A level choices

[dairydairy]

Ds is doing his options now, so far the list is

Physics, Biology, Geography and PE (double award, it's a Cambridge or BTEC I think)

He has to choose four and can then stop one at the end of year 12. The school also offer the EPQ which he's not keen on.

He's not sure yet what he wants to do at university. Do these look like a good mix ?

Hmm, I'd think quite carefully about doing physics without also doing maths. Many schools will actually not let students take physics unless they are also taking maths, and there's a good reason for that - physics is very maths-heavy, so students who don't have that extra input are much more likely to struggle.

I understand the same is true of students who take biology without also taking chemistry, although I don't have personal experience of that.

Either way, physics and biology with no chemistry is an odd combination. Geography/biology/chemistry would make more sense, as would physics/maths/geography, or physics/maths/chemistry, as those subject combinations support one another more.

I thought that too but he doesn't enjoy chemistry and it's his weakest science. He's good at maths but again he doesn't enjoy it, he can study core maths alongside his a levels if he can be persuaded.

Physics turns incredibly maths-y very quickly. If he isn’t keen on doing maths, has he properly understood what’s in store with physics?

I agree, our 6th form recommends Maths with Physics too.

Has he any thoughts about possible degree subjects/careers?

He enjoys Physics and he's good at it so he's up for the Maths part of it, he just doesn't want to do another Maths related subject. He's thinking of something to do with Biology at university, maybe something related to medicine but he's not sure what yet. His backup plan would be something to do with Geography or Sport.

I know he should really do Physics + Maths and Biology + Chemistry but there is no telling him. Perhaps 6th form will convince him at the interview but the other part of me thinks there is no point if he really doesn't want to.

^ or!

As a quick aside, with his interests... Would he be interested in something like biomedical engineering, medical Physics etc? If so, it might be worth looking at university requirements now as he may need Maths.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that Physics at GCSE has a very different feel to Physics at A Level. It’s not necessarily about the combination, but if he’s not going to take Maths because he doesn’t enjoy it, is he prepared for Physics looking and feeling an awful lot like Maths?

Would not tell him to take Chemistry if he does not want to. It is a really hard one to do if you do not love the subject. But anything medical usually requires it, at a high grade.

If he loves physics he really needs to do the maths too as gcse maths soon gets well overtaken... really quickly.

I can't imagine that he'd be able to go into anything medical without chemistry? I thought that was supposed to be the most important one. I think he would be wise to look at potential degree courses to see what the requirements might be.

Finally! He's listened. He's got past the 'Mum doesn't know what she's talking about' and read the posts here and looked at a website which matches A level options to degrees. He's going to think about which he prefers more out of Physics and Biology and then consider either Maths or Chemistry and drop the idea of either Physics or Biology.
thank you!

As someone who did a biology degree without chemistry a-level - don’t do it!!!!!! You really do need chemistry and I found a lot of universities wouldn’t even consider my application with biology, maths and English literature a-levels. I did it though but it was HARD.

@dairydairy

Finally! He's listened. He's got past the 'Mum doesn't know what she's talking about' and read the posts here and looked at a website which matches A level options to degrees. He's going to think about which he prefers more out of Physics and Biology and then consider either Maths or Chemistry and drop the idea of either Physics or Biology. thank you!

Good result!

Although a left field option might be IB if offered...

We are having a similar issue. DS wants to take PE, Media Studies and Physics at A level but 6th form won’t let him. Physics is his best subject by far (maths coming a close second) so he is more than capable of doing the maths required for physics but doesn’t want to limit his choices by doing physics and maths and he has seen too many of his older friends fall apart doing A level maths.He’d actually like to an AS level maths but school don’t offer it unless they do A level for a year and then drop. It’s a pity really because you would think they would encourage kids who are talented at physics to study it.

He’s now thinking of swapping to Biology, PE and Geography which are 2 of his weaker subjects just because he can’t do physics. He won’t ever change his mind about PE though!!

@ihearttc he won't limit his choices at all by doing maths, physics and PE instead of maths, media studies and PE.

