A level combination

I'm planning to apply to UCL, LSE, Warwick, Nottingham and Durham to read law in 2018. I have yet to decide on my A-level combination, but is History, Maths and Sociology a good combination?

I will only be taking three A-levels, and I know many sees sociology as a soft subject so I'm quite worried... Would like to hear your thoughts

Did you take 4 AS subjects? What were they?

From people I know who have read law, especially at the calibra of uni you are looking at, it is advisable to take 3 'hard' subjects. Not to say you current combination rules you out as obviously there are other factors (GCSEs, PS, AS grades), but there is likely to be people applying with 4 A levels so you should ensure you are competitive.

I didn't take AS level, im taking it as full A levels. If i change sociology with geography will it help more?

I didn't take AS level, im taking it as full A levels. If i change sociology with geography will it help more?

Yes, definitely! Then you have 3 which are traditional, facilitating subjects which is great for law.

Naturally, it is still up to you but if I was in your position I would go geo over sociology.

You do not need 3 "facilitating" subjects.

I'm planning to apply to UCL, LSE, Warwick, Nottingham and Durham to read law in 2018. I have yet to decide on my A-level combination, but is History, Maths and Sociology a good combination?

I will only be taking three A-levels, and I know many see sociology as a soft subject so I'm quite worried... Would like to hear your thoughts

It does make for a much stronger application though.

Getting AAB is not as strong as AAA.

Sociology is absolutely acceptable for Law. Even Trinity, one of the fussiest Cambridge colleges, say's it is acceptable.

Who's to say that OP will get a lower grade? They may find geo easier. Anyway, I was just saying that it would be seen, in general for law, that having more facilitating subjects may be of help to strengthen an overall application. If there are two identical people that have identical interviews etc. why would they pick the person who chose sociology over geo if it is in fact seen as more facilitating.

They might, but they might not. The likelhood is they have orignally picked the 3 subjects they think they will enjoy the most (that's the usual advise on selecting A-levels). By swapping a preferred subject for something else it is more likely they won't do quite as well.

And read this: it actually explains what facilitating subjects are. You DO NOT NEED 3 facilitating A-levels.

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

"You don’t necessarily need to have studied three facilitating subjects at A-level. Some courses require one or two facilitating subjects, whilst for other courses there are no specific subject requirements. If you don’t know what you want to study then it’s a really good rule of thumb that taking two facilitating subjects will keep a wide range of degree courses open to you."

LAW:
ESSENTIAL ADVANCED LEVEL QUALIFICATIONS
Usually none, although a few universities require English.
USEFUL ADVANCED LEVEL QUALIFICATIONS
History; other facilitating subjects.

There really are no essential subjects for Law. Maybe one choice should involve essay or report writing. History gives you good relevant skills for Law but is not essential."

So OP has History = tick "useful"
also Maths = tick "a 2nd facilitating subject"
Sociology is absolutely a good 3rd choice.


Now what does Trinity say?
https://www.trin.cam.ac.uk/undergraduate/applying/a-level-subject-combinations/

"All Arts applicants should offer a minimum of two subjects from Lists A1 and A2. They should also offer a third A-level from Lists A1, A2 and B."

Maths is in List A1
History is in List A2
Sociology is in List B.

A perfect match with Trinity's recommendation.

Bottomline: If OP thinks they will enjoy (and get a better grade) in Sociology than Geography or Economics or whatever they should stick with Sociology.

Yes, but geography is 'suitable', while sociology is of 'limited suitability'.

Also, just because certain subjects are acceptable, it doesn't mean they are the most competitive. Which is important considering law is a competitive course and the poster is applying to competitive unis.