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Higher education

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Law at Cambridge help

15 replies

ourflagmeansdeath · 28/09/2024 15:38

DD is looking to do law at Cambridge but it struggling as to what A Levels to choose - she is in Year 11.

She wants to do English Literature, Politics and Economics but isn't sure as to whether she'd cope with Economics without Maths A Level. She is pretty strong with GCSE Maths, but is pretty certain that she does not want to take it further.

Her other options include History which she loves but she feels it doesn't sound as academic and she wants to take something that is slightly more stem related hence the Economics choice. At the same time, she is nervous that is limiting her options, and is wondering if choosing at least one of Biology and Chemistry would work better?

basically her options are:
English Literature
Politics
Economics
History
Biology
Chemistry
Maths??

OP posts:
ourflagmeansdeath · 28/09/2024 15:40

Oh and I forgot to add that she definitely wants to do an EPQ which will be law based as she has already done a HPQ and enjoyed it. And she also isn't sure if she'll do 3 and an EPQ or 4 and an EPQ as she doesn't know what Cambridge would prefer.

OP posts:
Musclebeach · 28/09/2024 15:42

History is considered one of the hardest A levels, certainly not seen as weak in any shape or form. But tough to do more than one essay subject and with politics that would be three.
economics without maths is doable but probably less relevant.

Look at the Cambridge website, go to their open days and/or ask on the student room

bigTillyMint · 28/09/2024 15:42

History is one of the degree subjects that city law firms seem to like when offering Training Contracts to those who will ned to do a Law Conversion. Apparently the skills needed for History are similar to those needed for Law and degree level.

Economics Alevel is usually studied with Maths Alevel and if she changed her mind and wanted to do it at degree level, she would find that most unis want Alevel Maths too.

murasaki · 28/09/2024 15:42

History is a great choice for law, it's analytical, I can't see why she'd think it is lesser.

LadyGabriella · 28/09/2024 15:44

English lit, history, politics/economics/maths

sangriaandsunshine · 28/09/2024 15:54

History is the most similar subject to law I'd say. Research, reviewing source materials, presenting your argument and then presenting a counter argument.
I would have thought, though, that this information is best sought from the Cambridge University website

IAmNotYourZiggaZigAhhh · 28/09/2024 16:23

History is a really useful foundation for undergraduate Law. (Where did she get the idea it’s not ‘academic’?Grin) Aside from the above mentioned essay writing skills, a solid understanding of British History (and its inter-relationship with other nation states) means you don’t come to, say Constitutional Law, or Jurisprudence, cold. You can get to grips with Rawls or Foucault (or whoever is taught now) more easily and with more confidence if you know your way around the 18th / 19th / 20th century.

(Can you tell what I did before Law at Cambridge?)

Can’t really comment on her other options - depends what she’s likely to do best at.

Piggywaspushed · 28/09/2024 16:25

This seems to be a new thing with bright YPs especially girls. Getting girls into STEM is important but she doesn't want to be a scientist or a mathematician. I have no idea how this is filtering through as 'history is not for the most able' but there have been similar threads. If anything, it's politics that would be considered ( unfairly) less demanding.

The economics goes well with politics or history but uis no more 'special. In the old days of 'facilitating subjects' ,history was and economics wasn't.

Lots of people do economics A level without maths A level ( it's true that it's useful for a degree and required for some). My DS is one. Maths GCSE grade 7. A star A level economics.

Rummly · 28/09/2024 16:59

IAmNotYourZiggaZigAhhh · 28/09/2024 16:23

History is a really useful foundation for undergraduate Law. (Where did she get the idea it’s not ‘academic’?Grin) Aside from the above mentioned essay writing skills, a solid understanding of British History (and its inter-relationship with other nation states) means you don’t come to, say Constitutional Law, or Jurisprudence, cold. You can get to grips with Rawls or Foucault (or whoever is taught now) more easily and with more confidence if you know your way around the 18th / 19th / 20th century.

(Can you tell what I did before Law at Cambridge?)

Can’t really comment on her other options - depends what she’s likely to do best at.

Totally agree.

OP, your daughter will be surprised at how much history there is in law.

British history knits together a lot of the concepts and language of English and Welsh law. Understanding how law is made - both common and statute - comes a lot more naturally with a good grasp of British history, for example.

And as IAmNot has said, there are specific areas of law that are a response to world history of the last three hundred years.

As for older history, Oxbridge law students have to learn Roman law!

An arts subject - especially English or history - is also very valuable to a law student as good training in how to write. Lawyers have to write well, especially at the Bar.

And…history is a wonderful subject in its own right!

MothBat · 28/09/2024 17:02

https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/law-ba-hons
History, English and languages are the favoured subjects for law. Other common subjects on the link. The most important thing is to get the highest possible grades which often means the subjects you are most interested in.

Law, BA (Hons) | Undergraduate Study

Take your first step to qualifying as a solicitor or barrister. Known as an LLB at other universities, our course covers English law and more.

https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/law-ba-hons

Whyherewego · 28/09/2024 17:03

She should do the A levels she's most likely to get A stars in. That's it really.
English and History are cited as good choices but if she's got any essay subject it would probably suffice. But she needs to really be at the A star level to get into Cambridge
To quote the Admissions tutor at the talk I went to a couple of weeks ago "our entry requirements are the minimum expectation. The majority of students will exceed these"

EPQs are only useful for rounding errors. So if she's got a EPQ with an A star and it's on the margins whether they'll offer her, they may swing it with the EPQ result
It also helps with super curricular reading.

Whyherewego · 28/09/2024 17:07

Also to add that the Admissions talk also said they don't require 4 A levels or favour those who do with certain exceptions (eg subjects which require further maths). So again if she's likely to smash 4 A levels out of the park then go for it. Else 3 A stars is better than 2 A and 2A stars

merryhouse · 28/09/2024 17:25

S2's just got a 2:1 in Law at Cambridge. His A-levels were History, Gov&Pol, Sociology. Can't remember what his EPQ was Blush - it wasn't writing a tuba concerto which he decided he didn't have the skillset for in the end.

halfthesun · 28/09/2024 17:42

I teach a level economics / no need to be a genius at maths. Some of my students achieved a 5 at gcse and received an A at A level Daffodil

ourflagmeansdeath · 28/09/2024 18:35

This has all been incredibly helpful, thank you very much x

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