A level combination got Cambridge natural sciences

[SunnyKoala]

My child has just started maths, further maths, chemistry and history A levels. Will the history instead of physics or biology scupper their chances for natural sciences?

They have no clue what they want to do in life and nothing that they are particularly better at. If not Cambridge natural sciences any suggestion for Russell Group subject options that aren't just maths, chem, history please? Only archaeology springs to my mind but she'd like to make money!

You can check with the colleges direct but as I recollect this would be fine as long as you pick Chemistry option not Physics option in the first year.

https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/natural-sciences-ba-hons-msci gives most common A levels. Person I know doing that course 1 A level was Art so sure History wouldn't rule you out. I know someone who did the degree and got a fascinating job but very low pay (plant related).

Other possible degrees would include Economics, PPE, Chemical Engineering

Bear in mind that Maths can be combined with Economics, in addition to 'straight' Economics which can be more or less quantitative depending on the specific course.

There are Chemistry degrees that can be combined with Maths or CS or management modules, or taken as part of Natural Science courses at universities other than Cambridge.

There are flexible degree options at universities such as Birmingham (LANS) and Exeter (FCH) and there are History adjacent degrees such as Law, Sociology etc. Degrees at Scottish unis allow for later specialisation to a greater extent.

My DC did a mix of STEM and humanity A levels and found attending Open Days and visiting a wide range of departments at each uni helpful in getting a better feel for 'which subject' as much as 'which uni'.

Of the IA (first year) courses, some have pre-requisites in terms of subject knowledge. I don't believe there are any IA courses for which Biology or Physics A-level are an essential requirement (even Physics IA can be done without Physics A-level if they have Further Maths with enough Mechanics).

The pace of learning is fast and they hit the ground running from week 1. If they don't have the 'highly desirable' A-level subjects for the course(s) which interest them then I'd suggest doing some familiarisation over the summer before starting.

www.natsci.tripos.cam.ac.uk/admissions

I heard someone on "The Life Scientific" on Radio 4 who had applied to Cambridge for history, but came back from a gap year working with animals abroad somewhere and asked to switch to natural sciences. They wouldn't let him, as he didn't have science A-levels, but someone suggested archaeology and anthropology instead. That worked out, and he ended up with a career studying animal behaviour.

Ironoaks is right about the prerequisites for natural sciences - chemistry and FMaths mean nothing is ruled out, although it might well be worth doing some self-study for whichever options are selected, to help hit the ground running.

I believe that there's one of the uni guide sites where you can put in your A-level subjects to see what degrees fit that combination of subjects. It might throw up too much with four A-levels.

One stumbling block for NatSci students as they progress is poor essay writing skills because of a very science heavy choice of A levels. Don’t underestimate the value of History at A level. History and Philosophy of Science is available as an option in the later years too at Cambridge.

Good point. What about psychology, do you know? I know some universities consider it as a science, but is it also good for essay writing?

Earth science "converts" a lot of natscis who originally intended on studying another subject.

Math + FM is good prep for econ, data science, CS, etc. like MMORSE at Warwick

Also chemical engineering.

PPE, Economics, Computer Science, Law, Economics and History, CHSS

All accessible with the subjects they are doing at A level in addition to science and individual A level subjects.

And, to be honest, an A-level Physics text book is light reading for someone taking Further Maths. If your daughter gets an interview she should be prepared to explain her choice of A-levels - it may even work to her advantage.

Why is essay writing skill an issue for natscis who don't take the essay based subjects?

I know this is an old thread but posting this link here, as it says specifically which of the options would work with which a level backgrounds:

https://www.natsci.tripos.cam.ac.uk/admissions

With chemistry maths and fm, you’d be able to pick three of:
Chemistry
Materials science
Earth Sciences
Intro to experimental psychology

Physics says it would be ok if you’d done the mechanics module in further maths.

The bio ones say biology is highly desirable, though they don’t say essential.

Dont make my mistake of being flattered into a biology option (cells back in the day) without biology A-level. It was a train crash - luckily my maths, physics and chemistry were all 2:1 or 1 so I was fine overall but I’d have had so much more time and fun if I’d done geology!

Always do geology! It’s the best one.

DD went in as a NatSci physicist and ended up an earth scientist (currently working on PhD)

One of my relatives did Natural Sciences at Cambridge having done the IB with HL Maths AA, Physics and Biology and SL Chemistry, English and French. Got a 45/45 in the IB. The NatSci course was not a walk in the park by any means, even with that preparation.

Writing up research, choosing a subject that does involve an element of essay writing, moving on to a PhD, compiling reports in the workplace.