More A level choices advice needed!

[mycatunderstandsme]

My DD is in the process of choosing A levels but she really isn't sure what she will choose as a career so we are trying not to close any doors for her.

She is very creative/arty so any science/maths career is out.

Her possible career/further study choices at the moment are: 1. apply to drama school 2. History or english literature degree 3. art related career/art degree.

She is very talented at drama-loads of extra curricular etc. Plans to take English Lit, history and drama A levels. The problem is the 4th one. If she decides to go along an art route she would need art but would then have 2 softer subjects if she decides to do history or english lit. The other option she is considering is philosophy but obviously then any art career is out.

We have had a look at university requirements but most say they will accept any a levels except general studies.

We are hoping for 6/7 A/A* 2/3 B at GCSE so I'd say it would be borderline whether she'll get the grades needed at A level for Russell Group [or similar] Uni but don't want to rule anything out.

Any ideas anyone?

Why not do just three? You only get offers on your three A2s ... then she'll have time to read and do interesting things too!

I think mycat is trying to help her DD decide her 4th subject at AS ie the one you drop by A2.

Why not take english lit history drama and art at AS and THEN decide what to drop ?

If she drops the drama (I think this is a russell group "soft" AS) then she'll have a strong art /eng/history profile that would allow her to apply to uni anywhere and I can't imagine drama at A2 is essential for drama school is it? a strong AS mark and experience of doing it at amateur level should be fine Is assume.

and over all IMHO only study subjects she loves in themselves - not beause of the teacher, the trips or her friends doing them (I know it's obvious but kids don't see it) as she'll spend a lot of time doing them!

Thank you!

My DD would love to do all 5 if she could but this will definitely not be possible for her!

Theas-do you think that if one of the 'soft' subjects is dropped at AS and the other carried on to A2 that universities will not discriminate aginst her because one of her A2s is a soft subject [and she would also have a soft subject at AS], compared with another applicant who may have 3 stronger subjects? This is my worry as everything is so competitive now.

Taking art would definitely give her more options as she doesn't think it is likely she would take philosophy any further.

You are right-drama A level is not needed for drama school but she loves it so much she wants to take it. I also suspect it will be the subject she gets the highest marks in.

Parents evening tonight so we will see what the teachers say!

If she eventually wants to do English at university, then English + History + Drama would be fine. Fortunately, most admissions tutors in English depts understand that the crude ranking of Drama/Theatre Studies as a 'soft' subject is ill-informed and unhelpful (I speak from experience). There should be a lot of plays in any good English degree! She should also be OK for History with that combo.

It is all hard to predict at the moment, though, as the govt keeps introducing new policies affecting university admissions, and their likely consequences and implications for future applicants are going to be unclear for a while yet.

Thanks cat64-I have seen your thread!

Just home from parents evening now. Think DD is going to choose Philosophy.

Wasn't overly impressed with the advice given from art and then noticed they dont give an overall score for A-B in 6th form brochure which we think is highly suspicious! [DD wants to stay at her current school] whereas Philosophy has a high percentage A-B.

Also slightly worried about Eng Lit as DD has done the majority of it in year 10. She got a good A in the module last Summer but did the controlled assessment in the first term of year ten and was borderline A/B. It was worth 25%. Still hoping for an A overall but at least if she takes Philosophy she could maybe drop Eng Lit if she finds it tough going.