Do you think am making the right choise? (Future Career)

melancholly

the best way to get a city job is to do a traditional degree at a traditional university..... and not many of them do 'applied' courses in business (sweeping statement and there are obviously exceptions). a maths degree from a top uni would be a better way in to a city job than a business degree from a less prestigious uni...... the city really cares what institution you go to.

if you have a good background in maths then i completely agree with dmg24 - a language will be more useful to put you ahead than doing overlapping A levels (and i don't think many places will take accountancy a level seriously - i don't doubt it's a hard subject but most companies would sooner teach you from scratch using their own preferred method.

celyn90

All the people I know that went to work for those sorts of firms were mathmaticians, scientists, computer scientists, lawyers and engineers. All had more than one language too (one of them spoke four different languages fluently - he was head-hunted by them). With your A-levels, do things you enjoy more than anything - traditional subjects are probably more advisable, but you have to want to study them. Research the course you are considering taking and see if you'd want to do them. I did sociology alongside sciences and it was fun, but the essay writing took a lot of my time.

How likely is it you will get a placement straight after school? I would have thought that this sort of route would be viciously competative as they are effectivley offering you paid work and a partially paid for degree. You may find they want far more than A-levels (extra-curricular activities and employment history, other random skills and adventures to set you aside from all the others). Who are these placements aimed at? Have you seen the application forms? What do they ask for? If you get hold of some info about this, it might help you make an informed choice and show you what you are likely to need for them to consider you.

If you go directly to uni, keep your eyes open for summer placements and internships with these firmd as these can really help you getting a foot in the door when it comes to job hunting after you graduate.

best of luck, cel x

Amit92

I can't really do a Language unless it is English Language. But I can speak English & My mother tongue. If that counts?

I think Accounting will not really be a useless subject because it can give me a head-start lets say on the basic principles and more in-depth knowledge on Accounting in AS Year and A2 Year than someone who hasen't even studied it at all. Which gives me an advantage when I want to apply for a Degree or placement in accountnacy!

Also Business Studies is more useful than Economics because Business studies is a blend of the main parts and principles of Business relatated subjects like...

Law
Politics
Marketing
Finance
Accounting
Human resource management..etc

Which ever option I pick will be my main option and if that fails I have the option I didn't pick as my back-up.

I was thinking of doing English Literature but that is not really linked to what I want to do but it is interesting and a lot of hard work and understanding.

If I pull out an A* at Maths GCSE I might consider doing Further Mathematics and Business Studies but only if it is an A* not "A"

Thanks and keep your comments coming

Thanks again

Amit

Lokolo

Um I did Maths Business and Computing.

Business studies in the first year is quite easy if you can easily learn facts. Its lot of recergitating facts and things which is good. However, second half a lot more difficult - you have to actually apply everything to a case study. I wrote 7 pages on Google for one of my exams!!! (got a good mark for it too!). Overall I got a B (omg so upset though, 2 marks out of 600 off an A!!!!!)

Maths was good at first, got a B at AS, then A2, the last module was extremely extremely difficult and ended up with a C.

My friend who is doing Maths degree at York did further maths, got a C. He said its a lot of extra work and difficuly in the latter stages.

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Others that did Economics a lot of people hated it. I wouldn't have done it as it doesn't really focus on anything worthwhile. A lot of it is generic and based in places where you will never end up. Whereas Business Studies does help in this and helps you learn things you will need to know when you are a manager.

CarolynH

I work for a firm of chartered accountants. I did eduction as undergrad and Criminology as an MSc. Then started on a training contract to quaify as ACA. Most of our FQs (Fully Qualifieds) had degrees in something prior to starting, not necessarity business. All of them worked and trained, either with ourselves or a previous employer.Not sure if this help but just thought I'd throw it into the mix!

Don't forget that the 'accounting' bit is only one side of the job. You also need to be good at communicating with clients, and will often have to answer random queries/provide them with ad hoc solutions to problems. So you need to have good social skills too, and a broad based education can often help with that.

You also need to be VERY good a juggling your time and client needs/demands, so again if you can demonstrate the ability to manage a wider varity of interests/skills/subects/hobbies, this may help.

Having said all this, I don't work for one of the 'big four' - I'm not sure I'd want but that's purely my opinion.

dancingqueen_tr

to be honest, you can do classics at university and still get in. its a matter of whether you have the skills and passion they are looking for

G-G_4

I would look at what will happen if you don't like Accountancy, Business etc..

Will your A-Levels have been a waste of time?

Can you cater them to be a more rounded experience, so that depending on what you think in 2 yrs time, you can change to a different degree if you choose to?

Good Luck tho, glad you know what you want to do..

melancholly

Amit92 wrote: »

I can't really do a Language unless it is English Language. But I can speak English & My mother tongue. If that counts?

I think Accounting will not really be a useless subject because it can give me a head-start lets say on the basic principles and more in-depth knowledge on Accounting in AS Year and A2 Year than someone who hasen't even studied it at all. Which gives me an advantage when I want to apply for a Degree or placement in accountnacy!

Also Business Studies is more useful than Economics because Business studies is a blend of the main parts and principles of Business relatated subjects like...

Law
Politics
Marketing
Finance
Accounting
Human resource management..etc

Which ever option I pick will be my main option and if that fails I have the option I didn't pick as my back-up.

I was thinking of doing English Literature but that is not really linked to what I want to do but it is interesting and a lot of hard work and understanding.

If I pull out an A* at Maths GCSE I might consider doing Further Mathematics and Business Studies but only if it is an A* not "A"

Thanks and keep your comments coming

Thanks again

Amit

i think you're missing the point being made - the content of the A levels is irrelevant. the reputation that they have is key. you can do newer subjects that are probably equally as hard (although not all are) as more traditional ones but they just won't be worth as much in the eyes of city employers.

a bit of business studies or accountancy A level means nothing in the real world of work, and that simply won't give you an edge (and will in fact count less than doing something like history or politics which are well established subjects).

for any of the other career options listed, as dancingqueen says, a great degree result from a classics degree at a prestigious university will be a hell of a lot more of a head start than business studies someone less good. the city are very very blinkered in that respect and your A levels subjects are not going to overcome that.

celyn90

Amit92 wrote: »

I was thinking of doing English Literature but that is not really linked to what I want to do but it is interesting and a lot of hard work and understanding.

It doesn't matter if it's not linked specifically to what you want to do and I would have thought the skills it would teach you would be very generaly applicable. All you are doing at this level (and arguably beyond in a lot of cases) is proving that you have the discipline to study, that you can learn, that you have analytical skills, that you can interprete, digest and act on information.

If you enjoy it, go for it. I didn't think it was hard - I didn't even bother reading half of the set texts and still did really well. It is highly thought of as a traditional subject, so would stand you in good stead. More essays though!

Amit92

Thanks for all the comments and advice guys.

What subjects would you think would be the traditional subjects and well established?

Thanks

Amit