Re considering my a level choices

So i originally chose art, graphics, English literature and biology - however after doing my first biology exam over the past few weeks I want to reconsider - but if I drop biology I will only have 1 academic subject.
Do you think I should take a completely different subject? I am more on the creative side, and I don't really know what I want to do when I'm older although I want to go to university. Any suggestions??

Reply 1

absolutelysprout

are there any other subjects you would like to do for a-levels?

Reply 2

amberix

Original post by entertainmyfaith

are there any other subjects you would like to do for a-levels?

The only other subjects I would consider are English language or maybe psychology - i don't know if they would work well or distract me from my other subjects

Reply 3

Alstair

Do you have any idea what you want to do at university?

Reply 4

amberix

Original post by Alstair

Do you have any idea what you want to do at university?

Right now I'm thinking about going into design or maybe something to do with marketing or advertising? Up until last year, I wanted to be an architect, but I'm pretty rubbish at both maths and physics so there's not much hope there!

Reply 5

Rabbit2

Original post by amberix

I don't believe that those will lead you into a career path that will get you a degree that you can 'sell'. If you are independently wealthy and don't need to work, that may be ok. If you want to earn a living, i'd recommend investigating what you could do to earn a reasonable amount of dosh. Engineering (bachelor's degree at least), IT, medicine, or law spring to mind. Start your search by making a list (with your friend's help - that's allowed), of what you could do to earn £50,000 pa or more. I recognize that in the Uk, the term 'engineer' is used to describe basically a technician, who fixes broken sinks. You won't make the salary above doing this. You need at least a bachelors degree (in either engineering or IT). I hold a masters in electrical engineering, and was doing satellite earth terminal design when i retired. I designed the earth stations that have 50 to 100 foot diameter dishes. I was making significantly over £50,000. You could make that doing IT also. There are thousands of branches of IT. You might try approaching a uni, tell them you are considering a course [in engineering or IT], and ask them to refer you to some graduated alumni, that are currently employed in their degree area. I would expect that quite a few of them would be willing to talk to you. Buy them a pint to lubricate them up. Ask them about their jobs, where they see themselves in 5 yrs, 10 years, how the job market is. If you find some that have worked overseas - ask them about that & where they worked. I lived overseas for nearly 3 years right after i graduated, and loved it. I banked enough money to buy a house when i returned to the states. I still live there.

You could do the same with IT medicine, and law. Ask them what they would do differently in their education, if they had it to do over again. Try to get 5 or 6 from each field to interview, and talk to them seperately. You want an individual's opinion. You don't want them 'cross pollinating' each other. Take each individual's answers & write them down. Take home the results & think over what they've said. Don't be afraid to go back to the same people with more questions. I did several times. Good luck!!!

Reply 6

Alstair

Original post by amberix

My first recommendation would be that if you have a basic idea of what you want to do look at a few uni courses and see what subjects they might require and most importantly DO YOU LIKE THE SUBJECTS?

I'd be careful at making assumptions like needing to be good at maths and physics to do architecture. Looking at the complete university guide for architecture the top 5 unis: https://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/league-tables/rankings?s=Architecture. Not many require maths or physics.

Bath: http://www.bath.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate-2018/architecture/bsc-architecture/#entry-requirements
Cambridge: https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/architecture
Sheffield: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/architecture/undergraduate/entry
Strathclyde: https://www.strath.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/architecturalstudies/
UCL: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/undergraduate/degrees/architecture-bsc/

But most importantly I can't stress enough that you should pick subjects you enjoy otherwise sixth form will be torture

Reply 7

absolutelysprout

Original post by amberix

The only other subjects I would consider are English language or maybe psychology - i don't know if they would work well or distract me from my other subjects