A level options..French and what else?

[ProfessorLayton1]

DD currently doing her GCSE s and predicted good grades across the board.
Doing three sciences,Latin , music, French ,history in addition to Maths and English.

She does not have a clue what to do for A levels apart from French and has no idea what she wants to do in university.
We have always said that she can do what she wants to do and will support her with whatever choice she makes. She is self motivated and works very hard.

But am feeling a bit frustrated that she can't decide anything so we have decided to rethink her choices once her GCSEs are over.

She had expressed interest in a combined degree of physics and music(mainly interested in music) but gone off doing music A level as found the GCSE music course work not so enjoyable especially music composition.

Natural sciences as she likes sciences and one of the boys from her school got into this course .I have no idea what this means and what career options will this lead to..
The school has said that she can take any A level she wants ..ahhh
It is not helped by the fact that most of my friends DC know what they want to do and are very focused on their goals( disclaimer: we are Asian doctors and have many friends who are doctors and their children would like to do medicine)
Intact ,we have told her that she does not have to take sciences at all for A level s if she does not want to. She is very interested in politics and is very well informed in current affairs so I suggested doing politics- she does not want to, may be just because I suggested!
Economics- thinks it is not for her!
Music as a degree- again would like to keep this as a hobby!
Gap year - may be..
She is my first child and am feeling anxious about this, are we responsible for her being like this because we have always let her do what she wants to...
Can someone tell me this is normal and not everyone has super smart, focused children..

Looks like it depends on the school. Don't think dds is doing AS levels.

Info on requirements for economics starting at this link university.which.co.uk/advice/a-level-choices/what-a-levels-do-you-need-to-study-economics

Politics university.which.co.uk/advice/a-level-choices/what-a-levels-do-you-need-to-study-politics

So how will the university look at candidates doing 3A levels so their choices are limited compared with another candidate who could potentially do 5 A levels?
Why should the education system be SO complicated ?
I did English( medium of education), a language(most children opted to do a foreign language) and 4 different A level subjects. I am bilingual and had a good grasp of at least three different regional languages in addition to French and German( have almost forgotten both of them since then)
I was really thrilled that she wanted to do French but it is so hard if she wants to science based course and can only take three A levels - she is better off taking maths chemistry and biology ( two narrow too early in my opinion )

Most university courses offer on the basis of 3 A levels. That of itself isn't really a problem (especially if the student has done an EPQ or has other relevant experience).

The issue is - as you know, having started this thread - how to choose an appropriate combination if they're not sure in yr 11 (start of yr 12 at latest) what degree they want to do ...yeah, that does sound ridiculous, doesn't it? Some do have a clear idea which makes it so much easier. E.g. DD knew she wanted to do engineering, so could do the combination perfect for that - double maths and physics, plus comp sci to AS - but that would have been a somewhat risky choice-limiting set of subjects if she'd not been certain.

Does she definitely want to do a degree? .
Has she considered apprenticeships?

Professor first discover how many A levels maximum your DD can start with and whether the school are doing AS levels for all, certain or no subjects. Your DD should know all this but otherwise ask the school.

Check with your DD why she wants to do French. Is it mainly for language purposes or because she wants to write essays on literature? If the former she is not heading for a MFL degree. She could always consider doing language lessons as an extra outside school or at university if her primary aim is to speak / read French.

IMO politics at university would require a humanity or social science A level and so would economics or PPE or other social science mix type degree. Double maths is best for the most competitive economics degrees which are generally very mathematical.
Out of the sciences which one does she prefer or find the easiest?
For biological or biochemistry science degrees chemistry is the most necessary but it would be odd if she did n't do biology.
For physics and engineering, physics and double maths is best as Errol said above.
I am guessing that maths is not her favourite or strongest subject from what you say so she may not enjoy degrees with a lot of maths like physics or economics at LSE etc.

As an outsider I gauge that she is heading towards natural sciences with French as an extra. She would have liked english, history or the sound of economics if she wanted to do humanities or social sciences.
Do not worry that she is not expressing a real liking for any subject at this stage. Try with the school to keep her options open at the start of A levels though with as many subjects. as possible.

