Taking 5 A-Levels for an Economics degree?

I'm in year 11, and I've chosen to take maths, further maths, physics, history and economics. I'll most probably want to study economics, somewhere like Oxford, Cambridge, LSE or Harvard. Is 5 subjects too much? I won't have any free periods; does this matter at all? Do people tend to socialise in free periods (which I'd be missing out on), or do people mainly use them for work? If 5 is too much, which subject should I not take? I feel I could do 5, but obviously I don't know the reality yet! Thanks :smile:

Reply 1

gr8wizard10

Do as you please but I'd assume 5 is too much. (Someone has done 23 A-levels and gotten 16 or so As and studies at Warwick). Generally people take 4 at AS and 3 to A2.

A-levels is a hell of a lot more work than GCSE and even the brightest students sometimes crumble under the workload. Either way all the best in your journey to the major leagues :biggrin:

Reply 2

Катя

Original post by Ecocentric

Are you one of these?

But no, in all seriousness, just do four (ideally something like maths, further maths, history and economics or maths, further maths, history, and a language). It will make your life a lot easier and you'll be able to aim for the highest UMS in all of your subjects with relative ease (compared to doing 5 A-levels, anyway). Remember also that you'll need extremely high SAT scores for Harvard (and subject tests) - or, failing that, just a lot of connections at the Harvard admissions office (I'm still bitter over a guy I know getting in with 2050 on the SAT, 38 predicted IB points, and a billionaire father... but I digress).

Also, make sure you actually like the courses? Like, thoroughly read the module information and stuff? (for the UK degrees, anyway) - just throwing it out there because with degrees like the ones you mentioned (and stuff like Oxford PPE, I guess), you do get a hell of a lot of people keen on it because of the name, not so much the course. Do your research, basically, and keep an open mind in terms of universities and stuff. You're only 15/16, after all - plenty of time for change and development in your plans! Don't rush :smile:

Reply 3

cambio wechsel

I think dropping one is a good idea just because you're not going to be made an offer based on 5. If your motivation were a fascination with the subjects, then... but the concern about socialising suggests it's largely grandstanding. You don't want to miss an offer because spreading yourself too thin.

Maths is the one that's non-negotiable. At a number of places Further Maths counts only as a fourth (or fifth, sixth...) A-level. For the LSE and perhaps for Cambridge it'll strengthen your hand.

I'd drop one of Physics or Economics. Probably Physics. History is going to be handier than you yet know, or will be at any of these other than the LSE.