Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Higher education

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

Original poster

English/politics/law/ journalism

37 replies

caroline161 · 02/02/2019 17:09

DD is in year 12 and taking a levels in English politics and biology. She is a high achiever and did really well at gcse achieving all 7s 8s and 5x9s . She knows she wants to go to university but doesn't know what to do! What is the best degree to have and from what universities? I know it isn't as simple as that. But we have no clue of where to start. She loves a bit of debating and is all round good kind person with a lot of integrity. Hope someone can offer some advice?

OP posts:
Bobbybobbins · 02/02/2019 17:11

Of the four that you have listed I would say two are more job-specific (law and journalism) and two are more generalised. Though obviously you wouldn't have to go into law with a degree in it.

Does she have any idea of plans past uni?

Original poster
caroline161 · 02/02/2019 17:37

No she doesn't. I've told her to just keep doing what she enjoys and that will end up on the right path. However I think you can do a mixture such as English with politics etc. Is that advisable ?

OP posts:
stackhead · 02/02/2019 17:46

A law degree would open the most doors career wise, it's not job specific until post grad.

LIZS · 02/02/2019 17:56

Joint degrees tend to restrict the options to choose from to the core ones which might be a bit dry. Ds knows several who dropped to single after first year because the deadlines did not take the demands of each into account and course content was less interesting. I disagree that Law keeps the most options open . You can enter Law or Journalism post grad from other degree disciplines but not so easy in reverse of you change your mind. Transferrable skills are good from all 4 though.

titchy · 02/02/2019 18:01

If she genuinely has no career ideas then an English degree won't close off any doors and will be well regarded as well as providing a good springboard to law/journalism/politics roles.

Bayleyf · 02/02/2019 18:20

I'd do English or Law from her list.

Both are well respected and don't close any doors. A law degree won't channel her in to being a lawyer, but that option is open to her. Lots of political/ policy jobs will value a law background, too.

I did politics and loved it. But some people on my course found it quite narrow - I'd steer clear unless she has a real passion for it.

This might be unfair, but some people will look down on journalism as not being a proper academic degree.

Sarahandduck18 · 02/02/2019 18:23

A law degree is the most valuable of those.

Look at the uni league table and if she can get the grades aim for the ones at the top.

armsandtheman · 02/02/2019 18:43

I did a politics degree and have had a varied career in lobbying, campaigning, communications and engagement in the public and voluntary sector. I know she hasn't got any careers in mind but it's a good general degree especially if you can get some experience, e.g. as a volunteer. I'm currently doing a law degree. Politics was much more interesting!

ZandathePanda · 02/02/2019 18:46

English and politics can lead to the same jobs in journalism etc and she can learn different skills from a joint degree. Many joint/combined degrees let you alter the balance if you enjoy one subject more. She can always do the law bit later. York do a dedicated English and Politics degree. Many like Durham and Leeds do Liberal Arts. Newcastle does Combined Honours.

Piggywaspushed · 02/02/2019 18:49

Get her a few prospectuses . There might be all manner of degrees out there that she hasn't even contemplated!

Mentounasc · 02/02/2019 18:59

Some politics courses can really be very broadly defined, if you find the right one. Some have elements of sociology, economics (solid maths skills needed there), law, language-learning, philosophy etc. It's less liberal arts than a hodge-podge of social sciences. Sounds like yourDD might like that kind of mix (with the option of specializing in one of the directions for the final year).

Original poster
caroline161 · 02/02/2019 19:15

Thanks everyone! Thats really helpful, I feel like you've given me a start. We will obviously start to have a look round a few universities offering the types of things she interested in. It's very tricky to advise and support when you have no clue

OP posts:
BubblesBuddy · 02/02/2019 22:52

I would look at Law above all others but it’s a shame she’s not doing History. However she’s ok with what she’s doing. For Law, there is a heirarchy of universities if you actually want to work in Law. Aim very high. Competition for legal training and jobs is highly competitive and they pick the majority from the best universities. As they look at so many grads who haven’t studied law, the competition is enormous. You can transfer to Law from most academic degrees if you do the one year conversion course. You do not need a second degree. This just wastes time. Many high flyers take this route very successfully. You can then top up with a masters.

