kitbag Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 Hi guys - i need a bit of advice! I have got 2 weeks to come to a decision of what A levels to take! It seems like only yesterday i was going up to 'big school'! The thing is, what A levels to take!? I am pretty sure that i want to do occupational therapy at uni, so i was thinking Psychology, music, health and social and biology. But i was thinking about what if the A levels arn't to the university's satisfaction!? I want to go to Oxford Brookes or Southampton uni, but i'm worried that i won't get the grades. Also, i'm not sure that health and social will be classed as a 'proper' A level! I'm sorry, but i'm really confused! Can anyone help!? xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phoebe Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 If you are doing occup therapy then I would think health and social care would be ideal. I am aware that 1 uni (?Bournemouth) which my nephew applied to would not count music, although Oxford where my daughter is, did. I would check the uni prospectuses for guidance as to what they do and don't accept. Have confidence - do the subjects you like, work hard and you will do the best you can. You will have plenty of time to consider uni applications in 18m time; by which time you will have done AS levels and have a better idea of what sort of grades you are capable of Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoid Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 Have a look at the connexions website. It is very very useful: http://www.connexions-direct.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitbag Posted January 11, 2009 Author Share Posted January 11, 2009 Thanks Fred - That website is good! I'm sorry to seem a bit of a stupid worrier, its just i don't know what to lol! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 Health and Social is useful and if you were to go on and do a degree course in it its a useful one for fast-track career progression paths in some organisations. Do choose courses where your school has a steady teacher and a good history in, too many supply teachers will cause havoc in A Levels. As already stated music may not be taken as seriously by some universities. Biology is a good choice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janepie33 Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 The UCAS website is very useful. You can look up the courses you want to do and follow the links to find out which subjects you will need at A level to apply for the course. Some courses just seem to require UCAS points and others require points with specific subjects. Both my children are doing a levels at the moment and have ended up doing totally different A levels to the ones they chose in the first place. The best advice they were given was to choose subjects they enjoy. Good luck with your GCSEs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 have you contacted the universitites that you are interested in? they would be the best people to tel you. My SIL is an OT, I will ask her what she did next time I see her. what is the best Uni for OT? I went to Salford and I know that it had a very good health dept when I went there (I graduated in '96) dont know what its like now though. I think SIL went to Newcastle. hope this is helpful cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 have you contacted the universitites that you are interested in? they would be the best people to tel you. was thinking the same myself, or ask your teacher/s? I think it's very admirable to be so focussed so young, good luck with what you decide!!!! Wish I knew what I wanted to do when I grow up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 My eldest has to decide on her college courses this week too. She has the added worry of having no idea what she wants to do or study long term, so is playing to her strengths. She is doing her double english AS early, so will actually do the A level in the fisrt year of college rather than over 2 years then has choosen Psychology, French & Media Studies, with Photography as an extra time activity. Becuase she will only be doing English for the first year, she can pick up a different year long course in her second year,if she wants. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhapsody Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 When Elder Son was choosing his AS and A levels we were told by his housemaster that some of the more prestigious unis take a very dim view of more than one vocational subject at this level, and that it is better to have under your belt the subjects that are relevant rather than the subject itself (does that make sense?) so for instance if you wanted to read psychology at uni, get biology at A level rather than psychology! I would say from your post you would be wise to chat to someone about it. Good luck for your future! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 Wish I knew what I wanted to do when I grow up Maybe we haven't grown up enough to decide Poet? Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisP Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 Choose subjects you like! It sounds simple, but so many people choose subjects they are doing well in in GCSE and then when it comes to AS they find they don't like it anymore and stop trying (I did this ) Also, as others have suggested, check with your possible chosen uni's what subjects they like and try and encorporate these into your choices In my A2 year, and it's so much better if you like your subjects! Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitbag Posted January 12, 2009 Author Share Posted January 12, 2009 Thanks guys! I have booked a meeting with the careers people at the school! We have also got taster a level lessons this week! (luckily, my school has a sixth form!) I am also going to an open day at Southampton! Yay! xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phonix Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 I would say rather than emailing uni's because they can take forever to get back to you check their web-pages for the subject you want to do and see if they give any guidance on there or im sure there's a link somewhere on UCAS where you can click on a certain uni and it will tell you if there are any certain subjects that they will not accept (when we were applying some didn't accept general studies which was a bit of a bummer cos we HAD to do it!). As everyone says - take what you enjoy. I took chemistry because I liked it but didn't do too well and now wish I'd done something I was better at but it doesn't really matter because I only needed AABC for uni because I one was general studies so the C in chemistry wasn't a problem! MY other subjects were gen studies, english lang and history! x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenanne Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 I agree with the idea of not doing too many "vocational"-type A-levels and instead try for more academic ones; lots of uni's are not keen on the vocational type A-levels. Am not convinced that not having a relevant vocational A level would bar you from a course, but not having enough academic ones might. I know that A levels are all the same standard etc etc; BUT it's how they're viewed by uni's /employers that will matter once you've got them. How about doing a social science, like history /geography (can you do human geography?). But, ultimately you really need to choose the ones you enjoy as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laurmurf Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 hi, i'm laurmurf's daughter, and currently in year 13 (last year of A levels) I'm doing Biology, Chemistry and Psychology. I don't know what you like, but i personally find both biology and psychology really good subjects, really interesting and quite fun, although both quite difficult and heavy on the workloads (not trying to scare you, just being truthful). i would suggest looking at a range of university websites that offer occupational therapy (you can probably find a list of the ones that offer it on the internet somewhere) to see what subjects they are looking for to help you make the choice. it's helpful that you know what you want to do because it means you know exactly what to look for. if you have any specific unis in mind, check their websites, often they will have all their subjects and the requirements on the website, but if not, their is no harm in ordering a prospectus to get a really indepth view. Or you could contact a department manager or admin officer for more info if it's not on the site. best of luck! hope you find out what you need! