Another A level combination question!

[TheLetterZ]

Sorry I know there are quite a lot of these but could do with some other points of view.

Daughter is very academically able, got very good GCSEs and looking at top unis. Her plan is to start with 4 A levels and see how she gets on. She is doing Classics, DT, History and English.

She is really not liking the English set texts (Great Gatsby and Grapes of Wrath) so thinking of not starting English, or giving it a go but it is quite likely to be dropped.

So my question is are history and classics too similar? Husband thinks it is, I’m not sure.

Current Uni plans are to read anthropology.

I don’t think liking the English texts is actually a prerequisite. I did The Rainbow and King Lear as 2 of mine. Really didn’t like either as books to read, but there was so much to analyse and write about That they were great ones to study. Some of the others I preferred as ones to read but there was less to get my teeth into.

@Decorhate

Yes I know. My point is that in spite of this certain unis still favour certain subjects.

Correct. Inspite of the ‘we’ve dropped facilitating subjects’, the top Unis still ask for the same old ‘traditional’ subjects which are facilitating subjects.

I’d second adding Biology into the mix for Anthropology given that the OP’s daughter isn’t enthused about the English lit texts and is an all rounder.
It isn’t an entrance requirement but would help- I read Anthropology.
My DD wants to read Classics and is taking Latin, Classical Greek and Ancient History for A level,
She was torn between AH and EL but given 50% of each language involves an analysis of literature and prose she agreed with my thoughts that EL would be an overlap’ of core skills and opted for AH.

Gatsby is one of those odd texts that is better studied than read, I've found. She should definitely give it a chance. I find most students go in feeling underwhelmed but it stands close scrutiny really well - it's dense, poetic and clever. Class discussion to draw all this out brings it to life a treat. Unsympathetic characters can be a bit off-putting to teens as well but again are great to discuss and dissect.

Thanks all. There is very little human biology in AQA but I will get her to speak to the head of 6th form about it.

Tbf though, DH did medicine without doing biology! Just had a bit of catching up to do...

There is very little human biology in AQA
That does n’t matter. The content and core scientific skills will be relevant and help her get an idea of what will be an important part of anthropology degrees. It will also help her access courses like this which do require biology or maths.
www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses-listing/human-sciences