Further Math with only 2 other a levels- URGENT PLEASE

Was planning to do further maths, maths and econ as i thoight this was a good combo to go into finance sector.
(Have to do an epq w 3 subjects)

HOWEVER lots of ppl r saying maths is limited and Further maths should be taken as a 4th subject and universities sometimes don't consider further maths as a third subject and prefer smth else

I want to go to a Russel groups and for finance stuff FM highly recommended or needed for courses

So what, do I need to do a 4th a level? Is FM and maths and econ too limitimg? Has anyone gotten into finance with them in a Russel group? I thoight it was a good combo b4 everyone started questioning.

So option 1=
Maths + econ + fm + epq
Option 2: math + econ + fm + chemistry (chose chem cuz its a good subject and I'm relatively good at it n enjoy)

What will be more beneficial for me??? Sorry I only have a few weeks till my deadline to decide but I may be allowed to change it after the deadline but still.
I think I can cope w the workload of 4 a levels so that's not rly the problem it's just if I only had 3 a levels it would be better to focus my energy into them and secure A*/A . But if that can't get me into a uni then no point.

Sorry for all the rambling so

SUMMARY::
- Will doing maths , fm , econ and epq limit me for finance in Russel group since sometimes FM and maths r too narrow and don't count as 3 alevels
if so then would chem a level instead of epq be good

Any advice greatly appreciated :smile:

Reply 1

HarryGTY

I'm no expert but what I hear from older peers is that Chemistry has insanely high grade boundaries and you have to be extremely motivated to do it. A lot of them also say that Physics is much easier. Have you considered Physics? I think that you are clearly bright enough to handle a difficult A level, and its possible that an EPQ won't really show that. From what I can tell people from all different degrees and universities end up in finance and it alls comes out in the wash. Regardless of where you go, you can break into finance. Sorry for the ramble; i'd recommend checking the russell group uni entry requirements and also the data that goes with that: a lot of degrees don't require a specific subject but like 97% of applicants will take them, so you can get a grasp of what actually gets you in. Hope this helps!

Reply 2

McGinger

Check the entry requirements o relevant course pages on various Uni websites - and if in doubt about the Maths/FM issue, EMAIL each Uni and ask, do not just assume that 'I've heard' is correct.
Useful info about Finance etc careers - Accountancy, banking and finance | Prospects.ac.uk
and for the Government Fast Stream it can be a degree in any subject - Finance scheme | Civil Service Careers

Reply 3

labyr5nth

Original post

by McGinger

Wow, i can just email unis? they'll reply??? thanks imma do it deifnitiely then but ill use a burner email cuz im a bit scared lol. thankkksksk

Reply 4

bestselling-head

Original post

by labyr5nth

Was planning to do further maths, maths and econ as i thoight this was a good combo to go into finance sector.
(Have to do an epq w 3 subjects)
HOWEVER lots of ppl r saying maths is limited and Further maths should be taken as a 4th subject and universities sometimes don't consider further maths as a third subject and prefer smth else
I want to go to a Russel groups and for finance stuff FM highly recommended or needed for courses
So what, do I need to do a 4th a level? Is FM and maths and econ too limitimg? Has anyone gotten into finance with them in a Russel group? I thoight it was a good combo b4 everyone started questioning.
So option 1=
Maths + econ + fm + epq
Option 2: math + econ + fm + chemistry (chose chem cuz its a good subject and I'm relatively good at it n enjoy)
What will be more beneficial for me??? Sorry I only have a few weeks till my deadline to decide but I may be allowed to change it after the deadline but still.
I think I can cope w the workload of 4 a levels so that's not rly the problem it's just if I only had 3 a levels it would be better to focus my energy into them and secure A*/A . But if that can't get me into a uni then no point.
Sorry for all the rambling so
SUMMARY::
- Will doing maths , fm , econ and epq limit me for finance in Russel group since sometimes FM and maths r too narrow and don't count as 3 alevels
if so then would chem a level instead of epq be good
Any advice greatly appreciated :smile:

