Aiming for psychology at a Russell group uni- tell me more please!

[Theas18]

DS is year 11 doing A level choices. He's at a highly selective grammar school and is aiming for a full A*/A GCSE profile (not stealth boasting, that's just how he is and tbh how most of the boys at his school are!).

He has to decide what to do next. He could take either a science or an arts path equally well.

He saw a connexions advisor who suggested psychology at uni- now I know very little apart from the clinical psychology aspects, which I have a bit of experience of. It seems (sceptical head on) to be the "default" suggestion if you can't decide sciences vs arts I feel....

(my experience of connexions via work has been they are the ones who sort the non academic kids into apprenticeships so I have little faith in them TBH, I'm not sure they really know what they are doing with kids with a strongly academic aptitude, but I could be very wrong).

DS came out of the 6th form options evening completely confused.

He is very musical and really to not take A level music would be foolish, as he'll find it really easy. He thinks that grade 8 (on the cards in the next 6 months- probably after GCSE simply so he has enough time to practice) will get enough UCAS points anyway, and so maybe he wont do A level- is this right?

He believes that he has to take biology and maths to A2 to get Russell group psychology offers. Maths is the thing he probably may just find tricky (though he is doing further maths this year so he isn't a "duffer" at all). Biology he'll love.

I think he probably should do english as his 4th option, he loves it and is good at it, but history and RS (the ethics/philosophy one) is also up in the running.

How can I advise him? I suspect he doesn't really know much about psychology but has latched onto the suggestion made, so, whilst being aware it could be the right thing for him, he needs to keep his options open I think.

THanks for reading- this is soooo difficult.

Psychology is popular because it is a science A'level for those who haven't really enjoyed the other sciences. The OPs son is only considering it, as far as I can tell because a connexions advisor suggested it. I would still suggest he looks at all the A'levels on offer and choose, based on what the courses really involve. I have studied an OU psychology module myself and found it interesting, but a lot of students don't really get how different A'level can be from GCSE. They also can think A'level is just about learning about Freud, and totally forget the Maths involved.

I was under the impression that OP son was discussing what he'd like to do at degree, to make sure his A-level choices are suitable for that. So the question was about whether it was a good idea for his to target Psychology degree.

the boy is undecided, as many young people are. He can read some pop psychology books to see if they appeal (e.g. the man who thought his wife was a hat), he also should be looking at other possible careers. A psychology degree involves some analytical skills and some essay writing so may appeal to the majority of employers who don't require a specific degree.

However for some types of employment he would need a specific degree and if he makes the wrong A level choices they would be ruled out. I'd encourage any child capable of it to do A level maths as it one of the few subjects that count for almost any degree. If there is any possibly he might consider medicine he should be doing chemistry, with biology to AS. For most London law firms he needs to aim for Oxbridge, degree subject doesn't have to be law but he might get a lot of free lunches if it was

I did psych at Oxford, where they very much appreciated maths and sciences at A levels - there it was viewed as a science. and then I did a phd in psych at a Russell group and I have taught on various psych courses at several universities since then.

In general, maths is useful. Lots of stats in Psychology. Biology is useful but not essential. (I had physics A level which they liked, as evidence of a scientific bent, but biology would have been more useful).

You really don't need psych A level to do a psych degree.

I agree psych is a very good subject if you are in between arts, sciences, humanities, it is a nice mixture of all these. Most people are pretty enthusiastic about the subject at degree level. It's interesting, and it leads to lots of varied career options.

Just popping in to assure you I have been reading the thread and value your comments mumsnetters!

DS is becoming more committed to psychology as time passes but I'll get him to have a loot at natural sciences with at psychology component as well.

He's clearly been doing his research as he's been listening to a podcast yesterday and we had a rather good discussion about neuronal plasticity and the ability to learn over dinner. LIfe with teens is never dull!! Fortunately I do understand this sort of thing so it helps LOL

I can toyally appreciate how competitive it will be for him even to get a toe on the ladder and get any offers but I guess anything worth doing is going to be.