Subjects leading to Egyptology

[Jux]

DD wants to be an egyptologist. What subjects should she be doing, what's the route? I'm assuming she'd have to do archaeology at Uni? Does anyone know?

Thank you.

does this help?

and here?

A friend of mine did undergraduate Egyptology at Wadham College, Oxford, under the general degree banner of 'Oriental Studies'. He certainly didn't do any archaelogy as far as I know.

Is your DD already doing A-levels? If not, then Classics (Greek or Latin) might be good, history too.

You generally do not need specific A levels for archaeology or egyptology, but like entrance for any academic subject, choose academic A levels!

If she wants to do it through an archaeology route then it is really useful to have a science subject along with a mix of subjects so that she looks like a good all rounder.

It depends which element of egyptology she wants to be involved in. Does she like the language and documents? The artefacts? The bodies? Lots of children like the mummification and so on; if that is the case she should look at studying archaeology of human remains but would benefit from having A level biology. If she is more interested in the language, then she would benefit from having a language A level.

Thanks everyone. I've bookmarked those links, they're really helpful. DD is most interested in the artefacts and the religion/gods. She is also very interested in heiroglypics.

I know it is still very early days as she is still in primary school at the moment (year 5), but she has been single minded about this for at least 4 years, and has been poring over pictures since she was 2 or 3; half her reading matter has been (adult) books on egypt for the last 5years, almost learning to read using all the egypt books we have accumulated. She's been at it for so long, and has never shown a sign of changing her direction.

The reason I'm asking now, is that I have to work out whether it's a good idea for her to do 11+ next September to get her into something other than our local secondary.

Time goes by so fast, and I know if I don't check things out early I will leave it too late, and then we will have an almighty panic and end up doing the wrong thing.

Agree that general academic subjects good.

Mine is in world religions (your cdd might enjoy that also) and those with A Level RE were soon outclassed by those with excellent writing, research and study skills.

She sounds bright and fab, Jux. Is she awar of this site hree?- the Uni standard

Yes, find out as much as you can about your local 11 plus and get her to sit it. She might grow out of the egyptology, or she might use the interest for something totally different like creative writing about Egypt. But being single minded and determined about pursuing an interest will take her far in any subject at University.

We hadn't come across that site, Peachy, thanks a lot. I will show her tomorrow. World religions does sound like an interesting subject, and will have the added advantage of really pissing off dh who is a rabid atheist!

LOL- my parents the same. No link, natch

(Actually as most Uni's do a 'big six plus one' format, there's always something you don't believe if you are religious LOL)

MillyR, you are wise and I shall follow your teachings.

They do the IPC at her primary, which looks to me like just the thing for research and study skills.

Any idea where I can get practise 11+ papers - the school are highly unlikely to help, and I'm in their bad books at the moment anyway!

Peachy

Does the secondary school she will attend do any classical studies type subjects?

You need to go to the 11 plus exams website and make sure you follow the instructions for your region. Different areas do different papers. I have just finished with the 11 plus as my son did it and will be going to grammar in September. If you are doing the NFER verbal reasoning paper then the Chuckra site is good for free papers, but you should 11 plus exams for advice. Don't use Bond papers if the exam is going to be NFER. You either need to get a tutor or teach himself yourself at home. The school will not do it! The Peter Robson books are great for maths if you are in an area that does a maths exam as well.

CatchaStar, the state secondary are apparently quite good on sciences, but fall down on humanities. They don't have a particularly good rep, but have had a really bad head for years and years. He's just gone and the new one is coming in. Who knows what it will be like when dd's the age to go there.

There are some very very good private schools in the wider area - not least Colyton Girls, which I believe is the 'best' in the country, though dd doesn't want to go there (contrary little monster!). There are two or three others which I have to investigate. I know that in theory I would rather she went to a state school, but I'm sure I won't stick to that; if Diane Abbot can sacrifice her principles on the altar of her children's education, then I guess I can too.

That should have read ... but should you use 11 plus exams website for advice.

MillyR, thanks am off to 11+ site now.

Oh just saw where you lived LOL

We do a lot of the carnivals around there (FIL does colyton, ew stick to Axminster).
Small world.

This field is one of those where you can afford to still study subjects you enjoy I think- aiming high is important but for every Egyptology at Cardiff there's a Comparative Religions at and if she's really bright she can always go on to do post gards etc elsewhre- most from my Uni go to Cardiff.

Hey we have a carnival every year in our little town! Colyton is actually about 20 odd miles from us. Do you do the smaller carnivals too? Ours is a huge line of floats and lots of majorette groups all following each other up the High Street. I think it's really exciting. We all go out and stand around waving things with leds in them and there's at least one pub doing hot toddies or mulled wine. Sometimes we get a funfair too!

MillyR, can't work out whether Devon does Bond or NFER. I'll go into Smith's tomorrow and see what they have. Falling asleep now.

Thanks again everyone.

Jux we d the biggest ourselves as we have a Bridgwater / Max size float but FIL does them

Look at the website for the grammar schools you will be applying to. They should say the type of tests your child wil have to sit, which will be one or more of: verbal reasoning, maths, English and non verbal reasoning.

You can do a degree in Archaeology. My careers 'adviser' persuaded me not to as 'there are no jobs'. Fk fk fk. I could be somewhere warm digging holes right now! But hey.

I would have through studying history to get a good grounding, specialising in the times period and go on some digs to get the experience. There are always some digs going on - we did one near Oswestry. You will find lots of stoned, mud and the odd clay pipe but it will give you good experience in how a dig is done, drawing charts, surveying and handling the tools.

try looking here:
archaeology.about.com/od/currentdigs/Archaeology_Digs_2008.htm

Will go back and read the whole thread - but my DD (now 16), since the age of 8, wanted to be an egyptologist. She is also now very interested in photography (doing BTEC Art as one of her GCSEs). Means she can study art/photography (more interested in photography) at college because the BTEC Art is equivalent to an A level in photography - so no point her doing that course.

She would love to combine photography and archaeology (i.e. being a photographer on an archaeological dig) - not many of those in the U.K.

Looking at colleges, she is now going to study History A level (evening class) and doing the Higher National Diploma (I think) in photography, if she gets the GCSE passes. The interviewer at college said that most pupils have to go onto university after college to study further and, at the end of the day, no-one can be guaranteed a job.

I am trying to focus her photography skills into something where there may be more demand and a job at the end of it - am recommending to her to focus on being a forensic photographer (bit gruesome for her, she says).

German might be a good subject to have if you are serious about Egyptology.

Bumblelion

Do NOT go for forensics unless it is her absolute heart's desire. Because of all the tv programmes like CSI there are huge numbers of forensics students; there are probably about 20 times as many people qualifying as there are jobs available for it. I know this is is the same for historians and archaeologists, but those are academic fields in which people are going to transfer skills to other jobs. Forensics is much more of a voacational choice, but with poor career prospects due to numbers of students.

I would advise continuing in photography and choosing an art/photography degree course with a strong academic component. She could then choose to take photos with an archaeology theme for projects where she has a choice. Then opt for an archaeology MA or MSc. Lots of archaeologists have their undergraduate degree in a different discipline.