Soft option A levels / RG University entry

[goingmadinthecountry]

I should probably know all this as dd1 is y13, but just had 6th form open evening with dd2.

She knows she wants to do Eng Lit and History, but also likes the idea of Govt and Politics and Sociology. I know they don't both always appear on soft lists, but I hear many universities view them in a rather dimmer light than more "traditional" subjects. Anyone have any experience? Dd2 is definitely humanities based, and at the moment Law is one of her ideas. I know she'd love Sociology and teachers at her school are fantastic, but would RE/Philosophy be a safer bet?

Have a look on the Russell Group website for a publication about informed choices which they published about a year ago. It's a bit woolly but will supplement anecdotal responses.

Agree that she should read "Informed Choices" before making her decision. It doesn't say you shouldn't choose any "soft" subjects out of the (usually) 4 AS choices.

I graduated from a RG university five years ago with a Eng Lit degree and sociology was one of my A Levels. Sociology is really not a "soft" option because it is quite essay heavy and does straddle politics/government policy and philosophy. My sociology modules covered things such as religion, education, crime and deviance and, for me, complemented my Eng Lit A Level. Sociology would complement a law degree also IMO.

I don't claim to be an expert on this, im basing this on my rapidly dated experiences (have i really been graduated five years?!) so I would recommend looking at specific uni entry criteria too.

DS2 started at a RG uni last term & his A2s were Politics, History & Economics

I don't think any essay-based subjects are considered soft.

\link{http://www.trin.cam.ac.uk/index.php?pageid=604\this is the Trinity list which is often bandied about} - it has both Politics & Sociology in its B list, but Philosophy & RS in its A2 list, but in any case isn't really a general guide

LSE also have an acceptable subject list which I can't find atm but I know it's much less stringent than the Trinity one

Honestly, any pretty much any combination of what your DD is interested in will do

Have just found LSE's "non-preferred" list & none of hers are in it!

Accounting
Art and Design
Business Studies
Communication Studies 
Design and Technology
Drama/Theatre Studies
Home Economics 
Information and Communication Technology
Law
Media Studies
Music Technology
Sports Studies
Travel and Tourism

Thanks - have been doing some digging myself too. Her sister got her a bit worried - she has 4 offers for Law so far (waiting for Bristol right now) and has very traditional subjects, but dd2 is equally bright but very different. I know she'd love and be good at the choices she's made - just read Sheffield website for eg and they are all good choices there.

It's pretty complicated. Have downloaded the RG document to show her tomorrow - would be good if her grammar school had handed it out tonight. I see an email to HT coming on....

Think of me - ds (Y10, bright but v dyslexic) has science GCSEs, dd2 y11 has a few exams and dd1 y13 has Gen Studies all this week.

Oh good lord you poor thing!

DS2's RG is Sheffield, he's doing Politics & Philosophy & enjoys it

So basically your DD2 should pick the ones she most wants to do

HTH

Have emailed HT suggesting he sends out Informed Choices doc. It's a great school so I mentioned that as well

Looks like her choices aren't too bad then. I totally agree she should do subjects she enjoys. I have always regretted not doing what I really wanted to at university - am sure it has made a big difference to the way my degree/work life turned out. Oh well.

Ponders, I thought Sheffield was great. Dd1 is favouring Leeds at the moment - I liked that too.

If your DD is considering Law, then RS might be a good option (depending on the spec studied). One of my old students (I teach RS) studied Law at Oxford and said that he found RS to be the best preparation for his degree because it gave him a really good understanding of Aquinas and Natural Moral Law, as well as the specific module on jurisprudence that the students study.

However, this would depend on how theoretical the Law degree was - I understand that they can vary quite a lot.

I know - the link between the OT laws and modern law fascinate dd and formed part of her personal statement. Plus the school has seriously good RE teachers. They do RE/Philosophy which is OT for half and philosophy of religion for the other half. Dd1 loves it, and dd2 really enjoys GCSE. She'd be good at either (I'm very traditional and would go for RE myself).

Mind you, this Law thing's quite recent. She always wanted to be an events organiser!!

If it's a great school then it's possible the HT took the decision not to circulate Informed Choices -presumably he mentioned it?- so that parents don't get too hung up on it and feel they need to pressure students into subjects they may not enjoy.

The RG Law depts are looking for intelligence and aptitude and they're more likely to discern that if a student is really enjoying his/ her A Level subjects. Better an enthusiastic Sociologist than a reluctant Philosopher.

Oxford is unusual in doing Roman Law and Jurisprudence as compulsory modules; for the overwhelming majority of RG Law depts these are merely options. Anyhow, there's often value in coming to a university subject fresh.

If it's a great school then it's possible the HT took the decision not to circulate Informed Choices -presumably he mentioned it?- so that parents don't get too hung up on it and feel they need to pressure students into subjects they may not enjoy.

Agree so much with this! There isn't a tick box list that will gain entry to a required institution, though it is starting to feel as if that is the case. (though there are choices that are less helpful of course)

Children are individuals and generally universities appear to appreciate this. Apart from the enjoyment aspect, you mention that the Sociology department is great. It is such fun and so inspiring to study in a department which buzzes with the enthusiasm and skill of the teachers and this should lead to high performance. Seems a shame to deny her that if it is what she wants.

Avoid sociology, but government & politics should be fine.

I have visions of Maureen Lipman and the "ology" BT ad (disclaimer: I'm old!). I think she's decided on Sociology as her 4rh choice - I know it may not be quite as academic as some subjects, but she will really be good at it and find it "easy" because it interests her. PLUS there may well be a trip to India to work with an AIDS charity next summer. I love travel and will always strive to pay for worthwhile trips. TBH, dd2 is a real people person - she'll do OK whatever.

I suffered from doing a degree my parents viewed as middle class therefore appropriate(my mum's main concern was always what other people would think - tiny minded middle of the road values) - I think experience and fun is what it's all about. Still resent their narrow minded well meaning interfering 30 years later. Academically I've wasted my life and have never felt happy or as though I fitted in (anyone read Isabelle Allende's auto biography??).

Thank goodness my children are all so different. Goodness knows what ds will be looking at next year, and by the time dd3(8) is choosing, there probably won't be jobs anywhere anymore.

I emailed ht about Informed Choices. He said it was on website and sent me the link but said he would email it to Y11s in case they hadn't seen it. I also took the opportunity to tell him how much we love the school. I know loads on here hate grammars, and as a teacher I see they are unfair to many, but they have been the making of my older 3.

Btw I know autobiography is 1 word before you point me at the pedants.....