A-levels: to press or not to

[MsAverage]

One more topic on the A-level choice.

DD is inspired by her success in GCSE's physics and wants to do it at A-level. I see Further Maths as much better choice: 1) she won't need physics anywhere after A-level, unlike maths 2) and we have a fabulous maths tutor.

The pool of subjects to choose looks like this: Maths (the only subject which is in for sure), Physics, Further Maths, Art, Psychology, Economics, Computing.

I still can exercise parental power. I do not want to. Shall I just let her make her mistakes at AS? Would not this mistake be too expensive? Your thoughts? Your experience?

Apple, can you tell a bit more about that admission tutor contact process? Can university admissions advise or consult? Sorry, I am absolutely clueless in this area.

On the subjects above, all of them looks useful... somehow. Art, I agree, is nasty in terms of time consuming, and is going to be taken only if she gets to a particular school for Six Form (although, she enjoys it and does a lot). Psychology/Economics are kind of a filler. What d you think about them?

Being, because tutors are cheaper than a move closer to a good school or private schooling. :) Seriously, there were circumstances beyond anyone's control.

I also heard that Unis consider difference between the child's grades and the average for their school, but I was never sure that it is true. There is some lack of reassuring examples: if a child from disadvantaged background gets into a best uni, that child always looks like (and probably is) a super-genius which has simply better grades that anyone else.

DD looked at the website and got the admissions email address and emailed them. You could also take your DD along to a university open day. There are some on over the next few weeks. She would get an opportunity to speak to admissions tutors there and get a good feel for what they are looking for.
I am a bit confused though. What year is your DD in?

I am highlyamused at the thought of further maths not being an earning tool!
Good maths graduates are in high demand, and can earn a fortune in many sectors, including the city.

Friends of mine from university were getting 1/4 million bonuses 2 years after graduating!

I think the point is that further maths is useful but in niche markets.

Further maths would have significantly less use in other career areas which are not directly within the mathematics sector.

can you tell a bit more about that admission tutor contact process? Can university admissions advise or consult?

Yes, yes, yes. Don't take your neighbour's cousin's god-daughter's advice. I would even advise that you treat teachers' cousel with caution. The only people who you can really trust are the horse's mouth i.e. that subject's admissions tutor for that University.

I did Maths, FM and Physics at A Level. At the time, I enjoyed it but with hindsight I wish that I had taken a wider spread of subjects. I feel that M+FM+Phys is a bit too specialised too soon and can cut down options.

Maths and physics are a great combo, and if she is interested in computing, then physics is a real advantage. Certainly in the software engineers I work with, when we are recruiting a good physics background is looked for, and will help in dealing with future advances. We also find physics helps with their coding of models.

I'd go for physics, maths, further maths, and maybe economics. Def not art.

Apple, DD started Y11, and is applying for schools for 6th form. When did your DD established connections with Unis?

She emailed about her course choice before she chose her AS subjects in year 11. Her first university visit was after sitting her AS levels in year 12. With hindsight I'd say the open days in June/July of year 11 could be a good time to visit because they get a better idea of what they need to choose and achieve. I suspect most students don't start to visit until year 12 or even September/October of year 13.
I have read some good advice on mumsnet about university admissions but I've also seen some posts which are really scaremongering. So I'd take some advice with a pinch of salt and recommend that your DD investigates for herself.
So has your DD already sat her GCSE physics or is she just part of the way through it?

I guess, many children choose set combos of well-accepted subjects (like Eng+History+MFL or Maths+Phys+Electronics) which cover a lot of courses, and then start choosing between them.

In our case I even do not know what to approach. She is in the middle of her GCSEs, scoring more or less accurately predicted As with occasional A*s (yes, stars predicted in Maths and Physics). Does this sound like her dream course in Imperial? I kind of doubt. Last time we went to a 6-form school for open day I asked girls there, what were their GCSE results. A was reported as a failure.

I'm not saying this is the way to do it, but both my DSs didn't visit universities before doing their UCAS forms, and both got into their first choices.

DS1 had subsequent interviews, so those were his look-see.

DS2 visited his two of the five as a post offer applicant (he got five offers). He rejected the two that were furthest away based on distance, and then made the one that he didn't visit his first choice.

