(Wishy Washy A Levels)

Are you taking all your subjects to A2?

Yep, I would've liked to drop French although I've always loved it because the teacher's making my life a living hell, but there are sooo many reasons that I shouldn't so I'll just have to grin and bear it. Also Richard Partington said if I wanted to apply to places like Durham and Cambridge if I dropped anything it should be law, but I love law. How about you?

Yep, I would've liked to drop French although I've always loved it because the teacher's making my life a living hell, but there are sooo many reasons that I shouldn't so I'll just have to grin and bear it. Also Richard Partington said if I wanted to apply to places like Durham and Cambridge if I dropped anything it should be law, but I love law. How about you?

So does getting a top mark in the so-called "Mickey Mouse" subjects mean anything at all to universities? Or was my Law AS a complete waste of time from that point of view? Even if I'd known it wasn't respected (I took it because I thought it would be a challenge...), I would've taken it and I've really enjoyed it and will carry it on next year- I think that's the most important thing. *But*, if I'd known it was seen as non traditional or whatever I might have done a 5th AS.

Yeah, I'd like to know that as well. I was so chuffed at getting 300/300 in sociology, but will universities be as impressed or will they just dismiss it as an 'easy' subject? I'm also taking 3 traditional A2s alongside it; the same 3 traditional A2s as Bethany, in fact!

No other universities ask for your UCAS breakdown, though your teachers may mention it in their reference

Yeah, I'm going to ask my sociology and French teachers to mention my UMS marks in my reference because they were so high, and my English teacher because I was so close to an A. I'll probably resit 1 unit each of English and history, so I might ask them to mention that too.

So does getting a top mark in the so-called "Mickey Mouse" subjects mean anything at all to universities?

Do universities even get your AS marks unless you certify? For some reason I seem to remember they don't?

it should probably mean something, but i'd be surprised if it meant as much as say top marks in a science or language.

No, you can only put AS grades down if they are cashed-in using the subject codes i.e. final, no more re-takes and you get the certs...If they're not, your teachers might include them on your ref.

Yeah, I'd like to know that as well. I was so chuffed at getting 300/300 in sociology, but will universities be as impressed or will they just dismiss it as an 'easy' subject? I'm also taking 3 traditional A2s alongside it; the same 3 traditional A2s as Bethany, in fact!

I wouldn't worry about it. Though perhaps Sociology might not particularly boost your application, it certainly won't harm it in any way. You're doing English, History and a language which is a fairly catch-all combination to apply for most Arts subjects. A little extra on top of that can't hurt!

True, but do you think sociology and law are regarded as at all worthwhile? Although I've got the 3 traditional AS levels, I slipped to a B in French (1 mark off an A) and although I can pull it up to a decent A next year I'm worried that law will be meaningless and so I'm essentially applying with two AS's - English and History. I got 300 in English and 293 in history which I'm hoping will help, but am annoyed at letting the French get away from me.

Btw, didn't you get an English offer from Cam?

I did, yes. It's nothing worth worrying over, at all. As you say, you have the three traditional subjects - it won't be a problem. There are so many other factors involved that choice of subject (within reason) probably won't make much of a difference. As long as you can convince them that you're passionate about the subject and able to get the required grades, you've got as much of a chance as anyone else. If you need to expend nervous Cambridge-application energy, you'd be better off putting it into something that can actually help your application, like reading some theoretical work or getting started on coursework, rather than worrying about things you can't predict. Doing that would also help your applications to other universities - you really can't let yourself get caught up in the "Oxbridge dream" too much.

Good luck!