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a-level choices advice

I'm thinking of going into patent law in the future so I want to get some sort of stem (specifically engineering mostly) degree

I'm confident that I want to do Maths and Physics a-level but I'm having trouble picking the third option. For me, it's between Spanish with an EPQ or just history. Personally, I like Spanish more than History and I would say I can do Spanish much more better than history but would history be helpful for the law conversion year after uni?

I'm just afraid that taking no essay-based subjects will worsen my analytical skills in english and make the law conversion harder (history is also recommended for law mostly), however that's why I think an EPQ might help balance it out as taking Spanish may make my a-level load a bit lighter .

Additionally if I properly learn Spanish it could be very useful as another language for the future.

Any advice / what do you think?

Reply 1

McGinger

Postgrad Law conversions will only be interested in your undergrad degree, not your A levels. And its very rare for any STEM undergrad degree to specify more than two essential A level subjects - so just pick a 3rd subject that you will enjoy studying and where you feel confident of a good grade.

Reply 2

ashlesha.rai

Original post

by McGinger

Oh I see - thank you very much! Do you think taking an EPQ would be valuable only if it’s related to the stem degree I may want to do?

Reply 3

Emma:-)

Entertainment Forum Helper, Careers Forum Helper

Original post

by ashlesha.rai

I'm thinking of going into patent law in the future so I want to get some sort of stem (specifically engineering mostly) degree
I'm confident that I want to do Maths and Physics a-level but I'm having trouble picking the third option. For me, it's between Spanish with an EPQ or just history. Personally, I like Spanish more than History and I would say I can do Spanish much more better than history but would history be helpful for the law conversion year after uni?
I'm just afraid that taking no essay-based subjects will worsen my analytical skills in english and make the law conversion harder (history is also recommended for law mostly), however that's why I think an EPQ might help balance it out as taking Spanish may make my a-level load a bit lighter .
Additionally if I properly learn Spanish it could be very useful as another language for the future.
Any advice / what do you think?

If you like spanish more and think you will get a better grade in it then id do spanish.
Like you say, a language is a useful thing to take. Plus it could still be classed as an essay/analytical subject.
And do an EPQ in whatever subject you want. Job done.

Reply 4

ashlesha.rai

Thank you so much!! I feel much more confident about what I want to do for sixth form :smile:

Reply 5

UniofLawstudent3

Official Rep

Original post

by ashlesha.rai

I'm thinking of going into patent law in the future so I want to get some sort of stem (specifically engineering mostly) degree
I'm confident that I want to do Maths and Physics a-level but I'm having trouble picking the third option. For me, it's between Spanish with an EPQ or just history. Personally, I like Spanish more than History and I would say I can do Spanish much more better than history but would history be helpful for the law conversion year after uni?
I'm just afraid that taking no essay-based subjects will worsen my analytical skills in english and make the law conversion harder (history is also recommended for law mostly), however that's why I think an EPQ might help balance it out as taking Spanish may make my a-level load a bit lighter .
Additionally if I properly learn Spanish it could be very useful as another language for the future.
Any advice / what do you think?

Hello,

I would definitely recommend doing Spanish since you prefer it and think you can do better in it! A higher grade will have more impact on your university and job applications than the actual subject you take. I don't think it would make a difference to have done an essay subject at A-level at all by the time you get to your law conversion - after doing a degree, A-levels will feel like a long time ago, and the type of writing you will be doing on a PgDL is very different from a History A-level. I did a History degree, and it was still a learning curve to write legal essays! I know many STEM students who haven't done any essay-based subjects since GCSEs who have succeeded in law.

Spanish is also a very well-regarded A-level, so there would be no need to supplement it with an EPQ, but if you have a topic you are interested in and think you would be able to keep the rest of your grades up, then go ahead :smile:

I hope this helps!

Layla
SQE LLM student

Reply 6

ashlesha.rai

Original post

by UniofLawstudent3

Hello,
I would definitely recommend doing Spanish since you prefer it and think you can do better in it! A higher grade will have more impact on your university and job applications than the actual subject you take. I don't think it would make a difference to have done an essay subject at A-level at all by the time you get to your law conversion - after doing a degree, A-levels will feel like a long time ago, and the type of writing you will be doing on a PgDL is very different from a History A-level. I did a History degree, and it was still a learning curve to write legal essays! I know many STEM students who haven't done any essay-based subjects since GCSEs who have succeeded in law.
Spanish is also a very well-regarded A-level, so there would be no need to supplement it with an EPQ, but if you have a topic you are interested in and think you would be able to keep the rest of your grades up, then go ahead :smile:

I hope this helps!
Layla
SQE LLM student