A level choice for banking/trading : help please

[Parsley1234]

Son 16 wants to go into banking specifically trading he is thinking of taking Economics Politics and TPE.

Followed by a Gap year then either applying to Sandhurst Officer training, Uni but what to study or would he be better doing an apprenticeship in banking.

Please can anyone give me some advice as normally he would be at school getting help but now obviously not. Also if anyone could give attributes desirable that would help too

If he's got the grades then maths would be a very good idea.

@frenchfancy at his school he has to obtain a 9 to do A level maths and I think he is on target for an 8 hence Economics choice

Hi OP, what are his current grades like?
Is he an Oxbridge candidate?

If you're talking about city banking / trading then competition is high so he'd be looking to achieve more like 4 or 5 A'Levels.

My DH is 7 years into this career and took Maths, Economics, Politics, English and History A'Levels as well as General Studies.

Good university courses are PPE (v. Competitive) and Law. Definitely not an apprenticeship if he is aiming for high level trading.

It's all reliant on the CV standing out as full of extra achievements to talk about at interview and being spotless. At 6th form I'd encourage him to try to lead a society or two such as debating, business enterprise or SU, and become an ambassador or similar. Are there any business enterprise networks set up at the college he can get involved in? Other high level sporting or musical achievements and additional languages are looked on well if that applies to him.

Gap year is well spent working in a firm eg Law, and if he is travelling for part of it then it will be better for there to be a structured charitable endeavour or sporting achievement involved rather than simply backpacking. Otherwise gap year isn't hugely helpful.

it is a bit odd that he needs to get a 9 to continue with a subject. A 9 = A** and you generally only need to get an A in even academic schools. So that would be more like a 7, not a 9. Is he sure he needs a 9?

If he wants to go into banking, why is he even entertaining the idea of Sandhurst? It seems like a very roundabout way to do things.

I would recommend maths, FM and then two essay based subjects such as history, english and/or a language. Do not be tempted to take economics, business studies or law at this level

The key is to keep his options open. In two years time he may wish to do something totally different.

Watermelon53 err...yeah, nothing you are saying reflects anything that sounds even remotely familiar to us. DH board member of leading investment bank. DS in Equities. pretty much 1/2 - 3/4 of the people we know are in banking. OP - maths would be good. Esp in trading, it is all going mathematical. Has been for years. Yes, good uni is an advantage but computer science/maths/other numeric science from decent unis are also fine. He would benefit from getting onto a spring work experience in uni year 1. Internship during summer year 2. Gap years have absolutely zero negative impact on things. If he wants to travel, that is fine. If he wants to work or do something charitable, then that is fine also. Obviously, the more strings to his bow the better but don't freak out thinking that he will need 6 x A at A-Level. Literally NO one we know has and they are all at leading investment banks. Some didn't even go to uni. They started back office and impressed or some even were totally left field. One was a dance student who was studying in China. Ended up working at a very senior level at UBS. Most did economics/maths or the like at uni. Many routes.

Agree with everything @damnthatanxiety says. He will need Maths and preferably Further Maths. Economics and Law not so important at this point - he needs to be building a base of strong quantitative skills, not learning facts about the financial industry.

Humanities are also good as they will teach him how to synthesise knowledge.

He seems young to be interested in trading - most people I know followed a general interest in maths and picked it up later - though it's actually quite a flexible industry to get into if you have that kind of mind.

Maths, Economics plus something else eg Physics, a language or a humanity (including politics).

Avoid law at A-level - not generally well regarded.

@Watermelon53 @damnthatanxiety @MagpieWife
Thank you all for taking the time to reply. That is great food for thought and he will take more advice from people in here than from myself. He thought Sandhurst would stand him in good stead but maybe would be better getting a placement in the holidays from uni. Would any course be better than others ? I was thinking a sandwich course 3rd year abroad to gain language skills many thanks to you all for replying it’s completely out of my remit

Prestigious uni or a market stall

Since big bang, there have been lots of routes in. Does he really want to go to uni if he's not doing oxbridge?

@FinallyHere thank you for asking he is unsure which route to pursue hence my posting on here if I can get a broad idea I can give him the options and let him decide

@damnthatanxiety thanks for that "err" polite response.

Great that he's thinking about all this OP and I'm sure you are being v supportive. One other suggestion would be, if he can, to try and find an inroad to someone connected here, either through your contacts or through the 6th form colleges business networks etc and start contacting people and asking for a coffee over the next year. These sorts of things can be invaluable and then he would be receiving advice from the horses mouth as well, and not just opinions on here(!). If he can make a good impression and retain one or two key senior figures as mentors it would be really beneficial and he would be able to email them once a year to keep in touch and offer a brief update on his progress. These kinds of relationships often bear fruit if cultivated over a number of years.

Definitely maths + a language. You have to be bilingual to get into the good business schools if he wants an MBA at a later date.

Very few schools offer more than 3 A levels since the new linear courses were introduced. There are some sixth forms where pupils can start with 4 subjects but often one subject is dropped at the end of Y12.
There is an A level subject called Core Maths but not all sixth forms offer this.
General Studies is no longer available as an A level subject.

OP Friend of my brother had a great career in trading / city banking - Maths was the thing he focussed on - indeed - at school one teacher said to pupils if you want to end up doing Economics - or related - do maths. Others will be able to say better
I am sure the Sandhurst is brilliant but not entirely sure how that gets you a trading job. So My opinion is Maths but be sure you are good at it otherwise a top flight trading job may not be the thing for you ( one ) Please others say

Update on help needed.
My son looks likely to not get the grades required to carry on with maths or Economics this is down to him being a lazy crud and not academically challenged.
However the school rightly won’t take a chance on him so I need some help as how to best advise him - he is thinking TPE Politics and English or Class Civ Or Business the school is wanting him to do one CTec in Business.
I am so angry that he has been so lazy and despite repeated warnings has not taken heed and with COVID 19 wont be able to redeem himself. After 6th form he’s looking at gap year then apprenticeship probably not uni
Please be positive I’m feeling unable to advise

His school want very high grades for maths, is there an option to look at a college that might accept lower grades?

Was sort of grades is he expecting, realistically? And is he still interested in banking or trading?

@damnthatanxietythanks for that "err" polite response

Dont make stuff up then?

OP, has he researched in to the career? Any contacts?

What are his highest 3 grade predictions for gcse?

@Stillabitemo yes he is still interested and wanted to do economics but he has to have 7 in maths
@ITonyah highest will be maths TPE and Spanish and English 6 I would think
@lemmathelemmin he’s doing a gardening job and making good contacts with the people traders he’s working with

So Business, Politics and English A levels sound good?

If the highest he will get is a 6 then also BTECS are an option? They are great and good universities accept them.

My DD had a turbulent year in school and had dreadful mocks (dad dx with cancers) she went off the rails, had zero motivation but had started to work hard towards her exams. She was very upset at GCSE being cancelled. However her school have been fabulous, they know her and her capability and have allowed her to do A level Maths, Geography, Economics and Psychology. Can you not negotiate with the school given your DS predicted for Maths was an 8 previously. I am assuming your paying for his education as it is very unusual for state secondary to say you need a 9 to study A level maths. Our good state asks for a 7 in maths to progress to A level.

Sorry but I wouldn't recommend anyone taking 4 a levels particularly if they aren't predicted stellar grades.