Help me to help DD choose a degree. Most likely Philosophy!

[flopi77]

DD is looking at Philosophy as a degree, which is great, but DH and I are feeling a bit out of our depth. DD knows about rankings, tables etc, but all the specs for Philosophy degrees seem so similar. I thought I'd post here hoping someone might have more knowledge - where's the best teaching? I don't necessarily mean the most prestigious, more dynamic and global, rather than just Western philosophy.

Then might there be degrees which DD just hasn't thought of? She's chosen Philosophy because it's her favourite A-level, but could there be other degrees which she'd fit and just hasn't thought of. Maybe Anthropology? Trouble is DH and I know nothing about that either! Her A-levels are Philosophy, History and Sociology (AAA predictions).

Any thoughts would be great. Neither DH or I went to University, so we're feeling a bit on the back foot and sadly her school seem as clueless as us!

I’m not sure anybody will ever know enough about every course to decide on that basis. I think what your dd should do is to firstly make a list of all those universities that do a course which sounds broadly what she wants.

Then cut out those who want more than AAA (you could maybe leave one aspirational choice but it’s not the best plan anymore according to DSs school)

Then cut out those that she thinks are too far away

Then decide whether she is looking for a non campus )ie buildings spread out within a city or. Campus based (everything all together on its own private site) university

Then decide if there are any on the list that she takes an instant dislike to having looked at their websites

Hopefully you should then be left with about ten which ideally you go to visit so that you can shortlist down to your five.

I have a dc currently doing Philosophy at university. One tip for your dd is to have a good look at the course content, as there is quite a variance. She may not be particularly fussed, but some philosophy degrees are v heavy on religion content, which was not what my dc wanted. Other courses go much more towards ethics, with little to no religion content.

Look at the gender balance in the department. Many Philosophy departments are unusually (for the Humanities and Social Sciences) heavily male-dominated and there is a strong current of misogyny amongst many of these men, in my experience.

@GCAcademic

Look at the gender balance in the department. Many Philosophy departments are unusually (for the Humanities and Social Sciences) heavily male-dominated and there is a strong current of misogyny amongst many of these men, in my experience.

That’s in relation to the academic staff, btw. I couldn’t say if it’s a problem at the student level too.

Philosophy? would she like fries with that?

If she is not entirely sure, a Liberal Arts degree would be a good option and give the most flexibility in terms of choosing modules. It allows you to choose 2, 3 or even 4 interdisciplinary subjects from social sciences, humanities and the arts.

If you are looking at UK universities, many offer this- Durham, Exeter, Bristol, Leeds, Birmingham, Loughborough, Manchester, Warwick, Nottingham etc. Look up Liberal Arts or Liberal Studies to find them.

I did philosophy and an MFL at uni. It was a rubbish course (uni of Bristol) but maybe it's better now - hope so for £9k a year.

What does she hope to do in the future? Phi by itself doesn't less anywhere much - not even teaching as, say, history would.

Has she thought about another degree altogether? Something that links more to a career?

If she is set on phi, then @HasaDigaEebowai has good advice on how to choose a uni.

@a8mint

Philosophy? would she like fries with that?

The Philosophy student I lived with at University is now a top QC.

Sorry, phi doesn't lead anywhere much

If I were applying now I would first consider which aspects of Philosophy I’m particularly keen on, and look to match my interests with not just the undergraduate courses but the postgraduate research being carried out by different universities.

She could also consider where the practising philosophers she admires teach. (What you say about looking outside the exclusively Western philosophical tradition is a very good thought.)

Might also be sensible to assess which places have strong Humanities departments in the round, in case she should want a sideways move.

Is she not able to access any good advice via her school?

I studied philosophy as a joint honours subject with psychology. True that it doesn't lead directly anywhere but lots of subject don't!
I would definitely say looking at the course content is essential, there can be a lot of 'dead white male' filled courses!

I have a teen at Reading doing Philosophy. Loves it. Required 3 XB

Ignore the fries comment. I'm an academic and teach mainly postgrads. The philosophy grads who come onto my course are miles ahead in terms of critical thinking and writing skills.

Hmm, maybe she could look at joint honours degrees, to avoid specialising in something so niche and ultimately careerless. She would have to study further to convert it into a career. (So a law conversion course or something)

And yy to liberal arts. I wish I'd done that tbh.

