Does he need french gcse, only given three option choices....

[mooseloose]

Hi , son definitely wants to go to uni, interested in science, or medicine. He is choosing his year 9 options, and need to get it right. He only gets three choices, and will definitely do geography and drama. So one more left. In a dilemma whether he SHOULD put french, or choose history what he would like. I've emailed a couple of med uni and one says yes, the other no. He has a rich out of school life, so no probs there. The other subjects compulsory are the usual science RE etc. he is high achieving in top sets but french is the worst really. And his school just had a bad ofsted. No computer gcse included. But not really worried about this.
But can anyone offer advice if he needs a language and it's silly not to please. Or is geog and hist a bit heavy? I think it's a hard syllabus this time, medical through the ages!! Does not having the ebac matter. I just want his choices left open. I don't think he is bright enough for medicine really though, so need a plan B!

Thank you.

If he won't get into medical school then MFL isn't normally need for other science degrees.
I should be fine for chemistry, biochemistry and the miriad forms of biology (DD1 doesn't need French for marine).

He might like to look at Bmedsci degrees which is what I'd do given my time again (was introduced the year after I started).
From this link

You don't need French GCSE for anything other than if you want to do French A level. French GCSE is, additionally, a complete waste of time. Whereas History is a useful subject that will enrich your DS's life and will also develop his writing skills. DD1 did history and geog GCSE last year - it was fine, the workload wasn't excessive. She is now doing both subjects at A level too. I think it's a bit of a myth that doing those two subjects together is hard going.

Go with History - much more useful for making connections to other subjects and practising 'essay skills'.

Our DD will be doing a History GCSE syllabus with 'History of Medicine' as one paper - she's chosen it because of its obvious connections to Sciences, her pet subjects.

Lots of useful info about applying for Medicine - including both GCSE and A level requirements - here www.thestudentroom.co.uk/wiki/medicine

My DD is doing Medicine Through Time as part of her history (along with The American West). I think it would be really interesting to someone considering/interested in medicine. I am finding it interesting when I help with revision!

Metebelis3 Why do you say that French GCSE is a waste of time? Maybe it is if you go by the adapt-from-the-text-book & rote-learning approach. But my DD by end y9 could attempt random, though basic, conversations in France, and I believe from progress so far in y10 that by the end of y11 she will be able to both converse and read to a useful standard.

For medicine, universities are looking for good high grades in a wide range of subjects. If he likes this subject more and is capable of obtaining a higher grade for History then he should study History. An A grade for History would look much better to university admissions tutors than a grade C for French!

I have heard it said (by someone who has to employ several people each year) that he knows that all schools have to drag pupils kicking and screaming through the core subjects, but if he sees a MFL on an application form - even though not need for the job - he sees it as a real plus, as generally it's the brighter, more able dc who take a MFL.

I'll probably get shouted down for posting that, but I can see his point - languages are well respected.

Also useful when you have to travel, whatever your career. My dh is a scientist and has to attend conferences and sometimes go off to work in different labs around the world. Yes, Science is generally conducted in English, but he still has to get from the airport, sort his accommodation, get himself fed, etc., in another country for a week or three, and you get a much better response if you can at least open a conversation in that country's language. It would be the same whatever career you were travelling for.

I'd say that if he is forecast a b or above, I'd try and persuade him to give the French a go.

Doesn't make a difference, do French if he likes it. Do another subject he likes better if it exists.

There are some unis which insist on gcse in a modern foreign language - ucl is one which insists for most courses (including medicine)

UCL is the only uni that expects a MFL to GCSE as far as I'm aware, but doesn't discriminate against those who don't have it, providing they agree to pick up a MFL in their first term. See www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/undergraduate-study/application-and-entry/ug-requirements.

Although having a MFL can be a great advantage in many ways, if he doesn't enjoy it, I'd say choose History!

You definately don't need a GCSE to be informed about history - there are so many books to read/documentaries to watch at whatever level or era interests you, so you can pick it up at any stage in life. A language though is something that you have to work at and while GCSE is quite a basic level it's a start at least. It's possible to self-teach from scratch with audio tapes etc, but very few people actually manage to learn this way, so I'd favour the language in an equal preference choice situation, but if there's a strong preference in one direction or the other, then go with that.

There are plenty of courses that ask for an MFL- and it is seen, rightly or wrongly, as a sign of a "rounded" individual. It's also easier to get an A or and A* if you are hardworking and diligent in an MFL than in history. And for medicine he will need the As.

I don't think it's a matter of geography and history being too much work to take on together- if he feels that way, he might find 4 A levels and med school a bit of a shock!

Medical school is highly competitive.

How committed is he to doing the Drama GCSE? Might he be open to keeping drama as a hobby, and doing history, French and geography? I don't want to be mean, but his application would be stronger with that combination, especially as he is looking to science/medicine.

If it's a choice between French and History I suggest he does whichever he likes and will get an A* in. They are both well-respected subjects.

I don't think Med School is only medical type career OP's DS was interested in. There are literally dozens of alternatives still in the medical area, not to mention cross-over courses like "Global environmental change impact on health" that might run in biology etc. departments.

If he really hates French then it's probably not worth making him continue. However, another language can be very useful in a science career.

I once heard Brian Cox saying that he hated French, and gave it up as soon as he could. He then ended up working on the LHC at CERN and rather regretted it (although lack of French obviously didn't stop him getting the job!)

Dd has swallowed the bitter pill of French. I know it's not her favourite gcse but it's a strong one and always looks good to have. But you have to weigh it up against the likeklyhood of a pass or not. A pass in a subject you enjoy is better than a fail in one you felt you ought to take. Out of interest is your ds doing triple science gcse as he's interested in medicine? If so then I'd let him off the French if he really doesn't want to do it as triple science can be quite a big one in itself.

Geography and History are considered Hunamities and as such the breadth of GCSE would be to have one MFL, one Humanity and one Art (drama). I would think French would be better than Geography actually. Workload is not that great for Geography, more for History. But.... As not good enough! He will need a good clutch of As so it might be better to do what he is good at and where As are realistic.

I'm the same age as Brian Cox. I didn't give up French, I got an A at O level. It really wouldn't have helped me had I worked at CERN (and hasn't helped me when I've worked in Paris, Geneva, Brussels). The French I use now was all acquired during the course of my career, schoolgirl French from the 80s was completely irrelevant. The stuff they do at GCSE now, even more so. The standard required is woefully low. Yes, if you want to pursue an MFL degree then you do the GCSEs but for any other purpose, a strong academic subject such as history which will give transferable skills (writing, analysis) is going to stand most people in better stead CV wise - and in this particular case since the OP's DS prefers history it really is a no brainer. He should do the subject in which he performs better, and which he likes best.

Thanks all, this is really interesting reading. we have decided not to do french, as t really is his weakest link. He is going to do geography history and drama. teacher in French predicts possibly c. It's a no brainer when history could be the a. We can always look at a hobby language if needs be, such as when 16 at college. Having spoken to teachers at parent night, they said don't worry about the bacc, do the strongest, most likeable subjects . I think drama will be good for confidence and well being, so will keep that one in, because he loves it the most!

but it's actually a shame to think he has to drop other enjoyable subjects such as food tech , and textiles . It's these subjects that make school nice...