History Degree - suitable work experience to showcase to Uni's

[Yankydoodledandy]

DS loves history any kind! Decided now wants to study at uni after Alevels next year so it now looking at Uni open days.

He has to do work experience end of July.

Any suggestions on what he really should be looking at so that it looks great for his Uni application???

My experience is they only really care about passion for history so I'd say read as many different books as he can and visit interesting places, be able to talk about why he loves it, show critical thinking, show ability to weigh up different perspectives.

I've done 3 history interviews and did a BA and MA (12 years ago for reference)

He could volunteer at a museum or historical attraction.

Has he decided what he wants to do with a history degree once he has it? If it's archiving, records management or curatorship he can contact local museums to offer to volunteer.

If he's looking more towards a long term academic route he can ask to get involved in tutoring programs through his school. Same approach if its more librarianship etc

Set up an oral history recording programme at his local old folk's home. Go in and record the residents talking about their memories of the Silver Jubilee or something.

Museum.
Country library archive.
Maybe even archeology
www.archaeologyuk.org/ways-into-archaeology/volunteering.html

Speaking as a fifty-something who remembers the Silver Jubilee perfectly well, I'm not a huge fan of this suggestion. The OP probably remembers it herself. Memories of the coronation perhaps you might need to go to the old folks' home.

I don't think you really need anything specific for a History application, other than interest in the subject. Read lots and widely, or concentrate on a specific area of interest, and focus with lots of detail on that. An EPQ or similar research project with historical element will also demonstrate commitment.

You beat me to saying this!

DD got an Oxford interview (no offer), and four other great offers, and had only done volunteering in a cattery!

Ha sorry yes the coronation would be much better! I do apologise!

For history a genuine interest in the subject would be a huge benefit. There are bound to be local history societies around you that he could join or help. Even family tree research would show an interest in historical context, records searching, visiting archives etc.

In terms of work experience most of the large heritage bodies encourage volunteering at local attractions.

I’m sorry to say it op, but this would be what concerns me more. There are no good jobs in history now, unless you already have family connnections in it. Libraries, archives, museums are low pay at best - cleaners get paid more - and many jobs have been farmed out to the voluntary sector. Most remaining jobs are in the posh areas of the country that are too expensive to live in without inheritances. Are you both aware of all this.

@ParsleyRosemarySage History is a good foundation subject for any number of careers. I would not let that stop you from doing a degree in history. Loads of people don’t end up in a career directly related to their degree. Having said that I would only do it at a good university with an excellent history department.

I did a history degree. Amongst my friends on the course, two became academics, one went into publishing, one did a law conversion, one took a milk-round job in marketing, one went into management consulting and the rest of us went into finance or accounting.

I did no special work experience. At the uni interview I just talked about my love of reading and why I had chosen to study history over literature, and we fell into a deep discussion about some of my A level history material. I don’t remember a lot about it, except thinking the interviewer was incredibly knowledgeable and I felt very humbled and challenged.

DS has just completed his BA and Masters in history. He had no related work experience . He did, however, do volunteering at a museum whilst he was studying.

I will agree with PP that history related jobs are as rare as hen's teeth and mostly part time/low paid. DS spent 6 months hunting for one after graduating before taking an unrelated job. He ideally wanted to do a PhD and become a lecturer but I encouraged him to get some employment experience and money under his belt first.

I wouldn't worry about my DC wanting to do a degree in history. I would be worried if they were determined to get a job in the area. I work in finance and the lovely young guy I sit next to has a girlfriend trying to get a paying job in museum curating. He's endlessly patient but I feel that the strain of supporting them both while she works for year after year of unpaid internships is starting to get to him.

My DS has a masters in History and he didn’t have any relevant work experience. He had a genuine love of history and wrote about books he’d read, places he’d been too, he was student union counsellor and so mentioned that. He wrote about his deep interest in WW1 and 2.
He did voluntary work in the archive department as part of one course during his time at university and voluntary work at a local museum when his course finished.
He did some work experience in a charity shop and also had a part time job in a shop.
He got all five offers.

I think the point is the OP's son has to do a work experience stint, so it might as well be something history-related, not that he thinks work experience will boost his chances.

My DD didn't have any work experience in the area she wanted to study. However, she twisted something around she did to say how she became interested. He can state why he's interested in a certain area of history, perhaps quoting a book or somewhere he's visited. Also, if he has any idea what he'd like to use the degree for, state that, again that's what my DD did. She received five offers.

Museum.
Archaeological dig?
Volunteer at a historical site / attraction.

Volunteer for an archaeological dig, or if it’s modern history he’s interested in he might want to try and find a way to work with refugees for example - that’s history happening in front of our eyes.

Son got into a Russell Group university doing history - volunteered at a local historical attraction for two years beforehand. His 'official' work experience was working at the Co-Op!

My dc is looking a history degree next year, her work experience is in a school but she’s wanting to go into primary teaching.