4 alevels and an EPQ

hi, i rlly want to do 4 alevels and an EPQ just because i think it would be fun and have lots of subjects im interested in. i have no clue what i want to do after uni apart from that i love geography so i hope this will help me keep my options open as well as (hopefully) having good grades and impressive subjects
im going to do
english literature
geography
maths
french or politics (not sure)
and an EPQ (which i will do geography related about something im genuinely interested in)
im aiming for all 8s and 9s in my gcses (apart from art which i got a 7 in already) and would literally do anything to go to oxbridge
basically, does anyone think its worth it to do 4 alevels and an EPQ or is it not worth it - i want rlly good grades so would this make it too hard
tysm <33

hi, i rlly want to do 4 alevels and an EPQ just because i think it would be fun and have lots of subjects im interested in. i have no clue what i want to do after uni apart from that i love geography so i hope this will help me keep my options open as well as (hopefully) having good grades and impressive subjects
im going to do
english literature
geography
maths
french or politics (not sure)
and an EPQ (which i will do geography related about something im genuinely interested in)
im aiming for all 8s and 9s in my gcses (apart from art which i got a 7 in already) and would literally do anything to go to oxbridge
basically, does anyone think its worth it to do 4 alevels and an EPQ or is it not worth it - i want rlly good grades so would this make it too hard
tysm <33

hi, i rlly want to do 4 alevels and an EPQ just because i think it would be fun and have lots of subjects im interested in. i have no clue what i want to do after uni apart from that i love geography so i hope this will help me keep my options open as well as (hopefully) having good grades and impressive subjects
im going to do
english literature
geography
maths
french or politics (not sure)
and an EPQ (which i will do geography related about something im genuinely interested in)
im aiming for all 8s and 9s in my gcses (apart from art which i got a 7 in already) and would literally do anything to go to oxbridge
basically, does anyone think its worth it to do 4 alevels and an EPQ or is it not worth it - i want rlly good grades so would this make it too hard
tysm <33

i'm gonna be completely real here: i did 4 a levels, two epqs, alongside various dance and drama qualifications so it's completely doable and i have loads of free time (+ an oxford offer). my main tip is just do the epq stuff as early as possible because then it's fine to keep up with? i ended up redoing my first one because i got a B but i have full marks on the second one so i'd suggest provide supporting documents, at length, and don't be afraid to lie on your epq. go forth and conquer
edit:
my a levels are english lit, classical civ, history, and drama & my epqs were on psychology & ancient history respectively - i did most of my interview stuff over summer so i had like 20 drafts of my personal statement, but i also did a lot of extracurricular stuff (related to my degree subject, not just generic) & entrance exam & interview practice, so i want to tell you it's definitely doable, it's only really hell during the actual exam period due to the placement of exams. i also will add that i have had a lot of free time so don't let that put you off (you can also drop an a level or an epq later! :3) and also i have appalling time management so that wasn't much of a problem either (if your epq time management sucks, LIE.)

You did well. Congratulations. In case anyone reads this though and thinks that you should do 4 plus EPQ to get into oxbridge, you don’t. Both my daughters recently got into Cambridge with just 3, one with EPQ, one without.

You did well. Congratulations. In case anyone reads this though and thinks that you should do 4 plus EPQ to get into oxbridge, you don’t. Both my daughters recently got into Cambridge with just 3, one with EPQ, one without.

i'm gonna be completely real here: i did 4 a levels, two epqs, alongside various dance and drama qualifications so it's completely doable and i have loads of free time (+ an oxford offer). my main tip is just do the epq stuff as early as possible because then it's fine to keep up with? i ended up redoing my first one because i got a B but i have full marks on the second one so i'd suggest provide supporting documents, at length, and don't be afraid to lie on your epq. go forth and conquer
edit:
my a levels are english lit, classical civ, history, and drama & my epqs were on psychology & ancient history respectively - i did most of my interview stuff over summer so i had like 20 drafts of my personal statement, but i also did a lot of extracurricular stuff (related to my degree subject, not just generic) & entrance exam & interview practice, so i want to tell you it's definitely doable, it's only really hell during the actual exam period due to the placement of exams. i also will add that i have had a lot of free time so don't let that put you off (you can also drop an a level or an epq later! :3) and also i have appalling time management so that wasn't much of a problem either (if your epq time management sucks, LIE.)

