[happy-reader007]

My sister is in year 10 and is looking at getting straight A*s and A in her GCSEs and is looking into what courses to take at college. She wants to go into media or journalism and currently wants to do, Media, Photography (only at AS), sociology and English Lit and Lang at college.
The problem is my parents who think that she's making the biggest mistake of her life and they won't let her take them courses instead wanting her to do Classics and History as they come from very academic backgrounds and as far as they are concerned if she picks these courses no university will take her.
What do you think, if she wants to go into these areas is she picking the right A Levels?
I think she's going in the right area as she already spends lots of time filming and is a good photographer, and I have a friend at Uni who does Media and loves it and I know my sister would as well, problem is I did very academic A Levels and as much as my sister would be good at them because she is really smart I don't think she would enjoy them and she really wants to do Media at Uni (anther thing they think is a bad idea)
Any help would be brilliant
Happy-rea

[anna-chipie 95]

Your sister should be doing the subjects she enjoys, as well as being good at them. Your parents shouldn't really force her to do subjects she doesn't want to do; if she is forced to do them and does an academic subject at uni she wouldn't enjoy, she may end up dropping out. Better to do a 'non-academic' subject she enjoys than an 'academic' she would not enjoy them.
She is only in Year 10 and doesn't have to choose subjects right now. English Lit and Lang is a good idea, so is Sociology. It depends on what unis she wants. Most unis would accept any subjects with the right grades, although many may not accept general studies and critical thinking (unless as a fourth.) However what your sister would like to do should be the priority. Your parents have good intentions, but they should be really thinking about her. I'm sure they wouldn't want her to be yet another drop-out because she was doing a subject she hated.

[Unkempt_One]

It depends on what tier of universities she's looking at.

[benq]

In my opinion the combination you mentioned is a bit soft. And what if she will change her mind about doing media degree at university? I think that the best decision is to take 1-2 back up academic subjects. Like your parents said History would be good. If she will take History insted of Sociology for example she already will have a lot more options. Just don't place all your eggs in one basket. Good luck

[Sparky:)]

Surely it should be up to your sister what she does for the rest of her life not your parents, I know (because of a friend) that it is hard to convince parents that its the right thing but should do something she loves. I'd show your parents a list of unis that do journalism so they can have a look and prove to them that is just as respected, and at least your sister knows what she wants to do cos I know slot of people that don't have a clue (including me)


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[Monkeysuit.]

I think you're parents are right to not want her to take those A levels, although they should encourage a career in media if that is what she wants the best way to get that is by taking respected subjects and going to a top university getting a solid degree which she is clearly capable of. Perhaps she could take A Level Media, but alongside three traditional and respected subjects?

[Cake Faced Kid.]

I'm doing very similar AS levels, and hoping to go into journalism. My advice is let her make her own choices, it's her life, it's up to her. I guarantee that if she's forced into taking A Levels that she isn't interested in, it'll backfire. That said, I have talked to several journalists who have told me that taking a subject like Journalism or Media at uni isn't the best idea, and that companies generally prefer you to have a degree in history or English Literature, for example, Maybe she could compromise with your parents, for example she could drop Media and take a non arts subject?

[trudy13]

When I was in year 10 I wanted to be a Lawyer, and now I'm about to go to Uni for Creative Writing! There's no point stressing really badly over it yet until she's experienced almost the whole 2 years of the GCSE course, by next year she may hate Media Studies? But aswell, I think that there is no point in parents telling their kids what to study in University because the subject needs to be something they enjoy. And so what if the really prestigious Uni's won't accept her? At least she will be going a subject she loves no matter about how respectable it is to "academic" people! Hope this helps in a way xx

[Intriguing Alias]

