building professions and trades. It has picked up now but housing and construction is very sensitive to the well being of the economy. It is the first industry to collapse and then often shows green shoots of recovery first.

I would suggest googling any profession you are interested in to ascertain graduate prospects. Most professions produce employment statistics but you also have to factor in regional variations and whether a graduate is prepared to move to a more vibrant area.

Sorry I only know about architecture due to the architectural press I subscribe to & active involvement in the industry - I don't know rates in other professions.

Wonky or anyone else, Please can you site a source for employment rates by profession e.g architecture?

Yes the unemployment rate for architects can be high especially in recession (as we are often the first to go & the building industry is hit quickly in these circumstances) . I wouldn't say they are needed less these days but the job has changed and architects do need to be quite adaptable.
However as I said in my 1st post the first degree is quite a good degree to open doors into a lot of other areas as it's generally about communication, a wide variety of skills(maths, physics, computer skills, law, art, English, geography etc) and selling yourself & your ideas.
Although it's a long slog to fully qualify there are break points at which you can walk away and still have qualifications.

I'm an architect - I was the only one of my 120person first year that didn't have art a-level and I had Design & Technology with graphics as an option. Although it's not specified as an a-level choice you are expected to have a portfolio to show at interview and the easiest way to develop one is through an art a-level.
It is a bit of an all rounder subject - being able to express yourself verbally & visually is important.
I had A-level maths, physics, design & technology (graphics / electronics options), Gstudies, GNVQ manufacturing & a great portfolio & extra curricular list.
Architecture is in a state of flux at the moment as it's proving very hard for people to afford the courses & get the relevant work experience. It has a huge drop out rate from starting in yr 1 to becoming actually a registered architect but that does not mean that people aren't getting something out of it.
I started with 120 people & qualified with 25 of us becoming architects. BUT after the first 3 yr degree many friends went off to do a variety of non architect careers (of my friends they included banker, planner, archeologist, works in media, photographer) those that went on to do the 2nd degree (2 yrs + at least 1yr experience) & then left generally went into architecture related fields just didn't become fully qualified.
Those of us who qualified then did a final degree + more experience which allowed us to take professional exams - in all it currently takes a minimum of 7 years to qualify although many take longer.
I have a massive student loan and I wasn't even in the lot that pay all these fees. It's an expensive course with regards to materials, trips abroad & technology requirements.
It's not a career option that will make you loads of money, will take over your life and generally to make it work you really have to love it. Funnily enough I love it (most of the time)
It's something that if he's interested in he should research very carefully - the RIBA website has a section on education & some RIBA regions do education & mentoring schemes for kids interested in architecture.

Yes. I did the UCAS search too. They haven't put it in writing but it's what we were told verbally.

senua
Which ones? As I did a UCAS search before posting.
The top ten entry requirements courses of BSc - none of them require Chemistry.

Geography - yes
Maths - ideally
another science - good idea

I'm not back pedalling. Try reading my post. I said physical geography first time round.

DS applied for Geography two years ago. We were told by several (?all the ones we spoke to?) Universities that he needed Chemistry for BSC Geography.

Senua
Keep back pedalling.
I have a BSc in physical Geography, specialising in hydrology and glaciology.
Chemistry was not and is not required for Geography degrees.

Geography does not require chemistry.

I didn't say Geography. I said Physical Geography.

I worded my Law advice a bit strongly. You are right GotToBeInIt, that essay subjects are not required, but some potential students would find the independent research and written communication required on a law degree a challenge if they had studied French, Art and Biology at A level as none of these really require the type of research and writing required for a law degree. That is not to say these subjects are not worthwhile, (my DD did MFL at university) but wouldn't university law departments rather see History or English in the mix when making offers?

For finance/economics maths and further maths would be the most important. (Getting there via humanities would be much more difficult and isn't usual, even if occasionally managed.) Economics really would not be necessary at A-level, although it could help him decide whether he is interested in pursuing it. For other types of business, it wouldn't matter too much but maths and geography are good options.

I have read that the unemployment rate for architects is about 30%. Some of the more technical building related areas seem to offer more potential, for example civil engineering. Very maths heavy however, I would assume.

Geography does not require chemistry, that's nonsense. Most geography degree courses specify geography, some ( I think Edinburgh for one) do want a science A level but don't specify which.

www.dldcollege.co.uk/dld-blog/2012/august/want-to-be-an-architect.aspx

Art a level is required for architecture as daughter studying this at uni at moment. She studied maths as, art,german,physics to a2. The course she on is doing a lot of drawing. Lots of model making. In studio from 9:00-10:00 at night depending on deadlines.

dh did all humanities, a history degree and has worked in finance and banking since uni. Don't let that option dictate A levels. I would have said Art, Graphic Design or DT for architecture though.

Milly I only did my degree a couple of years ago at one of the best law schools in the country, they didn't specify subjects. Of course it may have changed drastically in the past 3 years.

Getting him to do architecture is a great way to shoot him in the foot.

Architects are needed less and less. Send him down a finance or computer engineering course.

Maths, Further Maths, Art and Physics would do the best job of keeping options in architecture, finance and engineering all open. Geography, Chemistry, Geology, Chemistry and Economics at A level are pretty inessential to all three subjects at university. The son of a friend is right in the middle of applying to good unis for architecture and I get the feeling that maths and art are the key topics in reality. Finance is best done on a sound maths background, but A level economics would not hurt.

For a Architecture, it is usually a very good idea to have design or art in your subjects. See the University of Bath's requirements. They like a mix of maths/science/arts subjects. Architects do need to draw and some universites might ask for a portfolio.

I think a law degree would now require an essay/research subject which French, Biology and Art do not provide.

Engineering courses are best served by Maths, Physics and Further Maths if you can plus another which facilities your interest in engineering, eg Chemistry, Geology, Geography etc. Maths, Physics, Economics and Geography would definitely be OK for Business courses. The best Engieeering courses will also want AAA, like Architecture, or even more! However, art ability is not needed and job prospects are better.

a Physical Geography degree will require Chemistry.
Why?
Mine didn't
Physics was much more useful