Looking for view on DS's uni shortlist for English Lit

57 replies

Revengeofthepangolins · 27/08/2023 17:19

Would love to hear any observations that anyone has picked up from their offspring about DS2's short list for his English Lit application this term. He's looking at Durham, UCL, Oxford (maybe), Edinburgh, Warwick, Kings and Exeter. Keen to hear about the course, (teaching, support, module choice, community etc) life at these unis generally for humanities students, perception of offer rates, (all the usual really!) but also whether anyone has a sense of whether they offer good support for SEN/ autism. I was wondering whether Exeter has a history of being flexible about missed grades (other than this year), as the problem with this line up is that it is nearly all AAA (his predictions are 3Astars, but as this summer has underlined, there's many a slip between etc). Warwick shows an alternative of AstarAB which might be helpful if that is a standard offer, but perhaps it isn't.

Basically, any feedback appreciated!

OP posts:

SarahAndQuack · 31/08/2023 08:38

PettsWoodParadise · 30/08/2023 22:11

Thank you for that. It is lovely walking past her bedroom as she finds it easier saying it out loud and I hear snippets that remind me of my Uni days, she is even using my copy of Riverside Chaucer as it is the exact same 30 plus years later.,I suppose what is 30 years when reading something 700+ years old. She is currently doing T&C, then due to do Pearl and SGGK is the last one before she starts term.

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Oh, that's lovely! I taught those texts for five years and it was so much fun (well, Pearl isn't fun, but it is beautiful). I am biased but I think Cambridge English is a really, really well-designed course. Oxford is great if you already know you want to be a medievalist and/or you adore languages, but I think it's a bit joyless otherwise.

Piggywaspushed · 31/08/2023 09:13

Yes, York has a big emphasis on medieval literature and Anglo Saxon. This may ne out of date. It definitely still sims to focus on a wider international range, too.

Phos · 31/08/2023 09:23

Richmondgal · 28/08/2023 08:23

I think the biggest issue is the choice of course
humanities grads have a low rate of high earning grads
great if you want to be a teacher of course
I love reading but I decided it was not a worthwhile degree and something I do for pleasure

There are loads of grad schemes that are course agnostic.

SarahAndQuack · 31/08/2023 12:43

Piggywaspushed · 31/08/2023 09:13

Yes, York has a big emphasis on medieval literature and Anglo Saxon. This may ne out of date. It definitely still sims to focus on a wider international range, too.

A lot in translation, though. York semesterised last year and re-vamped a lot of courses as a result.

Piggywaspushed · 01/09/2023 06:41

Yes, I did see that. I do still think the course is very good at looking beyond the usual parameters of English ( and US ) literature. Given the slow death of languages in schools, they have had to go to literature in translation, I guess. Sad. I enjoyed my 20th century German Literature module. Mind you, half the class cheated anyway and bought translations!

WendyWebersdrugget · 03/09/2023 19:41

DS1 is at York doing their bespoke English and Philosophy degree. He loves it and as English is my subject I can honestly say I’m quite jealous of him being there. Definitely lots of scope to do modules in medieval literature - and an MA after- but equally good for modernist nuts like him! Also the SEN/pastoral support is very good from what I hear.

TizerorFizz · 03/09/2023 21:43

If anyone is interested, the IFS has done detailed academic research on which uni subjects are going to get you more money! The paper is “How Much Does Degree Choice Matter?”

What they cannot look at is what the student wants to do with the degree. Looking at the results for English, it could be that this accounts for it’s relatively lowly position. Nor the quality of the degree. No student is limited by what’s available but maybe what they want. It also looks at MAs too.

The other issue students might wish to consider is that the new loans are less of a good deal for the lower paid. So ambition pays! In more ways than one now.

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