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Academic decision woes

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tar1984

write a song, i'll sing along

Following from another thread I wanted to put this here because a) it's more an education thing than a health one, and b) i might get answers from people who weren't reading the other one. My difficulty is choosing which classes to do.

I have to pick three subjects for my first year. One is the subject I have to do (sociology & anthropology) because that is what my degree is in. The other two are optionals - at least one of these should be another social science, and the other should probably be from the Arts to broaden :hmm: my education. And I will have the option of changing my degree to one of the optionals or doing it as a joint honours with sociology at any point up to 3rd year.

I have picked my second subject easily - History. I am comfortable with this choice because I enjoyed it/was good at it at school.

My third choice is where it gets tricky. I can't decide whether to do another social science (I was thinking about Economics) or an arts subject (there are lots - comparative lit, english lit, philosophy, languages etc). I think that the arts subjects, in many cases, look a lot more interesting than I imagine economics would be, but if it turns out I had an aptitude for economics this would be a much more valuable degree to follow through to degree level. Basically because it involves a lot of maths competency, using IT and so on so would be more valuable/impressive to an employer. Whereas I'm sure I'd really enjoy doing comparative lit for a term and it would be a good way to pick up credits but I couldn't see myself actually doing it right through to degree level.

Erm so I want to make sure all three classes I pick in first year are classes I could feasibly see myself continuing to degree level if i enjoy or turn out to be good at them. But I'm stuck between choosing what I think I'd enjoy more and what I think would be the 'better' degree to have.

Mind you I might end up sticking with my first choice to degree level anyway, having chose a harder/more boring subject, giving myself extra workload (economics seems to have twice the classtime of any arts subject), missing out on studying something interesting, all from a fear of cutting off options for myself.

I am not used to making decisions on my own I need help :D I know it's my decision and I have to live with it but I am having a hard time with this.
 
Are you good at maths would be my big question? Otherwise all your reasoning looks absolutely spot on to me. A foreign language is allegedly also quite impressive to employers btw.
 
Well, the thing is I was always good at maths. In my formative school days (up to maybe age 15) maths was always my best subject, something I excelled at (relatively speaking). However I never really followed it through to higher maths level due to completely going off the rails around that age. In scotland you do highers over two years - 5th and 6th year. I mainly did social science type subjects in 5th year and planned to do maths, physics and things like that in 6th year. I ended up, though, dropping out after 5th year in a haze of dope smoke and plans to study computer engineering at college (which i also dropped out of soon after :facepalm:).

So I'm hoping the aptitude for maths hasn't left me, although slightly concerned I'll end up out of my depth having never really tested myself with any real higher level of maths as yet. It would be nice to be able to study a subject where I can put that initial maths aptitude to work, then maybe I didn't waste all my chances dropping out. That's also a big part of my thinking around doing economics - I'd never get to study actual Mathematics without the highers.
 
Modern languages is a good idea too. I do like the idea of doing something useful. Even the beginners languages courses require a foreign language grade at higher level which again I don't have, but there might be some wiggle room on that.
 
Personally I would find out as much as I could about each module that was feasible to do (timetable-wise, how many credits and any pre-requisites you might need) and sounded interesting. It might be that it sounds good initially but they don't go into the things you are expecting. When I started at uni there was a period of time in freshers week when we could talk to people who taught on or organised the option modules so we could find out more if we wanted. I don't think it matters too much if you get there and there's still some modules you haven't signed up to yet.

When I was deciding I didn't worry so much about what looks better to employers. I think if it might look good on your CV, but you ultimately aren't that interested in it, it's going to make it very difficult to do. Looking good to employers should be a bonus but not your biggest deciding factor, IMHO anyway.

If you're really stuck between two things that look really interesting and you really want to do them both, it might be worth looking ahead to the second year's modules and seeing what they lead to as pre-requisites. It might tip the balance slightly if one looks better than another.

I went to uni after working for a few years, moved across most of the country, left everything/one behind! It was scary and strange at first but you do settle in quickly. There's loads of help for any kind of problem, and everyone is in the same boat really, even if they are slightly younger than you.
 
One thing to think about is how long it has been since you've done maths - a refresher course might be required if it's been a while. Plus, lecturers go quite fast at uni, much faster than at school, so it's easier to fall behind if you're not sure what you're doing.

I would go for what you like, rather than what looks good to employers at this point. What you like helps you stay in uni when things get tough, plus if you've been out of education for a while, a course you like will boost your confidence when everything is unfamiliar.

What do you think you might do with your degree once it's finished?
 
tar1984 said:
Modern languages is a good idea too. I do like the idea of doing something useful. Even the beginners languages courses require a foreign language grade at higher level which again I don't have, but there might be some wiggle room on that.
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Are you sure about this? I got an offer to study a split degree with a language at Glasgow with no experience of languages since standard grade.

Are you still going to Glasgow? You get to do 3 courses in first year, and 3 in second year before you actually decide on what to focus your degree on, so there is room to change if you don't like your choice in first year.
 
Thank you all for the good advice :) I've actually gotten a bit closer to making a choice now having read up on the courses in more detail. I actually don't know what I want to do with my degree when it's finished - not a good start I know :D I do kind of feel that just having a degree might stop me bouncing about the bottom rung of the employment market (if I never see the inside of a callcentre again it'll be too soon) and if I can get a good degree it might open some doors. Maybe one of those awesome office jobs that let people post on urban all day ;) The main reason I'm doing it is I regret not doing it when I was younger it feels like I missed out.

