A-Level choices...gargh

[OwlsAndApples]

Nope. I'm the designer here.

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.

I should be able to get in the field, I already work for a photographer and have links to the book and flim industries. Thanks for that thread btw Blue Velvet, very useful. Art is and has always been my favourite subject, I only just got my hands on PShop - I like sketching and brainstorming. I am slowly building up my PS7 skills though.

 

[Queso]

Nope. I'm the designer here.

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...

But that's not what I'm talking about. I'm sure if OwlsAndApples gets through his A-levels and is still set on being a designer then all that drive and commitment will be required. But by the time he's filling in his UCAS form he may be attracted to a completely different career he's not had the chance to look at properly yet. If that happens, he'll be glad he's kept his options open.

 

[OwlsAndApples]

But that's not what I'm talking about. I'm sure if OwlsAndApples gets through his A-levels and is still set on being a designer then all that drive and commitment will be required. But by the time he's filling in his UCAS form he may be attracted to a completely different career he's not had the chance to look at properly yet. If that happens, he'll be glad he's kept his options open.

Thanks everyone for the views, although I still have not decided. I'm going to think hard tonight...Only time will tell about what I'll feel in a year and a bit's time, so fingers crossed.

 

[yojitani]

hmmm... this is the problem imho with the english school system: too specialized too soon. Although you don't mention it, I would recommend doing a language if possible... or if you don't, make it an objective for university (I learned german on the side while an undergrad...). Several reasons for this, one of which is simply that languages compliment English lit (I'm speaking from experience!). Also, languages will open up vistas (no ref to MS intended) in the future for any career - with a foreign language under your belt, there will always be work for you.

Anyway, I would vote for you doing a maths A/S level. If you can do it, keep it up. As people have said, it could also leave you with more options for the future and, just generally speaking, it keeps your mind sharp!

Drama A-level is fun. Probably not super-useful though. It's something you could take up later at university without being behind the rest.

YT

 

[BarryW]

I did a year of A levels in the Netharlands before I came back to South Africa
I did the following:
Maths: Algebra and Calculus-> Rather difficult but I would recommend taking it unless you really hate it.
Physics: Very interesting
Geography: I took the subject out of personal interest and not for any specific career choice.
Computer Studies: I found it pointless, the programming language was BASIC

Back in SA, I did the same but added English and Afrikaans(One of our other languages).

The above choices helped me get into Aero Engineering at University.

I do think maths is an important choice, it may be specific but I think it teaches your brain another analytical method- may or may not be useful to you.

If you are going into a career where you want to communicate ideas to others in whatever medium, I would suggest English.

I would suggest looking at the entry requirements for various university courses that you might be interested in.

If possible you should have a career evaluation test done.
Its combination of psychometric, maths, social and interpretive problems done on a computer.
Mine was very accurate to the point of being scary, it gives you an insight into your strengths and weaknesses and a career that matches your type. Its not fool proof but it may help.

Thats my 2 cents.

 

[mactastic]

Hmm... I vascillated between art and science a good bit when I was younger. Art majors were so artsy-fartsy, and math / science majors were no fun to be around. (Not all of them mind you, just talking averages here.)

So I combined the two. Went into a career field were I'm a designer AND have to understand a decent amount of math. Graphic and technical skills combined... now that's what I wanted.

Just my $0.02.

 

[®îçhå®?]

For my AS and A levels, i chose maths, physics, electronics and geography. MAths is really really easy and worthwhile doing but do what you want to do. Do the subjects that you want to do and if you dont particularly want to do maths, then dont

 

[Mord]

I took 8 subjects and just dropped the ones I didn't like over the two years.

I ended up with ABD in electronics physics and maths respectively and fell into heriot watt uni, that said don't pay attention to me, I suck at planning my future, right now I want to transfer from physics onto some kind of vaugely interesting degree, I dropped art A level within half an hour of the first lesson, I got scared and just bolted, I really regret that decision, and the decision to not take graphic design as an A level.

Do what you enjoy not what you're just best at, that's the one peice of advice I would have given myself, even though I was better at art.....

I need to start painting again once i'm no longer flat broke.

 

[®îçhå®?]

I took 8 subjects and just dropped the ones I didn't like over the two years.

8 subjects!!! How could you do that?!?! I'm taking 4 of my own choice, general studies, a B-Tec equivalent to an AS and a further maths AS and everyone says that i am taking a lot!

 

[Mord]

Art
Photography
Electronics
Chemistry
CCNA
Maths
Further Maths
Physics

They all squeezed in, electronics CCNA and photography were all after school/lunch subjects, art/photography were the first to go then chemistry then further maths.

 

[®îçhå®?]

HOw many AS levels did you get??

 

[Mord]

I had only dropped art and photography by the end of AS.

 

[®îçhå®?]

Nice so 6 AS levels and 3 A levels. Tis good and still a lot of subjects. Never heard of that uni though

 

[Mord]

It's just outside edinburgh, physics and engineering centric, for an acctual career in physics in the industry it's allot better than edinburgh uni, big engineering companies only recruit from other universities because they can't get enough heriot watt students, it's not that prestigious as universities go so students tend to come out more suitable for acctually getting some real work done instead of complaining about how everything is below them.

 

[®îçhå®?]

It's just outside edinburgh, physics and engineering centric, for an acctual career in physics in the industry it's allot better than edinburgh uni, big*engineering companies only recruit from other universities because they can't get enough heriot watt students, it's not that prestigious as universities go so students tend to come out more suitable for acctually getting some real work done instead of complaining about how everything is below them.

