A level art, experiences, uni choices etc

[LaurenCuthbertsonStanAccount]

DD enjoys art and is on track for a 9 at GCSE.

She previously planned to do A levels in English lit, philosophy, French and maths (they all start with 4 at her school then most drop one going into Y13), with current plan to study philosophy or philosophy and French at uni.

She has now decided she wants to drop maths and do art A level instead.

Just wondered if anyone had any experience of how art A level compares to GCSE and what we need to think about re university. She understands that dropping maths will close some doors. Presumably art wouldn't count towards any uni offer she gets so if she does drop a subject it will have to be art (assuming she sticks with her plan to study philosophy).

I'm keen to support her but don't know much about it- any advice would be very welcome.

I'm not sure that dropping maths (with no other related A Levels) particularly closes any doors tbh.

DD has friends taking Art A Level and it is regarded as highly as any other A Level in terms of university entry (to non art subjects). I suggest you check university entry criteria, but I can't see any particular reason to assume it would be disregarded for a Philosophy degree.

Yh agree with @shepherdsangeldelight if maths is your only STEM A level then dropping it closes no or few doors.

I guess you could look to a maths degree but without FM or at the very least another science, your options would be limited. Same for economics which is v competitive.

Maths a level is a good one to have, but a lot of posters here suggest taking it as it “keeps doors open” - but what doors? On its own, v few. And since she wants to drop it she’s surely unlikely to want to take econ at uni.

Not sure why art wouldn’t be accepted by unis btw. It still counts! In fact it’s not an easy choice at all. Also it opens the door to a creative art based degree.

Thanks, both. The particular door DD is thinking about is psychology, for which many unis require one science or maths.

That's good news that art would still count as one of her three choices.

But if you have already researched that psychology requires one science or maths from many universities, then surely not having it closes the door to those universities?

The important thing is to work backwards from what courses she might want to do at university to pick her subjects.

Also, from those requirements, you can work out which of the four subjects is most likely to close doors for her.

My daughter has got offer at Durham for Sociology with Art as one of her three A levels so not sure why you think it wouldn't be counted? It's quite a time consuming course though - my DD had to pull a few all nighters to get the work done towards the end! But if yours is thinking of Psychology as an alternative degree why not take that at A level?

Dropping Maths A level would close doors to degrees in Maths, Maths & Philosophy, Maths & MFL, Maths & Economics, Maths & CS, Maths & Management and some Economics and some Computer Science courses. This only matters if OP's DD would like to keep those doors open.

The logic in mathematical thinking that emerges more fully at A level can assist in developing the rigorous analytical skills required in many non-STEM subjects (my DC found this to be the case). The obvious caveat is this only holds true if one is likely to enjoy and master the maths. We need to be careful not to assume Maths only makes sense if coupled up with at least one other STEM or Econ.

Art is a really demanding A-level and a good fit with philosophy imo (question: what distinguishes conceptual art from applied philosophy??)

But if you have already researched that psychology requires one science or maths from many universities, then surely not having it closes the door to those universities?

Yes. I was responding to pp suggesting that dropping maths wouldn't close any doors.

OK yes good point about psych. It’s certainly beneficial to have maths A level. But I don’t think it’s essential. Yes if psych is an option why not take that at A level. Just checked Birmingham uni at random (friend of DD’s did psych there) and the BSc course asks for one science (psychology will do) or a higher offer without.

I would disagree with the implication that maths A level keeps the door to a maths degree open. Many of the more popular unis want FM.

Does she want to do psych tho?

BTW I speak from experience when I recommend French single hons rather than French plus phil. Phil adds nothing I'm sorry to say. Unless it's the only thing you enjoy, in which case go for it.

Her school doesn’t offer psychology unfortunately.

Hmmm is geography an option instead of Eng lit? Counts as a science. Mind you, if she dislikes maths enough to not want to do it, psych (which includes a fair bit of maths I gather) may not be what she wants to do anyway?

All a level choices close doors, they are bound to. Question is, are they doors you want to go through? Might she want to pursue art post 18?

Curious why you think Art doesn’t “count” as an A level! 😳