A level advice wanted: Geography, maths, computer science and ????

Your DS liking both Geography and Computer Science makes me think of a university module I made called Remote Processing.

It seems to be a graduate program of its own. Here:

(If he's interested, the app Quantum GIS is free and he can learn quite a lot from Youtube).

@Porcupineintherough hi my ds is currently in Year 12 and is keen on following a career I. Engineering.

He started off with computer science, maths , biology and chemistry but then when he looked further into it he said for engineering physics would help. He then swapped out computer science with physics.

Maths at gcse came naturally to him and he did hardly any work and I would say it is his least favourite subject out of the four. He knows if he wants pursue a career in engineering maths is key ( personally I feel he enjoys biology and chemistry)

Maths A level is hard and it has recently dawned to him he is going to have to work ...I would say it is his least favourite subject. It is a jump from Gcse. Honestly I wouldn't take up further maths unless he actually enjoys it.

Maths or Economics- if no timetable clash

I mean it'll be totally different if he does chemical engineering. So an idea of what kind of degree he wants to do will be relevant to his A level choices.

I have a degree in Electrical and Electronic engineering. It's very maths heavy. If maths isn't his thing, I don't think it's a degree that suits him. You can find out admission criteria from universities. But as someone who has done the degree, maths and physics are relevant, but chemistry is not. There wasn't computing when I was young but computer programming modules were part of the degree course.

TBH tho, if he likes geography and CS the best, and might be OK to do maths and physics, maybe engineering (requiring as it does those subjects) is not the best choice anyway?

What I mean is, I know someone whose child has decided they want to be a doctor - "so they had better take biology A level" (and chemistry as I understand it) - which seems to me the wrong way round. What about - what subjects do I enjoy? Where will they take me? No point getting on to an engineering course if you don't really enjoy maths and physics and would rather be studying geography.

I am not an expert on engineering but a quick search of a few courses shows that either physics or chemistry would be useful. Both unis I searched wanted either phys or chem for a variety of engineering degrees, not just chemical engineering.

So if he is genuinely interested in engineering then that might be the shout.

Except the op has said he's ruled out chemistry, but not physics. And some of the higher ranked engineering courses (except chem) do require physics but not chemistry. There's a reason for that. So for this particular student chemistry is probably a bit of a red herring. (Its absolutely relevant if a kid wants to keep open a wide range of sciences and clinical options, of course but that's not really the case here)

Engineering at uni really is a lot of maths. If he’s not keen on it/doesn’t find it easy Id caution being the right degree for him and as such do what you can now to keep options open.

I am not an expert on engineering but a quick search of a few courses shows that either physics or chemistry would be useful. Both unis I searched wanted either phys or chem for a variety of engineering degrees, not just chemical engineering.

So if he is genuinely interested in engineering then that might be the shout.

Re 4 A levels and giving you a choice to drop one - well, OK, but in that case why not do 5, or 6? Then you can drop the three you like least? I'm being flippant but I genuinely don't understand saddling yourself with extra work just so you can drop one later. Decide now already. After all, you are deciding to drop MFL/history/English or whatever.

Earth / environmental sciences degree courses might fit the bill? Maths and geography A levels would usually fulfil the required subjects. Physics would certainly be useful, and economics could also work well.

Would usually need a science A level alongside maths for environmental engineering though - physics would be ideal as there will be cross over with the maths content.

Do they offer any new-to-him subjects, like economics or business? Might be good try a different one.

Sounds like he's heading for a deee w includes environmental engineering!

Do check out the Smallpeice Trust courses - they ran one on humanitarian engineering last year.

And have him look at computer engineering (not computer science) - could be right his street, but I think it would be a tough course without FM

If hard maths and physics don't light the spark, does he have a more practical interest in engineering? (My DD has just finished her MEng and there's a lot of hard maths in it, and physics based stuff too, as well as the practical aspects.)

(If you've got the ability, maths does become a lot more interesting at A level compared to GCSE)

What does light his spark at the moment?

Anyway... maths is definitely a good idea. If he wants to to CS and geography, then physics would perhaps be best for keeping options open. Not doing FM (at a school which offers it) would effectively rule out a few specific courses at a few specific unis but wouldn't rule out any degree subject entirely.

Those four would allow for most engineering, physics, comp sci, maths and geography courses. (i know someone who did geog at Cambridge with A levels in geog, maths, physics and an English lit AS). And probably quite a lot of non STEM options too.

I do not get this thing where schools insist on four A levels tho.

Starting four is a good idea, in case it turns out one of the subjects is too much of a 'step up' at A level, or they find they don't like it. And to keep their options open if they're not sure what they want to do.

If the pupil is sure they want to do engineering (other than chemical) or physics, (or maths or comp sci) and there's no doubt about their ability to 'step up', then physics, maths and FM is the perfect trio if only three are allowed. But if they aren't sure of their interests or ability then that's too narrow and risky.

I'd have him do the EPQ. It pretty much counts as half an A level and some unis accept one grade lower if the EPQ is a high grade. Also it's the opportunity to research something he's interested in, and not necessarily related to what he wants to do career wise. My daughter is most likely going into the creative arts but her EPQ is on how technology has affected language.

If he wants to do engineering then he really needs physics and maths.
I think some unis which allow engineering BTEC as an alternative to just A levels require an A level in maths alongside it.

Our school does a couple of ASs and is in England.