Human geography or alternative degree ideas with middling grades

[Dunlurking]

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.

[spababe]

Ranking - so difficult because each ranking system gives different results. If you can't get into a Russell then what? We're aiming for non Russell Unis that are NOT converted Polys

[Dunlurking]

Sorry to miss joining in yesterday - dd's birthday and various other things.
BubblesB thank you for the further tips, including landscape architecture and land management. MrsM that's helpful to hear about the Sussex offers. Good luck to your ds in his UCAS applications. FinallyDecided please do feedback on Aberystwyth. Daisymay thanks for the feedback on Southampton.
Sunnyshores thank you on International Development thoughts and UEA. She is interested in the International Development angle but said to me there aren't enough places doing it (at her presumed grades) to fill an UCAS application. I presume the would have maybe 2 and then 3 Human geography applications, making the personal statement a bit of a nightmare.
Ludo I think she is being realistic over 3Bs. I've watched ds and his friends through school and onto universities, and volunteered to conduct practice interviews for would be medics at the school over a number of years, so I have a good idea of what kind of A level results certain GCSE grade spreads can lead onto. I have an idea of how she compares to her friends. She could get 1A, but unlikely to get more than one. Equally she might slip one grade to a C, and if she's unlucky, maybe more than 1.
BubblesBuddy she isn't going to make the top universities for Geography - she just isn't. Anthropology was just a thought on my part. She's not keen, - but then Anthropology is linked with International Development in a few places .....
Overall I don't think she will get onto a course that will put her near the top of the type of employment tree you mention . She is keen to enjoy a subject at interesting and reputable university, and worry about a career afterwards. This thread is so so helpful. Thank you everyone.

[spababe]

We visited Aberystwyth back in June for Earth Sciences (same Dept at Geog). Campus was nice bit hilly bit concretey DS did not mind. The best accommodation I've seen anywhere at Fferm Penglais.

Dept was good. They said their dream A-levels were a from a list of Maths Physics Biology and Chemistry but that they were not in a position to ask for these A levels from prospective students. They have lots of physical geography on the doorstep so great for field work. We chatted to lecturers for some time. I like their big study area where all year groups mix and gather for self study etc. (where they have the open day display)

The town is OK if the sun is shining (!) It's small and there is nothing else in the area so students find it hard to get part-time jobs if they want them. Beach was very nice otherwise it was like a closed seaside town on a wet weekend. If you are staying over don't go for the large hotel on the front as the kitchen has a hygiene rating of 0. Luckily we found this out and at in the Wetherspoons for breakfast.

I have a medic friend who said they always avoided Aberystwyth for medical placements as its the 'end of the line' so people end up there if you get my drift.

Having said all that the students liked the town. They felt safe and most of their things go on on campus anyway.

[BubblesBuddy]

So if not the top universites, then Sussex, UEA, Surrey, Lancaster, Leicester, Queen Mary London (is RG), Royal Holloway, Kent, Swansea etc are all worth looking at. I think my girls would have refused to go to Aberystwyth but obviously it floats the boat of some. Any campus university not in a city must suit the individual so make sure the place is for you. Some RG universities that cannot find enough top grade applicants may be flexible on grades too.

[Dunlurking]

Thanks for the lowdown on Aberystwyth spababe. You don't make it sound very enticing but we live in a very rural area so anywhere has to represent bright lights and civilisation to us.
BubblesB that's a very helpful list. Thank you.

[Dunlurking]

That didn't come out right. Sorry spababes. You do make it sound OK and interesting and thanks for the helpful info.

[TheMightyMing]

My friends son did a Computer science degree at Aberystwyth , he enjoyed it very much. It's a good old trip from here though (NW) .

[FinallyDecidedOnUserName]

Just arrived in aberystwyth - it's raining

[TheMightyMing]

I'm in Manchester it's rainy here too x

[spababe]

Bubbles what about Reading? The campus is beautiful - very green.

Dunlurking - we did like Aberystwyth but it didn't tick all the boxes. We live rurally as well and we thought the town was small. Depends what your DC want though - everyone is different.

[Dunlurking]

Thanks spababe. I'm not sure what sort of place dd will end up preferring. She seemed to be hoping for a campus uni at first, like her brother, but I think she's more of a cosmopolitan type than ds so maybe will go for a city.

She's just spent the afternoon with her trainee planner friend who went to Newcastle for Geography and the friend has persuaded her to also consider courses that only require the minimum of one physical geography module in the first year, which doesn't count towards the final degree, and then the rest can be chosen from human geography modules. So that would expand the pool of courses she could look at.

