A-level subjects combination advice - maths orientated

[Somuchchoice]

Hi
My DD is trying to decide between 2 different A-level combinations and I would value your opinions and insight.
Option 1: Maths, Further Maths, Economics and Physics
Option 1: Maths, Further Maths, Economics and Geography

Loves Maths and Economics. Likes Physics and Geography equally. Doesn't want to go to into engineering.
Are there any advantages/disadvantages to one or the other options? Or is there a third option that would be better? Does one option rule out certain degree choices or careers?

There is more overlap of subjects in your first combination of options, so arguably might be easier. Other than engineering I can't think of anything that is particularly opened or closed (other than physics/geography themselves of course!)

My DS is taking both physics and geography A Levels, so will ask him if he has any words of wisdom when he gets home.

Well clearly if you don't do geography A level, you are unlikely to be able to access a geog degree. Similarly for physics. But I mean the nature of A levels is that you start to rule out loads of stuff, you can;t not, and it's fine.

As I understand it, there is a good overlap between maths and physics which may lighten the load of four A levels. Almost everyone in DS2's year (just finished) that did physics, did maths. Also I feel it may open more doors to engineering, but you say that's not an interest. With maths and FM I would presume considerable interest in a maths degree?

DD took geography and really enjoyed it. The rest of her subjects were not close to your Ds's tho.

As someone who did Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Geography A levels (my school didn't do Economics), I'd say the Geography gave me extra breadth, particularly around written communication and essay writing. I'm not sure how much that would already be covered off by Economics though. Geography was more work though as it was more different (although that may have been that I'm naturally a very maths-y person so found it a bit more challenging - worth it though!).

Does she have a sense of what she'd like to do at university? Physics would imply more of a science steer along with the Maths, while Geography with Economics would open up more of the social sciences side. I don't think anything would be closed off by doing either though (other than the subjects themselves).

so sorry, your DD's, must read better

Well clearly if you don't do geography A level, you are unlikely to be able to access a geog degree. Similarly for physics.

You almost certainly can't do a physics degree without physics A level. However, I know someone who did geography at Cambridge who, when deciding which out of maths, physics, eng. lit and geog to drop after a year (back in the days of AS) was told by Cambridge they weren't that bothered if she did geography at school as she'd be learning it there (She dropped the eng lit, and ended up specialising in physical geog with lots of statistics etc).

Haha ok then and it's true that history degrees certainly do not always specify history A level. Would think you would want a strong PS explaining why you'd not done it tho.

Agree that the math-econ-physics combo would leave open door to doing physical geography degree. Easily.

However ... don't rely on MN anecdotage.

I'd strongly suggest the OPs DD should have a good think about the various degree courses she might want to do, then pick two or three unis that she might want to apply for and check what their entry requirements are. It's pretty easy to find the details on the web. And if that doesn't clarify the matter, then she can email some admissions tutors for courses she's interested in and ask them which, if either, they'd prefer. Mine did that when deciding on her 4th subject, and got some very nice, helpful replies.

Some Earth Science courses require two sciences (geography A level is usually included as a science for this purpose), so maths, FM, physics and geography would be a good combination.

Geography and economics together might well be useful for studying economics at uni?

@Ekofisk

Some Earth Science courses require two sciences (geography A level is usually included as a science for this purpose), so maths, FM, physics and geography would be a good combination.

Geography and economics together might well be useful for studying economics at uni?

maths and FM also count as sciences to be fair - DS2 is doing biology with maths as his second A level science.

maths and FM also count as sciences to be fair - DS2 is doing biology with maths as his second A level science

That’s true, I don’t tend to think of maths as a science (thinking about STEM for instance).

For Earth Sciences you’d be well prepped with physics and chemistry at A level, with maths if you’re looking to do geophysics.

Remembered to ask DS (he's taking Maths, Physics and Geog A Levels) and he said in OP's DD position he would choose to take Physics due to the overlap between subjects. (He actually suggested she should only take 3 A Levels and not put more pressure on herself, but assuming the taking 4 is a sixth form requirement?). He suggested that taking geography with the others should be because she loved it - and also worth knowing (for his exam board anyway) than there is an element of fieldwork and also NEA - so would need to consider if that was something she wanted to do or would prefer end of year exams only.