Is this a poor combination of A levels

[Comefromaway]

English Lit
Drama
Film Studies

Child thinks she would like to be a drama teacher in the future. Doesn't like maths & science. Is very hard working but has no confidence in her abilities. GCSE predictions 4/5 in sciences 6/7 in maths & language 7/8 in English & essay subjects. Doing history GCSE but doesn't enjoy it. Gets very anxious about not being good enough.

I did a Drama degree at a top 5 uni, albeit over 15 years ago now. One of the best Drama courses in the country.

I did Theatre Studies, English Lit and Music for A levels, and I did some ancillary Film Studies modules as part of my degree. Film Studies is fascinating as a subject - people seem to have a strange idea about what film studies and drama entail.

@katand2kits

Having two "soft subjects" will limit the number of universities she has a chance of getting into. If she is a high grade student then I would advise her to change one for a more "traditional" academic subject. Otherwise she should pick what she enjoys so long as she understands that it will close off some options.

She's a 'B' grade GCSE student though, who gets anxious about her academic ability. Why would you think she'd be aiming for high offer competitive courses?

OP those subjects are fine. If she was aiming for English at Bristol then they wouldn't be, but I'd guess she'll be aiming for somewhere less competitive that asks for B or C grade A levels. Which would be absolutely fine for PGCE as well.

OP, it depends where you are aiming. A lot of the mumsnet set are aiming at Oxbridge or top russell group and are very traditional and snooty about certain A levels.

My main concern is two heavy duty essay subjects, film being the media equivalent of english lit, and media studies the equivalent of english lang.

My DS got a 5 for maths and is doing fine in psychology A level btw (and I did a degree and a psychology career with arts A levels)!

She's a 'B' grade GCSE student though, who gets anxious about her academic ability. Why would you think she'd be aiming for high offer competitive courses?

Absolutely

I think she will actually do better than she thinks and pull off those 7's or A grades (she's entered for foundation science so cant get more than a 5 in that) as long as her anxiety doesn't get the better of her.

Maybe this site could help her explore options?

My dd is looking into doing either Drama, Photography and Film Studies,
or an Advanced BTEC in professional acting. Depending on where she decides to go for 6th form. (And if she gets a place on the acting course.)
I'm interested to read about peoples experience with Film Studies.
-DD wants to go pursue acting.

Sounds absolutely perfect! Having sone film studies I would argue possibly the hardest of the three - massive content from colonial film to genres to early film to mis en scene. Great subject though so good luck. If she’s good at essay subjects and analysis she will be fine with these and thoroughly enjoy them. Also studies film at degree and found the content easy by comparison so ignore those that see it as a light option. It’s not!

Psychology isn't very maths heavy but there is a lot of content, and loads of case studies to memorise.

she doesn't have a real passion for anything but she does enjoy literature and drama.

There would seem to be the answer, then.

And as for the three subjects being 'samey', more so than Maths, FM and Physics as a combination...? Really?

I did film studies 100 years ago. Back then it was a critical thinking course, similar to English lit.

I did similar- English lit, Drama and Media Studies. No problems with Uni places and am a very successful English and Drama teacher. With A levels you need to do subjects you enjoy.

The subjects are fine. There are no such things as facilitating subjects any more. Universities will say if they have preferred subjects.
If it helps, one of mine did Photography, Media Studies and Sociology at A level and is now at an RG university.

She's a 'B' grade GCSE student though, who gets anxious about her academic ability. Why would you think she'd be aiming for high offer competitive courses? OP those subjects are fine. If she was aiming for English at Bristol then they wouldn't be, but I'd guess she'll be aiming for somewhere less competitive that asks for B or C grade A levels.

There’s so much misinformation here. A friend went to Bristol to read English with A levels in English, Drama and Art, for one. Of course subjects like that are fine. And my DC, a B grade GSCE student, is at a top RG university with the A levels I mentioned - Media Studies, Photography and Sociology. Got two As and a B at A level.
Don’t believe the hype that private schools/ grammar schools tell you about how hard it is to get in anywhere good.

You’re offering great advice and support and seem to know where her strengths lie. She needs to work to those strengths and those subject choices do exactly that. I wouldn’t be concerned about a lack of passion as there’s very few 15 year old who are passionate about a subject. An interest/strength is enough. Good luck to her!!

If is worth saying that because a few students get into over subscribed courses with what appears to be a less academic set of A levels, you cannot say everyone will. There are always outliers.

Eng Lit and Drama always go well together. Film studies won’t matter for drama course at university. The top drama schools want you to audition. Drama at lots of universities isn’t hugely competitive. So I would consider how she will get performance experience and does the school have any experience in preparing DC for auditions? This is key if she wants a drama school.

Also don’t forget a lot of drama “teachers“ are actors. They just don’t get paid for acting any more. Drama is being forced out of lots of state schools as well.

She doesn’t want drama school. But if she did my dh lectures at one & my dd is currently studying at one. And I know her through a local youth theatre.

Schools in our area don’t have 6th forms. Both local colleges have a lot of experience in students gong in to both universities & drama schools although the majority of drama school applicants would be doing significant amounts out of school.

The grades she will get are more important than the subjects.

If she will get an A in film studies but a C in history for example, she should definitely take film studies.

Facilitating subjects are only relevant if she is going to be applying to a RG university/ Oxbridge. Plus Eng Lit is facilitating. The comments about Film Studies are pure snobbery. If she likes it, she will do well in it. These subjects are fine for Drama teaching, although why not drama?

Oh, sorry she's got drama.

@nostaples

Facilitating subjects are only relevant if she is going to be applying to a RG university/ Oxbridge. Plus Eng Lit is facilitating. The comments about Film Studies are pure snobbery. If she likes it, she will do well in it. These subjects are fine for Drama teaching, although why not drama?

No such thing as facilitating subjects any more. They were abandoned last year.

They are not abandoned! The word facilitating has been dropped but not the thinking behind having the right academic subjects for competitive courses. It’s incorrect to say that all subjects are equal. They are not. Look at what Cambridge university says about choosing A level subjects and you will see that some are better prep than others for academic courses. They do, in fact, list the “facilitating” subjects! So, no, they are not dropped and any person advising an academic young person should know this. As far as the OP’s DD is concerned, I think her choices are fine.

However op, I’m amazed you’ve started this thread. Your DH teaches in a drama school. Your other DD is studying in one. So you really do know all about studying drama. Your school options have dc that have followed this route. So cannot see that most people on here know more than you! So I’d just stay with her choices! As I said earlier, English Lit and Drama go together very well and Film is just fine for her ambitions which fit in with your family talents!

I said further up the threat that she is not my daughter but a young girl known to our family who looks to us for advice

My dh and dd teach/study musical theatre not straight acting and dd is not interested in school teaching. Dd went to a vocational school with a very limited range of A level options alongside a professional diploma and ds is following a music btec route. I know about the options for those wanting to pursue a professional performing career but I never even knew that Film Studies existed as an A level.

Drama is being forced out of lots of state schools as well.

Probably dying through lack of demand, because people get helpful advice about the Kimpton Fitzroy London Group not rating those sort of A levels...?

Can I piggyback and have a question on a tangent?

Are kids actually learning non selected subjects (in this case science, math,etc) between gcse and A levels? Or after Gcse it's only their selected subjects?