Help needed please! Geog or History degree?

What about something like Surveying/Real Estate or Town Planning? They involve a lot of the Geography skill sets but give him a bit more direction.

He doesn't have to to a degree in the subjects he's doing.

He also doesn't always have to live where you are now

Neither. And I say this as a recentish Geography grad. You can go on to do other things but you are making it a lot harder for yourself and if you are not 100% keen in the first place it's a waste of a degree.

If I had my time again I'd do web design/ computer science and business. I would strongly advise working for a year.

DD wanted to do history but didn't get grades needed for first choice uni but was offered Human Geography through clearing instead. Loved the course and achieved a 1st. Went on to do Business masters and now has very good job in London. She never regretted not getting accepted for history

I'm a lawyer and I would not recommend it either.

If he doesn't know what he wants to do, I'd suggest that he gets his A levels and then takes a year out, work, maybe do some travelling and a language course. Live a little. That will help him make up his mind. He might end up wanting to do something quite different - or it will confirm that eg he really wants to do a history degree.

Then go to uni. A year out is nothing in the scheme of things.

How about Archeaology

I'm guessing he's decided by now? Just wanted to say that I was the same (20 years ago though!). I started on a combined honours course (Geography, History and American Studies - which was history and literature). By the end of year 1 I knew I preferred History so I switched to the single honours History course. I just needed good first year marks to let me on the History course. It worked out well for me; I loved my History degree!

I think employers are ok with geography or history but they are degrees available from a huge number of universities and employers choose on a wider basis than the degree. Therefore do what he might enjoy and build up work experience! Anthrapology and Archaeology are degrees that tend to be used to punch above your weight at top class universities!

Has he considered a Business Management degree from a good university with a year in industry? These can have a wide range of careers afterwards and employers get to know you. Some law degrees have placements. They won't lead to Magic Circle or Barrister but can lead to the law dept in a company.
Economics might be another consideration but he should enjoy maths.

There is nothing wrong with Joint Honours degrees. Shows you are flexible and have more than one string to your bow!

Agree with your last point wholeheartedly Mrs Hulk

Going to be honest and say geography is sometimes seen (unfairly imo) as a less academic subject than history - people joke a bit about geography being a way for less bright students to go to uni, tak about it being three years of colouring in etc. It's not a fair stereotype but does exist so maybe worth being aware of!

History is seen as more solid.

And I'm a former lawyer (off work with my toddler and not planning to go back) - there are a lot of problems with the profession, best to keep his options open for now.

On a more positive note, would this interest him? BSc Environmental Geography( with a year in industry) at the University of York. He had the grades.

I hate to be harsh but I wouldn't be pinning his hopes on a future law career. I deal with would be lawyers on a daily basis and it sounds to me that, like many of them, your DS is using it as a fall back. Law is (and for some years has been ) massively over subscribed with candidates of mediocre academic and intellectual ability. Your DS may not be that but he is directionless. If law is his ultimate goal he needs to at least show some independent interest (I've which isn't parent/relative led) by contacting firms/chambers for work experience. Does he even know what lawyers do? Not meaning to be offensive but lots of candidates don't and/or they're unrealistic in their expectations. I start my presentations by telling them how many hours I put in to earn what I do. I work harder and get paid less than my audience assumes I do. The idea of anything other than a 9-5 is anathema to them, but they confidently expect a 6 figure salary.
The majority don't make the grade because, to put it bluntly, they aren't good enough. The trouble is they've never been told that and all the colleges taking (your) money have failed to mention it. Then they offer them deals for further study - I've seen free MAs on offer FFS- so they don't show up as' unemployed' in the stats.
What are his are his non-academic interests? Can he occupy/support himself through these for a year while he considers his options. There's no point going to uni just because it's the next stage of the process.
What does his school think his options are? I'd even consider proper psychometric testing to assess his strengths - it can be a very valuable insight.
Sorry if this sounds negative & I know that you're fretting about his future but I think he needs to make some decisions for the next 6 months now and then make some informed decisions for his future after that

Another thought, if he does the GDL that's 4 years study. And if he's set on law he will also then have to do the LPC or BVC, another year so making 5 in total. If he has a job offer from a law firm they may pay his LPC/BVC fees, otherwise it's a very expensive course to self fund. I did 5 years but spent the 3rd year of my degree abroad which broke things up a little. And I had my LPC fees paid by my future employer - large law firms recruit 2 years in advance.

DH has a geography degree and entered a graduate trainee scheme with a blue chip company. He did his degree as it really interested him but does not use it at work. He is now a senior manager in a global company.

I am a lawyer (Law & German) who has interviewed many graduates and geography or history would be fine before the GDL law conversion. Many GDL students are well regarded as a degree in a subject other than law can provide a broader background than a pure lawyer. IMO lawyers need more than just law.

Having a degree shows you have reached a certain level of critical thinking and your degree subject need not be the subject of your career. He is still young and I would encourage him to study something he enjoys, he has a while yet to decide where it might take him.

How about something slightly more vocationalish but to do with geography like environmental science??? I have no idea about that degree btw so just talking off the top of my head.

I have Maths with computing, employers love me
Get him to look at this page , it is Southampton but oodles of other places have similar. Lots of options many lead directly to jobs, what job does he want?
Kick him gently to do his own research.

There can be quite a lot of geography in history, especially economic history - how climate, geology, natural resources etc have influenced population growth and distribution, economic development, trade.

If he has the option to do a dissertation or extended essay in his third year - in either subject - he could find a way to combine the two. If he's done statistics in his maths, that would be useful too.

There just has to be a course which includes physical geog and history.
Archeology?