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A-Level choices...gargh

OwlsAndApples

OwlsAndApples

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Oct 4, 2006
513
1
UK
I get 4 choices for AS, but I have five subjects I want to do :(

1. Art, definitely as I want to study it for a degree
2. English, definitely as I like it
3. Drama, i like it but it's really hard to get an A...my drama teachers really want me to do it also...
4. Ancient History, has always interested me, however, I do admit it is partly because of an amazing teacher, and the subject was one reason why I joined the school as it is so rare to be offered it.
5. Maths, I'm good at it, it's really useful, I don't really like it. Though it'll help me get into a good Uni and widen my oppurtunities.

Just want to know your feelings, I need to make the decision, if not tomorrow, the weekend :eek:
 
I would ditch drama. You can still take English and Drama at degree level if you get just English A-level. The rest of them leave your options wide open both in what you can study at Uni and in any subsequent career choices.
 
What school are you at?

I went to Watford Boys.

To give some background to my point of view, i did Maths Chemistry, Physics, Biology all to A-Level.

I personally didn't like the maths and as such i put little effort into it and my marks dropped.

If you are going to study art at degree level you do not need to have a maths as-level, it will probably not help you that much to get into Uni for an Art degree.

My advise is do subjects you like, or if you really want to do the maths keep in mind you can drop it after a year.
 
Wow, quick replies!

psychofreak said:
Have you got any career ideas?
Click to expand...

I'd like to go to art school to study art and design. Maybe something like book cover design and poster design...publications etc.

dynamicv said:
I would ditch drama. You can still take English and Drama at degree level if you get just English A-level. The rest of them leave your options wide open both in what you can study at Uni and in any subsequent career choices.
Click to expand...

My mum's a drama teacher which helps a bit :p I agree it's the wild card option. Annoying because it depends upon what i get at gcse in it to properly decide...
 
xUKHCx said:
What school are you at?

I went to Watford Boys.

To give some background to my point of view, i did Maths Chemistry, Physics, Biology all to A-Level.

I personally didn't like the maths and as such i put little effort into it and my marks dropped.

If you are going to study art at degree level you do not need to have a maths as-level, it will probably not help you that much to get into Uni for an Art degree.

My advise is do subjects you like, or if you really want to do the maths keep in mind you can drop it after a year.
Click to expand...

Thanks, maths will give me tons of options, dunno in the arts field though. Subjects I like would mean dropping maths. I'm not going to say what my feelings are at the moment as I don't want to influence everyone's recommendations.
 
OwlsAndApples said:
I'd like to go to art school to study art and design. Maybe something like book cover design and poster design...publications etc.
Click to expand...


That's exactly what my profession is. Without doubt, drop the maths; A-level maths becomes increasingly specialised and obscure, and if you have a natural aptitude you'll have no problems coping with the kind of maths that comes as part of design. Take my word for it.
 
That's a bit of an eclectic mix of subjects. ( ;) )

What do fancy doing after you finish your A-levels? University? Employment?
 
Blue Velvet said:
That's exactly what my profession is. Without doubt, drop the maths; A-level maths becomes increasingly specialised and obscure, and if you have a natural aptitude you'll have no problems coping with the kind of maths that comes as part of design. Take my word for it.
Click to expand...

Thanks alot, where/what did you study to get there? Everyone's been telling me the importance of maths, but I agree that it must be limited in this field

That's a bit of an eclectic mix of subjects.

What do fancy doing after you finish your A-levels? University? Employment?
Click to expand...

yeah it is a bit :) I like art and english based subjects, but I have talent in maths (no one in my family has EVER done maths past compulsory level). I'd like to go to uni to study art/design, and do work experience in publishing and design next year.
 
OwlsAndApples said:
Thanks, maths will give me tons of options, dunno in the arts field though. Subjects I like would mean dropping maths. I'm not going to say what my feelings are at the moment as I don't want to influence everyone's recommendations.
Click to expand...
A maths related A-level will open doors to you later, especially if you choose an arts related degree subject but find you are attracted to a different career choice after a couple of years (which happens to nearly half of Uni students from my experience). Choosing four arts & humanities subjects together closes off some options. Throw Maths into the mix and it comes out looking a lot more balanced on your UCAS form, yet maintains your arts & humanities focus if you decide that's what you want to pursue.
 
From someone at uni...

I'd seriously consider taking the Maths, when you get to Uni, if you have maths you can more or less move to anything. Plus it'll completely widen people impression of you. Like it or not, there is a 'arts student' stigma, and although I've found it completely untrue, it exists. If you can do maths at least at AS level, I would.
 
OwlsAndApples said:
Thanks alot, where/what did you study to get there? Everyone's been telling me the importance of maths, but I agree that it must be limited in this field
Click to expand...


It's not limited, just O-level-ish (which shows my age)... calculating things like page sizes and ratios, paper weights, page counts, placement of items on page and for some Illustrator work is about the overall extent of it... as well as calculating invoices of course. :D

You don't need advanced trigonometry, calculus or anything like that. I have an A level in Physics which I always enjoyed but regret wasting my time with A level Maths which I passed but with some difficulty.

