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Help selecting A levels

Hello ^^

Having a wee bit of a dilemma. I live in a town with quite limited options for sixth forms and colleges unless I want to get up at the crack of dawn and either pay a load of money for a really long bus journey or pay a load of money to get three different trains. I really want to study media at UCL after a level and that requires AAB. None of the schools in my town offer GCSE media (as far as I’m aware (and if they do it’s a bit late now)) so I’ve planned to do it at a level however the only places that offer a level media is my current school’s sixth form and a college that is about an hour away by bus. I want to keep my options open while also studying subjects that will allow me to get onto the course I want. Any suggestions on the best subjects to take for a media degree and that are also not a huge jump from GCSE because I do not have a backup plan if I don’t get those A’s 😭

Also a bit of insight into my GCSEs because ik that’s important:

I’m predicted all sevens (apart from an eight in history) but working at slightly higher/lower grades in other subjects. My options were Art, drama, history and French and the grades off target are science at a 7-6 from a 7-7, drama when I’m on an 8 almost 9, English language is a 9 and literature is an 8.

In summary, please be my crystal ball thank u

Reply 1

Politics, English literature or language?

Reply 2

English is a good option, subjects like history, psychology and sociology would also be strong choices if you have an interest in them. Check the entry requirements for some degrees of interest to see if any require specific subjects, other than that pick what you think you will enjoy!

Reply 3

Original post
by music_obsessed
Politics, English literature or language?


Was def gonna do lit, never considered politics tho, I’ll check it out

Reply 4

Original post
by DerDracologe
English is a good option, subjects like history, psychology and sociology would also be strong choices if you have an interest in them. Check the entry requirements for some degrees of interest to see if any require specific subjects, other than that pick what you think you will enjoy!


Definitely English, I enjoy history so it’s not a bad option and I’ve never looked at the ologys so I’ll do my research :smile:

Reply 5

If you're looking at Media and based on your grade profile, English (either, but I did lit for a year and it was great fun), and Drama would both be good options. English language probably more relevant to Media, but just be prepared for what the course actually involves as it isn't like the GCSE. And yeah Psychology or Sociology would both make sense.

Reply 6

Original post
by CaptainR1ver
Hello ^^
Having a wee bit of a dilemma. I live in a town with quite limited options for sixth forms and colleges unless I want to get up at the crack of dawn and either pay a load of money for a really long bus journey or pay a load of money to get three different trains. I really want to study media at UCL after a level and that requires AAB. None of the schools in my town offer GCSE media (as far as I’m aware (and if they do it’s a bit late now)) so I’ve planned to do it at a level however the only places that offer a level media is my current school’s sixth form and a college that is about an hour away by bus. I want to keep my options open while also studying subjects that will allow me to get onto the course I want. Any suggestions on the best subjects to take for a media degree and that are also not a huge jump from GCSE because I do not have a backup plan if I don’t get those A’s 😭
Also a bit of insight into my GCSEs because ik that’s important:
I’m predicted all sevens (apart from an eight in history) but working at slightly higher/lower grades in other subjects. My options were Art, drama, history and French and the grades off target are science at a 7-6 from a 7-7, drama when I’m on an 8 almost 9, English language is a 9 and literature is an 8.
In summary, please be my crystal ball thank u

I agree with the other replies, but you should check out film studies and graphic communcation if your sixth form offers it. I do both and they have some similarities to the media a-level my friend does.

Reply 7

Original post
by ECW25
I agree with the other replies, but you should check out film studies and graphic communcation if your sixth form offers it. I do both and they have some similarities to the media a-level my friend does.


That’s a huge help, my main fear was heading to uni with no experience, I’ll keep an eye out for them on the prospects at my local collages/sixth forms

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