It’s hard to decide what to study at university, many people don’t know which degree to apply for.
At Sixth Form and college we’re all given the chance to study at least three subjects, and most people don’t find it too hard to narrow down what they enjoyed in secondary school. But then, after just a few months of A Level study, we’re thrust into the world of university applications where we have to choose a single subject and which degree to apply for.
Even though I was aware of the process, when the moment came to decide which degree to apply for, I found myself floundering…
Did I prefer English or Philosophy? Would I have time to continue to learn a language if I didn’t choose to study one? Would I find a job after if I didn’t take a vocational degree? I asked myself all of these questions and more in the lead up to sending off my application, and even when it was sent I wondered whether I had made the right choice. In the end, I chose to study Philosophy and Theology – a joint honours that would allow me to study two subjects at once, thereby enabling more breadth than a traditional degree.
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My decision on which degree to apply for was based on the fact I really enjoyed RS at school.
I wanted to know more about the religions and movements that have shaped the world, and also that many of the elements of other subjects I enjoyed could be found within the degree: I was able to learn a language as part of my first year courses (Hebrew, Greek or Latin), and there was lots of textual analysis (or ‘exegesis’ in theological terms!) which reminded me of English lessons.
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There were some days when I wished I had chosen to study something else, but most of the time I really enjoyed my degree.
Now that it’s over, I often think back to my 18 year old self, feeling insecure about not knowing I wanted to be a doctor or a lawyer like other people did. There’s absolutely no shame in not knowing which degree to apply for! The most important thing is that you know what you enjoy – the likelihood is you’ll be able to find a course that has elements of all those things and you’ll have a wonderful time at university. As everyone now knows, you don’t have to study law at undergraduate to become a lawyer, nor does your first degree have to be in medicine even if you want to become a doctor!
My number one piece of advice would be to make sure you’ve looked thoroughly at all the courses offered that might interest you.
Don’t settle for the first because it is the easy option. Three years is a significant period of time and when you look back at your undergraduate years, you want to be able to say you enjoyed them. University is a time for you to continue to discover your passions, to learn and to grow as an individual and you should allow yourself the time to do just that without feeling that you have to have your future all planned out.
