Will choosing a non-academic subject at GCSE go against dd if she applies to do something like medicine in the future?

[BitOfFun]

She is a bright girl, won the History prize in year 8 of her state comp, and is now deciding on her options. She will do all the sciences, but the choice she is having trouble with is History versus Textiles.

Pros for Textiles- it's enjoyable, her friends are doing it, she will probably do quite well, and it's the only "creative" subject she would be doing.

Pros for History- she's really good at it, it's good for general knowledge, it's a solid academic subject. On the downside, she hasn't enjoyed the topics much this year, which will be focussed on further next year, and she finds the teacher she'll have a bit dull and uninspiring.

So, I have told her I will harness the wisdom of mumsnet for some perspectives- particularly if anyone knows if choice of GCSEs impacts on University options further down the line...

TIA

That is my concern. I think there is precious little chance to shine academically in her school with the subjects they offer: as with many comps, they want a broad curriculum of 'softer' subjects to up their 5 A-C pass rate for the majority.

GCSE History doesn't give you much of a good general knowledge Intergalactic - you largely focus on 3 or 4 periods or themes. I agree it is very good for critical thinking, evaluating sources, looking at what peopel say and thinking 'why did they say that? what are they trying to achieve?' etc

I think they are stimulating "arts" at medical school now. Just think it is sad to have to commit yourself at such an early age. Of course I'm all in favour of the 3 science subjects. But if she really likes textiles. (maybe I'm biased as I never liked history, and went to school on the continent and still ended up in one of the mentioned professions...)

www.ihse.qmul.ac.uk/cme/units/arts/index.html

She should do Textiles. So long as she's got all her sciences and maths (i.e separate sciences not combined) then it will work FOR her.
(For bright people most of GCSE History can be gleaned from general knowledge and reading but when will she have the luxury of be creative/constructive with fabric again?)
Had a doctor friend who told me that being a good doctor is an art not a science so let her creative side thrive!

She thinks she may want to do medicine. She has an idea that she wants to do something useful to society, despite all my efforts to persuade her to go for the big money and look after her pensionless mother in her old age

Whilst I usually would say go with you heart if she is serious about medicine then she needs to get some traditional rigorous subjects under her belt. IT, PE and PSE aren't that rigorous. She'll be us against those who have done Latin, Greek etc. History shows an ability to take text - primary and secondary - extract information, form argument and counter argument etc.

History every time. SHe can do sewing as a hobby at home.

I'd be inclined toward history tbh.

There's a student forum (TSR) that will give you a good indication of what "type" of GCSE subjects were taken by current/recent med students.

Thanks for all this input everyone- it's really helpful

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I'm a dr. Did GCSEs in 1995. I did Double Award Science (school only offered this, not 3 separate Sciences), Maths, Additional Maths, English, English Lit, Irish, RE, Geography & History.
Know that in my day weight was definitely given to GCSE result, but this might not be the case now given the advent of modular A-Levels.
It's weighing up which subject she'll enjoy more, & in which subject she'll achieve a better grade.
Looking back, I wish I'd done GCSE Art instead of Geography (always liked creative subjects, and am a psychiatrist, probably the least scientific specialty in medicine).
It's very admirable your DD wants to help people, but it is important that she realises medicine does not equate to big bucks (unless she works privately).

Yes, I don't think there is a fantastic amount of money in medicine- certainly not for the slog involved. I am sort of wishing I'd raised someone a little more acquisitive with an interest in Corporate Law at this point, I must admit...

RE/PE/IT and PSE (PSE??) doesn't seem like a great bag.

S'all relative. It's big bucks to many.

Couldn't she get rid of PE/IT or ideally PSE (again ??) and do textiles instead?

I wish. I think the RE is pretty good actually, and she's done some very thoughtful work in it. The PE can't be dropped as it's the school's speciality status thingy, and all pupils do PSE (it's not examined) so they don't get pregnant or something...

I wish it was more like in my day

You sound like a lovely parent, Bitof. All schools have to offer a 'broad and balanced curriculum' and maybe give her a bit of freedom to choose for herself as I don't think her whole future will collapse if she doesn't go for the more traditional subjects. And, as you can see, what might seem non-challenging to a 70s or 80s-educated parent (R.S?) can actually be wide-reaching, thought-provoking and hugely interesting and challenging...
Just make sure she does her homework and gets the grades...

Thanks for that, that's very reassuring.

oh I see. I thought PSE was an exam subject for her

That one isn't, no- just an add-on they all have to do, I think.

Can I ask how a GP's salary isn't "big bucks"?

Oh it is to me, gerontius- I've only ever earned minimum wage...I am just hoping for a very lucrative retirement . Seriously- I do think they are well renumerated, but I just worry about the stress and long hours for her; if it was up to me, she'd do something less scrupulous but with plenty of wedge IYSWIM. There must be jobs like that, no?

Disclaimer: I know bugger all about getting into medical school, or anywhere else for that matter

I'd have thought an understanding of various belief systems would be a jolly good thing for a doctor, dealing as they do with birth and death and wotnot.

Ummmm.... that doesn't help at all, does it? Who will her teachers be? I remember choosing Geography because I really enjoyed it and then finding out my teacher for the two years was going to be Mr W, who was my nemesis, aided by Mrs T who hated me only slightly less than Mr W did. Not good.

Oh and PE - don't they do a bit of physiology, or is it all about the rules of netball? If there is a bit of physiology thaen surely that's a good thing.

See - RE and PE are good things!

Once they've got through the admittedly arduous training, it's not that bad being a GP at the moment (I'm not one but several of my family and various friends are). They don't do long hours or on calls unless they want to, and there are lots of options for working part time. good pensions. good job security.

and for a "caring" job, an average salary of something like 120K is pretty good. With most other "caring" jobs you'd earn a fraction of that.

I think 120k a year is a great salary for most people, plus all the benefits on top mean its worth a lot more than that. I've never met a poor doctor once past the first few years of training...

I think you will have a lovely retirement