A levels for good/Russell Group uni - history, biology and...

[Asimovbuff]

Classical civilisation
Chemistry (is not sure she's up to this)
History of Art
?

Depends what degree she wants to do!

Advice from the Russell Group here

www.russellgroup.org/InformedChoices-latest.pdf

She doesn't know! ! Is classical civilisation a 'soft' subject do you think?

Yes, Classical Civilisation is a 'soft subject' in my view (I'm a university lecturer). I'd probably look on History of Art (slightly) more favourably. That link posted by Vegas is very useful.

However, I'd also say with two 'facilitating' subjects in biology and history your DD is better off choosing a 3rd subject that she'll enjoy/ be capable of doing well in/ etc.

Ok - I would say that if she has any thoughts whatsoever of doing anything science related then she needs a second science A level or maths. If she wants to keep her options open towards arts subjects then maybe English?

If she is leaning towards a degree in history or ancient history or even anthropology or philosophy then classical civilisation would be fine. If she has a strong desire to learn more about art then history of art would also be a good second humanity subject.
Taking chemistry with biology would be required for a science degree but would give her less chance to develop her strengths in humanities assuming she is not doing a fourth subject.

Personally I cannot see the value of two science subjects if you do not want to study science. Since she is not doing Maths, is she really likely to be wanting a science degree? Yes, the sciences are facilitating subjects, but if she is unlikely to achieve highly in Chemistry, is it worth it? Therefore, I think dropping Chemistry and doing History, History of Art, Classical Civilisation and Biology would be fine for History/History of Art degrees, Anthropolgy and quite a few others. I know some universities require a working knowledge of Latin/Greek to do Ancient History so be careful of this if she has not studied these subjects at all.

Milly, which universities require a working knowledge of Latin/Greek for ancient history? My dd applied for classics courses (often same department as ancient history) and none did because they know so many schools don't offer them. They all offered the chance to start ancient languages from scratch, even though in practice most people arrive with them. Lots seem to have done classical civilisation or ancient history at A level if they didn't do Latin or Greek.

op going by DS1's experience Classical Civiilisation A level was viewed as perfectly acceptable third subject by Cambridge, Durham and Warwick. Only a dozen or so did Classical Civilisation at his school, he, along with two others are now at Cambridge, three are at Durham and one at Warwick - although only one is now reading Classics as a degree. Needs to be aware it is quite eclectic in content - literature, history, art all rolled into it - and does therefore tend to dovetail well with those also doing English Lit / History A levels.

Good luck though with whatever combination your DC selects, just, as others have said, keep the choices in the context of degree course requirements.

She will only be doing three a levels as a levels have returned to 2 year linear course with exam at the end.

She is now also considering psychology as a 3rd. Think classics might be better

OP, the reforms are being introduced gradually (and confusingly!).

Here is the timeline for different subjects:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/timeline-of-changes-to-gcses-as-and-a-levels/changes-to-gcses-as-and-a-levels-that-will-affect-each-current-school-year-group.

Classical Civ also seen as a perfectly good third subject by Oxford, Bristol, Leeds, etc who all offered my dd a place for Classics

Biology and history seem quite different?

Yes but she loves and is good at both of them

Classical civilisation better than History of Art? Well each to their own.

To OP - for what it's worth, a girl at my school did German, Chemistry and Economics A levels and did law at Oxford, so somewhat weird combinations of subjects can work very well. I would always recommend people do the subjects they (a) enjoy and (b) can get high grades in - preferably both (I think both generally go together, if you hate something you usually don't do that brilliantly in it unless you are naturally very clever).

That said, sciences are more versatile than humanities - ie you can get onto a more arts-based course with sciences than vice versa. Another girl at my school did German, Biology and Chemistry and did a law degree as well. So History, Biology and Chemistry might be a good combination, but if she's good at History, then the Classical Civilisation might fit well. I'm not sure about psychology - is it better to do that at university - like law? Law faculities generally prefer you not to have done law A level but I'm not sure if that's the case with psychology as well.

faculties

Why of why doesn't MN have an edit button?

Classical civilisation better than History of Art? Well each to their own.

No one's said that.

Asimov sorry, I think I was going to write more but must have wandered off! They just seemed to me like rather different ways of thinking about the world, but I'm not actually au fait with the curricula, so maybe not!

As said above, she's got two good solid facilitating subjects, so the third isn't so important - just depends what direction she might go in.

I assume she's y11? Most schools/colleges have some flexibility between now and next September, so she shouldn't feel that choices made now have to be set in stone.