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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

A level options - too soft for top unis?

101 replies

ALevelDilemna · 26/10/2019 10:23

My dd is in Y11 and is making her choices for sixth form. We seem to be going round in circles discussing the best options for her but she has finally plumped for:

English Lit
Textiles
RE / Philosophy and Ethics
French (reserve choice)

Is this combination OK? She is bright and aiming for unis such as Bristol / Manchester / Bath / Leeds etc...

OP posts:
AChickenCalledDaal · 26/10/2019 16:46

Have you tried plugging them into the Russell Group Informed Choices Website? It's entire purpose appears to be to answer this sort of question.

Original poster
ALevelDilemna · 26/10/2019 16:47

She really doesn’t know @aatwi, she’s only fifteen. At the moment she is interested in marketing and fashion. But two years ago she was dead set on becoming a vet and last year she considered doing a beauty course!! I think she’d be brilliant at marketing but due to personal reasons I might be biased and I think she’s tough enough to work in the fashion world... but who knows 🤔

OP posts:
Boyskeepswinging · 26/10/2019 16:53

Interesting question about how many 15 year olds know what they want to do at uni. I think just about all my DS's mates have a pretty good idea, ranging from my DS who knows exactly which course at which uni to others who know it's eg Medicine but not exactly which uni yet and there are some who know roughly which area (eg something heavily Physics based) but not the specifics. All seem well placed to make informed decisions about their A levels, I can't think of any that are struggling with the decision of which A levels and where to do them.

The careers provision at his school is outstanding and they've been getting age appropriate advice for years now (which assisted with choosing GCSEs) coupled with regular 1:1s to check in on their current plans. I wonder if this approach has helped to hone their thoughts? I don't know if this approach is widespread or if we've just lucked out on an incredibly helpful and proactive careers person?

Original poster
ALevelDilemna · 26/10/2019 16:53

Thanks Chicken, yes I have and textiles does seem to be listed on there. My sis did textiles at Leeds. I’m concerned that if dd changes her mind and wants to do Eng Lit or something she doesn’t find that her textiles qualification prevents this.

I do think it’s important that they do something they enjoy, and she does enjoy textiles!

OP posts:
ragged · 26/10/2019 17:01

Sounds like she could aspire to do a business degree, become a fashion buyer (travel abroad to French fashion shows).

BSc in international business (Leeds) wants AAA, including at least 5 at GCSE maths.

Which says these are more typical A-levels taken to get on a business course, but really broad selection is possible.

A level options - too soft for top unis?
onlyconnect · 26/10/2019 17:02

She really should do what she enjoys. If she doesn't know yet what she wants to go into obviously what she picks at A level will affect her options but in my extensive experience not in terms of supposed harder or softer options. High grades in the subjects she picks are what she'll need.

goodbyestranger · 26/10/2019 17:05

OP DD2 read History at Oxford (History as opposed to History of Art) with Art & Design, History and English at A level. She did also have 11 A* at GCSE which I think would have helped any doubts about general aptitude for an academic subject. She also got an offer from Durham for History and her other three choices too. I wouldn't worry about Textiles in itself, provided she has the ability in English Lit if that's what she goes for. I wouldn't go for the standard offering over the subjects a DC really enjoys unless certain subjects are essential and exclude others the DC might prefer.

AChickenCalledDaal · 26/10/2019 17:06

The fact that textiles is on the list doesn't prove anything. All subjects are on the list, because the Russell Group have moved away from the concept of "facilitating subjects". You need to play around with different subject combinations and see how it affects the degree options that come up. And very importantly then go and check out some actual entry requirements from unis for any courses that sounds like they might be remotely up her street.

Original poster
ALevelDilemna · 26/10/2019 17:10

Thanks you so so much all. I am reading and digesting all responses!
@ragged that sounds right up her street!

OP posts:
HundredMilesAnHour · 26/10/2019 17:13

I'm usually very pro-everyone should study a language but in this case, I'd be a little wary of her taking French if she's not amazing at it. When you say it's her weakest, how weak is weak? French is hard and it comes with a LOT of work/exams, often much more than non-language subjects because they're testing your oral and aural capabilities as well as written.

If she's going to insist on taking Textiles, she needs to make damn sure she gets As in her other subjects and it sounds like A might be a stretch for her in French?

Original poster
ALevelDilemna · 26/10/2019 17:21

Yep @hundredmilesanhour her French is weak - predicted grade is a 6. She would have to work bloody hard to get a good a level in it Sad. Tbh I don’t think she should do it.

