Child's weird choice of A-level subject switch

[JudithS]

Hi, seeking advice on how not to be one of those interfering parents! My child recently started sixth form college, choosing digital media production, history and Classical Civilisations, but always said she wasn't sure if she would like Classical Civilisations and might switch, which they can do in the first few weeks. I was quite happy with that.

At the weekend, she said she definitely wanted to drop Classical Civilisations and she and I discussed whether she might do music, which was her official back-up subject, or drama & theatre studies. She went to talk to her personal tutor today and now she is doing.... English literature!

I just don't get it: two days ago she was saying she didn't like studying literature or writing too many essays and that she doesn't read much and rarely finishes a book. I don't know if she was flattered/coerced into it because Eng.Lit. was her top GCSE grade? She had a discussion yesterday with her personal tutor, the English tutor and the careers advisor and I fear she might have been given the same kind of misinformation that I was when I was that age (long story, ancient history and I shouldn’t project).

It seems she has been told that English Literature is a good subject for getting a place at a top university, which is not something she has ever mentioned before. I told her my brother had gone to Cambridge without English Literature and she said 'But it's a traditional subject for getting into a good university', whatever that means.

This is completely out of the blue two days after she said she wanted to do something creative. English Literature just seems such a boring, bland, nothing subject – though perhaps someone here has done it for A-level and can convince me otherwise? She got decent GCSE results all round, nothing stunning but there were only two subjects on the sixth form college prospectus she was excluded from so why on earth pick this.

Obviously I am trying to tread carefully and not nag or be annoying and counterproductive but I don't think it is going to challenge or stimulate her (and she especially dislikes poetry). Any advice or should I just back the F off?

Thanks

English lit is a great A level to do, I did it and the texts we studied were interesting and diverse. Music is very difficult to get a high grade in and drama isn’t going to look good on a Uni app is it

But she has never shown an interest in university before.

It is very unusual to see threads where the DC wants to take the more traditional, sensible route through education and the parent is trying to convince them to do something unrelated to their other choices and more creative. She has one "fun" choice already, which compliments History and English Lit well.

Let her keep drama as a hobby and have a go at the more academic route that you, personally, didn't like.

Ok, so some projection here. You hated literature so you expect your daughter to hate it too. You felt that you were impeded by lack of practical/vocational/applicable skills so your daughter must do a course that includes these.

Incidentally, not really sure what practical/vocational/applicable skills a music or drama A level will provide unless she specifically wants a career in either? Yes, she will be able to evidence soft skills such as team building but she can do that anyway through her out of school theatre group.

If you want your DD to develop these skills, why not encourage a part time job through sixth form, summer work experience and a part time job through university (if she goes, and this is often a necessity anyway). Employers will still be unimpressed if literally all a person has done is get A Levels and then go to university. I don't think having a music A Level will change this opinion.

So what has she shown an interest in?
Her original choices had 2 very solidly academic choices (Classical Civ and History). What was she hoping to do with these? They don't naturally lend themselves to something like an apprenticeship at 18.

You clearly have issues with English literature and its seeping through.

She probably realise her history and civilisations choices were very similar

Yeah. Unless it's in a museum?

English Lit is a super A level but you need very good teachers and a passion for reading.

I also did law at a Russell Group Uni I’d say 60% of my friends had done English Lit

OP, you are saying some really odd things.

I actually don't know where to start but... put it like this, taking your advice would be a bad idea for your daughter. As it is, it sounds like she is doing normal A Levels for normal reasons and she should continue.

Same

I think if your daughter is anything like my daughter , teaching staff can have a really positive (or negative!) influence on subject choices…it’s sounds like she is getting some inspiration from her teachers or peer group to maybe aim for things that she hasn’t considered before? I likewise was a bit shocked at mine choosing Eng lit but I realised I had misperceptions of what the subject actually entails…there’s a lot of analysis as well as learning to develop your own thoughts and express your own opinions which is good for any role in life really. I think her subjects go really well together.

It’s an incredibly valued A-level! You learn a lot! Like I said I did a Law degree at an RG uni with it OP. I know lawyers who did English Lit as a degree then a law conversion. It’s excellent, at times mind blowing. You learn so much.

Eng lit is a top-notch A-level, and is respected by universities above more modem A levels. It keeps more doors open. Be positive about it despite your prejudice and support her choice.

English Literature just seems such a boring, bland, nothing subject

As an English teacher, this breaks my heart! It's a wonderful, fascinating subject. And A-Level is when you begin to bring in literary theory so touch on feminism etc. It is a good, solid academic subject but it also sets you up for life to be able to enjoy and discuss literature and the arts.

If your DD is studying history then she must know that:
you don't believe just one source, you need a range
you have to examine each source, to find its bias(es)
you are then armed with a lot of data, on which you can make a judgement.

Suggest that she uses this technique. Speak to teachers, parents, uncle Cambridge, parents-of-friends, Year12 who are currently doing Eng Lit, Year 13s who are currently thinking about Next Steps, etc ,etc.

Shes right:eng lit is a good solid subject and she will be taken more seriously by better institutions with a good grade in english literature.

She should drop the media thing 100% and replace with drama or music. Then she'll be in a decent position for getting into a good uni, if thats what she wants, and it seems like she does.

What speaking other languages hasn’t helped you in area? How odd, they’ve been abundantly helpful to me. I couldn’t do my current job without them.

You’d have been on the same level as your peers who went to university, so that’s an odd comment. And importantly you had a degree and there are many posts that cannot be applied for without one.

Your DD doesn’t have to go to uni, she could do an apprenticeship instead but she still needs good A levels.

Posters should realise that drama and theatre A level is now a thoroughly well respected A level offered by top schools with high Oxbridge output and is no bar to Oxbridge and top red bricks.

Not relevant to OP but worth pointing out.

I would say that her careers advisor and personal tutor probably know more about her strengths/weaknesses/preferences AND potential future education/employment opportunities than anyone on this thread. It seems like she’s spoken to a few people and considered her options, and made a sensible decision.
But at the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter. If she gets to the end of A levels and decided she wants to go in a completely different direction then she can do a foundation course. As long as she’s interested in the subject she’ll be fine.

I wouldn't: they known her for less than 2 weeks (she didn't meet her personal tutor straight away) and two of them were meeting her for the first time, and briefly. She told three days ago she didn't like English literature. She said she wants to do something creative. She has never shown interest in university even though she know it's an option.

I'm curious: What career paths does English Lit open up?

Is it possible that DD has avoided telling you she likes English Literature due to your obvious complete disdain for the subject?

If these are people meeting her for the first time, it's odd for them to suggest English Lit and to persist in pushing it if DD just says "no not interested".

I am a bit puzzled as to why DD is doing A Levels at all if she wants to do something creative and has no interest in university.

No, I said the literature elements haven't helped me.

No, I have never voiced 'disdain' for the subject, I have kept my opinions to myself, but she has told me she doesn't like it, as recently as three days ago. She is not afraid to tell me what she thinks, to say the least. She would be afraid to tell authority figures at a new college though. She is doing A-levels (one is actually a Cambridge certificate) because she couldn't see a job or apprenticeship she fancied. She looked round the art and tech colleges but didn't like the campuses (they are very gloomy).