A-level combination: History, Maths & Biology?

[TheSecondOfHerName]

A reasonable combination? Or a ridiculous one?

My son wants to do 3 A-levels and needs to finalise application this week. Definitely sure about History, fairly sure about Maths, less certain about Biology.

The only other subjects on his shortlist are Psychology
Economics
Government & Politics

Other subjects aren't under consideration, either because he doesn't enjoy them or because he has little aptitude for them.

He would like to go to university. His potential career interests include nursing, teaching, psychology, social sciences.

He is procrastinating with the decision, and I have spent too much time thinking about it and can no longer see the wood for the trees.

Are History, Maths & Biology too unusual a combination? Would they look bizarre on a university application?

[bojorojo]

It really is not necessary to do Psychology at A level to be successful in obtaining a degree offer. Most universities list between 5 and 13 subjects they prefer, having done a quick look, and although Psychology is listed, so is Chemistry, Biology, Maths and quite a few others at Exeter! The A level grades required are high and they like to see two subjects from their preferred lists. Lots of schools do not offer a Psychology A level. Not available where my DDs went, but several went on to do Psychology. Biology, Maths and History would be fine.

[Marmitelover55]

I did biology, French and economics A levels many moons ago. I really struggled with biology as a single science, but that might be because I only studied biology O level and not chemistry or physics. It might be different these days with students studying 2 or 3 combined sciences at GCSE.

[TheSecondOfHerName]

Thank you all.
In the end, he put History, Maths & Biology, with Economics and Politics as reserves. As he was filling the form in, he admitted that he still doesn't know what he wants to do as a career. Everything from nursing to teaching and even law get mentioned as possibilities.

[HarveySchlumpfenburger]

I suspect that now some schools are limiting students to 3 A level subjects, unis will have to consider different combinations of subjects.

I suspect most university admissions are far less exacting than the MN criteria for university entry anyway.

It sounds like a good set of choices. The chemistry is probably only an issue if he wanted to go into something with a heavy chemistry/science base, but from what you've mentioned it doesn't sound like he was planning that anyway. Plenty of options kept open with that selection, including everything you have mentioned.

[bojorojo]

Some are very clear though! Depends what you are studying and where. UCL were clear about what they want to see for Psychology with few subjects listed. Others such as Exeter were also clear but gave a much wider choice. Therefore you choose subjects according to the university you are aiming for and the subject to be studied, if you can. If courses are very selective, eg vet science, medicine, or very precise, History, English, Geography then surely students stand a better chance if they offer the subjects the university says it values most. Just means you get more options on where to study if you have the best combination of subjects rather than an iffy selection.

[TheSecondOfHerName]

The university courses he is interested in are quite wide-ranging: History, Sociology, Anthropology, Child Development etc. The only common theme is that they are all about human beings and the way they behave. It's difficult to choose a subject combination that will keep all of these humanity / social science type things open, which is how he has ended up with an "iffy selection".

He knows that he doesn't want to do any of the following as a degree: Medicine, Engineering, Veterinary Science, Maths, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Geography, English or any other language.

[RalphSteadmansEye]

I think he's chosen an excellent combination for any of the courses he's interested in, op. All academic/hard/facilitating: one essay subject, one science and maths to covers the stats that he might need for a social science course.

[bojorojo]

He does not have an "iffy" selection! I think it is a good selection. I was not criticising his choices! I was just making the general point that if a young person knows (roughly) what they would like to study and where is attainable, then making informed choices and doing a bit of research means you are not looking to get onto an English degree at Durham with Media Studies, Business Studies and Photography. Those A levels are suitable for other courses at other universities. I was actually responding to Rafa and I am sorry I did not make that clear. Your DS has perfectly sensible choices OP.

[HarveySchlumpfenburger]

Sorry, bojorojo, I wasn't saying don't make informed choices. If you know what you want to study and where, then you should follow the entry requirements. UCL only offering a short list, doesn't mean that you can pick from the list they offer. It says 1, preferably 2 from that list.

It's there because those subjects offer good preparation for the course in question. Someone with two will probably be preferred over someone with one, but it's unlikely to be the decider between two candidates if both have a well regarded choice as a 3rd.

As it happens, I suspect the Op's DS's subject choices will show a good balance between scientific/numerical thinking and essay writing. Given he's not sure what he wants he's probably left more doors open to himself then he had if he'd gone down either a science of essay based only route.

[TurnOffTheTv]

I never knew there would be such a thing as a bizzare A level choice! I thought you just picked what you were good at and enjoyed. Who knew? My daughter is doing Maths, English, Physics and History but no idea what she wants to do at Uni.

