Is sociology, business & politics A level combo a bad idea?

[LatinSisters]

A mum from school yesterday was appalled that my DD is wanting to study sociology, business and politics at A levels, saying that none of them are academic and she won’t get a place at a ‘good’ uni. DD has no clue about a career or a degree. She’s not taking any of those subjects at gcse so it’s a risk but this mum wasn’t getting at that. DD is definitely more interested in humanities than sciences. She works very hard and is likely to get the following at GCSE
maths 7, English x2 at 7, 3 sciences at 6, history 6, PE 7, Food 7/8. (Total of 9 subjects at 6/7 type results).
She thinks she’ll really enjoy sociology and politics, and that business could be interesting. BUT are these a ‘bad’ combination?

My DD did media studies, photography and sociology at A level, and went to a top Russell Group university where she got a first.

Those English literature texts are very challenging! Is this a private school/grammar school as on some exam boards Agatha Christie is on the syllabus!
How can they even compare??!!

No it’s a local Catholic state school. They do ask for 7 in English Lit at gcse though.

I imagine it is a private school bc of the IGCSE. But even private schools have to choose from the same A level specs as state schools. And everyone does Shakespeare and poetry. DD did Othello and William Blake and Margaret Atwood.

Edited: Of course I meant that I presume the school she is at now is private! yes of course the sixth form is a different school, apols OP.

Well done her on her 1st! I’d like to do Media A level! Looks fab. And actually very meaty. And relevant! Did she do an arts degree?

I've never seen Agatha Christie on an A level syllabus!

The one OP cites is more interesting in its variety than most but still pretty conventional. A level specs still tend towards the pale, largely male and stale.

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is part of the syllabus on IIRC crime and punishment

AQA Eng lit B - along with Kate Atkinson, DIckens, Graham Greene and errr Shakey
https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/english/a-level/english-7717/specification/subject-content/texts-and-genres

Oh, is it? Most schools stick to the rather pedestrian AQA A. I think, must say, there is definitely a lot to be said for understanding and analysing popular texts in context, alongside others.

Studying economics at A level without a mathematical mind is tough.
Doing a degree in it without a great maths mind is really, really unthinkable. Birmingham University is fantastic but just offering top-up maths lessons is neither use nor ornament if you are not maths-minded.
Business at A Level has some maths content, especially in the sections based in accounting.
However economics is painful if you are not a proficient mathematician.

I'm not sure with such a rich big hitter as Atonement on there who would do the Christie. I love that Atkinson. It's the best Jackson Brodie, I think.

Oliver Twist is a bit of a dull choice - Bleak House would be better,

The poems are already studied quite extensively at GCSE, must say.

But it looks more fun than AQA A!

what did she study at uni?

Yes I love that Atkinson so much. Also Atonement.

Hate Oliver Twist tbh but not a Dickens fan anyway. Poems are a win tho

@hillroad That is the killer question. Plus there’s RG and RG.Some RG courses are 100% bums on seats. Education might not be too fussy for example.

Re Law. The poster did History!!! Again - it’s the door opener. Half truths are an issue. We don’t get tge full picture.

exactly

the devil is in the detail

Sociology is an academic social science, Business Studies can be viewed as more vocational and LSE would - presumably - be expecting Economics instead of Business Studies or neither and Maths etc.

@Summertimer agree, just interested that LSE confirms that, in contrast to opinions here that it's easy or a soft subject.

I have 2 children studying social sciences and they are amazing subjects.

DC1 at Manchester doing Philosophy and Politics (doing a sociology module this semester) did Politics, Geography and Psychology at A level.

DC2 at Durham doing Sociology with Biology, Chemistry and Psychology at A level

So you can see there are many different ways to achieve a similar goal.

Most students on DC2 course did A level sociology - indeed she knows many others at Durham doing different subjects who also did A level sociology so Durham doesn’t have an issue with it!

DC2 second choice for Sociology (not interested in Cambridge or Bath) was York which has a fab department and asks for lower grades than many. Equally Manchester ask ABB for the BASS degrees which have a massive amount of optionality so are deffo worth looking at.

as far as doing 3 new subjects for A level I would be slightly cautious with that DC1 did 2 - both of which he really enjoyed but also enjoyed the familiarity of his 3rd subject.

one note re Psychology A level - DC2 found that A level Biology really helped with all the Biopsych stuff as they essentially knew it from Biology.

LSE had a sociology department and awards sociology degrees because, despite what some people on here think, it's rigorous academic discipline...

Thank you @CheeseDreamz @octobersunhopefully DD will not be swayed on sociology. So much so she is moving schools because it’s not offered there. It’s good to be reassured that this a good strong subject. @KittyMcKitty I’ll have a look at BASS. I’ve not heard of it. Good look to your 2 DC in their studies!

At her favoured school, it looks like they start with 4, then choose 3 to continue. So that gives her a bit of flexibility, albeit a lot of content for the 1st year.

@LatinSisters the Manchester course is the BA in Social Sciences. DC is midway through his degree and really enjoys it. Dd at Durham is in year 2 and loves sociology - finds it really engaging and relevant.

my personal view is the world needs more sociologists (we have plenty of Economists and that doesn’t seem to be making the world a better place 😊)

@KittyMcKitty You have missed the point a bit. Sociology is fine. I see your DCs did Geography and two Sciences. These subjects alter the landscape. They ARE the preferred subjects for competitive courses. Sociology or Politics is the useful subject. So they had subjects that kept doors open and were best prep. The discussion is about doing only course specific A levels.

Of course LSE won’t really want business A level. It’s vocational. They are an academic powerhouse!

Absolutely, DH teaches law and is interdisciplinary working with business research centre as well as in his faculty. He highly rates sociology, has taught law and economics but doesn’t like the kind of economics that’s prevalent these days.

My DD did History, Psychology and Art A levels. She'd have loved HSPS at Cambridge but did not get an offer after interview. She's just started at Durham doing Sociology. If it was good enough for Martin Luther King, Jesse Jackson and Michelle Obama, all who have had a great impact on the world, it's good enough for anyone! My DD is particularly interested in equal access to education.

No point worrying about what LSE or Cambridge offer if no chance or intention of going there.

My son has just chosen Business over Economic as he preferred it at the taster days.

Leeds, Southampton and Loughborough have it on their preferred list from memory and I doubt it's an issue for most courses where the typical GCSES obtained are 6-7.

I doubt there are any easy A levels. My son know at least a couple of children who got an 8 in history and got C's in both History and Business in their year 12 mocks.

It's best for children to do what they are interested in and want to do.