To think that doing an A level in Psychology isn't enough to get into Uni

[Poppyanddaisy55]

My dd leaves school this summer. She is clever and has the potential to get good GCSE results if she puts the effort in.
She has all of a sudden decided she would like to study psychology. Then have the potential in the future to become a psychologist. Our local college has an a level course but it says it might not be enough to get into Uni? Anyone any experience in this? She has already been accepted on another course and I would hate for her to turn it down and work so hard to find it's not good enough.

Right I see. I now need to persuade her! But she's very stubborn lol. Failing that another college in the area is offering a Btec extended diploma in health and social care which is equivalent to 3 a levels so maybe that would be better? Or something similar down that route if she really doesn't want to do maths or science or english?

I really don't want to seem harsh here, but, lots of very experienced people have told you what she needs to be looking at, subject wise, but all she appears to be considering are the "soft" subjects.

I did a psychology degree myself. It's not all mind reading as a pp said, it involves experiments, data analysis and statistics. She will have to design her own experiments, and although they will be basic, she needs the motivation to work by herself. From your updates it seems she just wants a cool sounding degree with no actual idea as to what it involves study wise, what the subject is about and the easiest option.

Like I said, apologies if that sounds harsh, but not as harsh as 6 months into her course and she either hates it or cant handle the academic rigour required.

I also think she needs to look into this more op, I’d be concerned she’s trying to make it as easy as possible and not looking into what work is actually required, either for the a levels, or the degree itself.

It’s one thing to get into a uni, but a degree is harder than a level, each degree year gets harder still and you need to pass the previous year to continue.

There is a big jump from gcse to a level, and the jump from a level to degree is enormous.

She needs to do what she can to prepare for that leap at a level. And to give her options, as such, putting something like English or a science in the mix will help her.

I know she’s young, but they all are, it’s an even playing field. I’d urge her to think this through further, in terms of what she’s trying to achieve and understanding the work associated with it.

As said, the work at as, then a level. Is nothing compared to the work increments at each year of a degree. That’s the whole point, it leaps forward in terms of complexity and workload.

I'm not saying she is trying to make it easy, she probably just wants to do what she is interested in and doesn't see why not. I think looking up degrees she might like to do and looking at the required A levels at a few different unis might give her more idea. It would be so frustrating to put the work into an A level then it not be what you need for your next step.

A btec health and social will not get her into psychology at any decent uni. Even though they are worth 3 A levels, they aren't accepted at a lot of places.

She needs tk research a bit more.

offering a Btec extended diploma in health and social care which is equivalent to 3 a levels so maybe that would be better?

Again, not if she wants to do psychology. It's not 'hard' enough. Maths, a science, English - she HAS to choose from those subjects, or at least maths and history, geography - to be considered.

Seriously, given everything you've said about her study ethic and her not knowing what she wants to do, I'd even consider her leaving school after GCSEs, working in a few areas, and then using one of the routes into HE that have been mentioned if she discovers something she really wants to do.

It's a cliché but degrees don't come free with a packet of cornflakes. There's a lot of studying and a lot of cost. She really has to want to do it, not just drift into A levels then a degree.

BTEC extended diploma Vs 3 A-levels in decent academic subjects.

What do you think good universities would prefer?!

Don't let your DD go down the BTEC route if she wants to do a academic subject at a decent university.

From an admissions perspective its fine to have a mix of arts and science BUT the science must be there. For example my own A-levels years ago were Biology, Chemistry, English Lit (and general studies!). The Bio and Chem helped with the stats and research design, whilst the English Lit helped with writing the essays and use of research papers as source material. An A-level in Psych really isn't necessary to do the degree - although technically a science I do feel that other subjects help with the degree more. And any student who just regurgitates their Psych A-level essays in year 1 at our institution would be looking at failing, unfortunately - nowadays there really is a big step up.

I'm confused... if she wants to go to uni she needs to do 3 Alevels... like everyone else does.

It's not too much it's the BASIC MINIMUM.

She can get into uni via other means of course but I mean if she wants to do A levels then she needs 3

@babywenger as a travel journalist, a T&T a level would be worthless. She'd need English or journalism degrees, an NCTJ or equivalent and maybe a journalism Masters. Plus experience.

Thanks. Fair points. I get it but I don't think dd fully will. I think she has a grand idea of going down the psychology degree route but of course has no idea of what it entails. She has no experience of this so why would she? I really appreciate everyone's advice and she has quite a while yet before making any final decisions. Lets get her mocks out of the way first!
Thanks again.

Doing mental health nursing is a great way into psychology-type careers. Lots of choice of work area and ultimately a lot of therapy paths and interesting jobs. Without having to go through becoming a chartered psychologist.

@Poppyanddaisy55 - just reiterating that the British Psychological Association website is a good resource and very user-friendly - would she be willing to have a look at it?

Travel and tourism is not pointless. It’s also not easy, nor is all coursework based. However, I agree that a 3 level equivalent btec plus a level psych is too much.

She could do an Access course. I did Access to Humanities and two people went on to study psychology (one at Durham).

We would take Psychology, English, Sociology for BSc Psychology at my Uni (Psych lecturer here), but would be a bit wary of 3 social sciences. She is also closing doors if she tries three narrower subjects at A level and finds she doesn't like any of them. We don't insist on maths - GCSE at decent grades will do - but biology is a really good option, and would leave your options open.

I'm a psychology student. It's a very academic subject - lots of critical analysis, statistics and research. Best thing is to look at the entry requirements of the unis she's interested in. Psychology relates to the mind and behaviour. Some people confuse it for counseling - it is so much more! As long as she understands that it is a science degree, requiring a great deal of analysis, she may enjoy it. If she is interested in a career as a clinical psychologist, that will require a BSc followed by a doctorate. The doctorate is ridiculously competitive and you need a lot of experience to be accepted.

DD is just nearing the end of her psychology degree. She says more biology and statistics/maths at an earlier stage would have been helpful. Most of the people on her course didn't do a psychology a level.

Travel and Tourism has a dissertation at degree level and covers everything from LA provision to sustainable tourism throughout the world.
A level prepares you for this.
It is not just booking holidays like someone suggested to me.
It's a management course that you could transfer to any service sector industry too.

I got into university in 2003 with exactly one A level in psychology. Only got a B too!

Take her to open days etc. I know she's young, I was one of the youngest in the year. I actually did a year of another subject at uni before I realised it wasn't for me and that psychology was. I then spent 6 years studying psychology and still love it know. It is a big decision and it's okay not to get it right first time.

My son needed AAB for psychology at a Russell group university. His feedback is that statistics play a large part and he comments on how some have really struggled with this. It's a popular choice for foreign students and there does seem to be a fair degree of competition.

She defo doesnt want to do any more maths!

I'd strongly agree with what PPs have said that a psychology degree is very maths heavy. She should not underestimate this if she really doesn't want to do more maths.

I did a psychology degree and had A levels in Maths, further maths, psychology, and sociology. Having done the degree, I'd recommend maths, psychology and probably biology as A levels as there is also a fairly detailed biology element, for example, we had a module on vision/perception where we studied in detail the anatomy of the eye, and a module on movement where the central nervous system was studied. This was on top of detailed lectures on the anatomy of the brain, and how neurons work.

The sociology and criminology A levels she is planning on will give a good base for the more social psychology side of the degree, but for me that was a smaller proportion than the stats and biological side.

Maths,
Maths
Maths
That's what recommend for most subjects. Yes even English, because it gives you an edge post degree. So many jobs prefer 'maths to at least A level'.
I'm not a mathematician I should add. But have one DC who didn't do it and one who did, and her options are way wider!