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Should I do a fast track A level?

Since completing my A levels last year it’s been very chaotic, but now I’ve decided to study psychology.

My grades are ABB, but I didn’t take an A level in psychology, so I was thinking of doing a fast track course. I’m not quite sure which one would be best.

As my first language is German, I thought this could be an A level option as well, but i‘d need support for the speaking and essay sections 🤔

I’m not sure if I could really succeed within a year, but I think it would benefit me, and I want to do something useful.

I’d be very grateful for any advice! :smile:

Reply 1

MindMax2000

Universities Forum Helper

Original post by Honey.34

Most psychology degrees don't have specific subject requirements, so you can study it with A Levels in any subject.

Should you wish to take A Level Psychology you can do it in a year, but it's going to be a bit intensive should you decide to take the exams with it.

Personally, I would spend more time reading psychology texts, as a lot of reading is involved.

If instead you want to find something different to do in your gap year, let me know. However, I would ideally like to know what your career aspirations are (as it's not always clear just based on the subject of the degree).

Reply 2

Honey.34

Thanks for your reply.

What alternatives do you have in mind?

I’m planning to either specialise in clinical psychology or combine it with international relations later on (although I’m still not sure if this is possible with just a psychology degree)

Reply 3

MindMax2000

Universities Forum Helper

Original post by Honey.34

I don't have any specific recommendations for anything related to International Relations, but if you intend to go into clinical psychology, the thing I would prioritise the most is securing some sort of role in psychology with what you have now as some sort of internship or work experience. The competition for clinical psychology doctorates is intense, even if you score high marks in your degree. To even stand a chance, I would strongly recommend getting any relevant work experience you can.
Do note, you do not need a degree in international relations to work as a diplomat or go into such services with the UK government (not sure about elsewhere). However, most of the roles related to diplomatic service tends to be full time.

Gap year
General tips for gap years, should the above not be to your liking (or if you want to fill your time with other things):

•

Go and work/volunteer in the sector that you want to later get a job in after your degree

•

Get a qualification that would help with getting higher paying work beyond minimum wage (irrespective of whether it's related to your chosen career or not) or helps you further supplement your ability to get the job you want after your degree

•

Write (book, play, novel, whatever)

•

Vlog your experiences - travel maybe?

•

Travel abroad (allowing for Covid restrictions)

•

Start a side business - check to see if your university would allow you to continue running your business during uni

•

Learn a language - particularly consider language immersion courses where you travel as well as learn

•

Travel abroad to volunteer (consider saving up £2k to do this)

•

Work abroad e.g. hospitality, construction, translation, etc.

•

See relatives and extended families

•

Anything on your bucket list

•

Go on an experience day

•

Pick up new skills - especially if it brings in a lot of income and is in high demand for the next 5-10 years

•

Paint/anything arty (especially if you need a portfolio of some sort)

•

Compose music

•

Go on a day experience - see Virgin, Red Letter Days, etc.

•

Take etiquette lessons - it's rare to see someone do this

•

Design a game, website, app, whatever IT related (especially if you need a portfolio of some sort)

•

Create a course

•

Learn to dance (in whatever style you want)

•

Eat particular types of foods (or a food bucket list) from all parts of the world

•

Learn to cook

•

Learn to sell and market

•

Learn how to get a job

•

Read certain books in literature and nonfiction that are highly prized/considered classics

•

Watch movies that are acclaimed and are in the top 100

•

Try to help turn a homeless person's life around (through a charity - it can be dangerous)

•

Volunteer at a theatre

•

Work on a cruiseliner (won't be able to leave the ship for X months, but you get quite a bit of money - don't waste it all)

•

Volunteer at the university that you want to study at as a research assistant

•

Become a life coach

•

Make a low budget film

•

Learn a sport

•

Learn public speaking

•

Learn data science/analysis

•

Learn an instrument - not necessarily master it; that will take years

•

Become the fittest that you ever been (not thinnest) - at least clean up your diet

•

Grow your own food - e.g. allotment if you don't have the space in your garden

•

Build a shed

•

Assemble a computer

•

Tutor people

•

Do X for charity e.g. marathon, cycle, walk, whatever

•

Make your own wine/cheese

•

Learn to manage your finances and investments

•

Confront any fears or mental issues that you might have

•

Learn to drive if you haven't already

•

Learn how to program and then work on a few IT projects

Qualifications that you can look into getting:

•

Personal trainer qualifications

•

Sports coaching - I had friends who have certificates for football, basketball, etc. You will need to be at least level 2 in order to coach in a sport

•

Professional IT certificates

•

Start your professional accounting qualification (depending on the accounting body, you might get a standalone qualification after completing X number of papers) e.g. ACCA, CIMA, ACA; consider AAT Level 3 if you are not going to do an accounting degree or want a full on accounting qualification yet

•

SCAE, tea sommelier, cheese connoiseur, wine sommelier, beer sommelier/cicerone, sake sommelier, whiskey amabasador, mixology - anything else related to drinking and food

•

Chef qualification from a brand name institution e.g. Cordon Bleu

•

CILEx for law at Level 3

•

Marketing e.g. IDM, CIM, IPA at Level 3

•

CIPD Level 3 for HR

•

Licenses - fancy driving a motorcycle, lorry, forklift, bus?

•

Finance related qualifications e.g. Anything by CII, CISI, LIBF, CeMap up to but not including level 4

•

Bartending certificates - some bartending schools will allow you to work with them upon completing their course e.g. European Bartending School (which also has bars across the world)

•

Something related to health and wellbeing e.g. reflexology

•

Anything in construction and trades at your local adult college (you should be able to start at Level 3)

•

Language Certificates - recognised by the country they originate from e.g. DALF or Frantastique if you have already done A Level French

•

Counselling Level 3

•

Life coaching qualifications

•

Teaching English as a Foreign Language – recommend CELTA or Trinity CertTESOL

Do note for any qualification Level 3 or under recognised under the NVQ framework you would need to likely fund for yourself, unless you decide to take out and Advanced Learner's Loan

If you want to work on skills that would help with your studies at university, consider:

•

Touch typing

•

Speed reading

•

Becoming proficient in Microsoft Office

•

Learning how to write academically

•

Economics PGDip (e.g. Cambridge, UEA, Essex, Birbeck, QMUL, Bristol, Queen's Uni Belfast, Open Uni)

•

Politics PGDip (e.g. Birmingham)

I leave you to search for the other MA degrees in International Relations.

Again, I would have to reiterate that in order work in a role related to international relations, you generally don't need any specific qualifications (e.g. you can go into the role now or even after your degree). For research in the role, you would need a degree in it.

Reply 4

Honey.34

Thank you!

DALF was actually already one of my options, but I plan on doing the Goethe exam first. I have to think about it.

The reason i’m thinking of linking them is because they’re both one of my options. However, I’m more convinced of psychology. I love languages and travelling, but I feel like maybe the job environment wouldn’t suit me. Also it’s very competitive, for example if I want to be in an IGO, so it’s likely I would become a teacher(which I don’t want to be).

Are you doing/have you done a degree in psychology? Would you recommend it? People have told me that the statistics and amount of maths and planning is very hard :/

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