Do all Highers carry the same weight?

[AgentProvocateur]

What I mean is, would Higher Drama be seen as equal to, for example, Higher Maths when it comes to applying for uni?

Are you in Scotland? Afraid I don't know much about Scotland at all, but I know that English universities do look not just at the grade but at the subject, so heavy A-levels are better and relevant A-levels can be decisive, e.g. if you want to study medicine you need the sciences. If the uni course is an academic one, they would tend to look for subjects that show that you can cope with that type of sustained academic work.

It's the same in Scotland. A Higher in Drama would be better than Maths if you/your DC wants to get into Drama College. But for just about anything else, Maths will win out.

They rate the same on the UCAS tariff, but it will depend on the course - some just want eg "3 Highers at B or A" but others will want specifics. So a science course will want to see ability in maths and sciences, a course like History will want to see Highers which have a lot of more extended essay-questions, etc. So, it does depend what kinds of courses he/she is likely to want to apply for.

But then again an A in Higher Drama (because they loved the subject and were really good at it) would outweigh a C in Maths, so picking subjects that suit the persons strengths has its advantages too!

It completely depends on what you're applying to. A science course will want to see maths and sciences, but an English degree will be pleased to see drama (they do actually have to analyse plays and such like).

Though my English department would only want to see drama if the other A-levels were more heavily academic.

Thanks everyone. He's looking at music and/or teaching, so I suppose drama would be relevant to both of these.

Yes, not a bad choice at all, I would say. But if he is looking at teaching, it might be worth thinking about what kind of teaching before he decides about his other options.

Cory, he'd like to be a music teacher, but by studying music first and then the teaching postgrad.

Higher PE didn't count towards my friend getting into university. Shame because she get an A :P

It depends on what other and how many other highers he is taking.

If he's doing 4 'hard' highers and drama is the 5th it'll be fine.

I take it he's doing higher music?

English, history and a language would be good choices for his ambitions.