What is its percentage of work from first year out?? I am looking at unis and Oxford/Cambridge is 99-100% with Bath close. That is the big thing, especially the average first yar wage too. Oxford's is close to £50k a year which is phenomenal

 

[Mord]

I can't find anything on the web but we're told anyone who wants to work right after graduation (from the school of engineering and physical sciences) and is not a complete idiot can jump straight into a £45k job with one of the many engineering firms that recruit here, I mean, if you could get into oxford I'd go there but talk to anyone in the industry about heriot watt and they'll only have good things to say.

it also has the best university nickname of all time: Hairy ****.

If I didn't F up my A levels I would be at cambridge right now studying nat sci physics but I'm not too bummed out about being here instead.

 

[®îçhå®?]

Where are you from originally?? If your English, arent the Scots there quite hostile to you?? I know someone who had to drop out of Edinburgh uni because of physical violence to them because they were english

 

[Queso]

Where are you from originally?? If your English, arent the Scots there quite hostile to you?? I know someone who had to drop out of Edinburgh uni because of physical violence to them because they were english

That sounds like someone's spinning a cover story for the real reason to me. When I used to work in Edinburgh nobody was ever anything but friendly.

 

[Mord]

Where are you from originally?? If your English, arent the Scots there quite hostile to you?? I know someone who had to drop out of Edinburgh uni because of physical violence to them because they were english

I've not experienced anything of the sort nor have any of my friends but I have three advantages

1) I'm a girl, people don't bother girls about where they're from, they tend to just flirt
2) My whole family is scottish, there's a town just outside edinburgh called my surname
3) I'm a big girl that can take care of herself, even if I do have a rediculously BBC english accent.

 

[Dunepilot]

If I didn't F up my A levels I would be at cambridge right now studying nat sci physics but I'm not too bummed out about being here instead.

I did the same - screwed up my A-levels and lost out on an offered place at Oxford. However, I took a gap year, re-sat the 2 A-levels I'd screwed up, and then re-applied to Oxford the following year, while working. Got in AGAIN, and ended up doing a BA followed by a Masters. I had been told by the admissions tutor at Christchurch that I'd be wasting my time trying to get in a second time, so was determined the prove the point. I hope I still have that letter somewhere.

Anyway, £45K would be a damn nice salary. I'm currently only earning £23.5K, four years after completing my masters. Sadly employers don't really value non-vocational subjects (like History, which I studied) as highly as they'd have you believe.

 

[Mord]

I did the same - screwed up my A-levels and lost out on an offered place at Oxford. However, I took a gap year, re-sat the 2 A-levels I'd screwed up, and then re-applied to Oxford the following year, while working. Got in AGAIN, and ended up doing a BA followed by a Masters. I had been told by the admissions tutor at Christchurch that I'd be wasting my time trying to get in a second time, so was determined the prove the point. I hope I still have that letter somewhere.

Anyway, £45K would be a damn nice salary. I'm currently only earning £23.5K, four years after completing my masters. Sadly employers don't really value non-vocational subjects (like History, which I studied) as highly as they'd have you believe.

I considered that but I really wanted to study in edinburgh and waiting a year to switch over to edinburgh uni for a less valued course and a little prestige just was not at all worth it.

My cambridge interview went fantastically and they told me I all but had a place, but I didn't get in on a technicallity because I retook one of my maths modules and I applied to the only college which doesn't accept retake grades. It really bummed me out as the interviewers told me I solved all the problems they threw at me faster than anyone they've ever had so the obviously thought me capable.

Bleh, I had to sort out a whole bunch of other stuff in my life which going to heriot watt kinda allowed me to do as it's not all that chellenging, so overall glad I'm here now.

money's not really important to me really so it wasn't a consideration when I decided what I wanted to do.

 

[®îçhå®?]

That sounds like someone's spinning a cover story for the real reason to me. When I used to work in Edinburgh nobody was ever anything but friendly.

I think that could be right. I went to Inverness this Sumer and everyone were lovely, always looking to help.

 

[Dunepilot]

What is its percentage of work from first year out?? I am looking at unis and Oxford/Cambridge is 99-100% with Bath close. That is the big thing, especially the average first yar wage too. Oxford's is close to £50k a year which is phenomenal

This isn't remotely true. Seriously. Those friends of mine at Oxford that took the most career-oriented paths and became lawyers for the 'magic circle' of top City firms started out on £29K or thereabouts three or four years ago. They had gone through masses of interviews and selection to get to that point, plus an additional year of full-time study on top of the Oxford Law degree. I have a mate who works for a software company that primarily takes Oxbridge graduates, and he started similarly, though is now on about £40K after a few years with the same firm.

 

[OwlsAndApples]

I had taken the Morrisby test a while back - just stick 'designer' after any noun you can think of basically oh, and town planner!?

Thanks, I've made my choices,
Art, which i'll definitely do the A2 in
English, which i'll most likely do the A2 in
Maths, probably A2 as well
Drama to AS, if I get an A, to A2, if lower, then I'll drop it for:
Ancient History, unless I can complete this in my lower sixth year as an extra.
I'm also doing General Studies and Critical Thinking, but they're compulsory...

I know a language would have been good to study but I like these more

Thanks for all your help, all I need to do now is get into the senior football team this year and I have a growing CV!

 

[®îçhå®?]

Thanks for all your help, all I need to do now is get into the senior football team this year and I have a growing CV!

Do other things like a first aid course etc. Also, refereeing courses are quite easy to do and look good. They can also act as a job because you can get paid £25 per match. It is good money for 90 minutes tops of work