How to choose A levels when unsure of future career

[doglover]

Our dd is in Y11 and we've just started visiting sixth form colleges. She's in a bit of a quandary over what to study and I suggested that we canvas some MN views ...........

Her definite is Eng Lit and her other possibilities include: sociology, RE, Eng Lang and maybe music or history.......

She's a bright girl and wants to continue to university but doesn't yet know what she wants to study for her degree or do as a career. How should we advise her? Contact potential universities to ask about which subjects are acceptable? We know that most of her preferred subjects aren't on the 'facilitating' list so will that automatically exclude her from applying to decent unis?

Please advise! TIA

It really depends on what her aim university-wise is.

Looking at the list you gave, I would say she could perhaps do with a more "sciencey" subject - not essential but will make her look more well rounded.

History would be a good choice I think.

I'd get her to think carefully about career choice. A levels really dictate what degree or universities you can apply for, I'd certainly avoid the list of other possibilities you've listed.

I'd def include a science but avoid eng lang and lit as separate a levels as too alike. My school advised me to choose what interested me and what I was good at which is actually rubbish advice when it comes to applying to uni as the combination is really important.

As example I did English, biology and history. They seem well rounded but for example when I decided on science for uni, no one told me that most good universities require two science a levels for entry to a science degree. Same for many medical subjects.

And without being over negative I'd choose her uni subject very carefully, my neighbour has a first class degree in English from Cambridge plus years of work experience and is still working in a book shop 3 years later. For the debt uni accumulates, I'd really consider vocational degrees with a guaranteed income. I did science and from just one uni 130 people graduated wih the same degree. That's a hell of a lot of competition. (Sorry I know that's not your original post. I just wished I'd had better school advice)

Thanks for the advice. It's really tough, isn't it?! There's no way she'd be persuaded to study maths or any of the three sciences, I'm afraid.

I know what you mean about people saying 'choose what interests you' JT12, because making an uninformed choice now could adversely affect her future opportunities.

Ahhhhhhhhhhh!

Psychology or geography? Has she done volunteering/ worm experience to know what she does or doesn't enjoy?

It looks like she's not tending towards science so I wouldn't force anyone to do science just for the sake of doing science at uni especially if there's no intention!

From your suggestions, I would go for history definitely. How about math? Math is very important, and frankly, is very easy to score an A as long as you practice. I did it granted 20 years ago... I'm not at all mathy and in fact failed math for most of my a level years. But managed to buck up and scored an A. Really. In them days too!

I'm an academic, and I have done university admissions. I would definitely suggest you go for a more traditional sort subjects...

I did a B.Ed course which prepared me for teaching so I can understand what you mean by a vocational degree.

Maybe we should contact school and get some careers advice. We have talked to them before but they've been pretty wishy-washy.

Whoops. Cross posted about math. It is so incredibly important though. And psychology - also has numbers in it... Like stats. I know, it isn't the same, but at a level, it could still be construed as similar as they contain numbers. Psychology, history and lit sounds good though. More solid and reliable than say media studies.

This is really interesting. Lots to consider here. We need to do a lot of research about careers and uni entrance.

LOL @ getting worm experience to do Geography.

Don't do Lit and Lang - that's overkill.
History and/or Geography are good subjects. As is RE, though you have to look closely at the spec to see which syllabus the school has chosen: bible studies or philosophy?

dd1 doesn't know what she wants to do and has ended up choosing A levels that sounded interesting. She's in year 12 and is doing English Lit, Spanish, Philosophy and Ethics and Sociology. Lots of essays, but she is enjoying it so far :)

I would suggest you think about the subjects that she hopes to read at university... And also the type of university. When I say that I mean not necessarily in terms of ranking but more in terms of location (big city like London, Manchester, or more town like eg Sussex or Kent), and the feel.

Some places are big names but your dd might just feel v lost in them.... Other places are quite vocational and that's not bad especially if what she likes to do is vocational. So there are places which are known for teacher training, but not much else. Other places are more well known because of sciences so if you go there to do history, that's not a great dept.