I did art all through secondary school and after that did 3 years in college to get my Diploma in Visual Communication Design which is what the course was then called a long time ago (25 years ago). Don't go to university to study arts, do a design diploma.

The diploma counts for nothing these days. It's all on portfolio, contacts and past clients.
 
dynamicv said:
A maths related A-level will open doors to you later, especially if you choose an arts related degree subject but find you are attracted to a different career choice after a couple of years (which happens to nearly half of Uni students from my experience). Choosing four arts & humanities subjects together closes off some options. Throw Maths into the mix and it comes out looking a lot more balanced on your UCAS form, yet maintains your arts & humanities focus if you decide that's what you want to pursue.
Click to expand...

SpaceMagic said:
From someone at uni...

I'd seriously consider taking the Maths, when you get to Uni, if you have maths you can more or less move to anything. Plus it'll completely widen people impression of you. Like it or not, there is a 'arts student' stigma, and although I've found it completely untrue, it exists. If you can do maths at least at AS level, I would.
Click to expand...

Two more votes for maths, and I admit the ''arts student' stigma' thing does worry me a little.
 
Blue Velvet said:
One from an IT guy. ;)

Want to be a designer? Forget about A level Maths. Don't do Drama; study Art History.
Click to expand...

Haha..no one can agree about maths, just like me. :) :(

Art history for degree? Maybe...I know I can't do it for A-level..

Drama remains the 'wierd' option. I need more time to think :(
 
Ask your school if they can timetable 5 AS subjects for you, then if you find the workload too high, you can always drop 1..

Our school allows us to do 5 subjects at AS level, then continue 4 in upper sixth.

I am going to choose:

1. 1 and a half Maths - I have already done C1 and C2 modules this year as I took my Maths GCSE a year early, so it seems worthwhile continuing with Maths - and doing some advanced Maths modules too (above the normal Maths A level), and Maths is involved with a lot of my interests.

2. Economics. Haven't studied it before, but it sounds fairly interesting, and well regarded.

3. Physics. I enjoy doing Physics currently, find it very logical and simple in some cases.. it is the most obvious choice for me.

4. Chemistry. I quite enjoy Chemistry, and it is another well regarded subject. I am thinking it will either be this or my no. 5 that will get dropped at the end of lower sixth.

5. French. Uhh oh. This could be a big mistake. :p I got an A* in my French mock, and would love to be able to speak the language well - I can't help feeling that despite the fact AQA say my French is A* that it is **** though. :eek:

I would drop Drama if you have to out of your 4. It seems it or Maths are the obvious ones to drop, but you have to think about how Maths will help you when looking at Universities. Good luck.
 
I also studied maths a year early and am sitting C1 soon.
You're thinking of completely different options to me, i'll be so glad to be rid of science forever ;)
 
Please reconsider.
On average a doctor gets paid 10 times more per year than grads with an art degree.

Don't make the same mistake I did.


FJ
 
Blue Velvet said:
One from an IT guy. ;)

Want to be a designer? Forget about A level Maths. Don't do Drama; study Art History.
Click to expand...
I wasn't always an IT guy though BV. I was one of those who decided what they wanted to do, then later changed their minds. If you choose to move away from your degree discipline, your A-level subjects play the biggest role in how employers view you as a candidate. I just think that when you're 16, there's plenty of opportunities to specialise later, but when you're 21, it's harder to broaden back out again.

Do you get the feeling we're both projecting ourselves into this thread? :D
 
dynamicv said:
Do you get the feeling we're both projecting ourselves into this thread? :D
Click to expand...


Nope. I'm the designer here. :D

It's a cut-throat, ultra-competitive field these days. Anyone starting out better be committed, there's no room for dilettantes who fancy a career change in their mid or late twenties, let alone thirties... like some of my colleagues who think it looks like fun and start messing with a cracked copy of Photoshop, and then the next minute come to me asking me how they can get into the field...

The whole industry is still very much based on apprenticeships, if not in name, then certainly by application.

I'm just being honest if that's what the OP really really wants to do.
 
Father Jack said:
Please reconsider.
On average a doctor gets paid 10 times more per year than grads with an art degree.

Don't make the same mistake I did.
Click to expand...

Believe me, I'm not becoming a doctor. :cool:

dynamicv said:
I wasn't always an IT guy though BV. I was one of those who decided what they wanted to do, then later changed their minds. If you choose to move away from your degree discipline, your A-level subjects play the biggest role in how employers view you as a candidate. I just think that when you're 16, there's plenty of opportunities to specialise later, but when you're 21, it's harder to broaden back out again.

Do you get the feeling we're both projecting ourselves into this thread? :D
Click to expand...

Yes ;) I understand that i should do x subject, but `i want to know which one I should drop, which one has to make way?

it5five said:
Money isn't everything. ;)
Click to expand...

I agree, i'd rather study what I love than be a stressed out accountant. :p
 
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