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Further education

You'll find discussions about A Levels and universities on our Further Education forum.

Original poster

Math, FM and...? lead to which types of jobs later

28 replies

lljkk · 20/10/2019 18:45

yr11 DS pondering which 3rd A-level to do from below list. Minded to do a math degree at Uni. Thinks he wants to do some kind of applied problem solving/modelling for future job. I was thinking the A-levels could facilitate future work in ...

Biology : population health models, genomics, epidemiology, health economics... more?

Physics : Physics, astronomy, geophysics, climatology, anything Bayesian... more?

Chemistry ... er, do math & chemistry go together? how?

Have you Any more ideas how math goes with the above subjects? Thanks for any insights.

OP posts:
ListeningQuietly · 20/10/2019 18:51

Accountancy
Management Consulting
Stock market analysis
Actuary
Investment analyst
IT data analysis

many of the highest paying jobs in the country are held by people with maths A levels plus a science, any science
and then a degree in that science or maths

Look up the MORSE course at Warwick for ideas

Original poster
lljkk · 20/10/2019 20:03

Thanks... I guess problem is DS has to choose one of those sciences so it would be nice if he knew what future job angles each one could unique offer (if any).

OP posts:
missmouse101 · 20/10/2019 20:06

Isn't it mathS? Hmm I take it you're in the UK?

BigFatLiar · 20/10/2019 20:14

How many A levels is he intending to do?
The best match for A level maths would I suspect be physics ( by the time you do the more advanced physics is pretty much maths)
I used to work in a research environment and one of the recruiters mentioned they`d rather recruit a mathematician than a scientist as mathematicians were flexible and could contribute to most areas.

CMOTDibbler · 20/10/2019 20:18

Unless he specifically prefers biology or chemistry, then physics would be the 'normal' third with Maths and Further Maths as they complement each other.

TBH, anything you study at A level is unlikely to be much use in choosing an area to do modelling in. From my experience (I'm a medical physicist working in industry) people will do a degree in a field (medicine, economics, physics) and then move into modelling from a development perspective from there if a knowledge of the subject area is needed.

Cuthbert1 · 20/10/2019 20:22

Will he just be doing 3 subjects or 4 (given that 2 are maths)? When I did A levels (admittedly now 20 years ago) almost everyone who did double maths did physics (it seemed daft not to as there was a big overlap) and one other subject - mostly that was chemistry but a couple of us did history.

In terms of future careers obviously it's still relatively early days for your DS but, for what it's, worth my further maths class ended up as an actuary, pilot, lawyer, engineer, IT consultant and urban designer amongst other things so quite a mix!

Original poster
lljkk · 20/10/2019 20:35

We interviewed a mathematician whose third A-level was history.
I guess DS will take advice, but he likes to understand where the choices lead him. That's why I was trying to understand practical applications that could connect back to his 3rd A-level choice now.

He's not totally firm on FM, I suppose I should add, he could do math+ 2 sciences.

I know how math can intersect with biology or physics, but wasn't sure if maths could easily intersect with chemistry.

OP posts:
BolloxtoGender · 20/10/2019 21:11

Maths intersects quite a bit with chemical engineering, which is more calculus and heat and mass balances, thermodynamics with chemical reactions.

errorofjudgement · 20/10/2019 21:12

Adding physics opens the door to many engineering degrees. My DS took double Maths, physics and chemistry when it was more usual to take 4 A levels followed by an
MEng Aerospace Degree. He now works in computer simulation and modelling in the aerospace industry in a cutting edge discipline.

Lara53 · 20/10/2019 21:25

My DS is Yr12 - studying Maths, Chemistry and Computing. Wants to do Computer Science Degree

Original poster
lljkk · 20/10/2019 22:03

Ta, thanks, I hadn't thought of chemical engineering.

OP posts:
Original poster
lljkk · 20/10/2019 22:03

...or materials science, I guess is similar.

OP posts:
Savingforarainyday · 20/10/2019 22:08

What does he like?

In my experience, many people who like maths / physics don't always like biology.

There are decent job prospects with any of those subjects.

How would he feel about math + 2 sciences?

If he wants to progress with physics, he needs math as well.

If he wants engineering, he needs maths and physics...

