Which A level for Politics degree

[stilldumdedumming]

I wonder if anyone can help here. My ds was ill as a child and more or less home educated. He's pretty academic though and very dedicated. So far he has an English GCSE grade A, and 2 A levels Politics A grade and Sociology B grade. He tends to study without tuition as it's very expensive. So he just sits the exam.

He should complete a Cert HE this year at a specialist music college. He has no music grades - so no UCAS points there.

So he would like to do a politics degree and thinks he will need another A level (I know his GCSEs are not enough but he's hoping that will be ok).

What third subject could he do? It needs to be exam only as getting non exam coursework marked is a pain and expensive (otherwise he would do English).

Any thoughts at all?

Do not do psychology it is not respected by the top unis or employers

This point of view is out of date @justaladyLOL, as is the idea of "facilitating subjects"

Psychology is accepted as a third A level at medical schools as well as top universities.

Psychology is accepted as a third A level at medical schools as well as top universities.

Psychology is accepted as a second A-Level (i.e. alongside chemistry or biology) by several medical schools.

Not relevant to this discussion, I know, but just responding to this specific point.

As a science lecturer in a medical school, I regard psychology A-Level as more "scientific" than biology or chemistry: it's the only one that includes design & interpretation of experimental studies, which is what science is. It does it in a very dull way (like all A-Levels), but at least it does it.

Thank you @NoNotHimTheOtherOne. I stand corrected

Psychology is also often accepted as a science on other science related courses, so it's useful for keeping options open where a young person doesn't want to pick one of the traditional biology-chemistry-physics but might want to do something that asks for a science a level later

Politics doesn't just mean becoming a politician or working directly with parliament. Actually, there are loads of jobs in political research, especially for someone who picked up some data analysis skills.

In Scotland, you can study at Higher Level (A level equivalent) in Modern Studies, which covers politics/sociology/Law or a Higher in RMPS - Religion, Morality, and Philosophy Studies. Is there no equivalent in England?

Agree with @Amortentia . Most Politics graduates do not become politicians, there are far wider applications of the skills developed. Likewise many Oxbridge educated politicians did not study Politics as a degree.

OP
re the math- you can put a future end date on the UCAS application. He can also address it in his personal statement.
Top performing universities like students who are independent learners ☺️

OP, my DS is about to embark on a Social Policy degree! There are no required A levels and the two he has so far set him up brilliantly. My DS doesn't have a politics A level, in fact.

If he isn't keen on doing his maths GCSE, I think he might struggle with a-level economics. There's also a fair amount of maths (and biology) in psychology.

Law or history would be good options.

The truth is if he wants to get into politics' the opportunities are very limited unless he has been to Oxford or Cambs

Controversial opinion: If more of our politicians had been to other universities maybe we wouldn't be in the pickle we are now.

Top performing universities like students who are independent learners ☺️

"Independent learner" doesn't mean someone who does everything by themselves without engaging with other students. Universities have to demonstrate that they develop students' employability (you may or may not think this is a good thing but they have to do it), and a lot of this is about team-working and presentation.

😆

True, but given that he's working and collaborating on stuff now I'd say he's got that under his belt. He's clearly very bright and motivated. He'll be grand.

You're sorting the Maths out (it goes on the form as result pending btw, same as for the A level he ends up doing), he'll need a reference too, but it sounds like he'll not have a problem finding one. I disagree with him doing a CertHE this year (it wastes a year of funding and gains him nothing; he's got an A level and a Maths GCSE to do and it detracts from those, and it sounds like his life is rich enough without it), but fully recognise that as an adult you can't tell 'em everything!

@Piggywaspushed oooo can you tell me where? Ds had enough ucas points to get a place in clearing - which is how the whole thing started - but of course as he didn't apply we don't know if he would have got a place without the maths. To be honest I'm happy for him to get the maths just in case he ever needs it.

Ds1 is doing joint honours history and politics and he did politics, history and geography a levels

@NoNotHimTheOtherOne thank you for the info/ perspective. Yes ds does a lot of collaboration in music. It involves compromise and negotiation and doing more than your share to get it over the line. So I'll make sure he addresses that point in his personal statement. Another great tip I've got from this thread. Excellent.

One of my DC is applying for a politics degree. Between them my children have done history. English literature, Politics, economics and an MFL at A level.
From an outside perspective History was a lot of work and the NEA was very involved. The MFL is also a lot of work.
English literature was perceived as quite straightforward and the NEAs were relatively short and uncomplicated (certainly compared with history). If NEA is just too difficult then that's obviously not going to be possible - but if that's his best subject and he could do the NEAs then that might be a good option.
Economics has been quite straightforward here but that's with an 8 at GCSE (though not maths a level).
I don't know enough to assess but it might be that maths GCSE and economics A level in the same year at least complement each other?
Good luck to your ds.

Sorry. Had somehow missed the last 2 pages of the thread. Clearly you have a plan!

I'll PM you later!

Oops meant to be a PM! Oh well!

It's still decent advice I think but I'll get it removed as it says rather a lot about my DS!!

Has your son considered an Access to HE course? He'll study a range of subjects (which will help to make up for the lack of breadth of his previous study) and have specialist support for his UCAS application. Here's an example of one access course: www.southampton-city.ac.uk/courses/access-to-he-humanities-social-science-p005/

@Cornishmumofone thank you. The courses he is looking at do not necessarily accept the Access course (which surprised me actually). They might but it's on a case by case basis. Although I was interested to see the funding opportunities there!