(Original post by happy-reader007)
My sister is in year 10 and is looking at getting straight A*s and A in her GCSEs and is looking into what courses to take at college. She wants to go into media or journalism and currently wants to do, Media, Photography (only at AS), sociology and English Lit and Lang at college.
The problem is my parents who think that she's making the biggest mistake of her life and they won't let her take them courses instead wanting her to do Classics and History as they come from very academic backgrounds and as far as they are concerned if she picks these courses no university will take her.
What do you think, if she wants to go into these areas is she picking the right A Levels?
I think she's going in the right area as she already spends lots of time filming and is a good photographer, and I have a friend at Uni who does Media and loves it and I know my sister would as well, problem is I did very academic A Levels and as much as my sister would be good at them because she is really smart I don't think she would enjoy them and she really wants to do Media at Uni (anther thing they think is a bad idea)
Any help would be brilliant
Happy-rea

Any universities that offer media degrees will be perfectly happy with those A-levels (for entry into a media degree, at least). The only universities that get a bit selective when it comes to A-level choice are the top few, which don't tend to offer media studies as a degree (I think - there COULD be some that are both subject-selective and offer media studies).

Whether studying media is a good idea, I don't know. It certainly doesn't have the best prospects, and she wouldn't be challenged much academically but if she doesn't enjoy other things then what else is there to do. She could consider keeping media as a hobby or even quite a strong interest - you don't need a media degree to work in the media if that's what she's after.

[Unkempt_One]

TBH I think people with degrees in something like History or English would probably make more interesting journalists.

[Rennit]

(Original post by anna-chipie 95)
Your sister should be doing the subjects she enjoys, as well as being good at them. Your parents shouldn't really force her to do subjects she doesn't want to do; if she is forced to do them and does an academic subject at uni she wouldn't enjoy, she may end up dropping out. Better to do a 'non-academic' subject she enjoys than an 'academic' she would not enjoy them.
She is only in Year 10 and doesn't have to choose subjects right now. English Lit and Lang is a good idea, so is Sociology. It depends on what unis she wants. Most unis would accept any subjects with the right grades, although many may not accept general studies and critical thinking (unless as a fourth.) However what your sister would like to do should be the priority. Your parents have good intentions, but they should be really thinking about her. I'm sure they wouldn't want her to be yet another drop-out because she was doing a subject she hated.

There must be a balance between subjects that are enjoyable, and subjects that will get you a job, however. If everybody did what they enjoyed for a living then we would have a lot of people being paid to drive sports cars.

When choosing AS levels, one must decide from a list of well suited A levels, which would be most adequate and relevant to the ideal career one wishes to persue in future life. Whilst this may not be wholly enjoyable; this is work, not play. People must be creative in their solution to choosing their AS levels.

[AngryCheeseCake]

(Original post by hassi94)
Any universities that offer media degrees will be perfectly happy with those A-levels (for entry into a media degree, at least). The only universities that get a bit selective when it comes to A-level choice are the top few, which don't tend to offer media studies as a degree (I think - there COULD be some that are both subject-selective and offer media studies).

Whether studying media is a good idea, I don't know. It certainly doesn't have the best prospects, and she wouldn't be challenged much academically but if she doesn't enjoy other things then what else is there to do. She could consider keeping media as a hobby or even quite a strong interest - you don't need a media degree to work in the media if that's what she's after.

I studied both Media and photography at A2, two of the 'soft' subjects. I am also holding an offer to studying English at KCL in September.

Lots of people don't really know what media studies is like, and will just assume you fart and watch TV, but if you justify yourself on your personal statement, and show exactly how the skills you learned in media / photography could be transferred to your English degree, it shouldn't be an issue.

[Intriguing Alias]

(Original post by AngryCheeseCake)
I studied both Media and photography at A2, two of the 'soft' subjects. I am also holding an offer to studying English at KCL in September.

Lots of people don't really know what media studies is like, and will just assume you fart and watch TV, but if you justify yourself on your personal statement, and show exactly how the skills you learned in media / photography could be transferred to your English degree, it shouldn't be an issue.

I didn't really make any comment on that situation. I said that the ones that ARE subject selective don't offer media studies anyway. Not that all that don't offer media studies must be subject selective. The OP's sister wanted to study media at university - and my point was that I don't think any university excludes media studies etc. as reasonable A-levels for a media degree.