Economics degree without A level economics

[ProfessorLayton1]

Dd has just started A levels... she did not decide what A levels she wanted to till she had her GCSEs . Scored well in GCSE - she is taking French,chemistry, biology, maths and FM.
Last week she wanted to take English literature but decided against it ( I was happy for her to swap any of her subjects with this)
This week she wants to try economics😳
Is this normal?
I have trawled through economics requirements for various universities and A level economics is not required??
Has anyone done economics at university without A level economics..knowing her she would try for Cambridge/LSE but I understand that this is only one of 5 choices.
Frankly I have had enough of this and would like to settle down on her subjects at least by the end of this month...
Although the universities say you don't need economics will she be disadvantaged?

sendsumner - What percentage of students are retained by the top universities as academics? 1%? I don't know the answer but I don't think this is a major factor when recruiting. Obviously some graduates will lecture eventually but the vast majority will not. It's not always the best who lecture either. They may want to earn more! In plenty of practical disciplines, Lecturing without ever having had a job in your discipline may be short sighted too.

Meant: non university job....

BubblesBuddy for some Oxbridge courses a relatively high percentage will choose to progress to a PhD at some point. Of course after that very few will stay in academia due to all the usual reasons of competitiveness, poor pay, lack of job security etc.

My previous post was a bit tongue in cheek BTW but my point is that the selection process is skewed towards spotting students with potential to be academics as those are the most likely to be enthused by the academic challenge of their subject and happiest with the workload.

However tongue in cheek, there may be an element of truth, especially when it comes to economics.

A student who has kept up a broad range of subjects (say French and an essay subject) interests (sport, music, drama, debating etc), plus take on school responsibilities, and who opts for a good economics degree at a good redbrick, perhaps with a year in industry or a year abroad, with enough headroom to engage in University life, may well be more employable than a quant with an Oxbridge degree who has done little else but study maths and economics since they were 16.

To some extent it depends on the student, how "passionate" they are about their subject, and how much capacity and desire they have to manage breadth with depth.

(FWIW one of the very brightest DC my daughter knows, chose the US over Oxbridge, precisely because of the scope for a broader base and the chance to explore different interests, and take a joint major, rather than be funnelled into a specific subject at 18.)

I had maths/further maths A levels and did some economics at university as part of a wider course. I found it very difficult, did badly in it - only getting a pass because friends with economics A levels essentially tutored me - and dropped it. Don't assume that because someone is good and and likes maths they'll grasp economics.

I agree Needmoresleep.

Well we left her to choose.. she has decided to drop French and take Economics!
It is probably the right choice given that she is so indecisive...and does not want to do French as a degree.
We are going to supplement her French learning by whatever way we could help her with ( while new thread...)
Very useful points for me and thanks all for your helpful comments.

She may find that she can do extra lessons in French at university to facilitiate a year abroad. As I said earlier, some universities have very good links with the elite Grand Ecoles in France and an opportunity to go to one of these is worth considering.

I could see her anguish in having to choose between the two subjects and we stayed clear of that as really don’t want to force our views on her.
I will buy her Rosetta Stone, have French tuition ,send her on French exchange if she she wants.
Never thought that it would be so stressful...
I am sure that she will work very hard in whatever she decides.
She loves her music and is grade 8 in three instruments ( voice being one of them),plays ukulele, swims , has got a job as lifegaurd . she has volunteered in an east European country for 2 weeks last summer and can do DoE gold if she wants next summer - so there Is plenty of things she can continue to become a well rounded individual.
It is the process of coming to a decision which probably was difficult and she was quite relieved once the decision was made.

She sounds extremely sensible. Both my twins did AS economics and one took it to A level (they both just started at Bristol). Economics just feels a better balance with her other subjects to me to keep career choices open.

Good luck to her.