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Further education

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

Original poster

A-Levels for law that don't include History

101 replies

IndiLous · 22/01/2024 15:54

DD is predicted all 8/9s at GCSE, she wants to study Law at uni but is having a hard time picking A-Levels.
She is set on English Lit and French (her best subjects by far), her careers advisor is pushing for history, she's expecting an 8 but doesn't enjoy history at all, she says it's among her least favourite.
She likes Religious Studies and Business Studies a lot and is expecting a 9 in Maths but doesn't really love it (very good at it just not her favourite), she hates science with a passion!
Her GCSE subjects are English Lit and Lang, Maths, French, Business, Religious Studies, Combined Science, History and Music. The last 3 are expecting 8,8 , 8 and 8 again, the first are all predicted 9s.
They are encouraged at DDs school to pick 4 A-Levels then drop one if they wish for Y13.
So far she is considering

  • Politics
  • Religion
  • Economics
  • Business

She is keen to try economics and Politics but is worried she won't like them as has no experience. She is also worried that compared to History they aren't looked on as fondly by Universities.
She's been encouraged by school to consider Oxbridge when the time comes but in DDs word "that's not my vibe" she is more keen on London Unis (UCL, Kings and LSE) but I know this could change.
Any advice?

OP posts:
Spirallingdownwards · 22/01/2024 15:58

Any A levels are fine. My DH had 3 x science. I had English, French and Geography.

Of those 4 I may avoid Business as less academic for the unis you mention but the others aren't looked down on at all.

chaos76 · 22/01/2024 16:03

DD is a solicitor and chose French German English and Maths for a level her degree was law with german

TheOriginalFrench · 22/01/2024 16:06

As an ex-Oxbridge historian who once (pre-tenancy) had a temp job at the Bar Council sifting pupillage applications (😅) - I’d say Maths would make her a really strong applicant once she’s graduated.

I’m surprised she doesn’t think both Politics and Religion will be very like History at A’ Level - same issues, just a more focused lens.

But obviously for university it’s only her grades that will matter - I doubt they’ll care exactly which of those subjects she’s studied.

stackhead · 22/01/2024 16:08

I'd be more concerned that she wants to pursue law but doesn't like history as the disciplines are quite similar in terms of research and application (and opinion drawing).

What is it about history that she doesn't like? As maybe she should look a bit closer at what a law degree actually entails.

Knackeredmommy · 22/01/2024 16:08

My son is in his 1st yr at Kings, he did Eng lit, RE and Politics.

Original poster
IndiLous · 22/01/2024 16:09

TheOriginalFrench · 22/01/2024 16:06

As an ex-Oxbridge historian who once (pre-tenancy) had a temp job at the Bar Council sifting pupillage applications (😅) - I’d say Maths would make her a really strong applicant once she’s graduated.

I’m surprised she doesn’t think both Politics and Religion will be very like History at A’ Level - same issues, just a more focused lens.

But obviously for university it’s only her grades that will matter - I doubt they’ll care exactly which of those subjects she’s studied.

The issue with history is the content, she likes the format, hates the content, find it dull. She likes some periods of history but others she just couldn't care less about. Where as she really enjoys learning about religions and does a lot on politics at home.

OP posts:
Original poster
IndiLous · 22/01/2024 16:10

stackhead · 22/01/2024 16:08

I'd be more concerned that she wants to pursue law but doesn't like history as the disciplines are quite similar in terms of research and application (and opinion drawing).

What is it about history that she doesn't like? As maybe she should look a bit closer at what a law degree actually entails.

Like I said it's not the format it's the content (her school seems to repeat the same periods over and over she just does care about it) she's very good at it just could care less about the Great War etc.

OP posts:
Maireas · 22/01/2024 16:11

stackhead · 22/01/2024 16:08

I'd be more concerned that she wants to pursue law but doesn't like history as the disciplines are quite similar in terms of research and application (and opinion drawing).