wow tysm!! this is actually super helpful (also congrats on the oxford offer <33)
i do dt and art gcse so even though im horrendous at time management, i think ive learnt how to work to deadlines (espeically for dt)
what type of extracurriculars did you do?? i can't think of anything that a uni would find relevant/useful

hi, so ive literally just done my epq and ive done it along side 3 a levels. i found my epq pretty stressful although i did join my class half a term later than my classmates. i also did my epq on law (big regrets). You have to be exteremely organised for your epq and manage ur time wisely and efficiently (i struggled to do this a lot with just 3 a levels on the go) i am also doing english literature and french (like ur thinking of doing) my other subject is physics (dont ask lol). maths will be pretty rough unless ur an absolute maths genius (ive seen some of my friends practice papers). i think for epq ( i migh be worng but this is what i remeber my supervisor saying) that u can't write about something which u are studying for a level so for example if u were studying geography you wouldnt be able to write ur epq on geography unless it was explicitly unrelated to the entire geography a level course.
a levels are a big step up from gcse and literally nothing prepared me for that.
if u really want to go to oxbridge, and epq is a great idea. i know someone who got into oxbridge studying latin, english lit and either class civ or history (not sure but i think it was class civ). geography might not be the strongest subject for oxbridge but do check on their website. also look at uni courses u are thinking of applying for (even if u have no idea yet, i still dont) and look at the entry requirements.
u may also have no social life
a levels r rough

hi, i rlly want to do 4 alevels and an EPQ just because i think it would be fun and have lots of subjects im interested in. i have no clue what i want to do after uni apart from that i love geography so i hope this will help me keep my options open as well as (hopefully) having good grades and impressive subjects
im going to do
english literature
geography
maths
french or politics (not sure)
and an EPQ (which i will do geography related about something im genuinely interested in)
im aiming for all 8s and 9s in my gcses (apart from art which i got a 7 in already) and would literally do anything to go to oxbridge
basically, does anyone think its worth it to do 4 alevels and an EPQ or is it not worth it - i want rlly good grades so would this make it too hard
tysm <33

honestly no you'll have no life
I'm doing 4 (bio, chem, maths, politics) and I am SUFFERING. EPQs sound all exciting and fun at the start and they make it sound like a fantastic edition but it quickly becomes A LOT.
I didn't even bother looking into it because I have very strong a levels that go well together, and I'm doing a supracurricular project as part of a course I'm on anyway. Which will give me the same research skills, and personal statement embellishment but WAY less effort and on my own accord and timings.
My sister did comp sci, economics, maths and psychology and an epq on decision fatigue (AAAA, B in psych) and she has said it's not worth it at all. She is currently studying international management at king's college.
Also a lot of unis just don't care. It'll maybe be two sentences in your personal statement but other than that isn't thattttt helpful. maybe more for interviews idk. But tbf even if you just like researching then u can talk about how u decided to delve into whatever topic just because it interested you.
Don't underestimate a levels. It's not the same as GCSE. I thought dropping from 10 to 4 subjects would make life SO much easier but no. I actually feel I don't have enough time just to do my 4.

out of raw curiosity i'm wondering if maybe sciences have higher workloads than humanities?

