Are we softies?

So, leading universities are warning pupils against studying ‘soft’ A-levels and encouraging them to take traditional subjects if they want to be considered for degree courses.

Let’s put aside the whole debate about whether A-levels are becoming easier (a subject always guaranteed to come up at this time of year – hurrah for predictability!), and focus on the issue at hand: if you want a career in communications, film or media, would it not make sense to study these subjects rather than science or languages? How would studying subjects that are not relevant to your chosen degree benefit or help you once at University?!

In addition, are universities being hypocritical: don’t they themselves offer degree courses in those very subjects they class as soft? By default, surely studying them at degree level would equally be a soft option?

Claiming that studying these second generation subjects leaves students less able or prepared to cope with the demands of a degree course is unfair. Communications can be a hard and often thankless job, but equally it is exciting and motivating, fast-moving and demanding. Any knowledge gained about the industry before entering it can only be a good thing.

Ask yourself this question: has studying communications led you to a ‘soft’ job, or has that choice resulted in a full, demanding and stimulating career?

We think the answer is clear and know what our choices would be, were we to do it all again!