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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

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Original poster

Son interested in journalism - what does he need?

34 replies

FellatioNelson · 21/01/2011 10:51

Hi all, a really quick reply would be hugely aprpeciated here as I think time is of the essence - I need to make a phone call asap.

Son had his interview for 6th form college yesterday. We spend a great deal of time discussing together which would be good A levels for him, we both compromised a bit, and came up with the following list:

English (Lang) - his strongest subject
Philosophy
Sociology
Art (Graphics)

He doesn't know much about sociology but he's very good at RE and the social/economic side of geography, though he fancies doing something new and fresh so we thought it might be a good one to go for.

He says he'd like to be a journalist although at only 15, he's really not sure yet.

Anyway, he came back from his interview yesterday saying that the admissions tutor had persuaded him that he should drop Sociology and do Media Studies instead, as his current choice of subjects don't 'match' and media A level will be good for journalism. I think she's talking shite. I think he needs at least three strong academic and/or humanities subjects including English, and should aim to do English at degree with a post-grad journalism course, ro something similar. NOT a media degree. As far as I can tell, Media A level will not be valued by most decent universities, and could well count against him with some.

Am I right? Should I phone her today and ask for it to be changed back again? I'm a bit cheesed off that she should seek to influence a boy (he's under 16) who she doesn't even know, without his parents' consent TBH. And he sounds quite taken with the idea of media now. Well, he would, wouldn't he? He knows nothing!!!!

OP posts:

sethstarkaddersmackerel · 21/01/2011 10:55

he'd be better off with history and geography; RE is ok I think. I agree Media won't help but I fear the same is true of Sociology.

Original poster

FellatioNelson · 21/01/2011 11:09

I did have a hunt around about Sociology but I can't find any reference to it being a soft subject, and you can do it Oxford and Cambridge so it can't be! Though it may be one of those subjects like Law, where they really don't regard an A level in it as relevant/useful when applying for a degree. Personally I'd rather he stuck with Geography as he's doing so well in it, and should get A or A*.
He dropped History sadly, not sure if he can do it a A level with no GCSE.

OP posts:

Clayhanger · 21/01/2011 13:13

I'm a journalist. You emphatically do NOT need a Media A Level to be a journalist, and I wouldn't recommend a journalism/media studies degree either. The admissions tutor doesn't know what she's talking about.

Do traditional A Levels but supplement that by getting involved in the college newspaper and doing work experience at the local paper.

f your son is really interested in journalism, then it's a good idea to start a 'professional' rather than personal blog where he posts reviews or feature-style pieces. That's a safe place to experiment with his writing and it's something he can show people when he's going for work experience or internships.

Good luck!

titchy · 21/01/2011 13:36

English definately (is Lit better regarded than Lang?), absolutely not Media Studies, unles it's his 4th and he does 3 others to A2. Is there room for a rethink of Philosophy as well - I think this might be a bit soft.

titchy · 21/01/2011 13:37

pagwatch · 21/01/2011 13:41

Ds1 wants to write too.
He did work experience on a national newspaper and spent some time with one if the editors who also said what clay hanger did... Media studies = shit and likely to be seen as a negative rather than a positive. Ditto journalism.

He said bloody good a levels (ds predicted a*s at English Latin and art ) and get experience writing anywhere you can... There are loads of writing competetion by unis or approach local papers. Ds1 also writing decent articles fir school magazine etc.

webwiz · 21/01/2011 14:09

Philosophy is well regarded as a traditional A level.

The trinity college cambridge list is a helpful guideline
www.trin.cam.ac.uk/index.php?pageid=604

Original poster

FellatioNelson · 21/01/2011 14:41

I don't think Philosophy is soft at all. It's what all the Oxbridge politians take!

That link is useful, webwiz. I'm thinking he should be doing Eng Lit (or at least the combined English course) now as well, And sociology isn't any more well regarded than Media on that list! I'll have a chat with him tonight and phone her next week.

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LadyGlencoraPalliser · 21/01/2011 14:46

Another journalist here with a low opinion of Media Studies. English Lit would be very useful, indeed I would almost say essential. He needs to be thinking about studying a traditional academic subject at university, emphatically not a Media Studies degree, assuming that he is thinking about print rather than broadcast journalism. A modern foreign language would be a very good option if he has the aptitude - I know several journalists who have put their languages to good use in furthering their careers.

Icoulddoitbetter · 21/01/2011 15:05

No experience of journalism but I feel the need to defend sociology! I did this at a level (along with Eng lang and history, back in the day when three was enough) and then went on to study it at a (very very good old) uni. You'll find sociology degrees on offer at all unis, oxbridge, redbrick and beyond. It is as acceptable as other humanities / social science subjects, is academic and damn the BT ads for ever suggesting otherwise! If someone want to study medicine, then no it's not a good alevel. For someone who wants a good academic grounding for a humanities / arts degree, it is as good as any other.