[Zodlebud]

I think it's a great combination. I did Maths, Biology and English Lit. I went on to do a biology degree (yes, they let me in without Chemistry!!!!) and I felt my English really helped me. I loved putting all these complicated scientific things into layman's terms and actually wrote my dissertation on how badly / greatly the media were communicating with the public.

I have always had a bit of an internal struggle between my scientific and creative sides though!!!!!

[borntobequiet]

History, Maths, Economics
History, Psychology, Maths
Biology, Psychology, Maths
History, Gov and Pol, Economics

Would all be better combinations than the original suggestion.

[LottieDoubtie]

WHY? Better for what?

Blimey this thread is depressing.

He wants to do three facilitating subjects? That happen to be the ones he enjoys?

That's the perfect combination.

Every pupil should be encouraged to do what they are motivated to do and are likely to succeed at.

So much government propaganda about 'holding kids back' has been believed it seems. It's nonsense.

[Molio]

That's a very boring approach borntobequiet, if you don't mind me saying.

Exactly Lottie.

[RalphSteadmansEye]

And, forgive me for saying, but some private and grammar schools only offer facilitating subjects, And back in the day, neither did comprehensive schools. Maybe a third of students in my year took non-obvious combinations (so neither all sciences nor Eng/Hist/MFL) but everyone got into university.

[RalphSteadmansEye]

Sorry - so did comprehensives.

[RalphSteadmansEye]

(Garrr... When I say only facilitating subjects, obviously they do offer music/art etc, just not sociology /economics/psychology /media/law/politics...)

[HarveySchlumpfenburger]

But most independents and grammars do offer them and get their pupils into university. And psychology and economics A-levels are in the top 10 most popular subject choices among students accepted into Russell group unis.

They aren't needed to get onto those specific courses but not offering them because you don't think they are worthy seems to be cutting down children's A-level choices in something that might interest them slightly pointlessly.

The Russell group list is not a list of the subjects seen as acceptable/not soft by RG unis.

[annandale]

I think he should also look at speech and language therapy as a possible career. But psychology or anthropology look like good routes for him.

[PurpleDaisies]

Those subjects are absolutely fine. If there aren't specific requirements for uni courses, (within sensible limits) kids should just choose what they like best because that's what they'll work hardest at and get the best results in.

borntobequiet care to offer a justification for your choices beibg"better"?

[borntobequiet]

Main reason: my experience, in many years of being an A level teacher and Sixth Form tutor, was that stand alone sciences caused students the most problems. Few chose Physics as a stand alone, but quite a few chose Chemistry or Biology because they enjoyed it/liked the teacher/their friends were doing it, and in many cases - not all, but quite a few - they struggled. Perhaps this was because they weren't really interested in/suited to scientific thinking and methods. Others may have had different experiences, but that's mine.
Secondary reason: again, in my experience, it helps to have common/complementary content in a set of A levels. The combinations I listed I think have more coherence in this respect. History is surely richer if it can be seen from the perspective of Economics. Maths and Economics are a traditional combination for good reasons. History and Psychology perhaps not so good but both are essay subjects involving some research and Psychology has some good scientific content as a social science. I think Psychology is an excellent, wide ranging and demanding A level. You don't need any more than good GCSE Stats to understand and apply the stats for Psychology, but anyone capable of A level Maths should probably do it if only to demonstrate they can. Biology and Psychology overlap considerably and (again in my experience) students studying both gained extremely useful insights and understanding from the combination. Finally, History, G&P and Economics are fairly obviously a complementary set of A levels.
So, though the original combination is neither bizarre nor lacking in facilitating options, I would advise a rethink, choosing from the other shortlisted subjects.

[TheSecondOfHerName]

borntobequiet I see what you mean, and he did consider a couple of those combinations:

History, Maths, Economics
He almost put this. Pros: it's a cohesive combination. Cons: not v.useful for nursing or health-related careers.

Biology, Psychology, Maths
Again, this was considered as a possibility. Pros: great for nursing or health-related careers. Cons: not so useful if he wants to do a History degree.

[thatsn0tmyname]

When I was at college 25 years ago I chose Biology, history and English because I enjoyed the GCSEs. I decided to do a Biology degree and wasn't allowed because I only had one science. I had to stay a third year and take A level chemistry in a year which was tough.

[bojorojo]

Ralph - Show me ANY decent independent school that does not offer Art, Music or Politics! Even Economics is not facilitating I believe! Two facilitating subjects is fine, 3 is a bonus. Independent schools are all about breadth.

[RalphSteadmansEye]

I did repost to say art and music (and often theatre/drama) would always be available, despite being non-facilitating. They are, of course, crucial for an art or music degree.

Ds school (independent) does not offer politics or law or media. They do offer economics and psychology.

Two state grammars I know well do not offer economics, politics or law. One does offer psychology but not media, the other media but not psychology.

Psychology and politics are not crucial for psychology or politics degrees.