Rankings are one thing (like ofsted) but you need to get the feel too. My son (very young still) is at what is deemed to be a pushy academic school by the locals. (It's state). But we like it. It suits us but more importantly it suits him.

It's the Ethics and Philosophy syllabus, Senua. My dd loves discussions and debate so this really appeals to her.

Hi Op it is tricky isn't it.
We are in same situation with DS. He has no idea what he wants to study at Uni and doesn't have many interests or hobbies really.
He is quite bright, but it's difficult to judge as he goes to a selective school where all the kids seem pretty academic. He is around the middle of his year group.
He thinks he might like to take A level chemistry & biology but not maths ( so that rules out physics) he is ok at maths though. He thinks maybe psychology & economics as his other 2 choices. What can he do at Uni with those?
Op I don't think the schools are much help (especially if you are intending to leave and go to a 6th form college)
We all want the best for our kids, but I feel completely hopeless with this.
I Wish you & your daughter well.

That's good advice about thinking about the sort of uni she'd prefer. I would imagine that a campus-type set-up would suit her best - but she may surprise us!

Maybe some uni visits would be a sensible idea.

Difficult. Does she have any worm experience under her belt ( I'm always going to call it that now) and how did she feel about it? Does she do any extra curricular activities that suggest which way she might be inclined? TBH if she doesn't she perhaps needs to.

Since she definitely wants to do a strong analytical essay subject (English Literature) presumably she likes extended writing. History would allow her to explore that further in a different field and the two do go together well, especially if she can do some history work that is around the same period of the literature she is studying.

Would she consider a language - a great fit with history? If not, then I would press for Music because it's a very different subject but demanding and requires more analysis, as well as having a mathematical element (don't tell her that...)

She could also start Sociology AS at the same time which would give her a bit of statistical vocab in case she carries on with history?

Thank you, Chickydoo! We're feeling pretty isolated at the moment so it's rather reassuring to hear that others are in the same predicament.

Good luck to us all!

I'd contact a few uni and request their current prospectus or look online for ideas. A language is useful if not maths or science orientated.

It's been a few years since I left but I agree with poster above, go for traditional subjects e.g maths, history, geog, English rather than newer or less academic ones - if uni don't rate them or know about them, then they're unlikely to feature in their criteria which would make them a wasted choice.

Thanks, JOA. Her work experience was in a library which she enjoyed but I'm not sure that this would be a career choice!

I think you're right to positively 'push' history as a rigorous but well-regarded subject.

She loves music GCSE but I'm not sure if she's up to it at A level........

She's currently hating French!!

Ooops just saw worm experience! some good advice here!

OK what did she like about the library work? Interesting colleagues, responsibility, dealing with the public, handling money, answering queries, pleasant environment...?

She enjoyed the variety of tasks that was given to do - pretty much all of the things mentioned in your list! - are you a librarian?!

She does love being surrounded by books and other media and converses well with a good cross-section of society. She was highly praised by her 'colleagues' and still volunteers each month to help out with a children's book club.

Personally I did English, maths and politics. At that age I didn't know what I wanted to do, but thought those three would leave my options open. My caveat is that I had no interest in the sciences.

Politics was my 'fun' choice, the one I had as a hobby iyswim. I think choosing two out of three of science, maths amd english leaves your options open and the third can be a passion choice. (I started on computer programming and then moved to politics).

I think your idea of asking a couple of uni's what they consider is brilliant BTW.

Thank you, JS.

So difficult to know what to do!

I'm off to bed now but will check thread tomorrow for any further gems!

I have a DD who has just started in Yr12. She has chosen English Lit, Geography, Sociology and Philosophy & Ethics. It's a combination which requires a love of essay-writing but there's considerable common ground which is nice. She intends to choose one of those subjects (but probably not Sociology) for a degree, and then to train to teach in a secondary school.