A levels: English, Geography and a social science?

[slidingdrawers]

DD (year 11) is applying to colleges.

Uncertain what she wants to do but keen on above plus a social science: sociology, psychology, or possibly philosophy. She is good at reading between the lines and is interested in the way others think and behave.

She has absolutely no idea what she wants to do at Uni/long term, possibly something in healthcare but not keen on patient fronting (probably put off by me!).

Re her grades, she has very low targets but getting 6-8s in her mocks/assessments so we are hoping A levels are an option. DS is doing a BTEC and I'm not that impressed with teaching and assessment to date.

Any thoughts on her choices?

Would she enjoy philosophy or psychology perhaps?

That's what she's tending towards. I think a social science will keep her options open and broader though may limit her if she chooses to pursue a health related course in the future.

www.informedchoices.ac.uk

This is meant to be a good site, you put in the subjects and it tells you the options.

What about a science in the mix such as biology?

A teacher suggested not as she is studying combined rather than triple science at GCSE. I was surprised as she recently gained an 8 in her science mock (if it were the higher paper).

Thank you for the link.

Is she good at maths? There's more maths in psychology than a lot of people realise. Several of the colleges that I taught at would only allow a student to take psychology A-level if they had a high grade for their maths GCSE.

How can health care not be patient fronting? Does she mean admin? In which case I’m not quite sure what use psychology would be over and above any other A level.

Psychology degrees quite like Biology and Psychology A Levels. She could do Geography or English at university with any second/third A level choice. Sociology perhaps? She could look to get into HR in which case any degree would be ok. Whatever interests her. But health related is better served with Biology one would have thought.

Step into the NHS is a brilliant website for healthcare careers. She can do the quiz, and it will make suggestions for careers, then she can see what the entry requirements are for things she likes , and see if there’s a pattern. I love the Allied Health Professionals - think diagnostic radiography looks amazing. I think students often think it’s doctors, nurses or paramedics, when it’s so much broader than that. And really interesting ways to specialise.

www.stepintothenhs.nhs.uk/

Social work?

Thanks for replies everyone.

@Cornishmumofone maths definitely not her strong point, will just pass I expect, so that's helpful thank you.

@PresentingPercy Health policy, public health, research. Lots of non patient fronting roles. Think sociology definitely looking a better option than psychology due to strong math component, or biology.

@StillGardening thank you for the link.

@MadeForThis thanks, another option to consider.

It's worth having a look at the Topol Review when thinking about alternative careers in health: topol.hee.nhs.uk/the-topol-review/

That's interesting about the combined science. DS got a 8 or 9 recently and I wondered as he is doing that too. He's thinking of biology. Maybe I best check if that is Ok. Kind of wish he was doing the triple one really.

It says in the sixth form prospectus needs a 6 for biology...

or in Combined Sciences...does that mean triple then I wonder? So confusing.

Yes @Orangeblossom77777 likewise a 6 in ours. I've emailed her teacher to clarify as surely an 8 (overall across combined) is a pretty strong position to be in. I know biology is her strongest of the three too.

OK that is

"Double Award Science (also known as 'Combined Science' or 'Trilogy') is where students study all three sciences (Biology, Chemistry and Physics) but end up with two GCSEs. ..."

so looks like that is fine here, maybe it depends on the school.

Yes I would check, as would be a shame to miss out. It may be useful to have...

DS sounds a bit similar...we have Biology, Geography and possibly Computing atm which is a bit of an odd combination and need to apply by next weekend. Pondering about maths as similar - a bit iffy...

Anyway I noticed the form says "Provisional' choices so think they can finalise after they get their grades? Hopefully...

Another thought is she could drop the English perhaps

I'd say sociology looking at what you say . There is a health unit in the A Level. Not all schools select that option, however. It very much looks at people and their social interactions, and the effects of gender, race, class, various inequalities. Very minor maths required and massively builds research knowledge, compared with other A levels.

I thought you said health care in your op which means caring for people. Health policy is a civil service/politics role. Or think tank/lobby group. Health research is often seen as medical but appears to me to be science led. Looking at jobs available that is.

@slidingdrawers

A teacher suggested not as she is studying combined rather than triple science at GCSE. I was surprised as she recently gained an 8 in her science mock (if it were the higher paper).

Thank you for the link.

I think that's good advice. You're slightly on the backfoot before you've even started. Plus, in my experience a stand-alone science at A-level is harder than doing two complementary sciences at the same time (eg. studying chemistry helps with your biology).

The A Level Biology will take it from the end of the Double Award Science level. Students who have done Triple award will feel more comfortable/confident as they have already encountered some of the work, but that does not mean there would be any work missing for those who did Double.

@Orangeblossom77777 I get the sense too that they can refine choices once the application is in and once results are known they are often tweaked or completely changed too. We went through this with DS a couple of years ago but he was set on what he wanted to do and was well within his capabilities.

@Piggywaspushed thank you. Sociology is definitely looking like the front runner. She is keen on the look of the syllabus at the college but not sure it includes the health module. Just need clarification from the school wrt biology.

@PresentingPercy I did. My default as I work in it. I've managed to put her off frontline healthcare, for now!

@ImAKaren that's helpful. I've emailed the science teacher to clarify. I want to encourage her but not push her beyond her capabilities. DD actually has low targets (thus combined science) but since mid year 10 has exceeded most of them by 2-3 grades in assignments and mocks.

@stormsurfer

The A Level Biology will take it from the end of the Double Award Science level. Students who have done Triple award will feel more comfortable/confident as they have already encountered some of the work, but that does not mean there would be any work missing for those who did Double.

But if you're in a classroom full of people who have mostly done triple, its going to set you off feeling behind.