General Studies - does your school still offer it in the Sixth Form?

[BeingFluffy]

DD1's school does 4AS/3A levels and General Studies. Critical Thinking is also offered but not compulsory. DD2's school does 4 or 5 A' levels instead - no GS or CT.

Even in my day GS was not accepted by Universities for admission. I just wondered if GS is dying out and whether DD1 would be better off with 4 straight A levels in Uni accepted subjects or just spending the extra time studying.

I liked GS as I got the opportunity to do Ancient Greek and psychology among other things; but Uni entrance is so much more competitive nowadays.

What do people think?

Unis can't descriminate against people for not having four/five A levels purely because not all schools offer this. In that sense there is no advantage to doing more, unless she is really torn for choice.

At DS's school GS is compulsory, except if you do four full A levels you just do the exam without going to lessons. I think lesson time is only an hour a week so not too strenuous.

I'm not sure if it's dying out - critical thinking is becoming more and more popular as well as more schools opting against it. IMO it's useful as you learn things you wouldn't normally as well as getting more essay writing practice.

I'm sure someone more knowledgable on admissions will come along but if not that should be a useful bump :)

The vast majority of universities state that they will not accept General Studies as one of a student's main A Levels. Some say the same about Critical Thinking. AS Extended Project seems to be held in slightly higher regard. There is little point any student taking more than 4 subjects as 3 is the standard number if A2s specified- even for top institutions.

I don't think either of the 6th forms Ds is considered offer either critical thinking or general studies, but extended projects seem to be on offer.

What ET said. There isn't much point for the student in doing GS - universities usually will not accept it. However, there is a point for the school as it bumps up their headline UCAS points score
Until it is discounted from league tables, it will not die out.

When DD1(20) was in the sixth form they took General Studies AS in the January of year 12 and the A2 in the summer. They had abandoned it by the time DD2(18) did her A levels.

Suprisingly enough DD1 did get an offer that included General Studies as a third A level which was for Biology at Sheffield. I've just checked and their current offer is AAB and can include General Studies.

Just remembered something else. Although offers don't generally include GS some other aspects of your application might. For example some courses offer cash insentives if you get (for example) AAA for a ABB course. These three As can include generals. A friend's DS is going to Kent with that scenario and, although he is aiming for AAB in his three A levels, if he were also to get an A in GS he would be eligable for £2000 a year.