Some really useful and reassuring thoughts, thanks all.
Her school is doing AS levels ( confirmed with her and remember that from open evening now)
sendsummer
Without blowing my own trumpet .. she is good in all the subjects and there lies the problem! Just had a gold certificate in mathematics challenge which she did not even mention it to us and found the certificate on fridge yesterday:) She was tidying up her room yesterday! Her English essay was marked highest possible mark and was sent to the exam board- that's what I am told by her.
She is very quiet and really underplays what she is capable off but well liked by her classmates. The school knows her well and has been very accommodative.
A year ago she wanted to do physics and music - but I did say to her that it is 150 percentage work based on the advice I got here.that combined with the GCSE music composition may have killed that ambition:))
At least I know that this is normal and have to be careful with what she chooses.

So Maths, History and French would tick lots of boxes and keep options open. Also by adding in French she can do joint honours. Many MFL courses are not that competitive so adding in French can aid selection. LSE is not the only place to study Economics so look around. Bath is well respected and has industry placements. Be flexible. Politics and French is possibly more useful than Politics single honours.

If she is good at maths and sciences, I would personally encourage them - perhaps with French as a 4th AS level if her school will allow it.

Maths, History and French would tick lots of boxes and keep options open
Er, except, obviously, any science course, which from the OP's first post seems to be where her DD is tending to lean. If she's not keen on politics, hasn't mentioned history or any other arts/humanity subject, not keen on economics ... those choices would seem to keep open options she's not enthralled by.

If really she wants to do French, then that with maths, chemistry and either biology or physics depending on which she prefers keeps a lot of STEM options open. From a quick look at a couple of physics&music courses, they don't require A level music ( eg Edinburgh A Levels: ABB in one sitting, to include Mathematics at Grade A, Physics, and either Associated Board Grade VII on a recognised instrument with Associated Board Grade V theory, or A Level Music at Grade B.).

Professor she may be good at all subjects but IME the critical test is, if left to self study whether she would choose to research and write essays (plus how long it takes her to write a good essay) or do harder maths.

As a one-time 6th form tutor, I heartily agree with Sendsummer: does she like writing essays or would she rather do more and harder maths. At A Level, it helps to be a good all round student but genuine interest in (if not a passion for) the subjects is essential. It's all very well to know what subjects are good for longer term or keep doors open but there's no point taking them at A Level unless the candidate is actually interested in them because compared to the general knowledge of GCSEs, A Level does require a greater commitment, a natural curiosity in the subject that drives you to think about it and learn about it even in your spare time.

Also, with specific regard to history, I would recommend she meet the teachers and find out what topics/units they plan to cover. A past tutee really struggling with history AS complained to me that the Tudors were boring(! colleagues had a good laugh about that); turns out he actually preferred New World, 'modern' history and explorers but those were not the units our teachers were offering. He had a tough time at AS and ultimately dropped out because although his choices looked good on paper (French, History, Law, Music Technology) and were meant to keep doors open, in reality he was not sufficiently keen about any of them so was not able to get stuck in properly. So his results were lackluster at best and sometimes dire.

If she hasn't already, it would be worth her talking to students currently on the courses to find out how they really are.

We were packing gifts for her teachers and she was writing thank you note for all her teachers tonight..glimpse of a normal child again. Went to supermarket to get lemonade and sweets which she requested to sustain her revision...She has been revising so hard last few weeks and it was nice to spend time with her.
She wants to do French definitely, subjects she is strongly considering are Maths, Further maths , chemistry and biology( so bit of progress)
She has had a look at physics A level requirements in the sixth form open evening and was not too keen apparently.
Tarheelbaby - I asked the same question you suggested regarding writing essays or doing maths, problem solving.
She did not answer this question directly but was willing to share her recent English essay which she wrote and was the only one to score level 9 in the whole year group!
It is amazing apparently but took her couple of hours to write. We did not go to English or history subject rooms in the open evening which I regret, may be she would have changed her mind if we had gone.
But if she wants to do science then her essay writing skills are irrelevant?
Also would it be a disadvantage if she does not do Physics for natural science degree?
I was thinking - she shoulf do maths, chemistry, biology , physics and French to stand a good chance in getting into this course. She could drop further maths and do physics instead

Actually being able to write essays and assemble your thoughts in a coherent way is a useful life skill. Scientists have to write reports so it is a useful to them as well. Can't help on your other questions!