Philosophy too. I had a fair few friends at uni doing philospophy degrees and they were up there with the super-intelligent.

Hmph!

sethstarkaddersmackerel · 21/01/2011 15:14

the difficulty/validity of a subject at university has no bearing on how well universities regard that subject at A level though.
the way universities regard particular A levels may not always be fair and may reflect prejudice as well as reality, but if you are pragmatically choosing a set of A levels that will get you where you want to be, it is a good idea to take it into account.

webwiz · 21/01/2011 15:35

Fellatio if he's interested in a straight English degree then a quick look at the UCAS website is useful. If you just look at a random selection of universities and look at what they actually require for an English degree.

Here are the requirements for UEA
search.ucas.com/cgi-bin/hsrun/search/search/StateId/QQxzeoj9ZM-MUlX4uuN-MVLCTGCAG-US_d/HAHTpage/search.HsEntryReq.run?n=1028740#CSRA

and Durham

search.ucas.com/cgi-bin/hsrun/search/search/StateId/QQxzeoj9ZM-MUlX4uuN-MVLCTGCAG-US_d/HAHTpage/search.HsEntryReq.run?n=1028468#CSRA

For these two he would need English lit or the combined English lit and lang A level rather than English Language.

Original poster

FellatioNelson · 21/01/2011 16:55

Yes, I'm starting to think that about the English now. Will have to have a good chat with him this weekend and start all over again!

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funnyperson · 21/01/2011 20:39

What about

english literature

another language,
philosophy

art

Gives the option of being a foreign correspondent perhaps? Also can do a year abroad then at uni which can be fun.

eng lit
philosophy
geography
art

as then maybe your DS is more likely to get the grades to make the offer he eventually gets because he is good at geography and not so much reading is needed for it. I heard geography is fun to do at A level because of field trips.

Its worth looking at how much coursework is needed over all the subjects and the timing of it- art coursework at A level is massive by all accounts, though fun if DS is talented.

Original poster

FellatioNelson · 21/01/2011 20:43

I agree about the art - my eldest has done it and it is tons of work, and not that easy to do well in. People think art is a doss but it's not.

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funnyperson · 21/01/2011 20:44

Sorry = have just realised I used the word 'fun' three times ; perhaps read enjoyable.

funnyperson · 21/01/2011 20:48

Art is a lot of work- but boys do like doing graphics and it fits in with the 'media' career path and can be a good combination with the more serious subjects- as long as he has a bit of basic talent. But you are thinking four A levels here and most universities gives offers on three A levels so maybe the grade in art wont matter so much.

Original poster

FellatioNelson · 21/01/2011 20:57

Yes, that's I was hoping - providing the other three are stong he can afford to have a indulgence choice!

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funnyperson · 21/01/2011 21:20

Also need to think how the sport/music/debating/volunteering/writing-editing college mag/drama might fit in if he does any of that. Keep extra currics down to two regular commitments perhaps so he can sustain it all. Exercise is important.

Its nice choosing. As long as DS doesn't think you are taking over- I remember we went through an eggshell phase-and often you are allowed to change again after gcse results come out- as long as the timetabling fits and it isn't a lab science- so nothing is set in stone. It is easier doing subjects already done at gcse because the language of that subject is familiar.

good luck.

Original poster

FellatioNelson · 21/01/2011 21:39

I know - it's so difficult to offer the benefits of experience without sounding like you are controlling and taking over! He is also down to do the extra curric. Sports Leadership thing, which he has ddone at school as well.

OP posts:

senua · 22/01/2011 10:06

Is it a definite that he is going to this sixth form college? If they are handing out misleading advice before you even get there, then what will they be like at Uni admission time.

edam · 22/01/2011 10:15

Agree strongly with NOT doing media studies at A-level. You don't need to do an English degree either. But what you do need is bags of work experience/college and university mag stuff.

There are a couple of universities that do good media studies degrees (Westminster, which invented it, and has top lecturers inc. the guy who wrote the textbook on media law, and whatever London College of Printing is called these days) but there are lots of places that offer it but aren't so good. And it's a long way off anyway, wouldn't worry about it now.

For anyone else interested in journalism, you don't need to do all Arts A-levels - science will make you stand out in a good way, v. few journalists have a background in science so as long as you can write and do college/university journalism plus work experience I'd say that's good. Am a former national magazine editor, btw.

Original poster

FellatioNelson · 22/01/2011 13:36

Thanks Edam, that's very useful to know. And senua, yes I agree - but it is an OFSTED outstanding college, so I'd be daft to send him further afield to a lesser one. But I will fire off an email which makes it clear that I am less than happy.

OP posts:

catinthehat2 · 22/01/2011 13:44

needs a parent or other close relative in the business, I should think. But be prepared to change his surname if the relationship's a bit too obvious

Original poster

FellatioNelson · 22/01/2011 13:46

Yes, I wouldn't argue with that! So much nepotism in all areas of the media, it's a joke. Sadly my journalistic career begins and ends on MN!

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