in terms of homework, the most I've gotten is from maths and politics. Pages of questions for maths and essay practice or just worksheets for politics.
Sciences the only homework we really get is to finish writing our practicals.
Revision wise - maths has been easiest, and required very little work for me.
The other 3 have taken a lot more work. Bio and chem mean you have to learn a lot of complex concepts and keep on top of them. Then a TON of practice questions.
But politics the mark scheme is SO specific that essay structure takes a lot of work. You also have to learn a million bajillion examples of concepts, both historic and modern AND know limitations AND be able to hold an argument.
For me, GCSE history and chemistry took a lot of hard work to go from 6s to 9s. So those are what I have found require the most work from me.
From what I've heard from my English lit friends it's a LOT. I never stop hearing complaints 😭😭
Not sure about other humanities but this is my experience with politics.

hi, i rlly want to do 4 alevels and an EPQ just because i think it would be fun and have lots of subjects im interested in. i have no clue what i want to do after uni apart from that i love geography so i hope this will help me keep my options open as well as (hopefully) having good grades and impressive subjects
im aiming for all 8s and 9s in my gcses (apart from art which i got a 7 in already) and would literally do anything to go to oxbridge
basically, does anyone think its worth it to do 4 alevels and an EPQ or is it not worth it - i want rlly good grades so would this make it too hard
tysm <33

hi, i rlly want to do 4 alevels and an EPQ just because i think it would be fun and have lots of subjects im interested in. i have no clue what i want to do after uni apart from that i love geography so i hope this will help me keep my options open as well as (hopefully) having good grades and impressive subjects
im aiming for all 8s and 9s in my gcses (apart from art which i got a 7 in already) and would literally do anything to go to oxbridge
basically, does anyone think its worth it to do 4 alevels and an EPQ or is it not worth it - i want rlly good grades so would this make it too hard
tysm <33

hi, i rlly want to do 4 alevels and an EPQ just because i think it would be fun and have lots of subjects im interested in. i have no clue what i want to do after uni apart from that i love geography so i hope this will help me keep my options open as well as (hopefully) having good grades and impressive subjects
im aiming for all 8s and 9s in my gcses (apart from art which i got a 7 in already) and would literally do anything to go to oxbridge
basically, does anyone think its worth it to do 4 alevels and an EPQ or is it not worth it - i want rlly good grades so would this make it too hard
tysm <33

I did 4 A levels and an EPQ in year 12. I ended up doing one of my 4 subjects (Geography) as an AS level so I would have more time to focus on my other three in year 13. If it's good for anything, it'll definitely keep you to a strong work ethic!
I wouldn't actually recommend doing it this way regardless - most high level universities (like Oxford and Cambridge) don't provide lower offers based on an EPQ and any AS levels. It would be better to choose 3 subjects and do an EPQ on the side to develop your research and writing skills for your personal statement. If you're dead set on doing 4, it might be worth reviewing after a month or so and deciding to drop one / do it as an AS. I did this and got an offer from Oxford for 3 A's. If I had continued to do Geography as a full A level I would find these grades much harder to achieve.
Hope that helps!

hi, so ive literally just done my epq and ive done it along side 3 a levels. i found my epq pretty stressful although i did join my class half a term later than my classmates. i also did my epq on law (big regrets). You have to be exteremely organised for your epq and manage ur time wisely and efficiently (i struggled to do this a lot with just 3 a levels on the go) i am also doing english literature and french (like ur thinking of doing) my other subject is physics (dont ask lol). maths will be pretty rough unless ur an absolute maths genius (ive seen some of my friends practice papers). i think for epq ( i migh be worng but this is what i remeber my supervisor saying) that u can't write about something which u are studying for a level so for example if u were studying geography you wouldnt be able to write ur epq on geography unless it was explicitly unrelated to the entire geography a level course.
a levels are a big step up from gcse and literally nothing prepared me for that.
if u really want to go to oxbridge, and epq is a great idea. i know someone who got into oxbridge studying latin, english lit and either class civ or history (not sure but i think it was class civ). geography might not be the strongest subject for oxbridge but do check on their website. also look at uni courses u are thinking of applying for (even if u have no idea yet, i still dont) and look at the entry requirements.
u may also have no social life
a levels r rough