Is Politics A-level useful for degree?

Discussion for A-Level students and for those choosing their A-Level subjects.

Announcements Posted on
TSR launches Learn Together! - Our new subscription to help improve your learning 16-05-2013
IMPORTANT: You must wait until midnight (morning exams)/4.30AM (afternoon exams) to discuss Edexcel exams and until 1pm/6pm the following day for STEP and IB exams. Please read before posting, including for rules for practical and oral exams. 28-04-2013
Sign in to Reply
  1. MissMuffin95's Avatar
    • Respected Member
    • Posts: 203
    Is Politics A-level useful for degree?
    After many many chats with my 6th form head about the option blocks (they are RUBBISH), he is convinced I would be better off doing maths rather than politics. However, I either want to do a degree in History, Politics or Combined. So I was just wondering if it was useful for the degree to have politics a-level as I noticed it wasn't a requirement. Thanks
  2. Rock_and_roll's Avatar
    • Exalted Member
    • Posts: 346
    Re: Is Politics A-level useful for degree?
    I don't see how having a maths A level would be useful in applying for a degree in history or politics. I certainly would not recommend the maths A level unless you're really good at the subject as it's one of the hardest courses.

    Choose Politics! I did and it's actually my favourite A level now
  3. geditor's Avatar
    • Benevolent Member
    • Posts: 739
    Re: Is Politics A-level useful for degree?
    Yes definitely, although maths is useful also. However, if you are definitely sure you want to be History and Politics at uni then do Politics. If not, or if you're still unsure, then do Maths instead because having Maths A-Level generally opens up a lot of the other options at Uni whereas Politics A-Level isn't even a requirement for most courses, including politics and history courses.
  4. Maddog Jones's Avatar
    • Exalted and Worshipped Member
    • Posts: 1,093
    Re: Is Politics A-level useful for degree?
    Maths will help you with a PPE course, which are some of the best politics courses.

    That being said, if you get to interview stage, most interviewees will be able to throw around more knowledge than you if they do politics and you don't.
  5. MissMuffin95's Avatar
    • Respected Member
    • Posts: 203
    Re: Is Politics A-level useful for degree?
    (Original post by Rock_and_roll)
    I don't see how having a maths A level would be useful in applying for a degree in history or politics. I certainly would not recommend the maths A level unless you're really good at the subject as it's one of the hardest courses.

    Choose Politics! I did and it's actually my favourite A level now

    (Original post by geditor)
    Yes definitely, although maths is useful also. However, if you are definitely sure you want to be History and Politics at uni then do Politics. If not, or if you're still unsure, then do Maths instead because having Maths A-Level generally opens up a lot of the other options at Uni whereas Politics A-Level isn't even a requirement for most courses, including politics and history courses.
    I 100% agree, I am predicted an A* in Maths at GCSE, and my head of sixth said it is a more respected A-Level by unis. But I'm sure I want to do History/Politics/Combined so I'll stick with Politics
  6. kevin6767's Avatar
    • Exalted and Worshipped Member
    • Posts: 1,206
    Re: Is Politics A-level useful for degree?
    Politics isn't considered necessary or useful at degree level. I read politics at university and it is completely different from the stuff you will be covering at A level
Sign in to Reply
Share this discussion:  
Article updates
Moderators

We have a brilliant team of more than 60 volunteers looking after discussions on The Student Room, helping to make it a fun, safe and useful place to hang out.

Reputation gems:
The Reputation gems seen here indicate how well reputed the user is, red gem indicate negative reputation and green indicates a good rep.
Post rating score:
These scores show if a post has been positively or negatively rated by our members.