Choices help....needed to make today

[rainydogday]

Without being too long winded.
DD got 5's in GCSEs related to the subjects. She has no clue what she wants to do later... but not interested in health care (which I do and have put her off)!

Choices are;
BTEC in applied science (is it worth doing if zero interest in healthcare? But good to keep a science)?

A Level Eng Lang (loves it and is going to beg 6th form to take her with a 5)

BTEC single in Business (never did gcse but looks interesting and 'broad').

OR A level Geography (got a gcse 5). I am. It sure she will be excited by this though and have heard it's really hard work. Had a sleepless night and pretending to be cool about this but I am worried she will make the wrong decision. Would like to get a quick 'chat' in before she goes.....

ENG Lang is a fabulous A level but it's very hard and not at all like GCSE. We require a 6 but might be persuaded to accept a near miss 5 if we knew the candidate well.

Both those A Level choices are hard- but if she's really keen that would help. Are those the only available BTecs? Could she do A Level English, the applied science (not just relevant to health care) and possibly the Business or another BTec? I'm worried that two "heavy" A levels might be too much...

I presume you're going to enrolment today. Colleges vary obviously but DS wasn't allowed to take Biology yesterday even though he was a few marks from a 6 and met the requisite grades in maths and chemistry.

They will discuss her options at enrolments but prepare for potential disappointment with the A levels.

If she's staying on at sixth form where they know her there might be more leeway. A lot of kids have achieved lower than predictions this year.

Good luck.

How big is the applied science BTEC? The one I know is equivalent to 3 full A levels, so if she did that, that would be it. If she's not interested in a career in science (there is more than just healthcare!), dump this one. If it was to be one course as part of a three, I'd do Geography, applied science and business.

With 5s, BTECs might be a better proposition than A Levels. (Although DS took A Level Geography with a 5).

English Lang A Level is nothing like GCSE. Hopefully it's the A Level course she loves and not the GCSE one.

BTEC Extended Diploma (3 A level equivalent) in whatever takes her fancy will give her best chances of success with those GCSE grades.

She enjoyed the taster lesson she went on before applying for Eng Lang A Level. She is staying on at school 6th Form so they know she is keen. Keeping everything crossed they let her do it. Think she will ask to do BTEC in both science and business both single. So hard knowing what to choose when she is so fussy and vague!

Good luck OP.
Hope u manage to make decisions and everyone is happy

I wouldn't recommend geography at A level with a grade 5. A previous school I worked in accepted this and students really struggled. I'd recommend a 6 in geog and English language plus a 5 in maths. I gave one such student extra support. Her boyfriend was also in the class and helped her in free lessons:at home but she just couldn't cope with it. She finished her 2 years with a U. There is maths in geography A level too through statistical analysis.

Thanks everyone. She has got into 6th form. She is doing A level Eng Lang. They checked her raw score and she was two marks off a 6 so they were happy. She is also doing BTEC in business (single) and applied science BTEC. Feeling happy with broad variety!