What should I do as my fourth A Level?

3

My main career is to get into engineering (either mechanical, aerospace or biomedical engineering, but my main career paths are the first two), but I may choose other types of engineering because it's so interesting. I may pursue an economics career because I enjoyed it at GCSE, so I am considering doing it at an A Level. I am definitely going to do Physics, Maths and Further Maths for A Level, but I've been in a dilemma on what to choose as my fourth A Level (it will either be Chemistry or Economics) because I have to start with four at the start of year 12. The advantages of Chemistry are that it is a good subject to accompany engineering, will be helpful for Biomedical Engineering and is a broad subject. The disadvantage is that I don't need it for mechanical or aerospace engineering. The advantages of Economics are I really enjoy it at GCSE, I am considering a career in economics, and it will be a nice break from maths and science. The disadvantages are that it doesn't help engineering as much as Chemistry, and you don't need Economics A Level to do Economics at university (but a lot of people do, and it might be a disadvantage for me if I don't take it)

Reply 1

MaterialsEng

11

Original post

by The Samurai

My main career is to get into engineering (either mechanical, aerospace or biomedical engineering, but my main career paths are the first two), but I may choose other types of engineering because it's so interesting. I may pursue an economics career because I enjoyed it at GCSE, so I am considering doing it at an A Level. I am definitely going to do Physics, Maths and Further Maths for A Level, but I've been in a dilemma on what to choose as my fourth A Level (it will either be Chemistry or Economics) because I have to start with four at the start of year 12. The advantages of Chemistry are that it is a good subject to accompany engineering, will be helpful for Biomedical Engineering and is a broad subject. The disadvantage is that I don't need it for mechanical or aerospace engineering. The advantages of Economics are I really enjoy it at GCSE, I am considering a career in economics, and it will be a nice break from maths and science. The disadvantages are that it doesn't help engineering as much as Chemistry, and you don't need Economics A Level to do Economics at university (but a lot of people do, and it might be a disadvantage for me if I don't take it)

So I do materials engineering which no one really knows exist until they get to university etc, but what we do relates very heavily to both mechanical and aerospace, with a lot of focus on novel ideas, manufacturing and optimisation. In fact, for most of my degree, I have been doing aerospace research for various large companies and have published, which most aerospace engineering students don't actually get the opportunity to do, but materials has great funding with low cohort numbers so opportunities have been easier to find and thrive in. The one A-Level I wish I had done is Chemistry, it relates so much to mechanical, aerospace and materials engineering (and nuclear which is the other field my degree relates too) and I am constantly having to refer to chem concepts that I wish I had studied more. I actually wish I had done chem instead of physics looking back, but I would of never of known that until I started my degree.

Reply 2

nabs9953

9

Original post

by The Samurai

My main career is to get into engineering (either mechanical, aerospace or biomedical engineering, but my main career paths are the first two), but I may choose other types of engineering because it's so interesting. I may pursue an economics career because I enjoyed it at GCSE, so I am considering doing it at an A Level. I am definitely going to do Physics, Maths and Further Maths for A Level, but I've been in a dilemma on what to choose as my fourth A Level (it will either be Chemistry or Economics) because I have to start with four at the start of year 12. The advantages of Chemistry are that it is a good subject to accompany engineering, will be helpful for Biomedical Engineering and is a broad subject. The disadvantage is that I don't need it for mechanical or aerospace engineering. The advantages of Economics are I really enjoy it at GCSE, I am considering a career in economics, and it will be a nice break from maths and science. The disadvantages are that it doesn't help engineering as much as Chemistry, and you don't need Economics A Level to do Economics at university (but a lot of people do, and it might be a disadvantage for me if I don't take it)

I was in a very similar position and honestly we have very similar job preferences, i picked mths, further, physics and chem.

it was a hard decision but i didnt need econ to study it at uni and it was between geo and chem for which i picked chem because i enjoy it! so now im open to engineering and econ related degrees.

I might even do pure maths at uni to go in the quant sector.. seems cool!!

GOODLUCK! im sure you'll find what is right.

Reply 3

Wired_1800

20

Original post

by The Samurai

My main career is to get into engineering (either mechanical, aerospace or biomedical engineering, but my main career paths are the first two), but I may choose other types of engineering because it's so interesting. I may pursue an economics career because I enjoyed it at GCSE, so I am considering doing it at an A Level. I am definitely going to do Physics, Maths and Further Maths for A Level, but I've been in a dilemma on what to choose as my fourth A Level (it will either be Chemistry or Economics) because I have to start with four at the start of year 12. The advantages of Chemistry are that it is a good subject to accompany engineering, will be helpful for Biomedical Engineering and is a broad subject. The disadvantage is that I don't need it for mechanical or aerospace engineering. The advantages of Economics are I really enjoy it at GCSE, I am considering a career in economics, and it will be a nice break from maths and science. The disadvantages are that it doesn't help engineering as much as Chemistry, and you don't need Economics A Level to do Economics at university (but a lot of people do, and it might be a disadvantage for me if I don't take it)

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What should I do as my fourth A Level?

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