What is it about history that she doesn't like? As maybe she should look a bit closer at what a law degree actually entails.

Yes, that confused me - the validity of historians' interpretations, the analysis of source material, the analytical essays, I'm surprised. Anyway.
She can do taster lessons before she makes choices, but ultimately, her choice and as pp have said, she'll get a place with any good grades..

Maireas · 22/01/2024 16:12

Sorry, OP - cross posted about her reasons for not doing History. Politics or RE would be a good choice.

ApoodlecalledPenny · 22/01/2024 16:14

I’d go for maths rather than business if she has the ability to do it.

crumblingschools · 22/01/2024 16:15

She does realise that some parts of Law degree could be considered dull

Original poster
IndiLous · 22/01/2024 16:17

crumblingschools · 22/01/2024 16:15

She does realise that some parts of Law degree could be considered dull

She's not silly and has done lots of research.
There's plenty of things many consider dull that she doesn't, she just doesn't love the content her school focus on in history.

OP posts:
parietal · 22/01/2024 16:19

If she has the interest, go for maths. It opens up a massive array of opportunities and more and more work requires more than gcse maths. In law and everywhere.

Rollergirl11 · 22/01/2024 16:23

She needs to choose the subjects that she enjoys as she stands the best chance of getting good grades if she does that. A levels are a big jump from GCSE and you will be spending much more time on an individual subject so you need to like it. You say she is set on English lit and French but then you list 4 different subjects? Why not those 2 alongside RS that she also enjoys? It seems a waste to go for Economics if she is t taking Maths and isn’t considering Banking/Finance as a degree.

FYI DD is in Year 13. She took English Lit, History and RE ( Philosophy & Ethics) and is predicted A A* x2 and A in EPQ. She has applied for Cambridge and is waiting to hear if she has an offer on Wednesday.

Rollergirl11 · 22/01/2024 16:26

ApoodlecalledPenny · 22/01/2024 16:14

I’d go for maths rather than business if she has the ability to do it.

If she doesn’t absolutely love Maths then she shouldn’t take it as an A level.

Original poster
IndiLous · 22/01/2024 16:27

Rollergirl11 · 22/01/2024 16:23

She needs to choose the subjects that she enjoys as she stands the best chance of getting good grades if she does that. A levels are a big jump from GCSE and you will be spending much more time on an individual subject so you need to like it. You say she is set on English lit and French but then you list 4 different subjects? Why not those 2 alongside RS that she also enjoys? It seems a waste to go for Economics if she is t taking Maths and isn’t considering Banking/Finance as a degree.

FYI DD is in Year 13. She took English Lit, History and RE ( Philosophy & Ethics) and is predicted A A* x2 and A in EPQ. She has applied for Cambridge and is waiting to hear if she has an offer on Wednesday.

Sorry those 4 were just 4 she's is considering in addition to English and French.
She will be effectively made to pick 2 more.
Religion and Politics would be logical but she enjoys learning about economics in her own time so that's an option and is doing really well in business already.

OP posts:
Chewbecca · 22/01/2024 16:30

Not Business. I would suggest RS if she enjoys it, it's very respectable and gives good transferable skills.

TheOriginalFrench · 22/01/2024 16:35

Hmm … I do sympathise with finding yourself stuck with the same boring topics over years of exams (the Corn Laws seemed to follow me around for about a decade) - but she must bear in mind that both Politics and Religion will also probably cover, in detail, topics she finds tedious. It’s very different if you’re dipping in for your own enjoyment.

When our current undergrad was at school no one with less than a 9 at GCSE was allowed to pursue Maths at A’Level, because the jump was so ferocious. So if she’s capable of a 9 she really should consider capitalising on it.

mathanxiety · 22/01/2024 16:38

Would she consider Philosophy?
I'd do Maths and Economics with English Lit and French if I were her.

Or swap out Philosophy for Econ, and do Law with Economics for her degree (she would need a strong background in Maths for Econ at degree level).

