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Higher education

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

Original poster

Human geography or alternative degree ideas with middling grades

88 replies

Dunlurking · 08/10/2017 17:32

Ds has convinced herself she will get BBB at A level, despite only just starting year 12. She really wants to do a Human Geography degree (doesn't like Physical Geography) but says most of the top 20 universities for this sort of degree will need an A. I think she's got Keele, Loughborough and maybe Reading as possibilities. Now she's saying maybe she should think of Sociology. I'm trying to dissuade her, and come up with other related degrees, or other universities, that she could look at with 3Bs (in Maths, Geography and Environmental Science). Any suggestions or recommendations? It is perfectly possible she could get an A and she is open to one aspirational choice, but no more.

OP posts:
senua · 08/10/2017 18:37

Does she know what she wants to do after graduating? Has she thought about becoming some variety of Surveyor. There are quite a few degrees which are accredited by RICS but they are usually not at the higher-tariff Universities.
If she did Human Geography degree and then fancied Surveying it would cost her the price of a Masters to get up to speed - cheaper to go straight to an accredited degree!

LoniceraJaponica · 08/10/2017 18:51

BBB are middling grades Hmm?

How have we come to thinking that getting a B at A level is a rubbish grade?

Original poster
Dunlurking · 08/10/2017 20:58

Senua she doesn't know what she wants to do after her degree, except go and spend some time as a volunteer in Nepal (she spent a few weeks doing something similar this summer), before she starts a career. I actually tried suggesting Surveyor degrees but she wasn't interested in it as a career.
I wondered whether anthropology might be worth thinking about, but know little about it and how it's regarded as a degree. Would it work well as an alternative to human geography, but with possibly lower grade requirements for equivalent unis?

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Loopytiles · 08/10/2017 21:02

There will surely be loads of good universities she could apply to for human geography with those predictions?

Or she could focus on her studies this year, then apply with grades achieved and have a year of working and / or doing other things.

Original poster
Dunlurking · 08/10/2017 21:05

Loopytiles I would like to think so but she is very determined to avoid physical geography modules as part of a geography degree. If you can suggest where would be good specifically for human geography with those sort of grades it would be very helpful.

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Original poster
Dunlurking · 08/10/2017 21:10

Oh and she is refusing to have a year out. Says she might enjoy herself too much and not want to go back to studying (we have just had the most awful summer of GCSEs - I think all her year group had it tough pioneering the new Maths and English exams) so I can see why she might worry about this happening. Sadly. It would be so much better to do it that way round, and she would be more sure what she wanted to aim for after uni, and hence be sure she was chosing the right course.

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stonecircle · 08/10/2017 23:02

One of my dcs had Royal Holloway as his insurance for human geography a couple of years ago. He really liked the place and the department seemed fab. His offer was ABB, but at the offer holder day they were all told not to worry if they dropped a grade or two - it wouldn't be a problem.

Lots and lots of universities ended up taking significantly lower than their standard offer this year because of the drop in the number of university applications.

RockyRoadster · 08/10/2017 23:13

Has she looked at Aberystwyth? Their human geography degree requires BBB.

Original poster
Dunlurking · 09/10/2017 11:56

stonecircle I'll get her to look at RHUL, thanks. RockyRoadster that Aberystwyth course looks really good - optional years abroad or in industry. That could really suit her. Thanks.

OP posts:
morides · 09/10/2017 11:56

You can do a search on the Which University website for Human Geography and refine it by predicted grades, so results will show only the ones offering in the range of BBB.
Swansea is probably a good one; it is still research intensive but will accept with BBB. My daughter had it as insurance choice for Marine Biology; the department seemed very good.

Original poster
Dunlurking · 09/10/2017 12:01

morides that's really helpful - I'll pass that on. I think she was fixated on universities in the top 20 for the subject, rather than the course and grades she would be happy with. (Ds was able to look at universities in the top 10 for his subject so there's a bit of baggage there she needs to get past.) Swansea sounds good, thanks for the recommendation.

OP posts:
Seeline · 09/10/2017 12:06

A lot of geographers go onto careers in Town Planning. That requires a Post Grad qualification, but it is possible to do a first degree in Town Planning if that would interest her, particularly if it the human elements that interest her. I have no idea on courses/requirements though old fogey

Original poster
Dunlurking · 09/10/2017 12:20

Thanks Seeline. I'll try Town Planning on her. She can check out the courses.

OP posts:
Trailedanderror · 09/10/2017 12:40

Look at anthropology and international relations/ development/ development studies too.

Original poster
Dunlurking · 09/10/2017 13:05

Trail that looks right up her street. Thank you!

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titchy · 09/10/2017 13:16

Even if she is predicted BBB she should have a slightly wider range of universities on her form - I'd suggest one with AAB offers, two with ABB, one BBB and one BBC. The AAB and ABB because it's good to be a bit aspirational, and dropping one grade at those may well still get her a place, at BBB and below dropping one grade would almost certainly still guarantee a place.

Original poster
Dunlurking · 09/10/2017 13:24

That's useful advice titchy. Thank you for those suggestions. She's doing an EPQ as well so can see which universities specifically mention leniency with a dropped grade when there's a EPQ thrown into the equation.

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AmITwirly · 09/10/2017 14:31

There are a couple of universities that do Geography with International Development (the geography element will be human geography in that type of degree) and Anthropology with International Development. Those degrees often have a period either working or volunteering overseas as one of the modules. Sussex, UEA, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Reading from memory.

morides · 09/10/2017 14:39

UEA and Lancaster have good courses in this field (Geography and international development/human geography) with higher grades. For sure a friend's daughter got an unconditional offer from UEA on the strength of her EPQ (as well as good A levels predictions).

Original poster
Dunlurking · 09/10/2017 14:45

AmITwirly and morides this recommendations are very helpful. Thank you very much.

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Original poster
Dunlurking · 09/10/2017 14:47

*These!

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TheMightyMing · 09/10/2017 14:50

My son is at Sheffield Hallam having just started a human Geography degree, she would definitely get in with BBB. Seems to be enjoying it so far. Happy to answer any questions- he didn't like physical Geography either.

Original poster
Dunlurking · 09/10/2017 14:59

Thanks MightyMing. Sheffield Hallam sounds like a great place, from what I've heard.

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TheMightyMing · 09/10/2017 15:43

Dun - it's an amazing place to be a student as there are so many of them there. Seems a very nice and safe place too. We live in Manchester and students certainly appear to be targeted more here crime wise.

The uni itself is very modern and facilities seem good. We applied through clearing and managed to secure city centre accommodation.

Many of DS friends are at Uni of Sheffield ( my son missed his offer for there unfortunately) so he gets to see them too.

2014newme · 09/10/2017 15:49

Would she consider an apprenticeship as some Of the universities mentioned here are not worth getting into massive student debt to attend. I know a 19 year old who got very good grades who is doing an apprenticeship and is attending uni 3 days per week and being paid £27k to do so. No student debt.

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