A level advice wanted: Geography, maths, computer science and ????

[Porcupineintherough]

Ds1 is choosing his A level options. He's tentatively picked 3, including his favourites CS and geography, but needs a 4th to go with them. Was vaguely thinking about a degree in engineering but wants to keep his options open. His ??? for a 4th are further maths (capable but not keen), physics (so so) or a BTEC in engineering. Has ruled out chemistry and biology.

Thoughts please.

I am not an expert on engineering but a quick search of a few courses shows that either physics or chemistry would be useful. Both unis I searched wanted either phys or chem for a variety of engineering degrees, not just chemical engineering.

So if he is genuinely interested in engineering then that might be the shout.

Except the op has said he's ruled out chemistry, but not physics. And some of the higher ranked engineering courses (except chem) do require physics but not chemistry. There's a reason for that. So for this particular student chemistry is probably a bit of a red herring. (Its absolutely relevant if a kid wants to keep open a wide range of sciences and clinical options, of course but that's not really the case here)

@ErrolTheDragon

I am not an expert on engineering but a quick search of a few courses shows that either physics or chemistry would be useful. Both unis I searched wanted either phys or chem for a variety of engineering degrees, not just chemical engineering.

So if he is genuinely interested in engineering then that might be the shout.

Except the op has said he's ruled out chemistry, but not physics. And some of the higher ranked engineering courses (except chem) do require physics but not chemistry. There's a reason for that. So for this particular student chemistry is probably a bit of a red herring. (Its absolutely relevant if a kid wants to keep open a wide range of sciences and clinical options, of course but that's not really the case here)

Well yes, what I meant by my post was that physics might be a good idea if he wants to be an engineer (since he is not keen on chemistry which a lot of places would also accept). And maybe physics should be the one he keeps, while dropping geography or CS, again, if keen on engineering.

TBH tho, if he likes geography and CS the best, and might be OK to do maths and physics, maybe engineering (requiring as it does those subjects) is not the best choice anyway?

What I mean is, I know someone whose child has decided they want to be a doctor - "so they had better take biology A level" (and chemistry as I understand it) - which seems to me the wrong way round. What about - what subjects do I enjoy? Where will they take me? No point getting on to an engineering course if you don't really enjoy maths and physics and would rather be studying geography.

I have a degree in Electrical and Electronic engineering. It's very maths heavy. If maths isn't his thing, I don't think it's a degree that suits him. You can find out admission criteria from universities. But as someone who has done the degree, maths and physics are relevant, but chemistry is not. There wasn't computing when I was young but computer programming modules were part of the degree course.

I mean it'll be totally different if he does chemical engineering. So an idea of what kind of degree he wants to do will be relevant to his A level choices.

Maths or Economics- if no timetable clash

So to clarify the situation with maths. So far he's found it easy enough to do, he just doesnt love it. I think it must be pretty hard to love at GCSE level tbh. He's quite happy to do A level math and I think as he gets exposed to more interesting or complex mathematics one of two things will happen- either he'll enjoy it more, or he'll realise that, for him, it's just a means to an end, be that programming, engineering or whatever. Which is fine, I think, as long as he can do it. The indications so far are that he can.

And when I say he doesnt love maths, I mean just that. He's likes it well enough, just not in the way I've seen in people that studied it at degree level. But then he's only 15, ime it's A level and above when subjects start to come alive (I liked biology A level but loved my zoology degree).

@Porcupineintherough hi my ds is currently in Year 12 and is keen on following a career I. Engineering.

He started off with computer science, maths , biology and chemistry but then when he looked further into it he said for engineering physics would help. He then swapped out computer science with physics.

Maths at gcse came naturally to him and he did hardly any work and I would say it is his least favourite subject out of the four. He knows if he wants pursue a career in engineering maths is key ( personally I feel he enjoys biology and chemistry)

Maths A level is hard and it has recently dawned to him he is going to have to work ...I would say it is his least favourite subject. It is a jump from Gcse. Honestly I wouldn't take up further maths unless he actually enjoys it.

Your DS liking both Geography and Computer Science makes me think of a university module I made called Remote Processing.

It seems to be a graduate program of its own. Here:

(If he's interested, the app Quantum GIS is free and he can learn quite a lot from Youtube).