Are these good subject choices?

Original post by PythonSuperNova

Hey everyone hope you are having a good day :smile:

Chemistry would help you no matter which engineering field you go into. It's better than economics in all ways and I don't think you need to study economics to get onto a economics degree. Same with the business courses as well. So I'll say do Maths, Phys and Chem forget about that Spanish and EPQ whatever they aren't necessary and they'll take up a lot of your time especially the Spanish.

Reply 2

Original post by ServantOfMorgoth

Could you expand on the ways chemistry is better? I.e Do Unis prefer it?

Reply 3

Original post by PythonSuperNova

Could you expand on the ways chemistry is better? I.e Do Unis prefer it?

Yeah, sure, it's a respected subjected by all unis, generally considered the hardest a level but if you're running from hardship, engineering is not the route you want to go down because things are pretty tough in any engineering degree.
So it'll help in mechanical engineering, when you're doing material science and manufacturing technologies and in other things. It'll also help in electrical for better understanding of material properties and same goes for all engineering degrees except maybe software engineering.

Reply 4

Original post by PythonSuperNova

Hey everyone hope you are having a good day :smile:

Yeah they look like a good combination. To be honest as long as you have good maths and physics grades it doesn't matter what other subjects you take. So if you dont want to limit yourself to the sciences its good. Economics goes well with maths.

The other guy who's replied take chemistry. I do that particular combination of A levels. Yes its useful and some things overlap but not essential. It wont particularly help you with physics, as long as you can read a periodic table you should be fine. I liked chemistry AS but not so much Chemistry A level, for AQA spec in A level chemistry it mostly focuses on organic chemistry which you will not need for physics and if you dont like memorising like me will really not like.

Reply 5

Euclidean

Original post by PythonSuperNova

Could you expand on the ways chemistry is better? I.e Do Unis prefer it?

It's always better to have more relevant subjects for a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) degree, and 3 is usually a good number to stick to. Chemistry is useful when pursuing a degree and career in engineering because it teaches you about materials and their properties. It also demonstrates a sound understanding of the way in which atoms play a role in engineering, giving you a strong foundation to work on during a degree.

A lot of universities generalise their engineering degrees and specialise them later, so a wider variety of initial understanding can help get good grades at university. It's worth checking the relevant universities for their course outlines.

Reply 6

Original post by PythonSuperNova

Could you expand on the ways chemistry is better? I.e Do Unis prefer it?

No, economics is also a well respected A level.
You just need the very good A levels, maybe not so much in Spanish but definitely in Maths and physics

Reply 7

Original post by Laurenafenete

I don't think chemistry's relevance in helping out the other a level subjects is important at all.

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Reply 8

If I get good maths and physics grades do you think Unis that want FM will consider me?

Reply 9

Original post by PythonSuperNova

If I get good maths and physics grades do you think Unis that want FM will consider me?

It depends on the uni

Reply 10

Original post by ServantOfMorgoth

It depends on the uni

Essentially not oxbridge. I am not interested in a "General Engineering Degree", I would like to specify.

(edited 8 years ago)

Reply 11

Original post by ServantOfMorgoth

I don't think chemistry's relevance in helping out the other a level subjects is important at all.

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Its nice when there is overlap with subjects. Means you can see how subjects fit together and means you have to learn less.

Original post by PythonSuperNova

If I get good maths and physics grades do you think Unis that want FM will consider me?

Depends, most unis say that maths and physics are sufficient. Unless you are going for oxford then still check with the uni and email them.

Reply 12

Original post by PythonSuperNova

Essentially not oxbridge

They MAY consider you but it's a big maybe to be honest. You'd have to have like virtually perfect grades and did they remove UMS now? So I don't think they'll know of you got 99% or not. So I'd advise not applying to them to study engineering without further maths

Reply 13

Original post by Laurenafenete

Its nice when there is overlap with subjects. Means you can see how subjects fit together and means you have to learn less.

Depends, most unis say that maths and physics are sufficient. Unless you are going for oxford then still check with the uni and email them.

There's a bit of overlap between phys and Chem but not much but I don't think that's important anyway.

Reply 14

Original post by Laurenafenete

No, economics is also a well respected A level.
You just need the very good A levels, maybe not so much in Spanish but definitely in Maths and physics

Do you know what category Economics fall into. I.E is it more of a humanities than a STEM subject?

Reply 15

Original post by PythonSuperNova

Do you know what category Economics fall into. I.E is it more of a humanities than a STEM subject?

Definitely humanities

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Reply 16

Nathanielle

It is definitely better to have good grades, than battle through A Levels you don't enjoy or are not cut out for. Spanish is fine, as this increases your chances to work abroad (I mean working aborad and being actually able to connect with the people) or just internship/year abroad ...

Concerning chemistry: While natural sciences are usually all advisable and connected to engineering and every engineers should have an at least A Level understanding of them, you can survive by learning the chemistry stuff at uni, because unless you want to do material science or chemical engineering, the chemistry introduction is often the only time during your engineering career, you need chemistry. Hence you don't need to like it.

Economics: It is often not necessary to have for an economics degree, but economics gives you knowledge you can use as an engineer, too. And it is a respectable A Level.

Further Math: Highly recommanded and much more important than chemistry. The Math you learn at A Levels will be as necessary as being able to read in your degree. (Though not every degree requires it and with a bit of extra wrok at uni, you will catch up.)

Reply 17

Original post by ServantOfMorgoth

There's a bit of overlap between phys and Chem but not much but I don't think that's important anyway.

Yeah thats what I said in my original answer

Original post by PythonSuperNova

Do you know what category Economics fall into. I.E is it more of a humanities than a STEM subject?

I think its considered STEM at A level. Economics at my school is taught by my maths teacher

Reply 18

Original post by Laurenafenete

Yeah thats what I said in my original answer

I think its considered STEM at A level. Economics at my school is taught by my maths teacher

Be careful to give out wrong advice. Your maths teacher giving the class does not mean it's stem at a level and switches to humanities at university. Economics at a levels is filled with essays...how is that stem?

Reply 19