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laurmurf Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 OH, and another thing! sometimes unis will ask for a specific number of tariff points which can be made up of anything, or they'll ask for a specific set of grades, and sometimes they will ask for specific grades in specific subjects, so it's very important to check EXACTLY what they are asking for and if the website or prospectus is a bit unclear don't hesitate to email someone to check! and even if they are asking (for example) for an A in bio, an A in health+social and a B in psychology specifically and you have been predicted (and will probably only get) a B in bio, a C in Health+social but an A in psych, you are better off checking to make sure they don't have any special allowances or room for consideration before putting them aside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillfamily Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 Thanks guys! I have booked a meeting with the careers people at the school! We have also got taster a level lessons this week! (luckily, my school has a sixth form!) I am also going to an open day at Southampton! Yay! xxx Good idea to seek the advice of the careers people :D My DS is doing his AS levels at the mo and he has had to take certain A levels to go onto do his degree Can I ask.....when is the open day at Southampton (I'm assuming from your previous post it's the Uni) My DS is considering Southampton as a Uni and it might help him to go along to the open day. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 Definitely look at the course entry requirements of Universities then you'll get a better idea. I have to make the same decision too, just have to go to another college open evening first, then I'll get my applications in this week. Am only slightly scared! Actually, it will be a relief getting off to college as I'll have less subjects to do. Also pick subjects which you can use for other things, so if you do change your mind you'll be able to find another career path. So far I have three definites, Biology, Physics and Maths and am now deciding the fourth, possibly fashion and textiles, english language or chemistry, (Edging towards textilesand Chemistry at the mo!). Let us know how you're getting on anyway! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitbag Posted January 12, 2009 Author Share Posted January 12, 2009 Can I ask.....when is the open day at Southampton (I'm assuming from your previous post it's the Uni) My DS is considering Southampton as a Uni and it might help him to go along to the open day. Thanks Yup I meant the uni! sorry if i was unclear lol! There is an open day on the 3rd of July! Yay! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillfamily Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 thanks Megan :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms Marple Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 Hi Kitbag. Lots of great advice here already -Lauramurf's daughter is spot on though. You must look at the uni website pages and also ucas. It does depend very much on the uni as the 'redbricks' (Nottingham, Manchester etc) tend to be less enthusiastic about vocational qualifications. Psychology is also seen as an 'easy' A level apparently. However, it is becoming more and more important to choose subjects that you are good at and enjoy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 Am only slightly scared! Actually, it will be a relief getting off to college as I'll have less subjects to do. Thats Devons way of thinking too I am impressed with anyone who has an ida about what they want to do at 15/16. My girl has no idea, so contacting unis to see what they need for certain courses is not going to work for her. She is picking what she likes & what she is good at. Its the college open evening tonight, she had a whole day there last term & loved it, so hopefully we can get more ideas on what will suit her. She is worried about making the wrong choices,the poor thing. Feel for me ladies, as well as my eldest choosing her college courses this week, my youngest is picking her year 10/11 options My house is a seething mass of moody teenagers worrying about school at the moment Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellekatz Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 Am only slightly scared! Actually, it will be a relief getting off to college as I'll have less subjects to do. Thats Devons way of thinking too I am impressed with anyone who has an ida about what they want to do at 15/16. My girl has no idea, so contacting unis to see what they need for certain courses is not going to work for her. She is picking what she likes & what she is good at. Its the college open evening tonight, she had a whole day there last term & loved it, so hopefully we can get more ideas on what will suit her. She is worried about making the wrong choices,the poor thing. Feel for me ladies, as well as my eldest choosing her college courses this week, my youngest is picking her year 10/11 options My house is a seething mass of moody teenagers worrying about school at the moment You and me both! My DD had to have her choices in at school before Christmas as she is staying on for 6th form there. She has decided on English Language, Music, German and Economics or Maths, depending on timetabling.She has no idea what she wants to do but is assured that Music (as opposed to Music technology) is counted as a proper A level by the Russell Group Unis and she will also have her Music grades to add to her points tally ( hopefully Grade VIII flute before she finished school).Meanwhile........... DS is choosing his GCSEs ( not that he gets much choice - only 2 or 3) and we have parents evening for that this Thursday. He has already had a taster day at Manchester University but again has no idea what he wants to do. I have told him to do what he enjoys and is good at - he is the one who will have to do it for the next two years!! I dont ever remember it being such a big deal when I chose Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 I did Chemistry, Biology, Physics & General Studies (GS because we had to). I chose these because I liked Science & was good at it. I later did Food Chemistry & Microbiology. Then got a job is Histology ( Pathology, cutting up body bits). So it was quite diverse from Food testing! I now don't use any of what I studied & wish I'd done a vocational course instead like hairdressing & beauty. Funny isn't it? I think 15/ 16 is too young to choose your options & I think 18 is stupid age to choosewhat job you want to go into. I think you know more at 25 - 30. Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
