My current sixth form dilemma

The decision to move or not is an interesting one. I've done it, and my grades and prospects seem to have improved (my GCSEs were slightly above average (4A*, 4A, 3B)) but I'm still a Cambridge applicant, which I don't think I would have managed if I hadn't moved school.
It sounds like politics is your passion. Above all else, you should be true to yourself. If you really want to study Politics, then moving schools sounds like your best options. Friends can be replaced, it hurts but is doable. I had to weigh up a potential relationship (I seriously want to have some experience here before uni) and my educational prospects. the first month is the hardest by far, imo,
Can I ask, are you in Year 11 or 12 now?

Politics is a passion of mine. I spend pretty much all of my free time geeking out over the presidential race or looking up old world leaders and the like. I think that if i did an A-level in this subject i'd achieve really well since it's something that i'm so fascinated by. If i did it i would certianly find it easier than my other subjects, maybe even to the extent that i'd get an A*. I'd have to move schools if i wanted to do this because my school doesn't offer it.

This would make a lot of sense; moving schools so that i could get better grades and open up my choices for uni, but the thing is, i really don't want to leave. I've got a lot of friends at that school and i tried doing the thing where you compare pros and cons and ended up being heavily biased. When i ended up deciding to leave i started crying almost immediatly. On an emotional level i obviously wanna stay. But i don't know. Is it worth it?

Edit: I'm in year 12. I'm a month into my course and i'm considering moving schools. Just to clarify

pickup is right, you don't necessarily have to do a politics subject just to become a politician-related something. For example, some people who study Law, often don't even do Law A-level. Furthermore, your interests might change and you probably don't want to be too keen on a particular path, notice I say "too" keen, in the extreme sense.

True. But isn't it more important to have good A-levels even if they are non-related. For example, say having politics, economics and history A-levels and then deciding to do a degree in medicine. As long as you have the grades you can always just do a foundation year. If i decided to move schools and got better grades, more options would be open to me surely.

Don't take this as me making my mind up for sure, it's just i want to see a good counter argument.

I'm happy you want a good counter-argument - I'll see if i can satisfy you...

True it's good having good grades, but you're talking about a politics-related career, if so, then one wouldn't simply choose media studies, general studies, and paint technology and then aim for medicine or some totally unrelated thing because that would be pointless.

You've already told us you're very interested in politics, so it's worth doing subjects that could help you down that path.

I think a good question is "is it really necessary to study governmetn and politics to do politics"?

Well thats the thing. It's not necessary as such. I just think i'd do better at it than, say, the subjects i'm doing now (history, english lit, economics and media). That way i'd have more options when it comes to choosing unis if i had the better grade in politics.

Well if you think you're not doing as well in those subjects, one very good grade is still not going to be that impressive for example... A*BB vs AAA (might depend on circumstances, but still).

Plus how do you know that you'll do that well in politics? Obviously I know we can't know for sure, but have you been in that other school or whatever before? Have you checked it's reputation and other details about the area and school? What if you don't like it there?

If you have real friends right now, couldn't you still keep in contact with them? Or have you already weighed these factors?

I went to the school for two days (last tuesday and wednesday) when i started thinking about this. It seems good i guess (It's a grammar btw) though not necessarily any better than my school.

I really dont know how well i'd do at A-level. I got 6As and 5Bs for GCSE if thats anything to go on. I'd like to do as well as possible.

I don't think i'm bad academically by any means, just really not sure how i'd do.

I suppose i could keep in contact with my friends, though i'd probably see them a lot less.

Hmm... I can see what you're saying about keeping your options open. Getting the grade in the subject you really love - well you should probably switch. This is about your future. This is something you probably should do because in the end it's your education and one of the presidents once said when asked to state the three most important changes they're gonna make in 3 words...

"Education, Education, Education".

I'm sure you know who that was. I say, do your damn best at A-level and try your hardest not just at politics but other subjects too, and other opportunities.

Your friends will miss you too, and don't worry you'll make new friends!

Good Luck!

Thanks a lot!

Its just a shame i can't really justify staying you know. It'd be fun to spend another two years with that lot. I suppose i could always drop media or something and do a politics A-level in my free time over the internet on open college. That's the only real way of staying i think.

why did an_atheist remove his comment i wonder?

I removed it because on reading back I spent more time talking about myself than giving you advice. I have been through a similar situation, as I detailed, but talking about it at that length just makes me sound self centred (that was the impression it gave me)

No not at all. I found it pretty helpful. It doesn't make you self centred to use yourself as an example. It's pretty useful to be talking to someone with personal experience of what i'm going through.

Well it sounds like you've thought this through with your other idea

Hey. Its been a while since i started this thread. I decided to move but i can still go back on my decision. I have to decide by friday.

Care for a chat?