I would be amazed if any course or future job role required media studies A level - for the simple reason that a lot of schools don't offer it. I am not saying it is easy or not worth doing, at all. But if he does maths with physics, not only will that make the physics easier (physics without maths is very unusual) but also maths is a great A level to have and will open doors, not close them.

With maths and physics he could go on to do physics or engineering (I imagine - do check) at uni, for example. Put media studies in there instead of maths and I am honestly not sure what other choices that opens.

If he is keen on media as a possible career, he would be better off doing something outside school, such as a blog or social media, which would showcase the writing and SM skills media outlets are looking for.

Maths, physics and PE is a much better option than his! He is opening up careers in sport science, biophysics, medical physics etc. Media instead of maths closes doors I'm afraid.

He wanted to do a wide range of A levels rather than maths/science A levels as he has 3 different career paths in mind (not very decisive is my son lol) and he thought by doing physics/maths it would limit his choices over degrees.
This will be long so apologies in advance! He has always wanted to be a pilot ever since he was a tiny boy. The plan was always A levels and then a pilot training programme. He has been left an inheritance which will enable him to do this as self funded it’s a huge huge amount of money (it’s locked away until he is 18). However he has said that he would rather go to Uni first to have a bit of life experience and get a degree behind him in case being a pilot doesn’t work out especially given the situation at the moment. His other plan was to do Sports Journalism however his 6th form doesn’t offer English Lang A level only English Lit (which is really not him) so he thought that Media Studies would at least be interesting and useful (he is doing it at the moment, although it’s a BTEC and he should hopefully get a distinction).
The third and probably most likely option if I’m honest is that he’s considering being a Secondary PE teacher. So 3 very very different career options and non really need physics or maths.
He wants to do subjects he enjoys and is good at as quite honestly they’ve had an awful 2 years and I think he’d do better with subjects he really wants to go.
School have been a bit useless (whether it down to Covid or not I’m unsure) but apart from a 6th form prospectus they have had no help or guidance at all. Although I did A levels it was many many years ago and then I never went to Uni so my choices didn’t matter so much.
Well done if you’ve got that far!!

OK but you do not need media studies A level (nor English language A level) to be a sports journalist. What you do need is a passion for your subject and a drive to get there, illustrated by some actual journalism, as I suggested.

PE teacher, well maths is often connected - I know a number of PE teachers who also teach maths. Probs easier to get a job if you can offer maths as well.

Pilot, I know nothing about this, but surely maths A level would be more useful here than media studies?

Apols for my previous post, I got muddled, he is thinking of physics, PE and media isn't he, not maths, PE and media, but I still think that would close doors that maths A level would open.

Does he not need maths and physics to be a pilot? You used to do for RAF pilot training. I know he’s going privately but I’d have thought the knowledge would still be required/useful?
It’d be incredibly useful as a PE teacher to have maths/physics as they are in very high demand. Plus maths opens a multitude of courses!
Whatever he chooses he needs to enjoy them and be able to reach decent grades.

I don’t blame you for being confused, he’s confusing me!! I think the issue is he doesn’t know what he actually wants to do so is trying to do a bit of everything to cover all bases if that makes sense. He’s scared of failure and is reluctant to do maths in case he can’t cope with it.

He was under the assumption that to get on most sports journalism courses he’d need English Language A level (that was the only big of info school have given him). He is good at that side of English, but hates the literature side!
It feels like such a huge decision to make and he is frightened of making the wrong one! Thank you for all your help and apologies to the OP for derailing your thread.
Think I need to have another chat with him and see if he can speak to someone at school.

@dairydairy

Finally! He's listened. He's got past the 'Mum doesn't know what she's talking about' and read the posts here and looked at a website which matches A level options to degrees. He's going to think about which he prefers more out of Physics and Biology and then consider either Maths or Chemistry and drop the idea of either Physics or Biology. thank you!

Great idea!

@ihearttc I can totally understand where he’s coming from. Media studies for journalism, physics for flying and pe for teaching. I’d look at journalism and teaching requirements more thoroughly. I’m guessing you know a lot input flying already. Is he in the ATC? Does he write for a school magazine or anything like that?