Hi OP

I did my undergraduate degree in Philosophy 10 years ago and it's one of the best decisions I ever made. I was originally doing Psychology, but changed my route to Philosophy after my 2nd year as I was enjoying Philosophy better and getting better grades. I figured I'd rather have a good degree in Philosophy rather than a bad degree in Psychology. I graduated with a 2:1 honours degree.
I ended up doing my dissertation in feminist philosophy and my mark for my dissertation earned me one of my few 'A' results - such an amazing reward after working hard, but also actually enjoying myself as well. I feel that's definitely something to take into consideration when choosing a degree pathway. Also, like I did, it is possible to change degree pathways, as long as it's done before the 3rd year. If this has changed since I was at uni, please correct me. I'm also in Scotland so not sure how things work south of the border!

Reading others comments, it's true that there aren't many direct job opportunities other than continuing research or lecturing etc, but, after qualifying, I did a Postgraduate degree in Speech & Language Therapy after taking a year out to build my experience in that field. I'm now a paediatric speech and language therapist and thoroughly enjoy my job. Not quite related to my Philosophy degree.

Anyway, I digress. I highly recommend Philosophy as a degree pathway as there are so many branches of philosophy to study - Feminist philosophy, art and philosophy, philosophy and film (another favourite of mine!), animal philosophy, body and mind. They can also be linked with other disciplines like politics and psychology etc...the sky really is the limit when it comes to philosophy in my opinion.

That being said, it will be likely that postgraduate study will be required in terms of job prospects.

Philosophy? would she like fries with that?

Both of my uni friends who did philosophy now have very well paid and well respected jobs - they earn far more than most of us who did what that poster would probably think are reputable degrees

If unsure, try a dual degree at a university she wants to go to. Then much of the time they let you switch to a single degree in the one you like (or some universities let you switch subject entirely in the first year once you're in if you've met the criteria and there is space! I've known people who have moved from language degrees to journalism or sociology, dual degrees to business (at Russell Group Unis). Or moved from a single degree, to a dual with politics, or a language. The good universities want you to succeed, and if something doesn't suit you they will often try to accommodate. Check the dual degrees listed at the university as a guide. (Even Prince William changed from History of Art to Geography).

If she isn't doing a vocational degree (like social work, engineering etc) then the best advice is simply to just get into the top university you can, in a subject you know you can do the best in, as the place is what employers will often look at after the grade you get if it's not vocational.

Totally agree with @KeepSmiling89.
I did a funded postgrad after my degree, worked in that field for some time and an now a manager in the public sector. Fellow graduates are lawyers, teachers, writers.

has thought and read up about other degrees, beyond her A-levels, which might be more useful for future employment.
something with business or economics in it.
economic history, or political philosophy. or social psychology maybe.
or choose a location and see what they do.

Oh, I'll add that I did my undergraduate degree at Dundee University...not sure if that helps in terms of choosing where to study, but I definitely had a fab experience there.

I'm really getting invested in this thread now!
Check out university websites, read about courses offered, check out open days and meet some of the staff. I think some lecturers have their e-mail addresses available on university websites so you can contact them directly to ask about specific courses or fields of study within philosophy as well.

I would have loved to do a philosophy degree. When I was doing the rounds of universities a few years ago, it was philosophy we were looking at. I remember one professor talking to us and saying that in his experience employers love philosophy graduates because so few people can employ critical thinking and constructed arguments, anyone who has these skills can be an asset to any company.

I know three people with philosophy degrees. One was until recently a senior journalist, he's gone back into academia now. Another directs a think tank. Another is on a career break from a job in forestry. They all earn at least 3 x what I do after my vocational degree...

My approach to supporting my ds's research into his degree was...

• talk a lot about which bits/approaches to the subject he liked
• Google crazily for academics who seem to focus on that area, including a lot of scholar searching
• see where they work.

I did philosophy because it was my favourite a level. For a long time I thought it was a mistake, but then I did a masters in social work and it sort of made sense.
She should do a course that she loves but ALSO has some career trajectory in it in my opinion.

I did a philosophy degree, I am now an accountant specialising in tax. It was a great degree, very academically rigorous and taught skills which are very transferrable.

Echo pp’s comments about looking at course descriptions, by the third year on my course we were all doing quite different options. Also assessment (I did not want to do a dissertation)