[SunnySummerDays]

Hi my son is y13 and looking at physical geography (really doesn't like human).
He did AS and his grades are predicted as BBD which are pretty accurate. May get ABD at a push.
We have looked at unis at this level. One thing we have learnt is that you really do need to see them. You have to feel something about it.
We also looked at the teaching awards too, not just the stats. And you have to listen to the talks. The modules differ, the year out opportunities, and the trips.
We have also learnt that a geography degree won't get you a job doing what you want to do, it's not enough. You need a masters in a specialism. So actually this makes me wonder if a general 4 year masters degree is any good. I think you may be better using that year to specialise in volcanoes, or ecology or trees etc.
Of all the unis we have visited we like Worcester the best. Nice location esp for physical geography, bright new labs, lots of trips, at weekends too, a real bond between students, and professional very enthusiastic staff. High student satisfaction stats too, and a silver reaching. On paper you perhaps wouldn't have looked ....
We liked Keele, but not as much as Worcester. Nottingham Trent rural campus was very nice, they got gold too. Coventry was fantastic, and number 12 uni in uk now. Used to be a poly. Fantastic buildings, and a lot of money spent. The old buildings like the cathedral are gorgeous.
Not keen on Brunel, tatty. Staffordshire was a lovely uni, great course, but a tired area ( you wouldn't know unless you visited). Didn't like Loughborough, just a campus in a non descript area. Didn't like Liverpool. uwe in Bristol was very nice too. Off to look at Gloucester soon, which looks lovely and I've heard good reviews too. And poss reading.
So i would try and get out there visiting now. They need to know if they will be happy living there. And I would say you don't need a red brick ! My eldest went into engineering on Bdd on a foundation year and is now predicted a first on his masters. They can turn it around!

[BubblesBuddy]

I think you have to take teaching awards with a slight pinch of salt. The lesser tarrif universities will have to "teach" more because they need to. Often universities that are the best have less contact time because students have to be more self-reliant and work on their own initiative in non-contact time. It will depend on what you want to do after the first degree, what you want out of a campus and university city, and what really matters to you for three years.

For what its worth, do students really choose a campus because it is green? How much tine do they spend really valuing that aspect of the site? It appeals to parents, but there is far more to consider than that in my opinion, and it really should be low down on the list. Universty College London or Reading? You would choose UCL first surely if you could get into it.

I think the status and content of the course, what it can lead to, employability and enjoying your time at university are all paramount. A green site is all well and good but if a city university is better, then go for it.

Yes, Reading should have been on my list though!

Engineering is different to Geography. There are not enough Engineers in the UK and numerous jobs are available. There is a big problem with engineering in that lots of Engineers with the A grades and from the top universities, do not stay in Engineering. They go into the City. Geography is completely different. Unless they do further training, they are not tailor-made for a job. They have to move on and train for a career (of course that could be in the City) but it is not really comparing like with like.

[Withinthewhirlwind]

Manchester do an urban studies degree - which is very much human geography, it's part of the planning dept, so possible to transfer onto planning if that starts to appeal more.

[Dunlurking]

Thank you SunnySummer, BubblesB and Within. I'm away from home this week but will feed back to dd next week.

[spababe]

Bubbles - of course we're not just judging Unis by 'greenness' but I wanted to express the fact we were pleasantly surprised by the campus. Ultimately however good the course is, the student has to be happy at that Uni and that means we look at other aspects when we visit, not just the course reputation and modules.

[GemmaB78]

My husband is a (physical) geography lecturer at York St John. I don't know if they offer pure human geography as a course, but would it be an option?

[GemmaB78]

Just checked and yes, York ST John offer human geography, and BBB would be sufficient.

[AttentionSufficientHyperOrderd]

SOAS do a lot of courses in International development, infact they are outstanding in this area. Please please get DD to take a look online.

[BubblesBuddy]

That's fine spababe, but you would be amazed how many people on these threads say "stunning location" and "green-ness" are reasons to go to a university. When looking round, gardens, open spaces and a park like setting can be lovely in summer but do the students give a fig eventually? It's very much what parents think students should like.

[SunnySummerDays]

Bubbles. Green space is high on my sons list. They don't all want to drink and club.

[BubblesBuddy]

It might be on the list now but when he gets into his course and has mates, will it be then? People change. It still shouldn't be high on a list though! On a list but green space isn't the opposite of clubs and drinking! Do you think people at green university sites don't drink or go to clubs? They are not mutually exclusive! Green campus universities often have students drink more regularly because the union is THE source of cheap booze! It's on site and no transport involved.

[spababe]

Each to their own

[user1464118261]

The few who apply from my area in Wales have very good exam results, from my childrens unselective comprehensive (and in Wales few go to private school so it is most of the local children) about 8-10 apply. From these If lucky 2 get in to Oxbridge each year but often only 1 child. When results come those 8-10 will have all got at least 1 AAA usually 2-3 get 4A and yet even these may not have got a place. It is not about academic ability or not applying there is something else which I think is a) choosing the right college I think the colleges with no BEM students shows there are better colleges to choose if you are from other areas what ever Oxbridge say about all colleges giving equal chances and b) the interview which is daunting both by reputation and experience if you go to a nonselective school.

[user1464118261]

sorry wrong post!