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Original poster

What degree can DS do with Maths, Econ, History and Physics?

34 replies

ConfusedaboutAlevels · 07/12/2020 22:11

My DS is in Y11, predicted 9/10 grade 8-9's and he definitely wants to do Maths, Econ and History at A level. They all have to start with 4 a levels and he wanted to do FM but they probably will not let him do it as he did not pass internal tests (lots want to do Further Maths so school does internal tests to decide). Therefore he probably can't do an economics degree as he won't make a competitive application for Cambridge/ LSE/ Warwick. If he took physics as a fourth, what degrees related to economics/ history could he do. He doesn't want to do straight history as he loves Maths. At his school they also have to do either an EPQ or AS FM so he is not sure which one of those to do. He feels AS FM may help him with an econ application but he feels an EPQ may make him stand out- he loves writing essays too and he got an A* in the HPQ. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

OP posts:
CatherinedeBourgh · 07/12/2020 22:14

I don’t see why he can’t do economics with that, if that’s what he wants. Or PPE.

CatherinedeBourgh · 07/12/2020 22:16

Not that I’m a huge fan of those, tbh (I did PPE and postgad economics and frankly am not that keen)

Seeline · 07/12/2020 22:20

I'm not sure an EPQ would make him stand out - it's a very common added extra these days.

Some sort of engineering should be possible.

Lookatthat · 07/12/2020 22:20

I’m not sure who has said he can’t apply to study Econ at those universities but he absolutely can - that’s a great range of A Levels.

lanthanum · 07/12/2020 22:37

Most Cambridge colleges do not require Further Maths for economics. Some say "A* in maths and/or further maths (if taken)"; one says "(if available)", which implies they only expect to make offers to people without if their school does not offer it. (Arguably his school does not offer it, to him...)

LSE only says that further maths is desirable, and also says that AS further maths is a good option. Warwick doesn't mention further maths.

Internal tests to decide if someone is going to cope with the course are one thing, but you make it sound as if it's a competition to be allowed to do it. Can they not run a second group if there's too many wanting to do it? (I'd be tempted to mention to the school the possibility of him going elsewhere...)

Oxford have a History & Economics degree.

TeenPlusTwenties · 08/12/2020 08:27

If school aren't offering because of numbers rather than capability, that is a pretty poor show. I'd be making a bit of a fuss if he is keen to do FM, and at least exploring other schooling options.

MrsMiaWallis · 08/12/2020 08:29

I'm not sure an EPQ would make him stand out - it's a very common added extra these days

It may be, but dd got standard AAA offers reduced to ABB with an A in Epq (three Russell Group unis)

Lampzade · 08/12/2020 08:35

My did is doing three of those subjects ( Maths, economics and physics) . She hopes to go into finance or accountancy.
As others have said. Your ds can still apply to do economics at his chosen university, despite not studying FM.

TeenPlusTwenties · 08/12/2020 09:11

This is a general comment, not specifically aimed at OP, who may have considered moving for all I know:

I guess it's because I live in Hampshire where state schools don't standardly have 6th forms, but I continue to be surprised at how people just seem to accept the A level offer of their current school rather than moving.

I know there are downsides to moving, new teachers, fitting in etc, but with being prevented from A levels of choice with knock on effect of university courses / institutions, moving doesn't seem to be considered often enough.

PresentingPercy · 08/12/2020 09:36

If he did Physics and Maths to A level he could do Engineering. Otherwise no.

Management degrees from universities like Bath are excellent. If he’s not a FM student I would suggest there are other brilliant universities out there for Economics but Management is more practical perhaps? A friends DS has done Econometrics at Bristol. Law is a possibility with those A levels. Plus PPE of course.

montlieu · 08/12/2020 09:59

@MrsMiaWallis
can I ask if the EPQ was relevant to the courses she applied to ?
or was the reduced grades granted because she got high grade to her EPQ or ??
Thank you

thecognoscenti · 08/12/2020 10:10

Why can't he study at another university if the course is one he wants to do?

montlieu · 08/12/2020 10:15

@MrsMiaWallis

sorry re read your comment now !!
can I ask if the EPQ was relevant to the courses she applied to ?

MrsMiaWallis · 08/12/2020 10:16

Sort of but not exactly.

MrsMiaWallis · 08/12/2020 10:17

We were both amazed that it made such a difference. All unis in the top 10 for subject.

emeraldcity2000 · 08/12/2020 10:18

I did PPE and those a-levels would be fine. Weirdly, economics isn't that useful for an economics degree (IMO). Maths far more important. I did maths, further maths, physics and chemistry - I definitely would have found it easier with an arts a level - should have swapped chemistry for history for that degree!

But it was much easier for me to catch that up than people who didn't have the requisite maths grounding!

titchy · 08/12/2020 10:18

Another one wondering why you think he can't do an Economics degree? Confused

emeraldcity2000 · 08/12/2020 10:28

I wouldn't have wanted to do straight economics, at a top uni, without further maths tbh. Even if you can get in, teaching yourself the technical content would be hard - remember at a level you get a lot of teacher attention, structured time to practice concepts etc. At uni you will be in a lecture theatre and then have to figure it out....

PresentingPercy · 08/12/2020 11:28

Some of the universities provide extra classes if a bit more is needed by way of the maths. Friend's DS did not have FM at Bristol. No issue at all and got a First. Obviously the studfent and the subject need to click though.

Not all courses take an EPQ in account and lower offers. Depends what you study as well as where and what the entry criteria states.

Original poster
ConfusedaboutAlevels · 08/12/2020 20:48

We are reluctant for him to leave his school as the Oxbridge/ top RG admission rates are far higher than other schools and their Oxbridge support programme is much better. The school doesn't want to take everyone for FM as it might damage their results- getting an A* is the most important thing. Is it feasible to do FM outside school with a tutor or is it very hard

OP posts:
PinkFondantFancy · 08/12/2020 20:55

I think some economics degrees are more maths based whereas others are more humanities based if that makes sense? Land Economy af Cambridge looked v interesting.

I did engineering and there would be absolutely no chance without further maths.

What about things like Radiography?

PinkFondantFancy · 08/12/2020 20:56

Oh sorry just saw he's interested in the history/economics side not the physics side. Not radiography then

PinkFondantFancy · 08/12/2020 20:59

If he wants to do further maths and he's capable, I'd be making a big fuss with school about getting him into the course

TeenPlusTwenties · 08/12/2020 21:06

Anyone else thinking that of course their RG rates are great if they don't let you do a course if they think you won't get an A* ?! Sorry, not helpful.

lanthanum · 08/12/2020 21:24

For me, it's more important that a school supports kids studying the subjects they want to do than that they have the best university admission rates. It's obviously a school with a lot of very talented students, which will be most of why they do so well at getting them into good universities. Next you'll find out he's not quite good enough for their wonderful Oxbridge support programme...

If they think he's good enough to do Further Maths AS, I can't see why he wouldn't be able to do the A-level. He could do the extra stuff with a tutor (find a good one, but there are plenty out there), but you'd have to persuade the school to enter him, and if all they care about is the As they probably won't do that unless he's pretty guaranteed to get the A (at which point, if the school is fee-paying, I'd be tempted to ask whether they're going to refund you for the tuition you've had to supply).