OP posts:
HundredMilesAnHour · 26/10/2019 17:26

I definitely don't think she should do French then. I was top of my year (of 200 kids) in French every year at school, won the school prize for it etc and I still found it hard going. It's a lot of effort and hard work.

Are there other subjects that she's strong in that she could do? I think liking a subject is a luxury to an extent. What will she do really well in and keeps her career options open? (or takes her in the right direction)

comfysocks8516 · 26/10/2019 17:28

There was a recent article in the times that said top unis are dropping preferred subjects, and that they are encouraging a levels in the arts as employers value creativity. She should absolutely do what she enjoys and not be concerned about ‘soft subjects’ - no a level is soft, that is quite a dated view. As she doesn’t know what she wants to do next she should do what she is inspired by as she’s more likely to get the grades that way

clary · 26/10/2019 17:35

Ok I don't know about the rest but I do know about A level French. If a student is predicted a 6 and is hoping for (say) an A at A level then I would think again. tbh I wouldn't be mad about any child doing MFL A level with a 6, though I know many schools will let them.

It's really hard to get top grades in MFL Alevels as such a high proportion of students taking them are native speakers or equivalent. DD took French with a strong A at GCSE, the other student taking it with her was even more able at it, dd got a C and her friend (much to DD's surprise as she was sure friend would get an A) got a B.

Michaelahpurple · 26/10/2019 17:36

Bad idea to do french a level is one is weak at french but hope to be able to speak it one day. Do a holiday course or something for french!

Original poster
ALevelDilemna · 26/10/2019 17:36

Thanks @comfysocks8516 that is very heartening to read!
@hundredmikesanhour thanks for your advice. I speak French to conversational level, and another language fluently, so I can imagine how hard it is; I’m sure French A level is v tough. l am wary of her doing it at further level and I think I’ll be doing everything from now on to discourage it! Because I spk another language fluently I’ve up until now been very encouraging of both my dds to learn French.

She is predicted 8s in both English subjects, RE and textiles and could with a bit of extra effort get mines in them. She is taking a further seven subjects and apart from French has no great desire to further them!

OP posts:
AChickenCalledDaal · 26/10/2019 17:36

DD1 is doing German A level at the moment. She got a 9 in her GCSE and it's still hard work. There's basically no limit to the vocab you are expected to know, accurate grammar is very important and you're expected to articulate you views on some quite complex subjects, in the language. There is also a literature element which DD hates, although yours might feel happier with, if she's keen to do English lit.

Original poster
ALevelDilemna · 26/10/2019 17:37

*Nines not mines, obviously!

OP posts:
daisypond · 26/10/2019 17:40

It’s utterly fine. Mine did photography, media studies and sociology, and is at one of the universities you mentioned. Got A,B,B at A level.

Original poster
ALevelDilemna · 26/10/2019 17:40

Thanks @AChickenCalledDaal, v interesting. I agree that learning a language properly can seem interminable - there are so many blinking words not to mention phrases, colloquialisms, euphemisms etc!! I hope your dd passes with flying colours!

OP posts:
Original poster
ALevelDilemna · 26/10/2019 17:41

Thanks @daisypond can you tell me what they’re studying (even vaguely?)

OP posts:
BlaueLagune · 26/10/2019 17:44

I did an MFL A level and found it an easy option compared with my other subjects (History and RE) despite not having any native ability. We're all different I guess (I don't think the current specification is any harder than it was in my day).

Anyway OP it sounds like you've had lots of good advice on here. I would always say if you don't know what you want to do, do subjects that you like and are good at and so should get good grades in.

converseandjeans · 26/10/2019 17:53

I think it's a good combination and Eng Lit & French definitely not soft options. I taught a student a while ago now but she was really keen to do textiles along with history & another subject. Pretty sure she got into Cambridge to do history. Also as others have said there will be loads of work for textiles. Can she not start all 4 and drop one say October half term?

clary · 26/10/2019 17:55

Blaulagune I don't know when your day was but A level specs have been revised to make them harder about 4 years ago. Fewer and fewer students are choosing Alevel MFL so the proportion of native speakers has increased, pushing up the grade boundaries. It's a self perpetuating cycle sadly.

daisypond · 26/10/2019 17:57

Mine is doing sociology, so the most academic of the A levels that she took. She wasn’t hugely academic at school, but is en route for a first now, so we’re all happy. I’ve been surprised how straightforward it was to get into a good university without very academic A level subjects and without top notch grades. Universities want students.