A level choices

[Butterfly44]

Confirming A level choices mine definitely wants to do Psychology, Biology and is toying between putting down sociology or media studies. At uni she's hoping to do something psychology based. Looking at course content and both exams are essay writing and analytical. She's veering towards media studies as she's interested in how media affects peoples mindsets and the creative element. I know historically it's been looked as a 'soft option' but wondering if it still is today?

DD didn't find psychology particularly maths heavy either.

It is more so at degree level.

@Dumbledoressister

I think media studies is still a soft option tbh but then I'd put sociology into that bracket too. If she's dead set on either then it'd have to be sociology.

Why?

Because sociology is on the Cambridge list of preferred subjects? Media S is not.

@TizerorFizz

Because sociology is on the Cambridge list of preferred subjects? Media S is not.

So? It's perfectly possible to go to other universities, and get a job after. It's time we stopped trying to prepare all students for the same outcome

And I dint think op dd is aiming there anyway.

@spotcheck
I didn’t say it wasn’t. However the op asked what was best. Sociology for a number of reasons. The Cambridge view just proved the point.

I’m not preparing a student for the same outcome as hardly anyone gets into Cambridge and very few get to be psychologists. We know being a psychologist is hugely competitive so going to the best universities probably pays dividends. Also for the many thousands who study psychology there does need to be consideration about what they might do with the degree because, for huge numbers, being a psychologist isn’t one of them.

@TizerorFizz

But what does 'best' mean if the student doesn't enjoy it as much, but doesn't get the grades?

Or what if she's still exploring subjects, and would like to see if media is right for her?

Well that’s just part of decision making for any subject. The question was best for the course at university. Sociology is best out of the two subjects for that course. If if was a media studies course then media studies would be best.

My daughter is planning on; English, history, biology and core maths. I thought it seemed a bit odd but apparently it’s a good mix?

Good mix for? Lots of things!

@TizerorFizz

Good mix for? Lots of things!

To me?

Well she’s thinking of teaching (I know it’s not popular in here). But think the head of sixth form meant it was a good mix of subjects? I wondered if a random science was good but he said it was?

@Tulipvase
Biology private kg doesn’t require maths if she wants to study that subject. History and English stand alone as subjects but of course are a great combination for lots of other subjects. Personally I would do my own research and not take the advice of a teacher and she will need to decide what degree and what to teach. Thousands of people do decide to teach and we also know that high quality teaching makes the biggest difference to DC. Especially in deprived areas.

My typing is atrocious?

I meant to say: I don’t know if a biology degree requires maths. Probably not so that’s a possible degree.

Most biology degrees would want a second science, ideally chemistry.

The combo @Tulipvase's DD is going for would be fine for English or history, though, or something like archaeology, anthropology, human sciences, psychology, etc.

I checked out biology degrees recently and there’s enough that dont require a second science.
Does she know what she wants to teach? Secondary?

@Rummikub - You're right. Psycology counts as the 2nd science. My DD has offers to study biology in Sept from Nottingham, York, Loughborough, Sheffield & Sheffield Hallam, with A Level Biology, Pyschology, PE & Core Maths.

Great offers @Heifer

Where will she pick? I’d recommend she checks out the ones that offer placements and what specialisms are available in final year.

@Rummikub - funilly enough she is going to look at the fine print again for all offers just to double check everything before Firming this weekend. Curent favourite is Nottingham (AAB) with York as Insurance (BBB). The plan is to apply for work placement once there (can't apply beforehand for those 2). For the others she applied for 3 yrs Bsc + work placement. She is then interested in doing a Masters for Clinical Scientest with NHS (very competitive so will need a plan BC/D :-)

Family members told us that DD had to take A Level Maths & Chemistry as she is academic (ie not PE or Pschology). Bottom line is that she was unlikely to get an A in Maths or Chemistry so if she had taken their advice she wouldn't be going to uni to study Biology at all. Play to your strenghts/interests but DO check that those subjects will get you onto the courses you're you might be interested in.

Good research.
Yes it’s very competitive. I think there’s a clinical practice unit that’s important to have when seeking those sort of jobs.

Could she read up on Sociology and see if she thinks she’ll like it? I did it for O and A level and then went to university to study it. It’s quite theoretical at A level and I found it harder than the first year of my Sociology degree.

Thanks @TizerorFizz, @Ellmau and @Rummikub

She is thinking primary at the moment but I think that is because she has has seen how the older children behave! I wonder if secondary has more scope for progressing?

If she were to teach secondary, then I think it would be history or English. Also not sure whether to go for a 4/year teaching degree or do a PGCE afterwards…. Plenty of time to decide though.

Primary pgce is more difficult to get into. So I’d say consider the 4 year option.
Look into shortage subjects too.

When I was a governor we looked at students who had done very well in their teaching practice. Nearly all were PGCE.

Primary has plenty of profession available if you are good snd want extra responsibility. However as the schools are general it smaller, salaries for SLT are less. Therefore secondary ultimately pays better if you get to the top. You have to really want it though.

Thanks both.

Progression - not profession!