I did French, Spanish and Art and went to Durham where they do a lot of "with" degrees e.g. Maths with French which is called Maths (European Studies). You spend your third year abroad like I did and take French modules as part of the degree. It was a popular choice.

Look at the russell group facilitating subjects blurb. It's very helpful.

You can sit AS levels still but they are pretty pointless, unfortunately.

You can sit AS levels still but they are pretty pointless, unfortunately

Er, apart from the small matter of actually learning something! The focus of sixth form being all about getting grades to move on to the next stage sometimes rather seems to miss the point of education. I think it's a shame they don't do a few short, non-examined courses in subjects they're not doing for A level.

I'm not 100% sure but I think 'natural science' courses have different option blocks which are available depending on what subjects have been studied.

Er, but you learn exactly the same and don't need to sit a pointless exam

Education is the most important thing for me especially at sixth form and if they can avoid having to sit pointless exams then that's ok with me.

We did not go to English or history subject rooms in the open evening which I regret, may be she would have changed her mind if we had gone.
It is not too late to change . I know of a very bright student who truly could have done anything, selected maths, further maths, physics, a MFL and English and excels at all subjects throughout sixth form.

This student has continued to extensively read literature and about literature. At the last minute English was selected as the preferred degree and the student has an Oxford offer.

Natural science courses differ between universities. Not doing physics just means that it is excluded as a choice of subject within natural science combinations. Degrees like chemical engineering (example www.imperial.ac.uk/study/ug/courses/chemical-engineering-department/chemical-engineering) or material sciences would be harder but not excluded.
Of course writing skills are important and very useful at
degree level and beyond for STEM subjects.

Professor: my elder daughter did exactly the same GCSEs as yours, did equally well in all and had a similar predicament. She decided on English, maths, Latin and music. She gave up Latin after AS. Her school believes in quality rather than quantity. It will not enter anyone for 5 A levels and only those doing maths and further maths do 4.

My daughter found it really difficult to pick A levels without knowing what she wanted to do next and was very envious of her friends who planned to do medicine because their A level choices more or less picked themselves. Unless she is thinking about studying French at university, I wonder whether your daughter might leave more options open by sticking to sciences and keeping up with French as an extra curricular activity (as she plans to do with music).

Incidentally, we went to open days at Oxford and Cambridge and neither said they expected 4 A levels, though Cambridge said that if people were taking 4 they would make an offer based on 4.

Good luck. I'm sure she'll do well whatever she chooses.

Incidentally, we went to open days at Oxford and Cambridge and neither said they expected 4 A levels, though Cambridge said that if people were taking 4 they would make an offer based on 4.

Yes - DD has an offer from cambridge for engineering based on her 3 A2 subjects (maths A, fm and physics A*) but from studentroom she knows of some people doing 4 who have to get three Astars (including fm and physics) plus another A - so she's glad she stopped at AS with her comp.sci.

One of my daughter's friends had an offer of 4 A s from Cambridge for engineering. She just missed her grades but fortunately they let her in with 3 As and an A!

That should have said 3 A*s and an A.

Well...her GCSEs are going well according to her!
She seems a lot more relaxed and enjoying the half term break..
She says that she has been very clear( ?!) and I am in denial!
She wants to do French ( non negotiable ) chemistry , biology and maths.
Is this ok for Natural sciences degree or any science degree ( chemistry , maybe chemistry with a language) degree
I can see Imperial offering a science and language combination but can't see any such thing in Cambridge/ Oxford - is it because of the workload.
Is it better to do further maths as 5th subject? Is she is any disadvantage if she has not done physics and further maths?
Imperial science course looks really good but cost of London living is absurd. It will be a cultural shock for her..