Third A-level

[berrymerry]

DD is choosing A-levels now. She wants to do History, maybe English Literature and then a third which is not so essay heavy. We were thinking maybe Computer Science, she's predicted a 6 or 7 at GCSE but not confident at all. She doesn't think she'd be able to get that high on the gcse, let alone a good grade on the a level. She isn't amazing enough at maths so that wouldn't be an option, but doesn't want to do all essay based. Advice?

If she wants to read history at university as said and wants a non essay 3rd A level I suggest one of economics, music, geography (or a language if she is up to that). Maths is riskier and she does not want to do it. if you are very gooda t it you might well get A* but if you are not Ds are quite common so my children's school said only pick it if maths was really your thing.

Also she wants to read history. That is a very popular subject. If her gola is a high paid career then the status of the university (how hard it is to get into ) can determine that to an extent so she might want to consider if one of the other A levels she does could be easier to get into the best universities with or a non A level subject.

It's difficult to say without knowing exactly what subjects are on offer to her. I think that Computer Science is a hard subject to do and really to get the best chance of getting into a good university (as xenia said history is a competitive subject) then she needs to think about what will gain her the best grades.

Economics or psychology are worth thinking about if they are on offer or maybe Business Studies

What about a language? Different to History and English, always a useful life skill, well regarded and not essay based in the same way as the other two.

If she is thinking can I suggest she sees if she can borrow the text book from someone to have a look at. I’ve known a few DC take it at A level, not really know what to expect and have found it wasn’t at all what they expected so well worth researching it well before hand.

Philosophy, Politics, Economics?

DS1 and DS2 both did / doing history at Uni - history and eng lit for both then geography and, for one, classical civilisation. I suppose the question might be what is the broader "essay based" concern, as someone rightly pointed out up thread lot of hard work needed in the non essay subjects. Playing to your strengths does have its advantages.

I'd go for a language. Very useful for examining a non English historical source (as long as it's the language you studied of course!)

DS - has ended up doing music, but still a history geek - did Politics as his 3rd A level and loved its overlap with history.

DD did geography A level last year, and it is essay heavy, as is psychology.