arch and anth?

[basildonbond]

Is arch and anth still considered to be somewhat of a joke degree? Having been completely apathetic about uni applications until now ds has suddenly fixated on this as a possibility

His best subjects at the moment (6th form) are history and English but definitely doesn't want to take English any further

I seem to remember arch and anth was what all the thick royals did in order to get an Oxbridge degree but maybe things have changed?

[titchy]

No of course it's not! Rather a nice if niche, degree which will develop lots of lovely skills. Probably not much in the way of related employment, same as history and other humanities, but certainly well regarded and worthwhile. Esp from Cambridge!

[PotteringAlong]

Nope, not at all

though stay away from sps

[TeenAndTween]

I don't recollect Arch&Anth being a joke degree.

otoh, Land Economy ...

[basildonbond]

Ok - that sounds promising then (although having seen the Cambridge IB points requirement sadly I don't think ds will be going there )

[MillyMollyMama]

It is often a degree for people who do not know what they want to do, want to go to a top university and know it usually is possible to get in with lower A levels than most other courses. A bit like Sociology. Job prospects may not be scintilating and some people on this course won't need a job anyway. The better the university, however, the less of an issue Arch and Anth might be in the jobs market. If he has iffy A level/IB predictions for Cambridge, he may be OK elsewhere. Do not go lower than the best few universities though, or employment prospects will be even lower. It is, I'm afraid, not regarded as well as History, Geography or English which in the best universities requires AAA or a pretty high IB score.

[titchy]

Who says it's not as well regarded? What experience do you have on the subject mmm?

[cunningartificer]

Degrees from Cambridge generally not jokes. Neither is the work required to get through. Arch and Anth good for museum work and lots of other options, actually quite tough. Not easy to get into these days either.

Royals tend to be a special case. Charles read Arch and Anth with B and a C, which is not bad when you consider Edward got into Jesus to read History with a C and two Ds, but I wouldn't count on an offer of those grades any time soon unless your DS's surname is Windsor.

[MillyMollyMama]

None directly but lots of anecdotes from DCs. I did not say it was a joke degree. I said it does get Students into the better universities with lower A levels. You can look at the employability stats from the universities and compare it with, say, history, and there will be a difference. It is partly because the grades required are lower, except at Cambridge. It is definitely easier to get into than History or English at the top universities. Of course it has skills but how much work is actually available in arch and Anth? Many graduates will need to look at other careers and this is where they may be problems.

[MillyMollyMama]

Typical offers are AAB to BBB for nearly every top 15 university or 31-34 IB. Not exactly Royal grades!!!

[basildonbond]

Hmm ds is looking at mid to high 30s (unless a miracle happens and he pulls his socks up and gets the 40+ his teachers say he's perfectly capable of getting) so I think Cambridge is currently out of reach.

Personally I'd much rather he did history but know that if I put pressure on it will backfire

[Poisonwoodlife]

You might plant the seed of him pairing Anthropology with an area studies degree such as Chinese Studies, or at an institution that includes modern cultures. Lots of interesting directions in which to take Anthropology that will access currently relevant knowledge and skills that will appeal to employers.

As I understand it the Cambridge degree operates along the lines of the Nat Sci degree with a general Social Science stream with specialisation in current years. There are some great opportunities to study modern cultures at Cambridge but also at other unis.

As always though he will do better in the subjects he truly wants to study than being forced down some other track and it is up to him how employable he makes himself.

[Poisonwoodlife]

36 points will get him into the UCL Anthropology Department, which has one of the most comprehensive offerings, get him to go on there to look at the diversity of options.

[Bordersmummy]

Definitely not a 'mickey mouse' degree. Altho if you want a career as a stockbroker there are prob better routes.

Seems to be a good launch pad for careers in sectors such in natural science (on the human side), museums and documentary film. One contemporary is now working with Attenborough. I would say that of all my friends at uni those who did this degree are most likely to be in a job for 'passion' rather than 'necessity'.