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Higher education

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

Original poster

Maths, Business and Theatre Studies - what degree?

54 replies

gardenhelpneeded · 02/02/2022 18:39

My son’s A level choices. He has already said he doesn’t want to study pure maths at university. He’s enjoying the Drama (and doing Lamda) but doesn’t want to do it at university either. He is interested in business and quite entrepreneurial. He did mention marketing but seems a shame with his maths. His choice of course but thought I’d ask on here as the number of choices/courses is overwhelming! He sits his exams in 2023.

OP posts:
Dancingdreamer · 02/02/2022 18:42

Economics or business studies sound like they would be perfect choices with those A levels.

Original poster
gardenhelpneeded · 02/02/2022 18:45

@Dancingdreamer thanks. Yes! I think do. I think he may prefer something more practical than economics which is so theoretical. I was interested to hear of specific courses that people had heard of. Unfortunately there are so many business studies courses, it’s hard to know where to begin!

OP posts:
Dancingdreamer · 02/02/2022 19:41

It will depend on the grades your DC will achieve but the obvious places to look for business (or management science courses as they are sometimes known) are LSE, UCL, Warwick or Manchester. They have very well recognised courses but also demand high grades. Otherwise look for those universities with triple accredited business schools eg Reading (Henley Management College), Lancaster etc. I am sure others will add their own suggestions.

Piggywaspushed · 02/02/2022 20:11

Why does marketing seem a shame?

Original poster
gardenhelpneeded · 02/02/2022 21:17

Thanks all! That’s really helpful. I’m not sure whar grades will be. He is capable of As but whether he works hard enough to get them…

@Piggywaspushed Maths has always been his strongest subject

OP posts:
Mushypeasandchipstogo · 02/02/2022 21:27

Can highly recommend Loughborough for Business Studies!

Piggywaspushed · 02/02/2022 21:29

I get that OP but he says he doesn't want to do it, so I wasn't sure what was wrong about marketing. The two degrees I linked are quite management focused .

HasaDigaEebowai · 02/02/2022 21:32

I did business management at Lancaster (albeit quite some years ago). It’s an excellent degree and very well regarded.

Original poster
gardenhelpneeded · 02/02/2022 21:38

Great thank you! I feel sorry for him, he’s got Covid again and has been shut in his room for a week. The whole pandemic has been a disaster for his motivation. Social life gone down the tubes as he has withdrawn from friends. I’m hoping that looking to the future will gee him up a bit.

OP posts:
HasaDigaEebowai · 02/02/2022 21:54

How about accountancy?

Original poster
gardenhelpneeded · 03/02/2022 07:35

I think accountancy is pretty dry. Maybe he could do that after university if he wanted. I know it’s a useful stepping stone.

OP posts:
LooksGood · 03/02/2022 08:21

The right marketing course would use his maths - all about the data and algorithms. Some don't touch on this at undergraduate level, but others make it quite central. So I wouldn't write marketing off as an option.

Babiesandboardgames · 03/02/2022 08:30

@gardenhelpneeded i second economics, I did that at uni myself and have never struggled to find jobs.

I would also recommend something like events management. It's quite niche, makes use of maths and his drama skills ...:)

Original poster
gardenhelpneeded · 03/02/2022 09:33

Great ideas! Thank you. Is anyone elses’ child burying their head in the sand about this? He’s so reluctant to discuss. Personally I think a gap year would be great but he’s not keen on that either!

OP posts:
HasaDigaEebowai · 03/02/2022 12:21

If he likes maths though and likes business studies then accountancy is an obvious option. Most business management degrees will have accounts modules.

I’d also suggest economics as a logical option for maths and business studies but be aware it’s incredibly popular and he might struggle with those A Level choices unless he can get top grades.

SometimesRavenSometimesParrot · 03/02/2022 12:50

Maybe look at marketing degrees with data focused modules to play on his maths strengths?

Original poster
gardenhelpneeded · 03/02/2022 13:00

Accountancy is quite narrow though and something he can specialise in afterwards if he wants to. His dad did accountancy (after Business Management at university) so we’re pretty up on that. I will look at the grade requirements though - thank you.

The data part of marketing might suit him. He’s also quite sharp on psychology and behaviour. Although wasn’t keen on the idea of a psychology degree. I wish I could persuade him of a gap year as I think it would be a lot easier for him to choose a course after a year of life experience!

OP posts:
cheapskatemum · 03/02/2022 13:03

DS1 did very similar A levels & got into Cambridge Judge Business School to do Business Management. He hated it as he said that the vast majority of other students in his year were mature students 10-20 years older than him. Fair enough, they were in businesses & wanted to learn how to become a manager, or manage their own businesses. They tended to go home to their families after lectures, so he missed out on a typical undergraduate social life (this was before Covid). He left after 6 months & worked for the next 2 years, then applied to London South Bank University because their success rate in people getting employment after graduating there was (is?) so high. He studied Business Studies there and has had no problems getting a job subsequently. He's found his niche in recruitment.

CMOTDibbler · 03/02/2022 13:13

I think marketing would be great for him. Its such a varied field and can be very techy indeed, and data driven marketing is a big thing now - but it also can need a lot of soft skills as well, insights into psychology, and creative input. An undergraduate degree would give him an insight into the different fields.

Dancingdreamer · 03/02/2022 23:05

Why specialise so early in Marketing or accountancy? A broad business degree would give him the chance to do both and specialise later if he wanted. And there will be economics and finance options too if that appeals later.

thing47 · 04/02/2022 00:01

How about market research? Lots of mathematical modelling and statistics etc. There are a couple of universities which offer it as an undergrad (Reading is one), but maybe be better to do a general marketing or business degree and specialise after that.

sashh · 04/02/2022 03:26

I'm going to kick the can down the road, but has he considered a joint degree?

Most universities offer modules/units outside your uni course,

Lots let you pick two or three subjects in your first year and then drop as you progress.

Also have a look at UCAS, there are courses for things he may have never heard of, maybe something in theatre but the business side

Does he know what he wants to do after uni?

Avarua · 04/02/2022 04:14

Economics!

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