Art A Level for 'competitive' Universities

[WellCromb]

DS thinks they probably want to take a Graphic Design degree - fine, they will take Art and beyond that GD courses don't really mind what other A Levels you offer (portfolio being rather more important). And rankings for this kind of course bear no relation to general University entrance of course. However, he isn't completely sure and if he doesn't go down that route then something like Computer Science/Maths is probably most likely. He is (if predictions mean anything) an 8/9 student all round and so could, potentially, look at Oxbridge/RG/other just as good places. But I am aware that Art is 'non-preferred' for some top courses. Institutions do say they would not rule someone out for having 1 A Level in the less desirable pile - but surely you are putting yourself at a disadvantage straight away? And would other institutions who are not explicit about not liking certain subjects nevertheless automatically see Art as lesser?
He is considering M, FM, Art, CS but is aware that Art workload is bonkers - I know FM/M is not considered as much work as any other 2 A Levels, but still....
Has anyone experience of that combination?
Or entry to high-ranking courses with Art, especially non-Arts/Hum courses?

I think Art would be fine of accompanied by 3 strong STEM (assuming he wants to study a stem subject). For competitive Unis, good MAT/STEP performance will be a higher factor, than if his 4th A level was Art.

My from experience, which might be outdated as it's been 12years, Art A-Level is very coursework heavy but finished very early in the year.

This meant I had some tough weeks around coursework hand-ins. But it also meant that one of my a-levels was completed a month or so before my other exams. Which freed up a lot of time for revision for my more academic subjects.

If he thinks he wants to do graphic design then he will need at least one creative course in order for university's to consider him. Whether that be art, product design, or a city and guilds evening course in design.

Like @goodbyestranger' s dc, my dc did Art & Design A level and is a current Humanities student at Oxford. And I agree with others that it is a very time consuming subject!

It's only a thing if accompanied by two other subjects Fireflygal. If it's one of four there's no issue.

Definitely a workload which can expand endlessly though, agreed.

Has he thought about a Computer Games Design degree? Would use his maths and art. DH is a software engineer and goes to the degree shows of one of the local universities which is very highly regarded in this area and said the software engineering skills were incredible.

I wouldn't do architecture unless he has a real passion for it, it's a long course, and there are far more wannabe architects than jobs so you are expected to do lots of unpaid internships and there's still a lot of nepotism. Even when you get to the top there's lots of job insecurity and poor working conditions. Engineering is a much more attractive career IMHO.

I would look at engineering in preference to architecture.

As acknowledged in the OP what constitutes a good institution for GD courses is an entirely different kettle of fish from what might be considered best for Maths - of course.

Yes, 5 subjects might sort the problem! Very much not on the agenda nowadays though, it's all about the 3 (plus FM where appropriate).
I agree Planning/urban design is worth considering.

I think CS, Maths, FM and Art is a great combination. Universities will only be interested in 3 A-level grades but it's always good to do what you like and have options.
If you really want to know how top unis feel about Art A-level, contact the admissions teams and ask them.

I would second Sheffield too. I think a trawl of a broader spectrum of courses might help you and him. They even have robot engineering!

I went to Oxford - albeit 20 years ago (Arts subject).
They explicitly excluded Art A Level from my offer.
It may, of course, have changed, but I think your gut that it won't necessarily help for a non-Art course may be right.

If you were in Scotland you wouldn't have this problem! It's exactly this scenario that shows up the problems with the narrowness of a-levels, not a problem if you are definitely art or definitely STEM but tricky if you are an undecided all rounder.

Quite. He found it bad enough picking GCSEs. He wanted to carry on studying everything except Dance . IB not offered anywhere nearby either, used to be but they stopped it due to lack of students.

BTW did not mean to suggest he is utterly brilliant at everything. He isnt. But he did want to keep studying everything.

I know a few people who have done Art A level and got into great unis for non artistic degrees. Art, Maths and English literature for English at Oxford for example; also Art, History and Geography for history at Bristol and Art, Physics, Maths and FM for Physics at (I think) Durham though it could have been Warwick. Quite a lot of students at my children's selective school choose to continue with Art - it does vary year on year because of the need for natural talent as well as good teaching.

English degrees need English A level and Histiry degrees need History A level. Popping in art is just fine with two other academic subjects. The problem comes when you need FM, M and a science for a stem degree at Cambridge, Durham, Warwick! You do need the 4 A levels to be competitive. That’s hard work but could be enjoyable.

One of D1's friends at Oxford did Eng Lit, Eng Lang and Art A levels. She's doing an English degree.

Sorry but I missed one word in my comment earlier - Art is required for most Architecture courses AFAIK

Art as a fourth subject has advantages. It would allow him to access links between art and maths as well as develop his creativity and written communication skills.
The risk of the workload compromising his eventual grades is best gauged by starting with the four for a term or so. He sounds capable of that.
However not having physics will be a relative disadvantage for mechanics in maths and will narrow his STEM degree options, including engineering. He could consider swapping computer science for physics unless he is pretty sure that computer science would be his second choice degree after graphic design.

I think physics is a better choice then CS for A level as if keeps more doors open in terms of degree, as I suggested earlier.

No, art is not required for most Architecture degrees. However as the DS in question doesn’t want to do architecture, it is of no consequence.

DD is studying Chemistry, Biology and Art. She is aiming to be a VET and the only universities she couldn't apply with that combination are Glasgow (requires Maths) and Cambridge. Having said that, a small number of students get into Cambridge vet med without having Maths or a third Science. The other Vet schools don't have a problem with Art. It can show completely different kinds of skills that are also desirable/useful.

I'd contact Oxford/Cambridge and ask them (or rather, he should, though you may need to do the googling).

Art is absolutely fine for Oxbridge even as a 3rd subject.

Can you even do art or design at Oxford or Cambridge? No such courses seemed to be available when I looked.

The Ruskin school of Art is part of Oxford, i worked with someone who went there.

@HarebrightCedarmoon

Can you even do art or design at Oxford or Cambridge? No such courses seemed to be available when I looked.

I don't think the child is planning that. It's graphic design elsewhere OR Maths/CompSci, possibly at Oxbridge.

Darn these multi-talented youngsters.