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Higher education

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Original poster

Can't decide between Maths or Journalism

106 replies

KingCatMeowInSpace · 07/01/2024 21:48

DS is considering applying for courses in multimedia journalism as likes idea of presenting or social media type jobs but school think he should be applying for something more traditional at an RG uni as he always gets in the 90% in tests/exams in maths, physics, history,English. Not sure what to advise him - are the school right or does he apply for a more practical course at a non RG Uni? Any advice?

OP posts:
Piggywaspushed · 09/01/2024 20:19

I didn't compare it to those things. I merely pointed out that the required grades don't suggest a lack of competition for entry.

Original poster
KingCatMeowInSpace · 09/01/2024 23:19

Abouttimemum · 09/01/2024 16:25

I’m a former trained and qualified (and award winning) journalist but I’m now in PR because journalism is poorly paid, unsociable and not very flexible, and has changed beyond recognition where you are mainly writing clickbait and competing with people who get their ‘information’ from social media and wrongly think that journalists and mainstream media can’t be trusted.

However, it is a great career if he’s very passionate about it and flexible and committed then he can do very well.

I agree that it’s best to ensure a full rounded set of skills (even now in PR it’s about my writing skills but also my digital skills) and that journalism can be done post grad.

In response to pp I did the best journalism degree in the country (as was then) and it’s stood me in good stead for interviews. You ultimately do have to have qualifications to be any kind of journalist. They don’t just trust any Tom, dick or Harry sit through and appropriately report on legal proceedings for example.

Thanks- he’s definite motivated and flexible- you’ve done journalism n now more on the PR side - you also feel, like many others, he should do a different degree rather than multimedia journalism?

OP posts:
whyamiawakestill · 09/01/2024 23:37

KingCatMeowInSpace · 07/01/2024 23:23

I've spoken to him about the low pay in journalism and that his close friends are doing more engineering/maths type courses and the better pay/job prospects but he said as long as the pay is average he'd be ok with that as long as enjoys his job even if friends earn more! He's one more year of school (in Scotland) and plans on doing advanced highers in maths and history and still considering what else. Yes shall get him to look into more traditional degrees I think based on what you're all mainly saying and can then consider post grad in journalism if wants to afterwards. He does regular vlogs on YouTube and has had a few articles published in online magazine.

If he was my son I'd advise the traditional degree and keep the blogging and content on the side and then maybe move into that field.

I'm creative industry and unfortunately our copywriters, PR and journalist colleagues are really struggling, everyone thinks they can write and everyone can publish, so the true journalists are getting left out.

Abouttimemum · 10/01/2024 10:07

KingCatMeowInSpace · 09/01/2024 23:19

Thanks- he’s definite motivated and flexible- you’ve done journalism n now more on the PR side - you also feel, like many others, he should do a different degree rather than multimedia journalism?

Show quote history

I think if it’s definitely the career he wants to do then there no reason why he can’t do a journalism degree. If it’s just something he’s interested in but not set on then I’d do the traditional degree and then the post grad or NCTJ training.

My journalism degree had been beneficial my whole career, but my whole career has been writing and communications.

peevedindeed · 31/01/2024 19:53

Lilacdressinggown · 08/01/2024 20:24

To give a different view, I have read quite a few articles recently that suggest jobs which are maths related do not have much of a future as AI will rapidly take them over.

@KingCatMeowInSpace Sorry to revive the thread but I thought you'd be interested. I stumbled across the source of these articles here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-impact-of-ai-on-uk-jobs-and-training.

It's a complete red herring. It highlights several subjects (including maths) as most likely to be impacted by AI but defines "impacted" as either "augmented" or "replaced", without distinguishing between the two. I strongly suspect that maths grads will have no shortage of job opportunities that are augmented by AI. 🙂

The impact of AI on UK jobs and training

Report showing the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on areas within the UK labour market and education.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-impact-of-ai-on-uk-jobs-and-training

Original poster
KingCatMeowInSpace · 31/01/2024 20:47

Thanks so much for sending that over - really interesting. Ridiculous that it doesn’t differentiate between the two ends of what impacted means isn’t it.

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