Choosing A Levels - a different perspective please

kittiwoz

Savvy_Sue wrote:

According to DS1, the Physics that is taught at A level has to be made non-mathematical, so that those not studying Maths at A level can still do it. If that makes sense.

Yes, you are right. But there is an inevitable cross-over, particularly within mechanics so I think it is a bit easier if you are doing maths but not a necessity. I guess it is the extent to which physics has been made non-mathematical at A-level which makes it less relevant to mechanical engineering than maths is. Basically the result is you learn more about mechanics if you do the mechanics modules of maths A-level than you do in the mechanics module of physics A-level.

beautifulgorgeous_2

My dd is doing her "a" levels in "easy" subjects but still has to put in loads of coursework and homework. (Art ,sociology and health and social care) I wish that they were not seen as a cop out cos she and her classmates have had to work really hard to attain good grades. At least with maths etc your grades are not dependant on the teacher liking your work.

impy78

Art is very difficult. Any arty subject because of the subjectivity issue.

dexters_mum_2

Hi there
I can give you my own perspective as a person who studied all Biology, Physics and Chemistry at A-Level at age 16-18 and then further A-Levels in English Literature and History at evening classes.

I obtained 3 A's for my sciences at GCSE and hence why I did them at A-Level, I wasn't railroaded into it by any stretch of the imagination but I really wish now I hadn't bothered with all 3 sciences! I very rarely use my biological knowledge, I vaguely use some chemistry in my degree and I frequently use physics now! For me, it was a mistake because I limited myself by doing these 3 subjects, it was assumed that I would obviously be taking a career route down the medicine/nursing route, when what I really wanted to do was be an architect, yet I didn't realise, at 16, the value of choosing a variety of subjects in different areas of the education spectrum, to give me a broader array of knowledge suitable for any degree course I would have wanted to do.

At the end of the 2 years, I came out with respectable A-Levels, B in Biology & Chemistry and a C in physics and I went to study to become a nurse, more out of not knowing what to do with my A-levels than any real desire to become a nurse.

I finished my first degree and instantly regretted what I had done, luckily, my parents saw my heart wasn't in it and encouraged me to try to look at what I did want to do...be an architect!

I went back and did some broader A-level subjects at night school and did well. I realised that English and history wouldn't actually get me onto a BA to do architecture but the sciences might and the combination of areas I had studied might too.

Anyway, after looking at courses, I applied to do a BSc in Building Surveying. This course was then downgraded to a foundation degree and I am studying that now, along with a BSc top up in Construction Project Management.

What I am trying to say is life can change so much in such a short space of time, I'd encourage your son to take a broad range of A-levels, to take subjects he enjoys first and foremost, he'll be much more successful if he enjoys what he is studying, I feel I gave nursing a half hearted attempt but I really didn't enjoy it but now, I am studying construction and getting 80% in assignments and I put that down to enjoying what I am doing.

Your son should speak with the admission tutors at the college and to his current teachers to see if they have any recommendations of subjects to take for him. I'd also encourage your son to have a look through library books of the A-level subjects he has choose prior to going to college, so he has a basic knowledge of what he will be studying and indeed whether he feels that is right for him.

There is always the option to maybe take some subjects at AS level too.

Your son sounds like he is very bright and pretty clued up which is more than I can say I was at his age, I am sure he will make the right decision and even if he feels he hasn't, as long as he sees that early enough in the course he should be able to change to a course he prefers.

Good luck to you all,
DM

Oldernotwiser

dora37 wrote:

I think that is the hard part when guiding him - without sounding really cheesy/corny, we want him to be the best he can,however we also want him to be happy. So part of the guidance/minefield is trying to get that balance - we certainly don't want him to study for qualifications at any cost.

Still - it will be really easy when DS2 (13) comes to do them.....apart from he has completely different strengths/talents/interests:D

As long as he's intelligent and hard working I would encourage him to push and challenge himself. Young people need to know that their parents support them but let him worry as to whether he's happy or not. There'll be times when things get really hard and having parents who tell you to not worry about things and just to be happy can be a real disincentive.