I wouldn't recommend this purely from the emotional roller coaster point of view, bit I do feel that an awful lot is made of visiting universities (with school pushing on one had, but not giving the time off on the other). Students who end up in clearing don't suffer a lot from not visiting.

There is a very fine line that parents tread between encouraging and nagging. The completely wrong path is to be dictatorial.

Her choice, but she must look at university web sites and have some idea what she wants to do.

DD1 and me both changed one of our GCSE courses to our choices from our Dad's, never mind our A'levels.

The one I fought for became my degree subject, after failing to become a physicist (mainly, by the way, because I hadn't done further maths).

A'levels are hard work you need to love what your doing and have something to aim for.

We are one year further on and DD has started her AS courses (maths, chem, bio, French). It is a big step up from GCSE to AS. If your DD is like ours and has gone from a below average school to an above average 6th form she may well find that the step is a bit larger. DD's old school didnt have a 6th form so teaching was geared to the test and stopped when students went on exam leave.

Having started at her new 6th form DD is noticing that some of the other students from indies and, quite frankly, better state schools are further along than she is. She will catch up but it is something else to consider.

Gnome, too true, too true. This is exactly the reason why I feel need in tuition support.

Good luck for your DD!

I did Physics at University and really enjoyed it - your daughter should certainly choose for herself but as other posters have said there is a lot of similarity between maths and physics and a lot of overlap. Physics as a numerate discipline will open up loads of careers as employers know that physics means someone with a head for numbers and an excellent understanding of logic and how to prove or disprove a concept.

It all depends on where she wants to go to Uni and what subject she wants to do. Art would be regarded as non-academic and only appropriate as a fourth subject by the most selective Unis. Economics, Psychology and Computing are bordering on this category but less so. However, she will only excel if she does a subject she genuinely enjoys. I was railroaded into taking Chemistry to combine with my maths & physics - I hated it and I got a C. I actually wanted to take Latin but there was a timetabling clash at the school that meant I couldn't take both Latin and Physics - of course you never know what would have happened but I suspect I would have done a lot better if they could have been more flexible.

Let her choose her own A'level's. I wouldn't dream of telling my DC's what to study, even at GCSE level. I may give my opinion in a very objective and 'light' way but I expect them to do what they want.

By all means help her with researching Uni courses and requirements but let her make her own decisions.
Depending what she chooses Further Math may not be that useful as some Uni courses don't count it as a seperate A level to Maths. For example LSE Economics or several Medical Schools
However, if she is interested in computing then maths and FMaths are very important, (but not essential for all Uni's). If she does choose computing and wanted to go to top Uni, Further Maths would be a requirement at a majority, but not all, of them (unless she was at a school where it wasn't offered)

Talking about fourth subjects - I see some children taking five A2. Why do they do that? Just because they like it or it has some influence on the admissions?

I don't know of any girls doing five A2s, OP. At our schools (top 10 indie boys and girls schools) the norm is for 3 A2s, 4 if doing Maths and FM. The girls do all do 5 ASs but most then drop to 3 A2s. (one of the ASs is critical thinking)

And no, universities are not more impressed by 5 A2s than the 3 they need. ( ime, obviously - have two at uni now both done Oxbridge applications and have lots of friends at both places plus med school etc)

4ASs is normal ( not just a top independents! ) 5 for gluttons for punishment. 4A2s is normal ish too for high achievers. 3 is still the most usual way to go, though.

The children I know that have done 5 (or even 6 and one friend of ds even did 9!) A2s have done it because they are interested in the subjects, want to, and are that bright that it's not been a problem for them. Sometimes they have done one or more AS or perhaps A2 before they start sixth form which obviously spreads the workload.

Mostly it seems rather rare for children to do 5+, but a super selective grammar nearby (not all that local) seems to encourage everyone to do at least GS and often Critical Thinking to A2 as well as whatever else they are doing (often 4 more subjects), so most people I know of that have done 5+ come from there.

I picked maths over physics despite my results as I was pressured to 'for the future'

I got a U in maths and two years struggled for nothing.
I would always say follow your heart and do something you enjoy