A Levels - Maths, Law, Psychology/Politics

[WarningOfGails]

This is what DD wants to do at college. I’m very much of the mindset that she should do what she wants, but just wondering if there are any obvious pitfalls that I’m not noticing? She doesn’t know if she will go to uni or what she would do there. She is occasionally interested in law & would probably be good at this. She wants to make enough money to be able to keep a horse, that’s about as far as she’s got! She has predicted grades of 7-9s if she can pull it off (having a rocky time at the moment).

OH is academic teaching law at Russell Group uni. Generally speaking, they don’t esp recommend students to study Law at A Level. They like at least 2 fairly trad A Levels. Maths is an obvious good choice, Psychology likewise, Politics a bit softer. I’ve certainly heard it said that Politics is a less difficult option than History in the way that Business is regarded in relation to Economics. All this said, their own websites may not say above. However, if admissions teams are faced with 2 excellent UCAS personal statements and one student has studied English, History and Maths and the other Film Studies, Politics and Maths they tend to go for safe and familiar

Stepping aside from Russell Group, it makes less difference. Also, if Legal Executive or a modern apprenticeship is the chosen path, Law could be a really good option as a different vocational world view comes in. There is also something to be said for doing what you fancy and/or what you are good at

Maths is invariably an asset at A Level, so the first one is a very good choice, in my view.

A Level Law could be a trickier choice, as could Psychology and Politics.

As far as her GCSEs are concerned, which subjects does she enjoy most? These are likely to be the subjects she is best at. One of them might be a better fit.

At the moment she doesn’t seem very likely to go to university, although she’s academically able she has not enjoyed secondary school at all & I think she can’t wait to get out. Hopefully college will be a better experience. So at the moment if she thinks about professions such as law it would an apprenticeship pathway.

Her favourite subjects are history and English Lit… I would much prefer her to take Maths, History and English than her combinations, but also aware that I have a snobby academic bias (being truthful!) that is probably not helpful…

I'm pleased that English is one of the subjects she enjoys.

I was going to suggest that English would be a good A Level for her.

I think that your suggested combination of Maths, History and English would be a useful combination for working in the legal sector later on. They are also the subjects she enjoys.

I went to Oxbridge with A level law, and got offers from all of my choices. However, some of the Russell group are incredibly snobby about A level law it: I walked out of one open day because the course leader was terrible about it, saying clearly I will not be a good match for your institution then so I won't waste either of our times.

I would invite her to consider a traditional academic subject over psychology/politics/sociology such as history or english lit, in case she does want to go to a RG for law or indeed become a lawyer down the line as the Bar, top firms etc will consider A levels.

However, I would also advise against a law degree if she's not 110%. Do a "more fun but still academic" degree (history, PPE, politics etc) and take the pain of all of the compulsory qualification subjects in a year on the GDL if that's what she decides she wants to do. Law degrees are a lot of work and pretty dull and there's not much advantage to having one over the conversion course.

If have seen that she is not thinking about uni right now, but after a gap year/seeing some of her probably less bright friends go/ the reality of the jobs available to her that may interest her without a degree, her views may shift.