gcse options to take for archaeology career?

[meltoadhall]

my daughter wants to do archaeology in the future but now has to decide on her options for gsce's. she wants to do history, geography, latin, german and for balance drama or food tech. but she can only choose 4. she must do english lit and lang, maths and sciences but cant decide which other ones to do any suggestions?

[dot.hawkes]

what about Human Physiology! Is that on the GCSE timetable yet? It will be at the advanced level, if ashe isn't doing anything to do with bones she would not be too hot on a dig, though i know they do have specialists usually.

[meltoadhall]

not an option at her school, think she'd have to wait till uni for that.

[ChocolatChip]

To be honest, GCSEs won't really matter in the long run, as long as she enjoys the subjects and does them well, there shouldn't be a problem.
It's more A levels and then higher education she'll need to think about. And she's only in year 9 now, if she was anything like me, she'll change her mind 20 times before she starts A levels.

[meltoadhall]

we know she needs a level history and english.

she seems pretty sure this is what she wants, she's a member of the young archaeology club and has been for several years, but there is so much pressure at school to choose the right gcse's (and this is my first child doing them) that I'm dreading parent evening in 3 weeks.

[Lil O'lady]

There are different requirements depending on the Uni course you choose - some are science based, others study one particular era in depth. Like Choc says, GCSE isn't the issue - they sorta prove you are numerate, literate and have got a bit of oomph. A-levels are a different matter and these should be chosen with a couple of specific uni courses in mind.
The other very practical consideration is what to do for a living afterwards, as jobs that pay enough for rent and food are quite rare. Consider a standby post-grad qualification that will keep you in lean times. I did a PGCE and have bobbed in and out of archaeology as jobs came along. In the end, teaching paid better and was more reliable. But I kept my hand in by teaching archaeology to adults in the evening for WEA!

[ChocolatChip]

Don't worry about the school. Is it a tuition school?
Just ask her what GCSEs she wants to do, and follow that.

[saxy_jag]

Depends where she wants to specialise, but Latin is good. Geography is another good choice - there's a lot of map work and site analysis involved, plus the study of communities and how they move and develop, all of which are covered in geography.

History is very relevant, of course. Food tech would also be useful. A knowledge of basic diet is something else the archaeologist can use, and knowing how to cook is also very useful for when the pub next door to the site is closed. ;-)

[meltoadhall]

she has decided on history, geography, german and drama for her gcse's, then look at her options again at A level .
thanks for all your advice

[saxy_jag]

I would say that's a sensible spread. Wish her all the best from me.