MFL degree if doesn't like essays?

[PrincessOfPreschool]

DS was broadly talented at GCSE but only really enjoyed Maths and Spanish, mostly Spanish. He's now doing 4 A levels - Maths, Spanish, Geog and Chemistry. He's really disliking Geography and says it's the essay element. To be honest, he's not great at expressing himself in writing and doesn't read. He's enjoying maths and Spanish as expected but he's surprised he's also enjoying chemistry as it really was a 'wildcard'.

He was thinking of Spanish at Uni and really wanted to study in Spain for a year, but I'm a bit concerned there's a lot of essay writing by degree level, just in another language.

What else could he do at Uni? He thought maybe Linguistics but we don't know enough about it (will look into it more). What else? He's keen on Oxbridge but I think something he will really enjoy studying is more important.

Three MFLs is a bit master of none. Newcastle really is not rated very highly for MFL or Linguistics. It’s mid div for both. I guess it’s easier to get the degree though!

Thanks all. I'll no doubt be back here next year to ask which uni's are rated for what. Is that just a 'word of mouth' thing or how do you know what uni's are better for what subjects?

There’s ‘better’ per league tables, but each compiler uses different metrics. Then there’s which suits him better - because of the course structure and content, assessment methods, the ethos, the location, the support available, the societies…

complete university guide

https://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/courses/search/undergraduate/modern-languages

I would definitely encourage him to have a look at linguistics to see if that would interest him.

That is not strictly true. My mother took French and Latin at Sheffield and was compelled to take Greek alongside the Latin as part of her course. She was also already fluent in Spanish and ultimately taught all 4 languages to A level students thereafter.

Go for the course and course modules. Options for practical language. I did low ranking uni applied languages but the best course left with 4 languages and got high ranking career in journalism and now in comms for international organization both using languages. You can always do MA after at "high ranking" uni

Oh thank God someone said this, I was starting to get really worried reading this thread!

I did a science degree and there was a fuckload of essay writing. Ditto my friends doing other sciences or engineering subjects. STEM is not a way to avoid essays!

I remember as a first year comparing workload with someone doing history at the same college. We were the same on seminar hours but I had twice as many lectures. He did have a slightly higher essay count, but only by about 20% - considerably offset my by 10 hours a week of lab time, which also meant 10 hours of lab reports.

@ExclusiveOffersOnly For most standard dc with 1 A level or even 2 in MFLs, three is spreading too thinly for academic high standards. Too short a time in countries abroad and lack of depth.

What jobs people got years ago is pretty irrelevant. Many are not there now. Few in translation for example. It’s better to do two and use the academic skills gained for employment. MFLs do not have great employment stats.

DD’s OH did medicine. I got the impression from him, there was practically no essay writing? She said, it was mainly rote learning from what she did see; and there was a lot of placements in departments from the 3rd year onwards for practical experience.

However, I wouldn’t see medicine as a good way to get out of essay writing! He regrets becoming a doctor now, and wishes he had gone into finance instead! DS an accountant, earns more than him, a GP!

A friend of ours did French and went into accountancy.

Agree. Essays and a dissertation for DD's biomedical sciences degree.

All degrees involve essay writing even science ones, so if he doesn't like essays a degree is probably not the right thing for him.

I agree. The triple MFL degree where I went was full of the highest performing students who went on to brilliant careers.