I'm in year 12 now, doing 4 A-levels - maths, fm, econ and computer science. I did the same as you with chemistry - i just liked comp sci so i took it aswell. However, it is so much work. for me, GCSEs were relatively straightforward, got mostly 7s and 8s etc, couple 9s. But it is difficult to do 4., even if you're a high performong student. So, depending on how much homework your college give you(4.5 hours for each subject is mine, so 18 hours of hw a week + 18 hours in class, but it can be done quicker than that normally). I'm also looking as the russel group Unis, specifically LSE, ICL etc. They all want fm from what I've seen, but they cannot legally choose someone over someone else because of a forth subject or something along those lines, so while it may look good on your CV to have 4 A-levels, most Unis may not value it as hgihly as i thought weh nchoosing it. HOWEVER, after seeing the workload my friends get who are dping 3 A-levels, I feel like I would be underworked, which would be a little boring. I still have a social life doing 4(did have to quit basketball which was a shame), I see my girlfirend every weekend without fail, so with good planning it is very possible to maintain a happy sociable life with 4 alevels. I think my main point after some of this waffle is that if you're set on finance, probably do just the 3, with maybe an EPQ, cause if you're smart enough to consider 4, an EPQ will suit you very well. But a warning, fm is definitely challenging. the way my college does it is that i have twice the workload of a normal single maths student, the weekly assignment literally takes me 8 hours a week, as it's meant to. so be prepared for that.

So to summarise:
I would personally go for option 2, purely because: EPQs are excellent, and I thought I had the capacity for 4 A-levels, I definitely do, but jesus christ it's more than i expected. but saying that, still doable with a good schedule and EXCELLENT use of free periods and focus bloody hard in every class, do not leave everything to revision for tests casue you might not actully ahve enough time to revise. Or you might just be smarter than me, in that case, give 4 a go, why the hell not. worse case you drop chem and do an Epq instead, doesn't hurt to try.

Have any other questions or want a full run through of how much work I get, please do let me know on this thread🙂

(edited 1 year ago)

Reply 5

username7461657

Original post

by labyr5nth

Was planning to do further maths, maths and econ as i thoight this was a good combo to go into finance sector.
(Have to do an epq w 3 subjects)
HOWEVER lots of ppl r saying maths is limited and Further maths should be taken as a 4th subject and universities sometimes don't consider further maths as a third subject and prefer smth else
I want to go to a Russel groups and for finance stuff FM highly recommended or needed for courses
So what, do I need to do a 4th a level? Is FM and maths and econ too limitimg? Has anyone gotten into finance with them in a Russel group? I thoight it was a good combo b4 everyone started questioning.
So option 1=
Maths + econ + fm + epq
Option 2: math + econ + fm + chemistry (chose chem cuz its a good subject and I'm relatively good at it n enjoy)
What will be more beneficial for me??? Sorry I only have a few weeks till my deadline to decide but I may be allowed to change it after the deadline but still.
I think I can cope w the workload of 4 a levels so that's not rly the problem it's just if I only had 3 a levels it would be better to focus my energy into them and secure A*/A . But if that can't get me into a uni then no point.
Sorry for all the rambling so
SUMMARY::
- Will doing maths , fm , econ and epq limit me for finance in Russel group since sometimes FM and maths r too narrow and don't count as 3 alevels
if so then would chem a level instead of epq be good
Any advice greatly appreciated :smile:

I'm planning on taking maths further maths comp sci and physics and my sister told me that further maths and maths are basically the same thing if you're good at maths (she got straight 9s so take that with a grain of salt). She said that they did the whole of the maths syllabus when she was in year 12 then did further maths for the rest of year 12 and 13. I don't know how it works wherever you are but where I am if you take further maths you don't really have extra workload. You just do normal maths as fast as humanly possible then do further maths, rather than having extra lessons a week.

