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Do facilitating a levels actually matter?

goodtime

I've read the Russell Group's advice to students who wish to attend one of their universities and they promote the list of subjects they consider "facilitating" or "preferred". However I've read an article showing that these subjects aren't actually preferred by these unis and most A levels that are not on the list can still get you to a good uni. So is there any point in taking facilitating subjects?

Reply 1

M451

Facilitating subjects are usually subjects that are specifically asked for as entry requirements. You have to look at subjects needed for a particular course and usually, what you are asked for can be found on the list of facilitating subjects. If you don't have any facilitating subjects, you'll find it difficult to enrol in courses that need certain subjects, such as STEM.

Reply 2

goodtime

Original post by M451

If you not doing STEM and their are no subjects required for the course. Will facilitating subjects give you an advantage?

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Reply 3

giella

I think if you were doing A levels in Archaeology, ICT and Art and Design you would struggle to get onto a reputable course in any of those subjects at university, with the possible exception of Art. You ideally want two facilitating subjects in your mix. If your third subject was lower down on the list, it would probably be okay. Facilitating subjects open doors. Non-facilitating subjects rely on their tail-wind to do so; they tend to close doors if they're working on their own or in a cluster.*

Reply 4

M451

Original post by Jawsomesauce35

If you not doing STEM and their are no subjects required for the course. Will facilitating subjects give you an advantage?

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Yes they probably will as they are respected for giving you a strong skill set and being difficult enough to make students that take them look like they know what they're doing. Say you wanted to do Psychology, A levels for Biology, Maths, English Lit and a language would do you far better than Media Studies, Photography, General Studies and PE.

Reply 5

goodtime

Original post by M451

Sorry I haven't replied in a while but the reason why I asked is because I don't like any of the facilitating subjects (especially the sciences) and it would be difficult to try and do well at something I know I don't enjoy. But is this actually a proven thing? And if it is so highly regarded how come unis don't require them?

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Reply 6

goodtime

Original post by giella

Again, sorry for not replying sooner but how can the sciences keep your door open when there are some courses that they would be useless at?

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Reply 7

giella

Original post by Jawsomesauce35

Again, sorry for not replying sooner but how can the sciences keep your door open when there are some courses that they would be useless at?

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The sciences are never useless. Most university courses would probably prefer students to have a better grasp of science than they actually do. Law and nursing are two subjects in particular that would benefit. But there's no point in them asking because the majority of students attracted to those subjects don't do sciences. So they don't stipulate that students have them in order to get people through the door. It's not an essential requirement, just something that people would benefit from having.*

The ability to specialise at A level is either a benefit or a drawback depending on what your perspective is. You'll never find any university course rejecting you for having a science but you may find yourself out of the running without one.*