Dd wants to do a levels in geography, politics, English lit

[Worriedagainmum]

She has no real idea what she wants to do with these land it worries me she has no plan

I did English, History and Sociology. Went to a top uni, got a politics degree, now work in communications. The grade is more important and demonstrating the ability to learn and show that you can write and be analytical.

Most people don't have any idea what they'll do with their A-levels. Let her do the subjects she wants to do. Those subjects are a sensible mix and would be a good stepping stone to numerous degree courses at university. She doesn't really need to know what she wants to do yet, just generally what subject areas she's interested in. You're over-thinking this and stressing about it when there's really no need.

I did English Lit, History and French at A-level, then English at university and I now work in communications. At no point when choosing my A-levels did I think 'Hmmm, what will I 'do' with these subjects?' Most careers really aren't like that.

You are not serious, are you?

I would suggest she drops the English Lit and does Economics. These would all tie together nicely.

And two of my ex-colleagues who are lawyers did arts / languages degrees and are getting on very well now. They both got firsts and did conversion courses. The main thing was getting a good degree, and to get into good courses you need good a-level marks.

She doesn't need to know what she wants to do as a career to be able to pick A levels. I didn't know and I picked things I would be interested in (Business Studies, Psychology and Travel & Tourism) - originally thinking I wanted to go into tourism. A few months into college and doing business studies I knew then I wanted to go into human resources and now work in that.

My DH went to college thinking he wanted to be a doctor, chose Biology, Chemistry and Maths. After a year of struggling through the sciences he dropped them to then finish his Maths alongside Accounts and Economics (stayed at college for total of 3 years). He's an accountant now.

We both had strong realisations of what we wanted to do/what we were good at during college. She has chosen some sensible options.

Why on earth are you worried? Those are 3 good strong A levels

Oh give over. You have sprinkled this fairy dust on several threads now.

Why "needlessly difficult"? Does she struggle with those subjects? If they're the ones she enjoys, they probably won't be any more difficult than anything else for her. Future-wise, there's a huge variety of science degrees, as well as the sorts of degrees which don't worry too much about A-level subjects. If she does an EPQ then that can demonstrate ability to write at length.

(DD is doing Maths, Chemistry and French - all are subjects often labelled on Mumsnet as "hard", but they're the ones that come most naturally to her and that she enjoys.)

Agree that humanities will get you into accounting but it's a good idea to show numeracy beyond GCSE. Could she drop politics in favour of maths? Maths A level will set you up for many jobs and she could still study either English or Geography or politics at University.

Not remotely my experience

She needs to do subjects she enjoys but also ones she’s good at. Usually the two things go together so she should be fine.

DD1 didn’t know what she wanted to do even when applying for uni so stuck to her favourite subject, did a degree in it and then got a graduate job she didn’t even know existed until it came up.

Nonsense. My niece with a history degree had a choice of four good job offers before she left university

I have someone at work (a bloke) who acts like this. I'm a frump so it's not attraction.

He's just a dick. I'm overly nice to him and make a point of chatting to him- it amuses me no end.

You don't have to like everyone at work but basic courtesy to all is essential.

It's him, not you

Wrong thread!

I must tell that to my sons friends who have just accepted JP Morgan, KPMG and Glaxo internships with the history and politics degrees

I wouldn’t recommend maths a level to anyone who doesn’t “naturally “ get the subject and with an 8/9 at GCSE in it. Dd2 got a 9 but still struggled with A level. (Ds annoyingly finds it too easy but I never understand how we made him when we both scraped through our maths o levels)

Geography A level includes Physical Geography (Earth Sciences), Human Geography (Social Sciences) and Introduction to Fieldwork. It’s a science A level with experience in practical data gathering.

What a nice combination! Good luck to your DD.

I could never decide quite what I wanted to study. I did far too many A-levels, read a joint honours degree (I pursued both paths to PhD level), and am currently half-way through my third undergrad degree (it's my hobby). Am I successful? I've had a very satisfying career teaching subjects I enjoy, although I probably could have earned a lot more had I prioritised that. Did I know what I wanted to do? I still don't, and I'm nearing retirement... Everyone's path is different!

They are fine for a broad range of degree topics.
She would be unlikely to get onto a science based degree but would a geography degree as most sciences need minimum of 1 of the main 3. Some count geography but as a second.

Those are good solid A Levels! Unless she wants to go into medicine or accounting or something that needs maths and sciences?

I think with humanities it doesn't matter what you do as long as you don't want to do STEM at university. If STEM you must do maths and usually further maths and maybe physics.

It's difficult when they don't really know what they want to do.

My DD did a gap year after a levels and completely changed her course and uni as she had some space to really think about what she wanted to do/career.

These days it's really important to think about careers early on as there's no point in going to university and getting into debt if you want to work in something that doesn't require a degree.

A levels are just a stepping stone to the next thing - a degree.

I can't tell you the number of people I work with now - Academia - who became accountants, lawyers, even doctors, architects and left because they hated it

That's a great set of A-levels and will set her up nicely for a variety of university courses and, in turn, professions/jobs. Chill!

@barneshome your advice is wrong speaking as someone who works in graduate recruitment and has done for 20 years.

Graduate recruiters value a large range of skills and aren’t that bothered about subject areas unless it’s very specific like medicine or engineering. 80% of graduate recruiters take from any discipline.