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Poor choice of GCSE options (help)

32 replies

No37 · 22/03/2017 22:20

DD has finally brought home her GCSE options information. She is on the Ebacc pathway, so along with English x 2, maths double science and French her choices are history or geography, one from art, music, drama and food tech and either Spanish, science, media or RE.

She is capable of doing well in triple science but she wants to do a creative degree and before we received the info, the plan was double science with art and music. She is now talking about media and it has been discussed quite a lot at school about how great it is (she gave a better argument) I've read all the threads on here about media and I've told her no, but I'm now feeling a bit mean.

I know there is no contest between triple science and media but whilst DD is clever, I'm not sure she will give her all in a subject that she doesn't see as important to her future (although she does enjoy science especially chemistry).
Sorry, I know I'm rambling, please reassure me triple science is the way to go or media.

OP posts:
No37 · 22/03/2017 22:33

Her best subject is maths, but she is really good at everything and wants to study a very specific art degree at university, but thinking about maths, art and English at A level. She is very focused and knows exactly what she wants to do.

OP posts:
user1490123259 · 22/03/2017 22:31

it doesn't matter, it is one GCSE, amongst many. And double science is fine, you can go on to science A levels with double science, in fact most students get higher grades with double than they would have done with triple.

TrollTheRespawnJeremy · 22/03/2017 22:31

It CAN be a bit of a 'mickey mouse' subject but at the end of the day... somebody has to get these jobs. If she really wants it then there's nothing to be lost by trying. It can open doors into other avenues as well.

No37 · 22/03/2017 22:29

Thanks, I do want to give her the choice, I have just read too many negative things on MN about media.

OP posts:
gillybeanz · 22/03/2017 22:27

OP, you can only guide, you have to let them choose.
As for the subjects, there isn't a lot of choice, but there never is.
If she wants to do Media it might be a good balance between academic and creative.
What are her best subjects and what does she want to do?

TrollTheRespawnJeremy · 22/03/2017 22:25

Theres no right or wrong to be honest.

I'm in the humanities and so science would be wasted on me. (I hated it anyway.)

It's her life. If she needs to rethink her choices later it's not a big deal. It's just one year.

user1490123259 · 22/03/2017 22:25

Make it entirely her choice, give her the power to choose for herself. Either option is absolutely fine, but she will do better in whatever it is she MOST wants to do.