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Government and Politics A level - is it well regarded, and is it worth doing?

I am in Year 11, and I am currently making sixth form applications to many schools. My chosen A level subjects are English, History, Economics and Religious Studies (and Critical Thinking at the few schools that do it).
One of the schools has Politics as an option. I want to read English at Oxford, and to become a political journalist, but I have never really thought that a Politics A level is necessary - I have always thought of it as a not very traditional subject. I'm sure that it would be interesting, but would it be worth all of the extra work? Does one more AS or A level make much of a difference?
I probably won't even go to the school that offers Politics as an option (it's a sort of back-up, although it's an excellent school), but I have to send off my application form tomorrow, so any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you :p:

Reply 1

Profesh

20

A fifth A-Level is never necessary; as a fourth, however, it beats Religious Studies.

Reply 2

TheLameSaint

1

It definetely is worth doing, and it definetely does beat RE and Critical Studies by miles.

If you're already interested in Politics then you should definetely take it.

Reply 3

Danielle_89

OP

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TheLameSaint

It definetely is worth doing, and it definetely does beat RE and Critical Studies by miles.

If you're already interested in Politics then you should definetely take it.

I thought that perhaps it was like Sociology, which I am currently doing, which is very interesting, but in which you learn things that one could learn about and pick up on through wide reading... :confused:

Reply 4

Profesh

20

*daniEllE*

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I thought that perhaps it was like Sociology, which I am currently doing, which is very interesting, but in which you learn things that one could learn about and pick up on through wide reading... :confused:

I attended the third-highest ranked mixed Grammar School in the U.K., and Religious Studies wasn't even on the agenda.

Reply 5

zhivago

2

Sociology and Religious Studies, I personally, would class as neither stimulating nor respected. I don't mean that to be snobby, but the majority of people I know who are doing Sociology and for whom it is their 'best' subject, well, they aren't all that bright.

Government and Politics, to me, seems like an interesting option. Indeed, at one point I considered taking it as an extra. I personally probably wouldn't consider taking it as one of my core ones because it is relatively new and hasn't really established any academic respectability. That said, and as others have pointed out, it is more respected than Sociology, RE etc.

Perhaps you should try for a mix? English Literature and History are by far my greatest subjects, and I am naturally good at these humanities/arts subjects, however, I have still taken the three sciences. I am not naturally as adept at them, but they do interest me, challenge me, and many top universities these days require a mix of decent academic subjects.

Perhaps you could try French? I never ever, for a second, thought about French for A-Level as it was never one of my favourite subjects and I didn't believe myself to be any good at it. Now however, I realise that a second language is a very useful skill to have, and that French compliments English and History perfectly. Geography? It bored me alot at GCSE level, but it seems to fit slightly with what you are taking, so perhaps you could also consider that. Also, don't dismiss the sciences, just because they are not your best; they do offer you are broader range of knowledge and skills.

Could I ask your GCSE predicted grades?

Good Luck.

Reply 6

TheLameSaint

1

Politics is a constantly changing subject. I suppose you could 'technically' learn the basic principles of it through a book, it still won't give you a full understanding of it. I definetely recommend it, particularly going with your career choice.

Reply 7

Danielle_89

OP

Really? I am applying to a mixture of the top public and grammar schools, and they all offer it, although that of course does not necessarily mean that it is a 'good' A level (or whatever you're saying that it perhaps isn't).
I'm not sure of what to do next, as I have already submitted some application forms. Actually, I think it will be okay, as the schools that I have already applied to have a rather small number of subject options, so there is nothing with which I should want to replace RS (as they do not offer Politics or anything else in which I am interested enough to do an A level). So I suppose that I should choose Politics at the one school that offers it, and see what happens. This is all rather complicated!
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(This is in reply to Profresh).

Reply 8

zhivago

2

Do you go to a state school now or public? You don't need to go to public school to earn an Oxford place you know. In fact, with the supposed positive discrimination system you have a better chance of a place if you are a state school student. For instance, if 2 candidates were exactly the same with, say, AAAA at A-Level, they would pick the state school student no doubt, as they have supposedly had a worse education, and are thus, more intrinsically motivated and generally cleverer. Indeed, they are going off workaholics too, so make sure you get your extra-curricular sorted - even if it just means going out with your mates! Sometimes people with 12 A*s get rejected for people with one or two - just because they are a more rounded individual.

