Best a level combination

[Thingsthatgo]

DS is predicted all 9s at GCSE. His current plan is history at Oxford, then a law conversion, and ultimately training to become a barrister. He is also very interested in politics. I suspect he might love university a lot, and just stay forever.
He isn’t taking a language at GCSE (which I was disappointed about, but here we are). He chose philosophy, history and drama. He is also taking 3 sciences and stats as well as English and maths.
His preference for A level would be history, politics and law. But, from research Law is not an a level that is well respected. It also feels like a selection without much breadth. Same for History, politics and philosophy. He loves English lit, so that is an option. I have also suggested economics.
He loves humanities, but maths and science come easily to him so could be an option too.
What would be the best combination for Uni applications?

I think you are right that law is not a great option especially if he is aiming for Oxford. History, politics and one other strong academic subject sounds good!

This comes from a place of love and respect, and from a senior solicitor at an international law firm, don’t encourage him into this. There won’t be barristers by the time he qualifies, there will be very few lawyers at all. Plus it’s a miserable career and every lawyer I know (solicitors, barristers from legal aid to US corporate finance) all believe they’re not paid enough and are bitter.

if that’s ignored (as it will be and as I ignored it myself), get him to do whatever he hates least. Oxford isn’t the be all and end all and no one ever got rejected from a job if they went to Exeter, York, Bristol, Edinburgh or somewhere else decent instead. Please encourage him to enjoy the outside.

Cambridge has a list on its website of recommended A levels for humanities degrees which may be worth a look. Not sure if Oxford has similar. Basically the suggestion might be history, maths and one other; or sub in a science or an MFL for the maths. Obvs MFL is not possible and a science might be a bit of an outlier, so is maths possible?

All that said, he would be better doing three subjects where he would gain high grades, so if he would be more likely to gain Astar Astar A with history, politics and law, while he would perhaps gain a B in maths, then the first combo is better for any uni tbh.

What will replace solicitors and barristers?

My DS was a bit similar to yours in that he was broadly talented at GCSE and unsure what he loved, but has really found his calling in A levels. He took Spanish (which was his great passion in Y11), Maths and Geography. He did Chemistry as a 4th A level just to see how it went. He ended up dumping Geog for Chem and now just applied to do a Chem degree at Oxford.

I would really encourage your DS to try 4 A levels for a while (maybe a term or 2 terms if he is still unsure) but I think it becomes quite clear early on. As mentionedm my DS realised Geography A level was not his thing after about half a term but had to wait to Feb to drop out. He also went off Spanish a bit after 2 terms, hates the literature aspect and the language bit wasn't really challenging enough I think. Now he wishes he'd done Further Maths or Physics, which would have helped degree options for him. But we weren't to know and he can still do Chemistry even though the top uni's may be more challenging without another science.

So basically, I'm saying keep it broad and his interests will hopefully become clearer. I would try and keep one science and/ or Maths in there as it opens up a lot of degrees (eg. Psychology, Economics).

Drama GCSE is a bit useless unless he's applying to drama school, which he's not. It's a real pity that he doesn't have a language instead of that. I'm guessing it's too late to change now.

A-levels are part of becoming an educated person, as well as for uni entrance. For that reason, I wouldn't advise him doing law, because he'll be taught all that on a conversion course. So it would be a "waste" of one of three subjects, imo.

One choice is definite, History. Since he's good at sciences and maths, I would choose a science next. I think one of those will teach him more about the world around us than just maths. For the third, philosophy or English. They will help him in essay-writing skills, and having another humanities subject will give him a broader education than if his other two A-levels were both sciences. I also wonder if History admissions at Oxford would prefer two humanities instead of one, again because of the essay-writing.

I'm not sure whether politics is seen as a rigorous A-level topic. But with the fact that he wants to do History, I think two humanities is best. And definitely a science, because doing well in one of those at A-level is hugely impressive.

If he leans towards doing History and two sciences, I think that would also be impressive, but do check what the course requirements/preferences are. They might require two of the A-levels to be History and another humanity.

If he finds maths easy, do maths. It is the most useful enabling subject of any because it provides a foundation for so many things including science and economics and philosophy (logic). My sister took a similar path to your DS with maths plus Latin and Greek at a level leading to classics then law. And the classics tutors liked to see maths a level - all 5 at her college had it.

My relative did Theatre Studies (stage struck), English Language, Psychology at A level, then Philosophy at Oxbridge. Law Conversion, Bar Exam. Successful career at Bar. So, not A level law but consider which subjects he would enjoy and do those. Law careers cover such a wide spectrum he will find his niche whatever he studies.

