Maths , Economics & Theatre Studies A levels???

DS is planning on doing Maths & Economics and he's chosen Biology as his third A level. At his school they only recommend FM for those wanting to do engineering at university.

Please don't try and coerce your child into taking subjects that are 'safe'

Agree with this. If they are doing something they enjoy then it is easier for them. As my DD says someone has to win the Turner.

Theatre A level us not at all “fluffy” and the split of marks between writing and performing now skews in favour of the writing part. There’s a lot of group work involved which is good prep for Uni. It’s time consuming and challenging. If it’s what he wants to do then he should do it: better grades always follow if there’s a happy student

I am assuming it would have been considered if so, but the school doesn't offer film or media does it? (although media is pretty dry )

[quote HercwasanEnemyofEducation]@clary I think the key phrase is "where offered". If your college or sixth form doesn't offer it then you can explain it that way. We have a student going to Warwick in September without FM. However their website makes this look impossible! Contextual offers may have come into play here though.[/quote]
yes exactly, good for your student to get to Warwick 😀 but if it IS offered and not taken, that's when there may be an issue, as I understand. I guess even then it's worth a phone call to clarify.

Just to add, for al its talking up, economics is not one of the so called (now dropped a s a term) facilitating subjects, any more than business is.

DS enjoys it and doesn't do maths (grade 7 GCSE maths) and is currently predicted an A*. He does have a great teacher, though, who makes it undry.

I think maths and BS is fine. If you look at a uni like Bath, which is renowned for management/business etc type degrees they actually specify a maths A level for their business degrees. Is the business definitely the A Level and not the Cambridge Technical, which is more vocational?

As for Theatre Studies: if he doesn't want to do history either, doesn't enjoy writing and wouldn't' dream of doing , say, English then I'd swerve Theatre Studies. The writing element might pull his grade down. Not sure what else to suggest, though, since physics and comp sci have presumably been rejected. I am all for breadth as a concept for people who have even/broad ability/aptitude. There shouldn't be a barrier to studying subjects because of dyslexia and I have taught many who have done well but it does sound like you (he?) are after high grades and it is a risk unless passionate.

Is it just that he is now definite on two and can't really think of a third? Tah's a common dilemma!

OP
Please don't try and coerce your child into taking subjects that are 'safe'

If he doesn't enjoy them, it's more likely he'll do poorly.
Taking traditional/ difficult subjects are favoured by some universities, but those universities require top grades.
It is much, much better to excel in what is perceived as a softer subject, than fail at a traditional/ safe subject.
Not only will that failure ( or lower grades) stop them from progressing, but they will have quals in subjects they don't want to invest in.

Additionally, one purpose of college is to explore subjects. Let him be curious!

And..... Unifrog comes with a parents account. You should have been notified of the code somewhere- parents portal perhaps?

Economics is generally regarded as tricky by those without good maths skills. If he’s doing maths I don’t think economics would be problematic for him and it’s a much better subject than business studies for his cv.

I personally think drama will be difficult for him if he’s going to struggle to scrape a 6 in English. How will he deal with the essays?

@clary I think the key phrase is "where offered". If your college or sixth form doesn't offer it then you can explain it that way. We have a student going to Warwick in September without FM. However their website makes this look impossible! Contextual offers may have come into play here though.

That's interesting as ds2,who considered a maths degree, was to,d he would need FM if it was offered (and students where it was not offered would need to explain that).

At the time we researched and found that many unis did indeed require it (I didn't say all). I've just checked a few and in fact Loughborough and York don't require it (tho your the offer is lower with it); Sheffield and Warwick do. So I guess you pays your money and takes your choice.

I did worry that ds was narrowing his options (at his school it is encouraged as one of three A levels, not four) - what if he changed his mind about maths? - and was relieved when he dropped the idea in favour of biology.

@clary Your post about FM isn't correct. Mainly because lots of sixth forms and colleges don't offer FM.

OP my mantra is always to let students pick what they enjoy. Economics is more academically rigorous than BS.

I did three very academic a levels alongside theatre studies. It worked well for me, TS was a very welcome break from the other subjects, and the discussions and visits to shows definitely made me more cultured!
I haven't done any drama since but I look back at it with great fondness. As a shy person it definitely bought me out of my shell.

Southampton university said at an admissions day that they only care about 2 subjects for engineering (you have to have maths & physics) and that the other subject should be something you really enjoy. I’m sure there are other universities & admissions departments with similar approaches.

I don’t speak with any great expertise, so happy for a teacher to correct, but I think you are right and that BS is not seen as carrying the same weight as economics at A level.

Perhaps it is too vocational, so at this level, like law A level, it can be dry. Someone capable of an 8 in maths should stay on an academic track, build the basics and do the vocational stuff at university or beyond.

You might note that many super selective schools don’t offer BS. They will all offer economics.

Perhaps the problem is the dyslexia. DD is both dyslexic and good at maths. She really did not enjoy school though her maths/science ability got her through. Never finishing class tests, struggling when asked to read something out loud, unexpectedly low marks in an exam because she had misread a question. She went on to read medicine, choosing a course with a lot of early patient contact, but spent last year taking an intercalation degree in engineering. She loved it. The maths, the science, the thinking, and the practical elements. It is the first time she has really enjoyed academics.

It may be worth looking at what is impacting on your sons self esteem. I think it is hard for dyslexics to see themselves as clever, even if they are. Then what he is good at, and what careers appeal. DD at his age was understandably adamant that she did not want to work in an office. She was sporty so started out thinking of being a physio or a PE teacher, till at around 15 it became clear that she was genuinely strong in maths and science and capable of getting the grades required for medicine. And indeed in sixth form, after bouncing around maths sets through her school career based on wonky exam results, she was told it was a real shame she was not taking double maths.

Take theatre studies if he enjoys it and it supports his self esteem. But take two strong academic subjects that keep doors open in case he is a late developer. Both maths and economics can be quite different at A level than GCSE and many find them more interesting.

Maths and economics is a great combination. History is often the third, but if dyslexic, why not theatre studies. Many universities like some breadth.

In the past few years I've had pupils in my form group (sixth form) take Drama/Economics/Maths (went to Bristol to read Economics) and Drama/Maths/Physics (went to Imperial to read Physics, and was interviewed at Oxford too). Both pupils said they talked a lot about Drama at the interviews, and thought that was really interesting in their subject profile.

Primary Ed with drama is her ideal, but she is going to take a year out to get some experience first.