I will enjoy sociology and history so that's 2/3rds of my timetable I know I'll enjoy anyway, I think it's maybe worth taking a chance on the last subject as something a bit more tricky.

heinous seamus said:
Are you sure about this? I got an offer to study a split degree with a language at Glasgow with no experience of languages since standard grade.

Are you still going to Glasgow? You get to do 3 courses in first year, and 3 in second year before you actually decide on what to focus your degree on, so there is room to change if you don't like your choice in first year.
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Yeah, but don't two of the second year courses have to be carried on from first year, at level2?. And I don't see how you can then take your new subject to honours level because you'd go into third year having only done it at level1 :hmm: it's all so confusing.

Interesting about the languages though, I guess maybe I'd get into a beginners language class the only question is would I be good at it.
 
*the plot thickens* I realised there are two history options - one in arts and one in social sciences. the social science one is 'social & economic history' which on closer inspection seems very similar to sociology - changing roles of the family, industrialisation in 19/20th century uk. the arts history option looks 100x more badass as it is about scottish & european history, wars of independance, medieval history and all kind of cool stuff. if i do that it gives me an arts option plus will be mad interesting, but if i do that i couldn't pick up a language until 2nd year my 3rd subject has to be social science. decisions :mad:
 
how about sociology/economics/language? are you desperate to do history? i enjoyed it at school and signed up for archaeology/mediaeval history joint honours but dropped the history sharpish it was dull as fuck.
 
I get to meet my advisor before the course starts and he will discuss options with me before i commit to anything :cool: my main issue with choosing is self-doubt - ie what if i choose something then can't do it. at least history, sociology etc i know i can do... everything else is largely untested waters. i wish i'd done a wider range of subjects at school and college. i know i can do psychology too but there are limited placed on that course.
 
I'd wager you are capable of whichever course you choose. So choose the one that interests you most. Specifically, choose the one that you think will give you the most insight into how this world of ours works. In the end, that's what your main subject is all about, so add another aspect that will give you another perspective, and one that interests you. It can only help and inform your studies in your main subject. :)
 
Word up. The main thing I love about learning is feeling my understanding of the world grow. You know what you're right dammit if I turn my mind to any of these subjects and really try none of them will be beyond me :cool: thanks.
 
If your going to Glasgow Uni try the first year in Film and TV Studies. Imho it would compliment your sociology well.
 
Cool. I did consider politics, the subject interests me but I don't cope well with the cut and thrust of political debate.
 
tar1984 said:
Word up. The main thing I love about learning is feeling my understanding of the world grow. You know what you're right dammit if I turn my mind to any of these subjects and really try none of them will be beyond me :cool: thanks.
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Sounds to me that you're going to love being at uni. I'm quite jealous - starting uni is a great time. :cool:
 
Hopefully I'm going to love it. I'll love the academic side, more nervous about the social side and moving away. It'll be alright though.
 
tar1984 said:
Hopefully I'm going to love it. I'll love the academic side, more nervous about the social side and moving away. It'll be alright though.
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you're going at about the same age I was when I went. If you're anything like me, you'll find that a lot of the younger students are not into the subject in the same way as you. But you'll also find lots of people of all ages who are.

As for the social side and moving away, the great thing is that you're all in the same boat. Nobody has a head start on anyone else. And if you don't like someone, you just stay away from them* and gravitate towards those you do like. It's all good. :)

*And come on here to moan at us about the fuckers!
 
Fedayn said:
You'll be fine, we'll sort you out.... ;)
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Yep, even if we're not there in person, you have a whole heap of virtual aunties and uncles ;)

FWIW, I did art, italian and philosophy in my 1st term and then ditched philosophy for french in my 2nd when I realised I had no patience for people talking about buckets of ideas. I'm not good on theory with no practical application. But unless you try, you never know :)
 
littlebabyjesus said:
you're going at about the same age I was when I went. If you're anything like me, you'll find that a lot of the younger students are not into the subject in the same way as you. But you'll also find lots of people of all ages who are.

As for the social side and moving away, the great thing is that you're all in the same boat. Nobody has a head start on anyone else. And if you don't like someone, you just stay away from them* and gravitate towards those you do like. It's all good. :)

*And come on here to moan at us about the fuckers!
Click to expand...

Yeah it will be fine, I am anxious but also it is going to be totally liberating for me. A whole new world from what I'm used to: academia, freedom, the big city, I couldn't have imagined it two years ago and I'm glad I have this chance. I just get a bit socially anxious but that aside this is a hugely positive experience I will make sure it works out.

Fedayn said:
You'll be fine, we'll sort you out.... ;)
Click to expand...

That's what I'm worried about :eek: :p
 
tar1984 said:
Yeah it will be fine, I am anxious but also it is going to be totally liberating for me. A whole new world from what I'm used to: academia, freedom, the big city, I couldn't have imagined it two years ago and I'm glad I have this chance. I just get a bit socially anxious but that aside this is a hugely positive experience I will make sure it works out.

That's what I'm worried about :eek: :p
Click to expand...

You'll have a couple of good bevvies in good companiy fella.
 
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