Law and Econ would be a terrific combination.

Original poster
IndiLous · 22/01/2024 16:38

TheOriginalFrench · 22/01/2024 16:35

Hmm … I do sympathise with finding yourself stuck with the same boring topics over years of exams (the Corn Laws seemed to follow me around for about a decade) - but she must bear in mind that both Politics and Religion will also probably cover, in detail, topics she finds tedious. It’s very different if you’re dipping in for your own enjoyment.

When our current undergrad was at school no one with less than a 9 at GCSE was allowed to pursue Maths at A’Level, because the jump was so ferocious. So if she’s capable of a 9 she really should consider capitalising on it.

She really loves Religion and is happy to explore the topics covered at a greater depth, she's been told all of this by teachers etc.
For history she just gets bored with the content im not sure why. She's been told over and over and is adamant that she won't take history and no other subject bores her quite like it.
It doesn't help my sister is a history teacher who likes to make every family dinner a lesson so I do wonder if that's also deterring DD from taking History.

OP posts:
Original poster
IndiLous · 22/01/2024 16:40

mathanxiety · 22/01/2024 16:38

Would she consider Philosophy?
I'd do Maths and Economics with English Lit and French if I were her.

Or swap out Philosophy for Econ, and do Law with Economics for her degree (she would need a strong background in Maths for Econ at degree level).

Law and Econ would be a terrific combination.

Do you know which unis offer Law and economics? I think this js something she'd like to look into!
They have columns they need to pick from at A-Level and at her school you can't do French and Philosophy and English Lit due to the way the way the columns work out. Even then she's not fussed on it enough to justify a move of school.

OP posts:
Rollergirl11 · 22/01/2024 16:42

DD got a 9 in Maths at GCSE and could have taken for A level and it was the same for the sciences that she also got 9’s for. But she didn’t love those subjects like she does her humanities subjects. What I am saying is that it isn’t enough to be good at a subject at GCSE to go on and take it for A level. You need to also really enjoy and have a passion for the subject in order to get the top grades.

Its also not necessary to take 4 A levels, far better to get top grades in 3 subjects than middling grades in 4.

Original poster
IndiLous · 22/01/2024 16:43

Rollergirl11 · 22/01/2024 16:42

DD got a 9 in Maths at GCSE and could have taken for A level and it was the same for the sciences that she also got 9’s for. But she didn’t love those subjects like she does her humanities subjects. What I am saying is that it isn’t enough to be good at a subject at GCSE to go on and take it for A level. You need to also really enjoy and have a passion for the subject in order to get the top grades.

Its also not necessary to take 4 A levels, far better to get top grades in 3 subjects than middling grades in 4.

It's likely she will only do 3 for her actual A-Levels, but at her school in Y12 you need to provide a suitable alternative to the 4th A-Level that you will do during the periods you'd theoretically be in that class, DD hasn't thought of anything so is going to start with the 4 then drop one.

OP posts:
Rollergirl11 · 22/01/2024 16:52

Yes at DD’s school they start with 4 but drop down to 3 after the first term of Year 12. She then did an EPQ.

I totally understand where she’s coming from on the History content btw. DD is studying Nazi Germany again after doing it at GCSE and she does get bored of it but at the time she was choosing it was a toss up between English and History for a degree.

My point is that she should chose what she’s interested in rather than what her school thinks is best. She will be the one studying them for 2 years after all.

Finally there is always the option of doing your degree in another subject and then doing a one year law conversion afterwards. Lots of people go that route rather than law for the full 4 years.

FluffMagnet · 22/01/2024 16:53

She doesn't like history so discount it as an A Level. I did RS at A Level and found it a helpful basis for Law. I suspect the careers advisor know many history graduates complete the GDL and is pushing from that perspective, but different areas of law need different skills. If she is passionate about economics, go down that path. It all adds interest to a CV later on.