Reply 6

labyr5nth

Original post

by bestselling-head

I'm in year 12 now, doing 4 A-levels - maths, fm, econ and computer science. I did the same as you with chemistry - i just liked comp sci so i took it aswell. However, it is so much work. for me, GCSEs were relatively straightforward, got mostly 7s and 8s etc, couple 9s. But it is difficult to do 4., even if you're a high performong student. So, depending on how much homework your college give you(4.5 hours for each subject is mine, so 18 hours of hw a week + 18 hours in class, but it can be done quicker than that normally). I'm also looking as the russel group Unis, specifically LSE, ICL etc. They all want fm from what I've seen, but they cannot legally choose someone over someone else because of a forth subject or something along those lines, so while it may look good on your CV to have 4 A-levels, most Unis may not value it as hgihly as i thought weh nchoosing it. HOWEVER, after seeing the workload my friends get who are dping 3 A-levels, I feel like I would be underworked, which would be a little boring. I still have a social life doing 4(did have to quit basketball which was a shame), I see my girlfirend every weekend without fail, so with good planning it is very possible to maintain a happy sociable life with 4 alevels. I think my main point after some of this waffle is that if you're set on finance, probably do just the 3, with maybe an EPQ, cause if you're smart enough to consider 4, an EPQ will suit you very well. But a warning, fm is definitely challenging. the way my college does it is that i have twice the workload of a normal single maths student, the weekly assignment literally takes me 8 hours a week, as it's meant to. so be prepared for that.
So to summarise:
I would personally go for option 2, purely because: EPQs are excellent, and I thought I had the capacity for 4 A-levels, I definitely do, but jesus christ it's more than i expected. but saying that, still doable with a good schedule and EXCELLENT use of free periods and focus bloody hard in every class, do not leave everything to revision for tests casue you might not actully ahve enough time to revise. Or you might just be smarter than me, in that case, give 4 a go, why the hell not. worse case you drop chem and do an Epq instead, doesn't hurt to try.
Have any other questions or want a full run through of how much work I get, please do let me know on this thread🙂

aw thank you so much (:
damn ur dedicated af great job

uhm within the last hour I did some research and icba to do finance there r so many extra qualifications after uni and I want to start working with no more degrees after uni so I decided to do switch to engineering so I guess my subjects r changing again.

I have a diff problem w engineering like since I'm doing physics and maths I'm really scared I won't be able to do further maths since all those subjects r really analytical heavy and physics and fm r both so hard so combined seem like hell but unis like further marhs aaksishwbwhshebw idk what tk do

Reply 7

bestselling-head

Original post

by labyr5nth

aw thank you so much (:
damn ur dedicated af great job
uhm within the last hour I did some research and icba to do finance there r so many extra qualifications after uni and I want to start working with no more degrees after uni so I decided to do switch to engineering so I guess my subjects r changing again.
I have a diff problem w engineering like since I'm doing physics and maths I'm really scared I won't be able to do further maths since all those subjects r really analytical heavy and physics and fm r both so hard so combined seem like hell but unis like further marhs aaksishwbwhshebw idk what tk do

ah that is a tricky one. I think it all depends on what you enjoy at GCse level. My fave subject was always maths, hence why i chose fm, and it has never felt like a pain to revise or do my maths work, just because i love it, in the most unashamed nerdy way possible. so if you really love maths, fm will be percectly fine for you, especially if you're a bright spark. I've got loads of riends doiung maths, fm and physics, they all seem to be perfectly fine with it, the most laid back and chill guys I know. it also really helps that they overlap each other, which is perfect for the mechanics side of maths, you learn the exact same thing. But you will spend most of your life doing maths, so you better ******* love it😅. also, another tip, i assume you're revising for GCses around now, i'd have a think about whether you at the minimum don't mind revising physics, because that's why i chose comp sci, i enjoyed revising it and was interested in it.sorry for these long ass paragraphs but these are difficult questions to answer😅.

