What did you study at A Level?
Physics, Maths, Further Maths, English Literature.
Why did you chose to study English?
When I was choosing my A Levels I already knew I wanted to study Physics at university, and all I needed for that was Maths and Physics. I had a spare slot so I just wanted to do something that I enjoyed. I like books a lot, especially talking about them and studying them.
How did studying English help with your other academic studies, or just in life generally?
I found English to be my hardest A Level and I think it was definitely valuable! I did a lot of reading and writing, which is a skill that is not taught much in a Physics degree. That definitely came in handy when I had to write my Masters dissertation. I’m glad that I had a broader education at A Level compared to if I had only taken Science subjects. I also think it is useful on my CV to show that I am good at more than one thing. I have been asked about it in interviews in the past and people always seem impressed by it.
Is there anything else that you’d like to add?
Studying theoretical physics I frequently wonder if what I am doing is ‘useless’, as I am learning about things that are so obscure and irrelevant to everyday life. I’m sure Shakespeare has far more real-world impact than the obscure details about the life-cycles of stars that I was writing my dissertation on. But all knowledge as inherently valuable.