English and (perhaps?) Philosophy at Uni

[happyAvocado]

My daughter loves English as a subject. She is very good at it and wants to take it further. Her dream is to become a journalist.

I suggested she looks into finding degree where she can combine English and some other subject - so far from descriptions I gave her to read after researching various courses she likes the sound of:
www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/philosophy/undergraduate/degrees/phillit/

she is predicted to get A/A* in her GCSE's (she is in y10)
her plans for A levels at the moment are English, History, Maths and one more, perhaps English Language but that's undecided at the moment

what other combination would you suggest to a bright, hard working and very logical person who wants to study in a place where she can write a lot and be challenged and stretched
music is her hobby - I think she is managing quite well to balance school workload with time off to relax

I think Bristol prefers history - I seem to remember that being on their website when it was applicable for my DD.

She didn't consider a joint degree really - she toyed with the idea ofAmerican studies to combine literature and politics, but decided to stick with straight English. Which gives her plenty if scope to do a foreign literature module ( guess where she is?!) and to specialise in American literature as much as she wants.

I was told by few people that they regretted studying Eng Lit. They felt that having been forced to read books they didn't like made them loath reading now. I hope this won't happen to your daughter.

That's also one of the reasons why I am advising her agains Eng Lit on it's own.
Obviously I haven't experienced it first hand, so that is jus somebody elses opinion.

I would have thought the people who regretted studying Eng Lit should have thought more carefully about embarking on the course after all its no secret that you are going to have to read a lot and you might not enjoy all of it.

DS is in year 11 and considering English at university and from the brief look at courses so far there seems to so much choice within the modules that he ought to be able to follow his own interests to a certain extent. Taking a joint honours course means that you have less choice within the English Lit half and you lose some of the flexibility.

Its a pity that it is so competitive though, I'm not looking forward to university application time.

I suppose Eng Lit is thought of by some as an easy course, when in fact it isn't :)

DS has already had some "helpful" advice from family members that its just reading books and anyone can do that so he should consider a science degree instead

DS is very good at English and is that's what he wants to study I'd rather he was well informed about what he was choosing than pouring cold water all over the idea!

Webwiz, that is very true about a joint degree - you have less choice in each subject over which. Modules you study - it might end being all 'core ' in both subjects with little room for personal preference. Depends very much on the place tho - it really is all down to the course and plAce.

I guess the want to chave choice in the subject you study is important if you want to take that subject's part further such as MA or further research

webwiz "DS has already had some "helpful" advice from family members that its just reading books and anyone can do that so he should consider a science degree instead"

O cripes that is so reminiscent of what I went through - & coincidentally just posted about it on the 'open day' thread. Tell him to stay strong!

I was really surprised that idiot BIL decided that it was his place to make comments about DS's plans (and MIL as well) but its not likely to change anything and makes them look a bit narrow minded. It will be a bit difficult to take a science degree though when he isn't actually taking any science A levels!

I don't regret doing English, yes I had to read books that I wouldn't normally choose to for pleasure, but that's not why you're reading them... Textbooks for other subjects are not exactly a thrilling read either, lol.

"It will be a bit difficult to take a science degree though when he isn't actually taking any science A levels!"