English grads are not among the best paid post graduation and if she wants journalism then it’s dire. We know two journalists and one studied History and the other Psychology. Both are continually worried about employment. Other friends of DDs have tried (Cambridge grads) and got nowhere. Contacts matter and it is Oxbridge dominated. Don’t do a journalism degree. Train afterwards.

I think you really have to love literature and politics to do either of these degrees. The reading will be relentless. Law too! They are all general degrees and can lead where you want. Many people form ideas about a career at university and apply for work experience from 1st year onwards. There are loads of careers fairs to visit. It’s useful to come to some conclusion whilst at university though and go for it.

Original poster
caroline161 · 03/02/2019 08:07

She started history as she loved it and got a 9 at gcse. She just couldn't handle the Tudors though and the way it was taught. We had meetings about it but she decided to drop it as she was really stressed about it. This still tears her up a bit. She knows she would have more options with a history a level :-(

OP posts:
Piggywaspushed · 03/02/2019 08:23

I don't think that's true!

Silly question : but does she like (I mean really love) reading ? An English degree can turn inot a bit of a route march.

What does she like reading? There is huge variation in English degrees (some are chronological; some offer more 'trendy' opportunities)

I did an English degree. Now a teacher (contrary to received opinion, some people actively choose this career!). I have university friends who are academics, publishers, lawyers, journalists and one is a film director! (of Suffragette, amongst others). It is a very very flexible degree, much like history.

anniehm · 03/02/2019 08:44

I would avoid journalism as it is not considered a good degree even if you wish to be a journalist (history is considered the best apparently). Law is extremely competitive so it needs to be really her passion. The others separately or combined would be all round the better options

Original poster
caroline161 · 03/02/2019 09:15

Yes she's always loved reading and reads all sorts, a teacher once told me she draws out of the text things that aren't even there. She has a lovely style of writing and did work experience at a local magazine. I could see her as an editor of a children's magazine or working in tv. She loves politics and debating. Her politics teacher told us she was at the top of the class (grammar school) and that she had great political career ahead of her. He told us she asks him questions that he has to go and find the answer to.

OP posts:
Sarahandduck18 · 03/02/2019 09:17

She should definitely order prospectuses of unis she is interested in.

The ways subjects are taught is very different.

What kind of uni does she want- stay at home or live away? City or campus? Sporty? Music scene? Quality and price of halls? Part time job opportunities? International?

ChariotsofFish · 03/02/2019 09:31

I have degrees in both English and Politics! With politics it would depend what she’s interested in. If she’s interested in actually being a politician then a politics degree isn’t helpful, in fact in many constituencies it would work against you at selection. She’d be better off doing an English degree and becoming involved with the party society.

Piggywaspushed · 03/02/2019 09:32

She can get into journalism at uni : they all have their own papers/ radio stations etc.

Let her browse some prospectuses and see what she turns up.

Some (but not many) unis do joint politics and English degrees.

A lot of journalists do have history degrees : but many have English / politics/ media/ business etc degrees too!

I am interested in the biology : this adds an interestign iron to her fire and I wondered whether she had considered speech therpay?

Original poster
caroline161 · 03/02/2019 12:04

I can't thank you all enough for taking the time to help us with this. As we get further down the road we will be back! DD has read the above !

OP posts:
BubblesBuddy · 03/02/2019 12:05

Piggy: for Law at a top university,History is a good bet. With the DDs GCSEs she should be aiming very high.

However as DD ploughed through the Tudors I can visualise the angst! It’s a slog.

NancyJoan · 03/02/2019 12:08

Not journalism. I did my degree, and then worked as a journalist, but wish I’d done English or history. Other journo friends had degrees in science, history, law, languages etc etc.

Original poster
caroline161 · 03/02/2019 14:49

Thankyou a lot of what you say makes sense. I think she will probably aim to do English at degree and then could always do a year for law or go into journalism that way.

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread