How To Choose A Level Subjects.

How to choose A Level subjects.

Remember when you had to choose your options at GCSE ?  Well narrowing down 8 subjects to 4 is even more important and often more of a pain. The following points might help you.

Subject strengths.

You will need to look at  your strengths. The advice we would give you is to choose subjects you have at least a B grade in at GCSE. 

However most sixth forms now offer  subjects such as Law, Psychology , Sociology etc. In this case talk to the tutors and past students to find out more about the subject. Also read around it to try to establish if you would enjoy studying it for several years. 

What you enjoy.

A levels are very intense. You will have more lessons in a week of a particular subject then you did at GCSE. You have to be passionate and enjoy the subject. Persistence and application are important here.

Keep your options open.

You may be  very passionate  on studying economics at 16, but after two years of charts, diagrams and complex mathematical figures, you may wish to confine economics to the dustbin and opt for anything but. 

You need to feel excited, interested and passionate about your subject over the long term.

Will your subject combination count?

Do not do a subject only because you consider it easy or your mates are doing it.

Take subjects that mean something in the real world

Inspire Guidance  recommends you consult the list of facilitating subjects produced by the Russell Group ( elite universities ). You can do an internet search for this. 

As a guideline, the top  universities strongly recommend that students should take at least two of the facilitating subjects or other 'hard subjects'. Facilitating subjects such as maths, English literature, physics and history keep your options open. Not all hard subjects are facilitating (economics and music, for example).

However if you are completely passionate about Music for example, and may want to pursue this for a career,  do research where this will take you. 

Check your sixth form university prospectus for entry requirements.

Visit university websites to get a flavour of what they require

Investigate and dig deeper.

 If you are set on a particular career or university course, check the detail. Find out any course requirements before you choose your advanced level course/ subjects. 

A course may not only request the specific grades eg AAB but specify the subjects too. Often the grades will be attached to subjects, for example minimum of : maths A, physics A, chemistry B, so getting the right grades in the wrong subjects may matter. 

Check out the UCAS website for specific course requirements

Don’t take subjects that are too similar.

For example Economics and Business studies.

Check for additional requirements. 

Not studying biology will severely limit the choice of medical schools available to those wishing to pursue a career in Medicine.

The vast majority of economics degree courses require either A level maths or top grades at GCSE. 

Only studying applied A levels or BTecs will limit your chances of getting a place on a course at  an elite universities (those in the Russell Group). Also check policy on resits some universities require subjects grades  both at GCSE and A level be obtained at one sitting.

When You Do Not Want To Go To University?

So you have your grades to go to university, Congratulations!!

Only problem is you don't want to go to University. For some people University is a great experience and necessary for their chosen career. It can be great or it can be difficult. No single option is perfect for every person. 

For some careers you need a degree and it has to be done through a University. It is vital to check. For many more you can do a degree while working or go through other routes like apprenticeships.  

These days it is important to consider all the angles and an important one is financial. You have sliced and diced the numbers and the average student comes out with around 60,000 pounds in debt at the end of the course. 

Granted you do not have to pay this back until you start earning above a certain amount of money but it is still a considerable sum to think about. It should not put you off if you really want to go and make the most of your University time and certainly not if you have chosen a career where a degree is essential. However if you are not sure, feel lukewarm about going or you do not want to go what now ?

The first thing to do is to take an inventory of your skills and abilities.

The Morrisby profile is a good starting point.

Look at your likes / dislikes.

How would you like to work?

Would you like to work with people,things,information or be creative?

Think about this carefully. Once you have identified a few career areas read around them dig deeper. 

Use the national careers website to identify routes into your chosen field.

What is involved in the job, what qualifications do you need?

Can you do an apprenticeship or internship in this career area? 

Can you do a degree while working? An option many young people are considering now.

If you are still at a loss take time out, such as a gap year. Do something useful though, something that will look great on your CV and develop you as a person. 

Teach English as s foreign language ,you don't need to speak another language.

You will be surprised how travelling can concentrate the mind. Do not just travel around aimlessly though make sure there is a purpose,where you can learn new skills and an outcome. Get involved in a known verified organisation that is doing something good for the world, people, conservation - you choose. 

Also consider volunteering to gain new skills. It does not have to be abroad, every town, village and city needs volunteers to help in all manner of ways. Develop your skills.

Start to job seek if you are ready.

All in all if you do not want to go to University, you do have many options and may well have just a great a career -if not better in some career areas- as a standard graduate.

To your success!