Are these good A-levels for law or english degree?

Original post by Bethhmaii

So I have always enjoyed English and history at school. I've always loved reading and finding out about history. For quite some months now I have been reading into Law and have really liked what it is and it seems like a career path that I would maybe like to go into. I've also read into degrees based on history and English, although I feel more pulled to Law, it really interests me.

The A-levels I have picked are:
-Combined English (Lang and lit)
-History.
-Sociology.
-Media.

Do you think these subjects are good? I'm unsure about the media one atm too.

Do you honestly not prefer Lang or Lit? Combined is a so called "soft subject" iirc while Language and Literature alone are both facilitating, I'd recommend Literature more but if you're really dead set on doing combined then go ahead.

The only reason I say that is top unis recommend 2 hard subjects, as it stands you only have history in that category but if you specialise your English you'll be set.

I'd also advise government and Politics over sociology if you have that option, far more interesting from what I've heard, and again, more respected by unis.

(edited 7 years ago)

Reply 2

OP

Original post by Connor27

Do you honestly not prefer Lang or Lit? Combined is a so called "soft subject" iirc while Language and Literature alone are both facilitating, I'd recommend Literature more but if you're really dead set on doing combined then go ahead.

The only reason I say that is top unis recommend 2 hard subjects, as it stands you only have the history in that category but if you specialize your English you'll be set.

I'd also advise government and Politics over sociology if you have that option, far more interesting from what I've heard, and again, more respected by unis.

My school's sixth form only do the combined.
I may also swap the media for government and politics because I really like sociology.
Aren't there any other 'not soft' subjects you think are good?
:smile:

(edited 7 years ago)

Reply 3

Connor27

Original post by Bethhmaii

My schools sixth form only do the combined, however, I have been told by the careers adviser at my school that their combined come out as two separate A-levels at the end of it.
I also may swap the media for government and politics because I really like sociology.
Arent there any other 'not soft' subjects you think are good?
:smile:

With regard to English, fair enough, that's an unusual way of doing it but if you get both Lang and Lit A Levels seperate then fine, combined at my school is one whole a level and we also offer Lang and Lit seperate.

With regards to Law, the only other hard subject I'd recommend is a Modern Foreign Language, if you're any good at them.

Personally I do:

English Lit
History
Government and Politics
French

I wanna do Philosophy, Politics and Economics personally, so a relatively similar path to yourself.

Reply 4

OP

Original post by Connor27

With regard to English, fair enough, that's an unusual way of doing it but if you get both Lang and Lit A Levels seperate then fine, combined at my school is one whole a level and we also offer Lang and Lit seperate.

With regards to Law, the only other hard subject I'd recommend is a Modern Foreign Language, if you're any good at them.

Personally I do:

English Lit
History
Government and Politics
French

I wanna do Philosophy, Politics and Economics personally, so a relatively similar path to yourself.

Thanks! I am actually interested in Spanish, always have been so I might look at taking that, or maybe the government and politics that looks interesting too.

thank you for replying. :smile:

Reply 5

username2911200

Original post by Bethhmaii

My schools sixth form only do the combined, however, I have been told by the careers adviser at my school that their combined come out as two separate A-levels at the end of it.
I also may swap the media for government and politics because I really like sociology.
Arent there any other 'not soft' subjects you think are good?
:smile:

They do not come out as separate A-levels at all. They have different units which are combined together to form one A-level. http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/english/as-and-a-level/english-language-and-literature-7706-7707 You would get one qualification with one set of tariff points for it. English Literature on its own is a better and more respected subject.

You should take English Literature, History, Spanish and Politics.

(edited 7 years ago)

Reply 6

OP

Original post by Glassapple

They do not come out as separate A-level at all. They have different units which are combined together to form one A-level. http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/english/as-and-a-level/english-language-and-literature-7706-7707 You would get one qualification with one set of tariff points for it. English Literature on its own is a better and more respected subject.

Fair enough but only saying what I was told. :smile:

I still enjoy it though so it doesn't matter to me.
However, my sixth form does not offer the separate so I will just do the combined.