English Literature is definitely considered an elite A Level subject for students studying Law (not English language)

Just a two pennies worth on Drama. Confessed I too was a bit sceptical before DS insisted on taking it... If a teen is interested in Drama GCSE and the dept is good, I'd actively encourage it now. Wonderful for confidence, public speaking, thinking on your feet, team work. Very real world skills. DS absolutely loved it. Plus fun. A bit of light relief if rest of subjects a bit heavy.

Re A Levels - I am not the person to advise, but tends to be easier to do well if you genuinely enjoy the subject. Sounds like your DS has lots of options. Our DS wanted to do a combination which couldn't be accommodated in the timetable, so I suppose that might be something else to consider.

I'd go with what he enjoys but if he might be interested in PPE at Oxford or an joint Economics degree then Maths at A level is preferable. Out of those would do Politics / History / Maths, could start Economics as a 4th or another subject as a 4th and drop one.

Drama GCSE is a bit useless unless he's applying to drama school, which he's not. It's a real pity that he doesn't have a language instead of that. I'm guessing it's too late to change now.

I assume he is in year 11 so it would be impossible to switch to MFL. I don't agree that drama GCSE is useless unless applying to drama school btw. DD took it and loved it – as @NamechangeRugby says she found it a welcome change of pace. Also yes it teaches skills such as presentation and group work.

If you don't love MFL enough to take it for GCSE you are not going to want to do A level. And there is no requirement for a GCSE in MFL ever (unless looking at A level MFL obvs).

I think two hums and a science is a bit unusual – say chem, eng lit and history – the chem feels unsupported. Chem, maths or bio and history would be more usual and would also keep open lots of uni options. But would he love those subjects? that's the key question.

Like a PP, I would suggest maths if he is good at it, history because he loves it, and then one other: physics if he may be interested in engineering and wants to keep those doors open (doesn't sound like it), biology if he may be interested in allied health professions (doesn't sound like it) or another humanities or social science subject if he doesn't care about keeping other doors open. In the latter case it doesn't particularly matter which humanities / social science he chooses - politics would be fine.

What about A level Classical Civilisation? It goes well with history and is well respected. DD did History, English and Classical Civilisation at A level and went to Cambridge. Appreciate not all schools do the subject but DD’s state sixth form others moved to to do subjects like that that some others didn’t cover.

I would say History, Politics and either English or Maths but only if he is really strong at maths as it is one of the hardest jumps up to A level. Philosophy might be Ok as a third too.

Maths is valuable to lawyers and a very respected A level choice (which can differentiate from the sea of humanities subjects we usually see).

But I am with @Parteepooper. I am the head of a department in a City firm and despair for the young uns coming in. So many of their jobs are going to cease to exist in the next few years because of AI. I am counselling my own children against it as a career.

My ds has the same ambition as yours and is currently at Oxford studying history. He says his English literature A level has been the most useful to him so far in terms of transferable skills and he also wishes he had done maths A level. He'd also recommend a language but as that's not possible maybe a science or philosophy/economics if he didn't do maths.

Oh yes, one of my A-Levels was Class Civ. I had done a GCSE in it, though.

Well, maybe GCSE drama is more valuable than I thought, then. But I do think not having a language at GCSE level is a gap in his education. I did French, German, and Latin at GCSE level, and it taught me a lot about how all language works.

Will they really disappear though? AI gets loads of things wrong!

I’m a secondary school teacher at an academic day school and 6th form tutor. Firstly Drama GCSE is fine, secondly Politics is also a solid A level. We offer it and a number of Oxbridge candidates do it often alongside History. A level English Literature is a great shout and goes well with History.

I'm interested if AI will take the junior jobs then who will fill the senior jobs in the future? Surely you need to work your way up!

Peak Mumsnet opening couple of sentences 😀

@CrazyMidget for sure languages are useful and brilliant. I am an MFL specialist and did five at O level (old) and three at A level. But while they teach great skills, if a YP is not interested, there is no need to take MFL GCSE.

Better to take drama, be engaged and do well than German and hate it. And for the OP’s DS, who as I say I assume is in year 11 (tho tbf they don’t say) there’s not a lot they can do about not having taken an MFL. I imagine the OP mentioned it so people didn’t suggest it for A level.

Is your take on “impressive” actually reflected in any university’s entrance criteria though?