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Original poster

DD - difficult A'level choice - please help

94 replies

Candog · 09/01/2018 10:11

She wants to do music, history and French.
Has chosen these because she likes them.

I worry that this doesn't look great from a degree/employment perspective. She is interested in politics. I'd like her to leave open the option of economics (prob with politics), for which I am reliably told that she should take maths A'level, which the school says she is capable of. I gather that an economics degree makes you quite employable.
Maybe drop the French? Music is important to her.
School won't let her do French, history or maths to AS level only. She could do music at AS level I think, but insists on doing the full A level.
Any suggestions helpful - worried she will make herself close to unemployable if she ends up doing a music or history or straight politics degree. I suspect that taking 4 full A'level would lead to poor grades. She's not an "excessive worker".

OP posts:
Original poster
Candog · 09/01/2018 11:48

She would like to do 3 Alevels and 1 AS. But the school won't allow pupils to do AS in maths or French or history. Have to do the full A'level or nothing.
I feel that 4 A'levels would be too much and lead to lower grades. She is not someone who spends a lot of time on academic work, though bright and talented.

OP posts:
Battleax · 09/01/2018 11:47

Don't know what a super soaker thread is.

It's a thread where you ask a question, four dozen people give you the same answer, and you ignore all of them because you're fixated on an inexplicable belief.

BeyondThePage · 09/01/2018 11:46

Why is she only doing three A levels? That's really weird

no, it really isn't.

Only in the world of mumsnet do all kids do 4 and get all As. Most schools do 3 - simply because most universities require 3.

Original poster
Candog · 09/01/2018 11:46

She's also quite keen on living in a house, eating food, going on holidays. All things that she will very soon need to facilitate for herself. There is no work (or uni) where we live - she will have to be fully independent.

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Original poster
Candog · 09/01/2018 11:45

Don't know what a super soaker thread is.
Her main interest is music. Very very difficult to make a career out of that.
Her second, more recent interest is politics.

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RestingGrinchFace · 09/01/2018 11:44

Why is she only doing three A levels? That's really weird.

Intercom · 09/01/2018 11:44

I wasn't thinking so much about the money for the choral scholarship, I know it's not much... more that it's not unheard of for an offer with lower grades to be made, if they really want someone in the choir.

Original poster
Candog · 09/01/2018 11:43

Economics - because her main idea of what to do at uni is politics, which pairs very well with economics, and makes for a more useable degree. She also likes the sound of economics.

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Battleax · 09/01/2018 11:43

In any case, I've known several teens, including myself, peers and my own DS become deeply interested in Economics without or before it was available as a curriculum subject.

This is the education board equivalent of the super soaker thread, I think.

Original poster
Candog · 09/01/2018 11:42

NB I am a linguist myself, love the thought of her becoming good in a language, but that doesn't mean it would be the best choice for her.

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Original poster
Candog · 09/01/2018 11:42

I want to explain the options to her, not just rubber-stamp her first idea of what to do. Would have loved my parents to have taken an interest in my A'level choice.

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Battleax · 09/01/2018 11:41

Where have you picked up the fixation on Economics?

Original poster
Candog · 09/01/2018 11:40

She hasn't had the chance to become interested in economics - the school only offer it as an A'level. She is interested in current affairs though.

Will have to be her choice, but I think she should be encouraged to think about future options, especially when has had such strong advice from a new graduate who has been through the mill of trying to find work.

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Battleax · 09/01/2018 11:39

And economics careers won't in those circumstances?

Are you taking any of this advice on board?

Original poster
Candog · 09/01/2018 11:37

Actually, the online careers thing they did recommended she become a lawyer (among other options). But I know from Mumsnet that there are a lot of cons to that career. No doubt will become a lot tougher after Brexit, too.

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Battleax · 09/01/2018 11:37

Most universities offer language tuition gratis or cheaply alongside main studies. Also opportunities to practise conversation. It's well worth getting to A level standard and then continuing lessons at university.

titchy · 09/01/2018 11:36

But she isn't interested in Economics - YOU are! Why don't you study it...?

Seriously you can't make her choose subjects because one person you know says such and such is a better option. Especially when she has chosen a good selection of well regarded academic subjects Confused

Original poster
Candog · 09/01/2018 11:35

I know she is very keen to do 2 of those A'levels, but less sure about the 3rd. And the massive increase in level / workload is likely to come as a shock.
I'm not convinced that a basic level of French is of much help job wise. And after A'level it would still be pretty basic.

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Original poster
Candog · 09/01/2018 11:32

A choral scholarship would be fun, but doesn't help financially (think they are approx £100).
Economics would be possible for AS, though the more interesting part of the A'level appears to be the second year.

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Ariela · 09/01/2018 11:28

I would agree with others: she should do the subjects that interest her, that way she will do best and get the best grades.
I always regret not being allowed to do Geography (which I adored and had a fantastic teacher).

harrietm87 · 09/01/2018 11:23

I did Music, History, French and English. English degree at Cambridge, where I spent most of my time on all the amazing extra curricular music opportunities available (instrumental scholar). I'm now a solicitor in a city firm. Those subjects will not hold her back at all, but could be useful to do a slightly contrasting 4th AS (I did biology) - she could do economics? Or maths? Or a science?

Intercom · 09/01/2018 11:18

Does your DD sing? She could apply for a choral scholarship at Cambridge.

Original poster
Candog · 09/01/2018 11:06

Thank you all for this.
She does like maths, and is doing further maths at GCSE. However, does not feel that she is a natural / loves maths.
We have a relative who has recently studied PPE and has strongly advised that my DD take maths at A'level, as just so useful. She has also said that having done economics at uni, not just politics, made it hugely easier for her to get a good job - opened up a lot of extra opportunities for her.
DD is hoping to go to Cambridge, based on the music opportunities there, as loves music performance. But not yet sure about what degree. Also, realistically, may not make Cambridge academically.

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GeorgeTheHamster · 09/01/2018 10:59

You have to let her choose. At the risk of stating the obvious, she is going to spend a third of her week on each subject. Compared to GCSE, that's a lot of each subject.

Don't try to make her do something she doesn't want to do - not when she has made sensible, solid choices, anyway obviously dissuade her from dumb stuff but that's not what she's picked.

Oblomov18 · 09/01/2018 10:57

Sound fine to me. Don't make her do maths, if she's not TOTALLY into it. I found it very hard.

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