Reply 9

Danielle_89

OP

zhivago

Do you go to a state school now or public? You don't need to go to public school to earn an Oxford place you know. In fact, with the supposed positive discrimination system you have a better chance of a place if you are a state school student. For instance, if 2 candidates were exactly the same with, say, AAAA at A-Level, they would pick the state school student no doubt, as they have supposedly had a worse education, and are thus, more intrinsically motivated and generally cleverer. Indeed, they are going off workaholics too, so make sure you get your extra-curricular sorted - even if it just means going out with your mates! Sometimes people with 12 A*s get rejected for people with one or two - just because they are a more rounded individual.

Yes, I go to a state school now, but I'm not going to go to private school because I think that it will help me get into Oxford - I know that it could in fact go against me, but it's a risk I'm willing to take - after the last five years, there is no way that I am staying at my school, purely in the hope of positive discrimination. However, I am applying to some very good state schools too.
My extra-curricular activities list is (if I say so myself) very good - I can never fit it into the space required!
Thank you for your advice, though. :biggrin:

Reply 10

Icy Ghost

2

*daniEllE*

By the way, how is Classical Civilisation looked upon?

Quite difficult actually, even more so than English Literature. I haven't studied it myself, but know some people who do study it, and they say that it is one of their most difficult A levels.
Do more research and see what you think!

Politics is a very well respected subject and is useful for a wide range of careers, especially for Law (so I hear).

Good luck with your choices :smile:

Reply 11

Danielle_89

OP

I remember that the LSE published a list of A levels that they did not recommend, but I cannot find it on the web site - has anyone got the link? I thought that Politics was on it, but perhaps it was Law.

Reply 12

oblivious

13

*daniEllE*

I remember that the LSE published a list of A levels that they did not recommend, but I cannot find it on the web site - has anyone got the link? I thought that Politics was on it, but perhaps it was Law.

no politics wasn't on it but Law definately was

http://www.lse.ac.uk/resources/undergraduateProspectus2006/howToApply.htm

scroll down ^^

Reply 13

Danielle_89

OP

I had a look at the Oxford entry requirements, and a few subjects state Religious Studies. If it were not well regarded, would Oxford ask for it? (This is not a rhetorical question).

Reply 14

Icy Ghost

2

Which subjects state Religious Studies?

Edit: RS is a traditional subject, which some unis (apparantly) prefer over the non traditional ones such as Sociology or Psychology. I'm not sure about how well respected it is, but it is definately a traditional subject.

Reply 15

Profesh

20

All this being said, if Religious Studies is only your fourth A-Level; who gives a damn? History, Economics and English is a perfectly credible combination.

Reply 16

Danielle_89

OP

Profesh

All this being said, if Religious Studies is only your fourth A-Level; who gives a damn? History, Economics and English is a perfectly credible combination.

Hehe.

The courses at Oxford that stated RS were Theology, and Philosophy and Theology (perhaps unsurprisingly), although one subject states Sociology, which I thought wasn't well respected? :confused:

Also, what is the difference between Politics, and Government and Politics?
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Which would be a better choice - Politics or Classical Civilisation? Or both, and not RS?
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Grrr, why won't it let me reply instead of edit?

Reply 17

Godmaster

7

*daniEllE*

Hehe.

The courses at Oxford that stated RS were Theology, and Philosophy and Theology (perhaps unsurprisingly), although one subject states Sociology, which I thought wasn't well respected? :confused:

Also, what is the difference between Politics, and Government and Politics?
--------------
Which would be a better choice - Politics or Classical Civilisation? Or both, and not RS?
--------------
Grrr, why won't it let me reply instead of edit?

Same thing. Politics is NOT a doss subject. It is kinda easy at AS level (just like any other subject bar the sciences) because it doesnt demand extensive analysis and evaluation and is very very theoretical. BUT A2 is very very hard and its true politics. I would assume it is well respected and perhaps slightly more respected than sociology because it's less commonly taken and it is easier to get a higher mark in sociology than politics (UMS wise) because there is more spread in the ability of the cohort for sociology whereas the politics cohort is closer bunched in ability range. (but both subjects are equally hard I guess).

Reply 18

Niaya

13

Im taking politics I looked at critical thinking and decided politics would be more interesting i've been doing it for a month and its really enjoyable

Reply 19

kellywood_5

17

Do you have to take Critical Thinking? If not, and you want to do a 5th AS, definitely take politics if it interests you. It may not be a traditional subject, but it doesn't matter if it's only taken as a 5th and I'm not sure how much Critical Thinking really counts for. Taking 5 subjects instead of 4 probably won't give you a significant advantage, but if you enjoy all those subjects and think you're capable of it, there's no harm in it.

Government and Politics A level - is it well regarded, and is it worth doing?

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