DS1 is my first child, you may be able to tell, as this in new territory for me. I have professional qualifications, equivalent to degree, but haven't been to Uni so the process is unfamiliar.
DS is hoping (expecting, really) to do well at GCSE level. His wish so far is to go to an academic university, RG type.
His A Level choices are Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Chemistry, so you can see where his interests lie, although he's a solid overall performer and I would anticipate he will gain high grades in all subjects.
We are fully aware 3 subjects only count for UCAS, but, DS is a stubborn person and is unlikely to drop any A Level. He also performs very well in exams, prefers them really, and they do not stress him or cause him tension (DD is another matter....).
Given that he wishes to have a shot at gaining entry at Uni where the competition for places is high, I am wondering if he may need to start thinking already with regard to subjects.
My overall feeling is to let him settle into A Levels and see how the subjects differ, where his enjoyment then takes him, then review, but is this enough of a plan? I am aware that, as a parent, I am not very pushy. I leave him to it in the main but support his thoughts and chat when required. It's up to him at the end of the day.
For info, he very much enjoys astro physics and maths is intrinsic in his soul 
TIA.
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Uni and subject choices for DS, starting Y12 in September. How soon?
needastrongone · 10/08/2016 16:50
Thanks again.
I'm in a different time zone at present, hence the strange times of postings.
I talked to DS today with reference to the amount of maths that he will be studying from September. He looked at me incredulously, like he couldn't envisage anything other than 12 hours plus of maths based studying per week. I wish that I could describe more articulately his reaction, but safe to say he's fine with this amount of study in this area.
Yep, probably naive to think he won't change considerably. My youngest, I can already see house sharing and embracing independence, DS is far more routine and structure, everything in it's place, safe etc.
We subscribe to New Scientist and Private Eye, satire and science....
That's a really positive post RaisingSteam, thanks. I think he/we do need to plant a few seeds of thought at this stage, or at least after a term or two to settle in, such a myriad of possibility. Lucky kid.
Errol Fair play to your DD for self teaching an extra module with a heavy work load. As I recall, maths and FM will still be AS, Physics and Chem are linear. I may be wrong!
I don't think any courses insist on FM for the simple reason that not all sixth forms offer it. But for eng and physics it's definitely highly desirable alongside physics and maths. My DD is a year older than your DS and is doing those as she's going to do elec eng - did comp sci to AS but dropping it to focus on getting the grades necessary for some of the best places and self teach an extra mechanics module ... One of those for whom 2xmaths isn't quite enough
. I guess she was lucky that her school was still putting them in for AS but even if not, heck, sometimes we forget that the point of education is to learn not just to get bits of paper! Anyway, starting 4 or 5 subjects and then either dropping one or not before A2 is entirely normal procedure.
Well, I AM glad I posted now, as this has been extremely useful, thank you.
The 'prospectus in the loo' theory is one I use for DH with regularity...
We have suggested to DS that a degree in Physics or indeed Maths would give him options in areas such as banking/finance/actuarial type areas, in addition to stereotypical paths. Really interesting though that your DS then went on to study Economics and Politics, given the subject choices Gin.
Good then, that he intends to (hopefully) study 4 A Levels, if some do not count both maths and FM. I will admit that I had assumed the opposite re choices, i.e that some courses would insist on FM in addition to maths.
At present, there are enough applicants for FM to be run as a separate subject at A Level, rather than combining it with maths, I will see how that pans out, seems an inordinate amount of time studying maths to me per week! He's been lucky to have a strong cohort so far in his school career re maths, the teachers have used this well.
Yes, there's a lot of things that will change in the following year, and no rush.
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Ha, Errol, he could manage that, but making a lab bench that stayed up for his practical work might be trickier.
I'm not particularly stressed about this, merely musing whether it is appropriate or necessary to have an initial think or give consideration to subjects, he's our eldest DC and I haven't done this before, nor has DH. I know very little.
Thank you for the further replies. I did do A Levels, I remember the step up too from GCSE.
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