DS's GCSE options

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DS has always wanted to be a lawyer and so for his choices he took History, French, German and PE as well as Latin as an extra that is available to pupils taking two languages.

He was told that music would have been a better option for him to take instead of PE for law as he plays the piano and guitar anyway. I have no idea about this as both DH and I studied medicine. He said it was tight between PE and music so he just picked this first one on the list. I think this was a bit silly but it's too late now.

DS is now very stressed and is regretting what he has taken. He goes back to school in two weeks and has already had a week of his holidays. Not sure if it's too late to change and if not, is it necessary?

It won't affect his chances in the slightest. Honest!

He will be able to demonstrate teamwork and coaching skills by doing PE, and his guitar and piano playing will be a good stress buster if he does it as a leisure activity.

He has got four very academic subject in addition to his core Maths, English and Science, giving him presumably 10 academic GCSEs if he is doing two English and three Science. Quite honestly, he needs, and should have one or two subjects that are more for fun and personal interest. My DD1 is doing A-levels this year and had good offers from a range of RG universities. None was remotely interested in her GCSE results. DD2 is in Y10 and as well as Spanish, History and the English, Maths and Sciences she is doing Dance and Textiles! She will still do academic A-levels and hopes to do law. I don't expect the fact that she picked two 'creative' GCSEs to count against her.
It really doesn't matter so tell him to stick with PE and enjoy it.

I doubt it would have made a difference whether he'd chosen PE or music - both give him a different challenge from other subjects he's doing. He has a language, history and is doing Latin which will help with the latin terms used in the law. If something like philosophy/life skills/ethics had been available this would have been good though, as you need the ability to think about things from all aspects, but be able to draw your own conclusions and state why.

Thanks all, I thought it would be okay for him to choose PE, he was just so stressed and I had little advice to offer other than "take what you enjoy most"

Lottie4 The school make him study Philosophy and Ethics but there is no actual GCSE for this so he would have to take RE on top of this if he wanted it for a GCSE choice. Luckily he is quite a thinker anyway so I hope he already has that skill of taking things from all aspects.

Mumteadumpty I thought this too when I looked at the GCSE choice booklet. He was just concerned as some of his friends stated that it looked good as people with musical abilities look at things differently? I told him that as he takes grades for his instruments and does well, all should be okay.

More important is his grades, good GCSE's.

Also if he can find some way to get some experience in a law firm, any advice organisations, go and watch some trials etc.. This is this sort of things that really help applications for training contracts all those years later....

Also, around 50% of lawyers did not do law degrees. It is not necessary and he could, for example, do a language degree then convert to law via the GDL course after graduating. This means if he wants to do another subject or two for his degree because, for example, he wants to learn two languages at degree level, then this route is perfectly ok. Just concentrate on the legal work experience and volunteering towards the end of the degree and during GDL year. Also, a top class university helps.

He will be able to include his musical interest/ability/grades on his personal statement for Uni and on his cv.

But I would let him decide if he wants to change as

Sorry, pressed too soon! He needs to make the final decision so he doesn't get cross with you in the future for persuading him...