Academic decision woes

[stuff_it]

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.

I'm well shit at maths, got a C at GCSE, now I'm doing engineering and I've already passed the compulsory maths module, I'm sure you'd be fine.

If you're really likely to be sticking with sociology and anthropology then you may think of looking at statistics rather than economics if you want to do a maths related course.

 

[tar1984]

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

Cheers Fed I look forward to it. Nothing like a couple of bevvies to cure the old social anxiety too

 

[tar1984]

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

If you lot are meant to be my virtual aunties and uncles could you start sending me money at xmas? thanks in advance

 

[jakethesnake]

Avoid Economics! It is a load of (very dry) evidence free bollocks... a true pseudo science. Anything else would be a better choice.

 

[tar1984]

I'm well shit at maths, got a C at GCSE, now I'm doing engineering and I've already passed the compulsory maths module, I'm sure you'd be fine.

If you're really likely to be sticking with sociology and anthropology then you may think of looking at statistics rather than economics if you want to do a maths related course.

I'm not sure if statistics is something i can do, I have limited options to choose from for my optional subjects. Pretty sure statistics wasn't listed (neither was physics which was another idea I had). That's encouraging that you are getting on so well with the maths stuff though, well done on that too.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Avoid Economics! It is a load of (very dry) evidence free bollocks... a true pseudo science. Anything else would be a better choice.

Taught well, economics is a massively interesting and important topic. I would agree however that you need to be careful and see what exactly it is that is going to be taught. Economic history can be a better option.

 

[tar1984]

Avoid Economics! It is a load of (very dry) evidence free bollocks... a true pseudo science. Anything else would be a better choice.

Uh oh fwiw i've heard the pseudo-science accusation levelled at pretty much every social science at one time or another. People say it about psychology as well a lot.

 

[jakethesnake]

Uh oh fwiw i've heard the pseudo-science accusation levelled at pretty much every social science at one time or another. People say it about psychology as well a lot.

Even economists diss economics! Read some J K Galbraith. Social Policy might be a better fit with your other subjects, is that on offer?

 

[tar1984]

Even economists diss economics! Read some J K Galbraith. Social Policy might be a better fit with your other subjects, is that on offer?

It was once referred to as 'the dismal science' apparently. see this is the type of thing that makes me doubt my choices. one thing i do think economics will be good for is transferable skills though. there is no social policy option, but there is...

Taught well, economics is a massively interesting and important topic. I would agree however that you need to be careful and see what exactly it is that is going to be taught. Economic history can be a better option.

...a 'social and economic history' option. deciding between this and standard history is one thing i'll be discussing with my advisor

 

[jakethesnake]

Lol. It was pretty fucking dismal when I studied it at A level (I'm not bitter).

Sociology is a great subject though. Glasgow is a fantastic place to be a student too. *jealous*

 

[littlebabyjesus]

...a 'social and economic history' option. deciding between this and standard history is one thing i'll be discussing with my advisor

My uni course involved history courses that focused on economic history - specifically the economic history of Latin America. They were some of the best courses I took, and in terms of understanding economics, quite possibly more valuable than economics courses, funnily enough - because you are far more likely to find that an economic historian understands how economics and wider society are related to each other.

 

[stuff_it]

I'm not sure if statistics is something i can do, I have limited options to choose from for my optional subjects. Pretty sure statistics wasn't listed (neither was physics which was another idea I had). That's encouraging that you are getting on so well with the maths stuff though, well done on that too.

Statistics isn't any harder than economics, it's all done on computers these days. It would look good if you wanted to do research at some point in the future, and if you have a degree and can do statistics there are lots of other jobs you can get if times are hard.

Do they offer international relations? (Not in the boning student's from abroad sense!)

 

[tar1984]

i'm not sure, i think they will have that course (or similar) but again it's not one i can choose as an optional with my sociology course.

 

[stuff_it]

i'm not sure, i think they will have that course (or similar) but again it's not one i can choose as an optional with my sociology course.

Eh? I thought you could chose anything you wanted for your third subject.

 

[tar1984]

My uni course involved history courses that focused on economic history - specifically the economic history of Latin America. They were some of the best courses I took, and in terms of understanding economics, quite possibly more valuable than economics courses, funnily enough - because you are far more likely to find that an economic historian understands how economics and wider society are related to each other.

i liked the look of economic history at first, then i thought possibly it was a little too similar to sociology - studying the changing roles of the family, effects of industrialisation in the uk etc, seemed to be a huge crossover which would be helpful in some ways but doesn't give much range to my studies. the course at glasgow centres on the uk 18-20th century i'm pretty sure of that.

 

[tar1984]

Eh? I thought you could chose anything you wanted for your third subject.

Naw, anything I want for a list. It doesn't have to be from the social sciences so i can take something from arts or sciences, but only a selected range of subjects from these areas.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

If there's lots of crossover, I'd say choose something else, yes.

 

[wayward bob]

psychology has a lot about research methodology and a bit of stats too. if you want to actually practice research it's a good one to get into too, at least the ou stuff i did had you doing little "research" projects pretty much from the beginning.

 

[tar1984]

i did psychology at college, had to do a research project (a fairly basic but intetesting one) on social conformity. i enjoyed it and i know i can do psychology cos i got an A for it problem is it's such a popular course there are limited spaces, apparently they do a ballot to see who gets to do it

 

[wayward bob]

btw take my input on any of this with a pinch of salt as i still don't really know what sociology is

 

[tar1984]

nobody does

 

[mrs quoad]

Sounds like criminology! I'm sitting opposite an eminent professor in the field, neither of us have the f&£)ing faintest what criminology is.

Can be good fun, mind.

 

[tar1984]

if someone asks me what sociology is i always say - the academic study of human societies

i have pick a provisional set of courses today and enrolled. i get a two hour meeting with an advisor before the course starts and i'm free to make changes then so there wasn't too much pressure. sociology, economics and history are my subjects as it stands.

 

[heinous seamus]

I'm starting as well by the way so catch you there

 

[tar1984]

Which classes are you doing have you chosen yet?

 

[heinous seamus]

Got a rough idea but still doing a bit of umming and ahhing !

 

[tar1984]

Well come on man stop being so indecisive

 

[heinous seamus]

I've just got my online account today, so can now enroll in classes. Looking through all the different subjects is hurting my head

 

[quimcunx]

I don't think I can help. I'm trying to narrow down from about 20 modules myself.

 

[tar1984]

See, it's hard when confronted with all that choice

What course are you doing quimble?