Reply 7

OP

Original post by tantalised

Ignore the know-it-all's on this thread. English Language and Literature is a perfectly suitable A level choice for pursuing a degree in English. The Russell Group even say so on their website.

http://russellgroup.ac.uk/media/5457/informed-choices-2016.pdf

Take a look at page 24 under the subheading English. "ESSENTIAL ADVANCED LEVEL QUALIFICATIONS English Literature or combined English Language & Literature (some courses will accept English Language)."

And as for Law, I am currently studying English Language and Literature at A level, and I too am applying to study Law at five Russell Group institutions. I very much doubt that they will penalise me for choosing combined English as one of my A levels.

Thank you so much for replying!! I hope you do well applying :smile:

Reply 8

OP

Original post by tantalised

You're very welcome. I wish you the best of luck with your A levels.

Thank you and you too, if you are currently doing them? :smile:

Reply 9

Connor27

Original post by tantalised

Ignore the know-it-all's on this thread. English Language and Literature is a perfectly suitable A level choice for pursuing a degree in English. The Russell Group even say so on their website.

http://russellgroup.ac.uk/media/5457/informed-choices-2016.pdf

Take a look at page 24 under the subheading English. "ESSENTIAL ADVANCED LEVEL QUALIFICATIONS English Literature or combined English Language & Literature (some courses will accept English Language)."

And as for Law, I am currently studying English Language and Literature at A level, and I too am applying to study Law at five Russell Group institutions. I very much doubt that they will penalise me for choosing combined English as one of my A levels.

Regardless of that:

"The subjects which are most often required are sometimes called "facilitating subjects" and these are: Mathematics and Further Mathematics. English Literature. Physics. Biology. Chemistry. Geography. History. Languages (Classical and Modern)"

Do you see combined in that list? No, therefore Lit standalone is still better. That's from the Cambridge website.

Reply 10

username2911200

Original post by tantalised

Ignore the know-it-all's on this thread. English Language and Literature is a perfectly suitable A level choice for pursuing a degree in English. The Russell Group even say so on their website.

http://russellgroup.ac.uk/media/5457/informed-choices-2016.pdf

Take a look at page 24 under the subheading English. "ESSENTIAL ADVANCED LEVEL QUALIFICATIONS English Literature or combined English Language & Literature (some courses will accept English Language)."

Literature on its own is the more respected subject, considering it's always written first in lists such as yours, and Language is less respected on its own. Common sense dictates that a subject with a less respected subject mixed in is less respected overall.

Original post by Connor27

Regardless of that: "The subjects which are most often required are sometimes called "facilitating subjects" and these are: Mathematics and Further Mathematics. English Literature. Physics. Biology. Chemistry. Geography. History. Languages (Classical and Modern)" Do you see combined in that list? No, therefore Lit standalone is still better. That's from the Cambridge website.

Thank you, I agree, that's exactly what I'm saying.

(edited 7 years ago)

Reply 11

3121

21

Change media to Politics, if A2 politics is america then drop it otherwise drop sociology. Although it's respected, after AS you don't learn much unless you go deeper into the UK (what you did at AS), if you do USA it's just like another AS and you learn the brief concepts. Where as going deeper into the UK you'd cover ideologies, troubles facing the country, etc. Pretty sure some boards go deep into the UK judiciary as well

Reply 12

OP

Original post by zayn008

Change media to Politics, if A2 politics is america then drop it otherwise drop sociology. Although it's respected, after AS you don't learn much unless you go deeper into the UK (what you did at AS), if you do USA it's just like another AS and you learn the brief concepts. Where as going deeper into the UK you'd cover ideologies, troubles facing the country, etc. Pretty sure some boards go deep into the UK judiciary as well

Thanks

Reply 13

Baniazz

14

There`s a subject called law ,you better think about it

Reply 14

TheTruthTeller

18

Original post by Baniazz

There`s a subject called law ,you better think about it

Edgy response/10

Reply 15

OP