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

Those criticising this choice of subjects might like to check out the employability league tables where Geography features quite highly. The A level can lead to further study of either Physical Geography or Cultural Geography at university. Physical Geography encompasses all sorts of important research topics including climate change, environmental threat, conservation studies etc. Cultural Geography can include planning, the effects of environmental change on societies, social deprivation etc. English lit will enhance writing skills and analysis of texts and politics will combine well with these subjects. It's important to study subjects that engage the student and parental interference isn't really helpful, especially if it's based on limited knowledge.

Good mix of subjects, showing - as previous posters have said - a nice range of useful transferable skills. Even more important at age, 16 if your DD enjoys them and therefore works hard, she's likely to get good grades.

Cannot say strongly enough how I disagree with barneshome. Doing almost anything very well (good 2.1 or 1st) at a high-ranking university shows that the student has brains and application and an ability to handle, analyse and communicate data. Just what an employer wants! Ideally with some interesting other activities - music, drama, art, sport, voluntary service etc etc as well. Targeted-to-a-job advanced numeracy - if required - can be learned later as necessary at catch-up courses. A willingness to do this always helpful.

FWIW, I did humanities. I now have a good career. My university classmates include academics, a very high-ranking diplomat, people in publishing (director level), several senior civil servants, a national newspaper journalist, lawyers, social workers, teachers etc etc. I'd defy anyone to call any of them 'soft'.

I did geography economics and politics. Good Alevels to do. Just get as high grades as possible in them, she will do just fine.

Obviously not, but the argument that it’s a social science ignores the fact that it straddles both ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ science.

I think the AQA syllabus picks the water cycle exactly so students can see how physical and human geography interact. Plate tectonics is Edexcel.

I'm not trying to convince you, I'm telling you what it's classified as! Geography is a social science. It's looked after by ESRC (Economic and Social sciences), the British Academy (humanities and social sciences), and AcSS (social sciences). It's a social science!

Rubbish. Physical geography is a STEM subject and is heavy on the maths, chemistry and biology. Hence why there is a 25k PGCE bursary for it as there are better options outside of teaching.

Sorry quoted the wrong person. That was in the response to the humanities post!

Plate tectonics is Edexcel.

I'm pretty sure that DD covered plate tectonics in her AQA geography A level in 2018 when they did natural hazards.

No it’s not. At degree level geography is a STEM subject. Physical geographers are in demand. Geography crosses the boundaries, physical geography is pure STEM.

It's a great mix. With geography and politics loads of careers will be open to her, she's chosen a great mix.

My daughter did a similar mix and studied urban planning, did a masters and her MRTPI and at 29 earns a lot of money at a London planning consultancy. The money is secondary as she really enjoys her job. Lots of different projects and opportunities to specialise.

I'm not trying to convince you, I'm telling you what it's classified as! Geography is a social science. It's looked after by ESRC (Economic and Social sciences), the British Academy (humanities and social sciences), and AcSS (social sciences). It's a social science!

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No it’s not. At degree level geography is a STEM subject. Physical geographers are in demand. Geography crosses the boundaries, physical geography is pure STEM

Its uniquely both a social and physical science. On our degree programmes at uni level we offer both BA and BSc variants. The student can decide whether to take a more physical or human route through the discipline (or a mixture).

I think that is an excellent mix. Geopolitics is a growth area and having the linguistic skill to write reports on it or to market responsible, ethically sourced sustainable products - these skills will be in demand and could lead to interesting work.

This is the Geography benchmarking statement

www.qaa.ac.uk/the-quality-code/subject-benchmark-statements/geography

One thing I would note is that all three subjects are (I think - not sure about geography) quite “essay heavy”.

Two possible problems with this from observing friends doing these types of subjects (I did STEM so not an expert):-

1. A lot of people seemed to hit “essay fatigue” about Easter of Lower Sixth when they were just completely fed up of writing. Usually got over it but it was a miserable time.
2. You need to be organised! In maths you do exercise 6 in class on Monday then exercise 7 for homework. Then exercise 8 in class on Tuesday etc etc etc. But in an essay based subject you often have an essay to write for a week on Friday. Which is fine unless you leave it until Thursday night and have two due in the next day!

At degree level, some unis (eg. Bristol have Geog as a BSc). Durham, UCL and other unis allow you to choose whether it's a BSc or BA (depending on modules). LSE offer a purely human Geog course only. Bath Uni have a BA - 'International Development with Economics' which is basically Human Geog BA. At Oxford and Cambridge it is a BA. The Cambs Geog BA course outline is below -

The Oxbridge BA doesn’t mean it is at all arts based. Everything is BA. (Including my maths degree and dh’s engineering degree.) (They are just a bit weird.)

You missed out NERC.

This is all true and a good caveat.

Two of those subjects have coursework, which is generally a good thing but also requires significant workload management.

Better to do subjects she enjoys . Its half the battle .

if STEM you must do maths and usually further maths and maybe physics

This isn't true for a lot of biology related degrees you need a second science what is accepted as that is uni specific but many accept Geography as a second social science. I say this as a biology graduate who didn't do maths A level! All courses teach a variation on maths for at least 2 years as you need statistical analysis

She would be better off doing History rather than Politics

if STEM you must do maths and usually further maths and maybe physics

No, there is no must about it, especially if doing biological sciences as @Scottishskifun has pointed out. DD did biology, chemistry and geography at A level, then biomedical sciences at degree level, achieving exceptionally well in all of them. She last studied maths as a separate subject in year 11.

Some of DCs friends were miserable doing A levels because they took subjects based on what their parents decided. Some really struggled and had to change course half way through or did not attain the grades they needed for uni. They are unlikely to get good A levels in subjects that they hate.

Amazing for eco politics - if she did add biology, at a level, she could go into eco sciences and become a badass conservation specialist and advise Parliament.