Subject Matters: The Importance of Your Post-16 Subject Choices

As you move on from secondary school and enter post-16 education, the choices you make regarding your subjects are pivotal. These choices lay the foundation for your academic journey and shape your future prospects. In this article, I will not only emphasise the significance of these choices but also provide practical guidance on how to choose them.

People are usually torn between picking subject choices that they think will land them an amazing job, and picking those that align with their skills and interests. Striking a balance between these can be important, but definitely not essential. Yes, follow your heart, but also keep an eye on reality. What does the job market look like in your fields of interest? This doesn't mean compromising your dreams; it's about making informed choices that blend aspiration with awareness.

When I was making my decision of the subjects I was going to study at A Level, I was set on English Literature, History, Maths and Economics. I thought this broad range would keep my options open so that I could possibly go into Finance or Law, but also these were subjects that I enjoyed and did well at in my GCSEs. Once I realised that Further Maths is strongly recommended for most Engineering and Economics courses at Oxbridge and other Russell Group universities, I had to reevaluate and shift from my original stance. I ended up picking Maths, Further Maths, Chemistry and Economics.

Often, students who have done well in a subject at GCSE level will opt to continue studying this further at A Level, but if this is the only criteria considered when choosing your subjects, then you may end up with a combination of unrelated subjects that you got higher grades in compared to the others. For example, you may have achieved your highest grades in Religious Studies, Chemistry and Physical Education, however picking these three as your A Level subjects simply based on this is unwise due to their dissimilarities. It is crucial to pick subjects that complement each other. This means that the skills you learn in one subject are relevant and related to those from another subject, so will enhance your understanding of the field. This is important because most universities have subject requirements which mostly has at least two subjects that they require their students to have. Traditional subject pairings include:

• Any variation of Maths, Chemistry, Physics and Biology if you are interested in Physical or Biological Sciences

• History, English Literature, Psychology or another essay-based subject if you are interested in Humanities

• Art, Mathematics, Further Maths or Physics if you are interested in Architecture

You must understand that for some career paths, there are certain subjects that are essential for you to take, if you choose a traditional route. However you can still pick two subjects that complement each other, whilst using the other to keep your options open as your interests develop through the upcoming year. Examples of traditional routes are:

1) Career in Banking or Finance

• Key Subject: Mathematics.

• Complementary Subjects: Economics (for understanding market trends), Business Studies (for insights into business operations), Psychology (to understand consumer behaviour), or Computer Science (for data analysis skills). Further Maths is also recommended at competitive universities.

2) Career in Engineering

• Key Subject: Physics.

• Complementary Subjects: Mathematics and/or Further Mathematics (for engineering calculations), Computer Science (for coding and software design in engineering).

3) Career in Medicine

• Key Subject: Biology.

• Complementary Subjects: Chemistry (for understanding drug interactions and body chemistry), Physics (for medical imaging technologies), Psychology (to understand patient care), or Mathematics (for statistical analysis).

It should be noted that many subjects, such as Law and Theology do not have specific subject requirements. Those coming from STEM and Humanities background both have skills that are valuable and applicable to these disciplines. Ultimately, you're not just choosing subjects; you're setting the stage for your future. Embrace this phase with optimism and an open mind. Your choices now are crucial, but they're just one part of your ongoing educational journey.

For further advice on making the right subject choices for the courses you are considering for university, be sure to register for the webinar (linked at the top of this blog post) from Christ’s College, Cambridge.

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Written by C.F Okolo