A level choices. help?

Question

I want to read geography at university and Cambridge said History, English, a science and a language are on track to go to either Oxford or Cambridge. i have the choice of

Geography, Economics, Philosophy and Ethics and History 20th century or Geography, Economics, History 16th century and Psycohology.

I am reluctant as what History do i do and psychology is seen as a soft subject but i really want to do16th History. SOS

Also do i need a science to do geography at A level.

Answer 1

I very much doubt you need a science to do geography

I'm not sure about Oxford, but regarding Cambridge, the offical line is:

It really doesn't matter what subjects you have studied before coming to Cambridge to read Geography. It isn't even essential to have studied Geography (although most students will have done so). If you are particularly interested in Contemporary Human or Historical Geography, then Economics, English Literature, History and Sociology are useful supporting subjects; if you are interested in Physical Geography, then Biology, Geology, Mathematics and Physics are useful; and wherever your interests lie, a working knowledge of a foreign language will help you to keep in touch with developments in what is, after all, an international discipline, and to gain a greater insight into the courses in regional geography offered in the second and third years.

Do the history you like the most. Cambridge do not regard psychology as a soft subject (you can see their list of "soft subjects at http://www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/requirements/#alevels)
and you only need 3 A Levels to apply so you can always drop it later. If you have any doubts, 'phone the faculty office. They are very friendly and would be happy to help you.

Undergraduate Office Administrator,
Undergraduate Office,
Department of Geography,
Downing Place,
Cambridge CB2 3EN
United Kingdom

Telephone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

E-mail: [e-mail]

When it gets closer to application time, bear in mind that Christ's College gives preference to applicants with Mathematics at A level, so you might want to avoid that college. Otherwise, there are no restrictions.

Good luck with whatever you choose :)

Answer 2

You don't need a science if you are doing human geography, it's helpful but not essential for physical geography at A-Level.
Psychology isn't really seen as a soft subject, it's very interesting but a lot of work.
Philosophy and ethics will be useful for geography at uni (more so the ethics part for research) and depending on what topics your uni course covers 20th century history will probably be more useful, however both sets of choices will set up well so its more important that you do the set that interests you more.
Good luck with it!