Which A level would you drop?

Oh talk obviously isn't aware of al the top unis that list sociology, along with all the traditional subjects, in their lists of preferred subjects for various degrees.

I teach film, English Lit and sociology. All hard in different ways. English is the easiest! My DS does sociology (horror!), economics ( double horror (or is that hard because it's a subject of the capitalist elite??) and history. He is on track for A A A.

I am happy to acknowledge that film does not always appear on lists for these types of 'selecting universities' and always suggest to very able film students to do eg English and history as well. But no uni asks for 3 'traditional' subjects' - one or two is fine and we have that here.

FWIW a tutor at my school at the moment who will be going to a magic circle law firm next year met a person working there with film, drama and history A Level and a degree from Bristol so clearly time wasn't doing their recruitment !

Drop whichever is her least favourite as long as it's not needed for any potential route she wants to take. I started with 4 and had to drop one would have loved to have dropped chemistry but needed it for medicine so dropped PE instead. It got me where I wanted so am glad I did it but part of me still wishes I carried on with PE as I genuinely loved it. Whereas I spent the next year disliking chemistry as it got sooo much harder but not much more interesting

I would not drop any subject but I would consider a subject tutor.

And it sounds like you actively discriminate against candidates who attend schools in often poorer areas who don’t have”leadership positions” or extra curricular activities & those without the contacts to source internships.

So @Talkwhilstyouwalk in this graduate recruitment scenario, is the OP's DD really going to do better with AAB (but oh dear the A is in sociology) or ABC (but hey, the C is in chemistry)? Because that's what you said.

Then you said you need AAA anyway. So I think it's all a moo point.

But a Chemistry B at a level will look better than a Sociology A IMO.

No it won't.

I'm a sociologist so I'm obviously going to take offence at the perceived uselessness of the subject! It depends what she wants to do in future. The biology matches with chemistry if it's science she wants to do - geography matches with sociology if it is a social science she wants to do. You will find a lot of encouragement tp do STEM subjects but they are not for everyone. We will still need social workers, drugs counsellors and probation officers etc in future

Sorry for being direct but I work in graduate recruitment and sift through plenty of graduate applications on a daily basis. Most don't stand out.....most job offers go to those with very strong grades in academic subjects who have attended the best universities and have lots of work experience (e.g. internships). Most will have participated in a range of extracurricular activities and will have held some leadership positions both at school and university.

It's competitive out there.....graduate schemes are very competitive.

Eg I used to recruit ex primary school teachers to work in my kids performing arts school and if their degree differed I might look for music or drama A levels.

Yes I agree with @Piggywaspushed, cannot believe that some are still peddling the myth that sociology is not well regarded.

Seriously, on what planet would a C (any C) be better than an A (any A - tho sociology is indeed on lists of acceptable subjects)?

OP suggests that her DD does want to go to uni, and unless it is to study chemistry she will have a better chance of good offers and getting in where she wants if she is going to gain A/A* rather than C/B.

I would be amazed if banks and accountancy firms looked beyond the degree subject and class to see what A-levels you did tbh.

What is your background to make these assertions?

At A-level it is not well regarded by many of the top graduate recruiters. Banks, Accountancy Firms and Law Firms are generally not interested in A Level Sociology, unless the candidate is applying for an HR type of role. Even then there are many subjects that are more highly regarded. Good grades in science subjects prove academic attainment as they are a lot more difficult. She could perhaps consider a role in pharmaceuticals with 2 sciences, or how about an embryologist?

It does depend on what she wants to do though. With sociology and geography she could appeal to recruiters for the government, market research or the police for example.

So really, the best thing she could do would be to have a really good think about her future. Also, uni isn't the be all and end all these days, some companies are offering some excellent apprenticeship schemes to those who achieve good A-level results!

Cambridge has a list of preferred subjects for HSPS, which includes... sociology....

If she could get her grade up in Chemistry it would hold her in much better stead than Sociology which at A level is not regarded very highly. I'd ditch the sociology for sure, with one less subject she'll have more time to focus on the other subjects.

www.southampton.ac.uk/courses/population-and-geography-degree-bsc

Oh wow , just came here for a nose and saw soem of the comments on sociology. It's on LOTS of unis' lists of preferred subjects for lots of courses (as are all the other subjects). It is popular with unis as it ticks essay boxes, hums boxes, quantitative methods boxes.

I think what she drops needs to be informed by a long hard think (and perhaps soem virtual open days etc) about her future plans.

On the face of it, it's Chemistry. Geog, Biol and Sociology is an EXCELLENT combination.

Have a look at Southampton's Population Studies degree?

Chemistry. Lowest grade.

I totally disagree with pp's re the seriousness or validity of sociology, it's well respected, and very interesting, with debate and essay type exams. Ds1 is enjoying it very much. It's in the top 10 of subjects.

No point in doing 4 A levels unless you are going to get really top grades in them all. AAA is better than AABC for university entrance.

I'd drop the one she enjoys the least or is getting the worst grades in.