ExCwmbranDweller · 20/10/2019 22:19

Doing the rounds of universities at the moment with DS2 who wants to do maths, targeting some of the higher up unis for maths as well and so far none of them appear to care what your third subject is as long as you get a good grade in it. None of them have specified anything apart from maths/further maths for somewhere like Bath (they are asking A*/A for those two) or Swansea who want something like AAB or ABB and only specify that you have an A in maths. As for future careers what we've been hearing is that if you have a maths degree nearly all businesses will be interested in employing you so unless your son has a burning desire to be a Chemist he should go for what he enjoys. One of the admissions tutors had worked as a geologist and he said 'it's much easier to teach a maths graduate the geology required than teach a geologist the degree level maths'.

Obvious disclaimer being that all the people we've spoken to want people to apply to their uni to do maths!

Original poster
lljkk · 20/10/2019 22:22

DS says he has no preference, but says biology is easy. He's always telling me interesting biology things. Like how seedless oranges happen or how holly leaves get their spikes. DS never says interesting physics or chemistry facts. DD is doing biology A-level & never mentions interesting biology facts.

Yeah, wondering if math+2 sciences could be better, leave more options open, maybe.

Not an engineer mindset at all, but math has always been his thing. DS quite likes computing but .. we asked a yr13 how to choose which A-levels. The yr13 said his own logic was that computing is something you can usually pick up later, unlike the sciences. DS got a 7 in GCSE computing (end of yr10).

OP posts:
ExCwmbranDweller · 20/10/2019 22:23

As an aside DS2 is doing Maths, FM, Physics and Chemistry and now a lot of the Chemistry involves maths too. This evening his Physics homework actually covered the same maths he's been doing as part of Chemistry! It appears to all be circular at this level.

ExCwmbranDweller · 20/10/2019 22:25

And on the computing front all the maths degrees we've looked at at the unis have had some computing modules as either the basic degree or as one of the options later on. I think computing/programming is becoming an integral part of being a modern mathematician.

DoctorAllcome · 20/10/2019 22:27

What about economics?

DrDeluxe · 20/10/2019 22:34

If he prefers the science subjects would maths plus two science plus further maths as be an option? Not very up with stem subjects but might be an idea you haven't thought of.

DelurkingAJ · 20/10/2019 22:40

20ish years ago I did maths, further maths, physics and chemistry. I reckon it was the same content as three other A levels due to the overlap...exponential decay popped up in all of them, for example. I did a chemistry degree and PhD and used maths a lot (moles calculations, endlessly). I’m now an accountant but had many options because I was mathematically literate (and because there is still a snob value in some places where science A levels are seen as hard...I’m sure it’s untrue but it has been useful).

Mainly he should do what he loves. Rather 4 As in an unusual combination than 2As and 2Cs.

I would be surprised if he didn’t do four but maybe times have changed?

namechangenumber2 · 20/10/2019 22:41

Following with fascination as you could be writing about my also yr 11 DS.. Shock

Original poster
lljkk · 21/10/2019 18:59

Thanks for the replies.
Other than math he doesn't know what he likes best. This is a problem.

I can't see him doing economics, accountancy or engineering, though (fine careers that they are).

OP posts:
CMOTDibbler · 21/10/2019 19:19

I have to say that maths was never my 'thing' (although obv I was good at it) and it was finding biology fascinating but also loving physics that led me down the rabbit hole of medical physics. Over the years I've done monte carlo modelling, and also work with teams developing machine learning and AI as well as radiation dose modelling - but also have to really understand radiobiology and the immune system interactions with radiation.

I did maths, physics and biology A level - my school didn't offer FM, and it doesn't even seem to be a requirement for all maths degrees, so he could keep two sciences if he wanted

noblegiraffe · 21/10/2019 19:30

With my maths degree I was offered jobs in the pharmaceutical industry and banking. They didn’t care what A-levels I had.

MillicentMartha · 21/10/2019 22:53

Anecdotally, my colleague’s DD has just started at Exeter doing maths having done maths, physics and chemistry A levels. She’s finding it very hard. Most students on the course have done FM and the step up in pace and the different style has really thrown her.

Yes, you can do a maths degree without FM, but if your school offers FM, you should really do it if you want to do a maths degree, IMO.