I was set on choosing physics for about a year and a half, then realised i actually hate most of physics, all the electrical circuits **** and forces and whatnot, bored the hell out of me. all i really deeply loved, still do, was the theoretical space physics side of it, which is unortunately only at university level😅. and i didnt want to risk doing an alevel i hated and got bored of, because i doubted id get a fantastic grade in it. so if you like most of physics, then go for it, my friends say its mainly maths anyway!

Reply 8

SaM847302

Original post

by labyr5nth

Was planning to do further maths, maths and econ as i thoight this was a good combo to go into finance sector.
(Have to do an epq w 3 subjects)
HOWEVER lots of ppl r saying maths is limited and Further maths should be taken as a 4th subject and universities sometimes don't consider further maths as a third subject and prefer smth else
I want to go to a Russel groups and for finance stuff FM highly recommended or needed for courses
So what, do I need to do a 4th a level? Is FM and maths and econ too limitimg? Has anyone gotten into finance with them in a Russel group? I thoight it was a good combo b4 everyone started questioning.
So option 1=
Maths + econ + fm + epq
Option 2: math + econ + fm + chemistry (chose chem cuz its a good subject and I'm relatively good at it n enjoy)
What will be more beneficial for me??? Sorry I only have a few weeks till my deadline to decide but I may be allowed to change it after the deadline but still.
I think I can cope w the workload of 4 a levels so that's not rly the problem it's just if I only had 3 a levels it would be better to focus my energy into them and secure A*/A . But if that can't get me into a uni then no point.
Sorry for all the rambling so
SUMMARY::
- Will doing maths , fm , econ and epq limit me for finance in Russel group since sometimes FM and maths r too narrow and don't count as 3 alevels
if so then would chem a level instead of epq be good
Any advice greatly appreciated :smile:

hi, i take fm maths and physics and it really depends on ur course. for some courses and universities, it's limiting and not as competitive. however, i have gotten offers from warwick, ucl and southampton with my combination.

Reply 9

labyr5nth

Original post

by SaM847302

What course r u doing? Engineering? (I'm thinking of substituting economics w phyiscs)

Reply 10

username1805

Original post

by labyr5nth

What course r u doing? Engineering? (I'm thinking of substituting economics w phyiscs)

what made u swicth to engineering lol bc im in yr11 and i was going to do chem math further and econ and epq to go into finance but now ur scaring me lol. also idk whether to swicth to phsyics bc chem is lowk so hard but then again so is physics a level apprently like idk what to do??

Reply 11

lizziekoz09

Original post

by labyr5nth

Was planning to do further maths, maths and econ as i thoight this was a good combo to go into finance sector.
(Have to do an epq w 3 subjects)
HOWEVER lots of ppl r saying maths is limited and Further maths should be taken as a 4th subject and universities sometimes don't consider further maths as a third subject and prefer smth else
I want to go to a Russel groups and for finance stuff FM highly recommended or needed for courses
So what, do I need to do a 4th a level? Is FM and maths and econ too limitimg? Has anyone gotten into finance with them in a Russel group? I thoight it was a good combo b4 everyone started questioning.
So option 1=
Maths + econ + fm + epq
Option 2: math + econ + fm + chemistry (chose chem cuz its a good subject and I'm relatively good at it n enjoy)
What will be more beneficial for me??? Sorry I only have a few weeks till my deadline to decide but I may be allowed to change it after the deadline but still.
I think I can cope w the workload of 4 a levels so that's not rly the problem it's just if I only had 3 a levels it would be better to focus my energy into them and secure A*/A . But if that can't get me into a uni then no point.
Sorry for all the rambling so
SUMMARY::
- Will doing maths , fm , econ and epq limit me for finance in Russel group since sometimes FM and maths r too narrow and don't count as 3 alevels
if so then would chem a level instead of epq be good
Any advice greatly appreciated :smile:

Hey, I'm in the same situation, I'm doing maths further maths economics epq but I am also doing russian, so I'm not sure if it's too late but if you're fluent at a language maybe consider taking it at alevel?