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Don't know if i should stay or switch schools?

So, I used to go to a school with really good academic results however I wanted to do Geography for A Level and they didn't offer it so I decided to move. The school which I am now attending is awful, the teachers and students can barely be bothered for the actual subjects and the pass rate for A Levels is 47%. My old school has a pass rate of 99% and around 60% are A*s to Bs. I've done a lot of research for months now so I am aware that a Geography(BA) at UCL does not require Geography A Levels. Therefore I'm planning on returning to my old school to do subjects that will benefit my chances of getting into UCL as I will not be worried about performing poorly. I do plan on doing a Geography centric EPQ ( The school I'm planning on leaving does not even offer EPQ ) and alot of extra-curriculars in order to show how serious I am about wanting to pursue Geography. However I am worried that I'm making the wrong choice. My old school said if I wish to return I must return this coming Monday, should I return or not?

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Do you have other degree options (other than UCL) in Geography if you dont take a level?
To be honest it sounds like your old school was better, if it was me id move as long as you can still pursue what you love. You sound like you’ve thought about it a lot! If you go back to your old school, is there a different a level subject which you’d be interesting in taking which they offer for you to take?
Original post by hueningkai
So, I used to go to a school with really good academic results however I wanted to do Geography for A Level and they didn't offer it so I decided to move. The school which I am now attending is awful, the teachers and students can barely be bothered for the actual subjects and the pass rate for A Levels is 47%. My old school has a pass rate of 99% and around 60% are A*s to Bs. I've done a lot of research for months now so I am aware that a Geography(BA) at UCL does not require Geography A Levels. Therefore I'm planning on returning to my old school to do subjects that will benefit my chances of getting into UCL as I will not be worried about performing poorly. I do plan on doing a Geography centric EPQ ( The school I'm planning on leaving does not even offer EPQ ) and alot of extra-curriculars in order to show how serious I am about wanting to pursue Geography. However I am worried that I'm making the wrong choice. My old school said if I wish to return I must return this coming Monday, should I return or not?
Your school doesn't offer Geography for A-Level that's unusual. Is there any other options?
Reply 3
Original post by Adam Woodbridge
Your school doesn't offer Geography for A-Level that's unusual. Is there any other options?
They did offer it but they cancelled the course because not enough people applied. By other options do you mean A Level options?
Original post by hueningkai
So, I used to go to a school with really good academic results however I wanted to do Geography for A Level and they didn't offer it so I decided to move. The school which I am now attending is awful, the teachers and students can barely be bothered for the actual subjects and the pass rate for A Levels is 47%. My old school has a pass rate of 99% and around 60% are A*s to Bs. I've done a lot of research for months now so I am aware that a Geography(BA) at UCL does not require Geography A Levels. Therefore I'm planning on returning to my old school to do subjects that will benefit my chances of getting into UCL as I will not be worried about performing poorly. I do plan on doing a Geography centric EPQ ( The school I'm planning on leaving does not even offer EPQ ) and alot of extra-curriculars in order to show how serious I am about wanting to pursue Geography. However I am worried that I'm making the wrong choice. My old school said if I wish to return I must return this coming Monday, should I return or not?

Please switch
Original post by hueningkai
They did offer it but they cancelled the course because not enough people applied. By other options do you mean A Level options?
I mean other schools that isn't your GCSE school or where you are now.
Reply 6
Original post by Wired_1800
Please switch

I will! I just really hope it won't ruin my chances of studying Geography at University now that Im not doing the A Level.
Reply 7
Original post by Adam Woodbridge
I mean other schools that isn't your GCSE school or where you are now.

Unfortunately no, I applied for multiple school and was met with the statement that they weren't going to run Geography, for some reason it's extremely unpopular.
This might help.
Here
I want to do Geo at uni so (maybe) see you there if we end up going to the same uni.
(edited 1 month ago)
Original post by hueningkai
I will! I just really hope it won't ruin my chances of studying Geography at University now that Im not doing the A Level.

You should hopefully be fine. Good luck
Original post by DerDracologe
Do you have other degree options (other than UCL) in Geography if you dont take a level?
To be honest it sounds like your old school was better, if it was me id move as long as you can still pursue what you love. You sound like you’ve thought about it a lot! If you go back to your old school, is there a different a level subject which you’d be interesting in taking which they offer for you to take?

Yeah! I've always been interested in social sciences so I might take those for A Levels in my old school as subjects like Sociology overlap with Geography concerning topics like migration etc. and by your question about degree options, do you mean if I'm interested in other universities other than UCL to do Geography?
Original post by Wired_1800
You should hopefully be fine. Good luck

Thank you! <3
Original post by Adam Woodbridge
This might help.
Here
I want to do Geo at uni so (maybe) see you there if we end up going to the same uni.

Thank you! I find it so discomforting that all these universities "strongly" recommend Geography but to be honest I'd rather have 3 A Levels with excellent grades than 3 A Levels that were more 'beneficial' with poor grades. What university are you thinking to study Geography at?
Original post by hueningkai
Thank you! I find it so discomforting that all these universities "strongly" recommend Geography but to be honest I'd rather have 3 A Levels with excellent grades than 3 A Levels that were more 'beneficial' with poor grades. What university are you thinking to study Geography at?
Not sure yet but probably UEA as staying at home reduces the cost, London would be too busy for me and for Cambridge, I won't get those grades. I live in East Anglia if you couldn't tell.
(edited 1 month ago)
Original post by Adam Woodbridge
Not sure yet but probably UEA as staying at home reduces the cost, London would be too busy for me and for Cambridge, I won't get those grades. I live in East Anglia if you couldn't tell.

UEA is a pretty good university so it's good regardless! And honestly paying for travel/accommodation for a London/Oxbridge university isn't worth it in the end when you're going to get your degree anyways. What A Levels are you doing?
Original post by hueningkai
UEA is a pretty good university so it's good regardless! And honestly paying for travel/accommodation for a London/Oxbridge university isn't worth it in the end when you're going to get your degree anyways. What A Levels are you doing?
Geography, History and Sociology.
Original post by hueningkai
UEA is a pretty good university so it's good regardless! And honestly paying for travel/accommodation for a London/Oxbridge university isn't worth it in the end when you're going to get your degree anyways. What A Levels are you doing?
I don't live in Norwich. I live in the middle of rural Suffolk and Suffolk Uni and Essex Uni don't do Geography.
Original post by hueningkai
Yeah! I've always been interested in social sciences so I might take those for A Levels in my old school as subjects like Sociology overlap with Geography concerning topics like migration etc. and by your question about degree options, do you mean if I'm interested in other universities other than UCL to do Geography?

yes, I was wondering if (given you would like to pursue a degree in geog) you had had a look to see if you’d have more options to do this. Obviously when you apply to uni you have to apply to a few places and you wouldn’t want to limit your options/only have one option 🙂
i think you should return!! while geography is recommended, it’s not required ^^ plus, i feel like it’s better to have good grades across all your subjects than just have the opportunity to do geo, you know? plus i feel like your epq can definitely show that you’re passionate about geography (although i’m a year 12 and just started so i don’t know a lot lol)

good luck!!!! (and also, txt fan spotted!!!)
Original post by DerDracologe
yes, I was wondering if (given you would like to pursue a degree in geog) you had had a look to see if you’d have more options to do this. Obviously when you apply to uni you have to apply to a few places and you wouldn’t want to limit your options/only have one option 🙂

I see, UCL is just a first choice! I also like the idea of attending Kings College, I want to attend a London University as they're closer to home but most of them like LSE and Imperial have harsher requirements for A Levels.

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