I think that it's great that he wants to carry on with a language as this can be a broadening factor in his general development. There are certainly courses that allow you to keep up a language at a subsidiary level and even offer placements abroad. On the other hand, beware of universities that offer strange combinations such as chemistry and Spanish. With certain exceptions these are offered by lesser universities and can often stop the student progressing far enough in either subject. Still, that's some way ahead, so don't worry about it for now.

dora37

Oldernotwiser wrote:

There'll be times when things get really hard and having parents who tell you to not worry about things and just to be happy can be a real disincentive.

Sorry, I don't agree with you on this point. I didn't say I wanted him to be JUST happy - I actually said that whilst we want him to be the best he can - we ALSO want him to be happy.

Both myself & OH have a positive but realistic outlook on life, which we have hopefully passed onto all 3 children.

We always stress that hard work will get results, being challenged broadens the mind........however if something is not right, or really not working out.....then you have to question whether a change of direction should happen.

This way the many things they have stuck at so far have been because they have either enjoyed it and/or seen the benefits in the long term.

Thanks for your point on unusual subject combinations - I will look into that.

Incidentally, how do you know which are the 'lesser' unis - is it simply looking at the University league tables?

Oldernotwiser

dora37 wrote:

Sorry, I don't agree with you on this point. I didn't say I wanted him to be JUST happy - I actually said that whilst we want him to be the best he can - we ALSO want him to be happy.

Both myself & OH have a positive but realistic outlook on life, which we have hopefully passed onto all 3 children.

We always stress that hard work will get results, being challenged broadens the mind........however if something is not right, or really not working out.....then you have to question whether a change of direction should happen.

This way the many things they have stuck at so far have been because they have either enjoyed it and/or seen the benefits in the long term.

Thanks for your point on unusual subject combinations - I will look into that.

Incidentally, how do you know which are the 'lesser' unis - is it simply looking at the University league tables?

Hope you didn't think that my post was meant to be critical, that wasn't my intent.

All careers departments will have a book by Brian Heap called "Degree Course Offers". This lists the number of A level points required for any degree course for any university. In general, the more points required, the more popular and prestigious the university. (There are some exceptions, there are fashions in universities leke anything else). Most advisers would suggest applying for courses which match up with your expected A level grades, perhaps including one university which makes lower offers(in case something goes wrong on exam day!).

In general (and there are exceptions) the ex polytechnics are easier to get into and tend to be considered less prestigious than the older universities, although many of them do excellent work on vocational courses such as engineering. Your son's six form should have a careers tutor who'll be able to help him with this sort of thing when the time comes, but don't believe anyone who tells you that all universities are equally good!

dora37

Oldernotwiser wrote:

Hope you didn't think that my post was meant to be critical, that wasn't my intent.


In general (and there are exceptions) the ex polytechnics are easier to get into and tend to be considered less prestigious than the older universities, although many of them do excellent work on vocational courses such as engineering. Your son's six form should have a careers tutor who'll be able to help him with this sort of thing when the time comes, but don't believe anyone who tells you that all universities are equally good!

Hi,

I didn't think you were being critical - your post was very useful. I just didn't want to come across as a 'mamby pamby' parent! They are given every encouragement and support, but also told if they don't put the effort in, they will get nothing back.....but, I wouldn't advise them to flog a dead horse!

Another quick question - how do you know which Uni's were previously Polys - does it tell you in the suggested book?

** I've just had a phone call to say I've been elected Governor at DS1 & DS2 High School - it went to a ballot of 4 nominations ** :j

greyskittles

Like other have said on this thread, it's best to take a variety of subjects, unless he has his heart set on a specific subject (eg medicine).

I was advised to do this, and at the time I thought 'eh?!', but now I've dropped out of uni and my 'favourite' subjects have gone from one extreme to the other, and I'm looking to apply to sciencey courses, so my biology will come in handy. I took ICT, Biology, Psychology, English Literature and Media Studies... The only one that I didn't enjoy was ICT, but the rest were fairly interesting, especially biology. Looking back, I would definitely have taken chemistry too!

billywill

I'm studying Chemistry and Maths Mechanics at A levels, as well as two others. I've heard that physics is certainly not easy though! Whatever he takes, it's going to be hard work. Will he take all four subjects to A Level, or drop one at AS?
Personally, if he's somewhat interested in Physics, then that's the best option. However, my school was very understanding about subjects, and most colleges should let you switch a subject if you don't like it, within the first term!