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Original poster

What degree can DS do with Maths, Econ, History and Physics?

34 replies

ConfusedaboutAlevels · 07/12/2020 22:11

My DS is in Y11, predicted 9/10 grade 8-9's and he definitely wants to do Maths, Econ and History at A level. They all have to start with 4 a levels and he wanted to do FM but they probably will not let him do it as he did not pass internal tests (lots want to do Further Maths so school does internal tests to decide). Therefore he probably can't do an economics degree as he won't make a competitive application for Cambridge/ LSE/ Warwick. If he took physics as a fourth, what degrees related to economics/ history could he do. He doesn't want to do straight history as he loves Maths. At his school they also have to do either an EPQ or AS FM so he is not sure which one of those to do. He feels AS FM may help him with an econ application but he feels an EPQ may make him stand out- he loves writing essays too and he got an A* in the HPQ. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

OP posts:
TeenPlusTwenties · 08/12/2020 09:11

This is a general comment, not specifically aimed at OP, who may have considered moving for all I know:

I guess it's because I live in Hampshire where state schools don't standardly have 6th forms, but I continue to be surprised at how people just seem to accept the A level offer of their current school rather than moving.

I know there are downsides to moving, new teachers, fitting in etc, but with being prevented from A levels of choice with knock on effect of university courses / institutions, moving doesn't seem to be considered often enough.

Lampzade · 08/12/2020 08:35

My did is doing three of those subjects ( Maths, economics and physics) . She hopes to go into finance or accountancy.
As others have said. Your ds can still apply to do economics at his chosen university, despite not studying FM.

MrsMiaWallis · 08/12/2020 08:29

I'm not sure an EPQ would make him stand out - it's a very common added extra these days

It may be, but dd got standard AAA offers reduced to ABB with an A in Epq (three Russell Group unis)

TeenPlusTwenties · 08/12/2020 08:27

If school aren't offering because of numbers rather than capability, that is a pretty poor show. I'd be making a bit of a fuss if he is keen to do FM, and at least exploring other schooling options.

lanthanum · 07/12/2020 22:37

Most Cambridge colleges do not require Further Maths for economics. Some say "A* in maths and/or further maths (if taken)"; one says "(if available)", which implies they only expect to make offers to people without if their school does not offer it. (Arguably his school does not offer it, to him...)

LSE only says that further maths is desirable, and also says that AS further maths is a good option. Warwick doesn't mention further maths.

Internal tests to decide if someone is going to cope with the course are one thing, but you make it sound as if it's a competition to be allowed to do it. Can they not run a second group if there's too many wanting to do it? (I'd be tempted to mention to the school the possibility of him going elsewhere...)

Oxford have a History & Economics degree.

Lookatthat · 07/12/2020 22:20

I’m not sure who has said he can’t apply to study Econ at those universities but he absolutely can - that’s a great range of A Levels.

Seeline · 07/12/2020 22:20

I'm not sure an EPQ would make him stand out - it's a very common added extra these days.

Some sort of engineering should be possible.

CatherinedeBourgh · 07/12/2020 22:16

Not that I’m a huge fan of those, tbh (I did PPE and postgad economics and frankly am not that keen)

CatherinedeBourgh · 07/12/2020 22:14

I don’t see why he can’t do economics with that, if that’s what he wants. Or PPE.