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about 50% of people now go to university. You can be below average intelligence and go. Get on an arts course at a bottom end university, get up at 3pm, write one essay a term, and wonder why you end up in a call centre with £40k debt.
With a full house of A* this in no way will apply to your daughter. A well regarded subject (for the analytical skills, as others have said) at a top university will be a gateway to any number of careers. From what you have said, it seems she is genuinely interested in history too, so a great way to spend 3 years.
A little tip for Durham, assuming the system hasn't changed in 10 years. Oxbridge require applications by October (everyone else in January). Universities have no way of knowing your other 4 choices; but if they get an October application, its a sign you're bright enough and hard working enough for O and C. I had a AAA offer from Durham within about 2 days (no interview required) by this method.
The careers of yesterday are not the careers of today and the careers of today are not the careers of tomorrow.
History should teach us that!
Sadly (IMHO) doing a specific subject for a job is becoming less and less likely to provide that job at anything above minimum wage.
Transferable skills are a better bet longer term... (IMHO) and hoping to do a job that is interesting is becoming less and less likely.
You could push your daughter towards something specific in terms of career but then in 10yrs time this could turn out to be as relevant or irrelevant as history.
I hear of lots of young graduates that have degrees and can’t get work or end up in call centres etc.
This is because lot of young graduates assume that having a degree is a green light to a career
The truth is the qualification itself is of secondary importance. What *is* important is where you study, and the opportunities that present themselves. Good unis introduce you to many influential people and although it doesn't seem like it at the time these people can open doors.
If she isn't interested in a subject it's not worth her doing it. It's wise to have an idea of career options but unless you want to be a doctor or engineer there's not much point aiming for something too specific these days.
Not everything is about money either. If an Academic career is an option, although tough at times it can be good fun.
There are plenty of skills that are taught in humanities degrees that are useful for a wide range of jobs. Report writing, analysis, assessing, interpretation... It's a good basis to get into lots of careers. And remember most employers aren't looking at an entry grade graduate to come in and be up and running immediately. You're only getting your foot in the door and employers know that.
I have a degree in Geography. I am not employed directly related to my subject but the skills I learnt got me a job I enjoy.
I liked going to Uni. But given costs of tuition fees I would have thought very carefully about going to Uni and what to do which I didn't before. But it's worked out ok.
Reality is I didn't really know to do at that stage in my life. Not many do and the other options were pretty much get some apprenticeship which were mostly trades which I had no interest in back then.