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Philosophy applicants for 2012 entry!

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Original post by jacksonriddle

Original post by jacksonriddle
hello, i've spoken to the advisors at my school and i've finally got my 5 settled... or i think i have anyway,
1. MA Philosophy, Theology and Religious studies - Glasgow
2. MA Philosophy and Theology - Edinburgh
3. BA Philosophy - York
4. BA Philosophy and Religion - Sheffield
5. BA Philosophy and Theology - Heythrop College

Obviously these might change as the predicted grades come along, we don't have any solid grades for the IB so it might change a lot.
I haven't visited York or Heythrop on that list, and by the looks of things i won't have the chance to.
Anyone have thoughts on these unis?


York is lovely and the department really strong :smile: I went on the Open Day, so any specific questions, just ask :smile:
Original post by lampshade1
York is lovely and the department really strong :smile: I went on the Open Day, so any specific questions, just ask :smile:


are they flexible with the modules, do they allow for choice for each topic?
also what did you think of the location, atomosphere-wise?
Reply 102
Original post by jacksonriddle
are they flexible with the modules, do they allow for choice for each topic?
also what did you think of the location, atomosphere-wise?


No and that us one thing I disliked about the course. They basically chose everything for you with limited choice up till 2nd year where even then you were quite restrained at what you wanted to do. If you're interested in all aspects of Philosophy then yeah, it's great but if you dislike epistemology or logic, then you were basically stuck doing it whether you wanted too or not!

I'm going to be attending Heythrop, and I really like the course outline. Due its too its strong theology links, the Philosophy course has a very strong relation to Philosophy of Religion/Ethics rather than Logic which is what I enjoy so it suits me fine. Although I do understand that this is not for everyone!
Original post by Peachz
No and that us one thing I disliked about the course. They basically chose everything for you with limited choice up till 2nd year where even then you were quite restrained at what you wanted to do. If you're interested in all aspects of Philosophy then yeah, it's great but if you dislike epistemology or logic, then you were basically stuck doing it whether you wanted too or not!

I'm going to be attending Heythrop, and I really like the course outline. Due its too its strong theology links, the Philosophy course has a very strong relation to Philosophy of Religion/Ethics rather than Logic which is what I enjoy so it suits me fine. Although I do understand that this is not for everyone!


ah okay, i went online and read the modules for york, they seem okay. it's not really my first choice so lets hope i get an offer from either edinburgh or glasgow. just wondering, because i initally did a lot of reseach into scottish unis, if you need to switch courses how does it work in england? yeah, heythrop looks quite good, but i have a question that will probably annoy everyone on here, because it's just stupid, but why is it so far down the rankings? i do like the theology links in their course, but i figured it wouldn't matter anyway considering that i'm doing a joint degree, i'd be getting a lot of theology studies done.
Reply 104
Original post by jacksonriddle
ah okay, i went online and read the modules for york, they seem okay. it's not really my first choice so lets hope i get an offer from either edinburgh or glasgow. just wondering, because i initally did a lot of reseach into scottish unis, if you need to switch courses how does it work in england? yeah, heythrop looks quite good, but i have a question that will probably annoy everyone on here, because it's just stupid, but why is it so far down the rankings? i do like the theology links in their course, but i figured it wouldn't matter anyway considering that i'm doing a joint degree, i'd be getting a lot of theology studies done.


Any specialist college doing only two subjects won't be high up in the rankings I'm afraid. LSE was ranked 250-300 worldwide in some survey I remember. It's ridiculous, certainly, but since most ranking place heavy emphasis on research output, funding amount, it's not entirely unfair. In the same survey Manchester was ranked 25th this way. So, take precautions with rankings, if a uni is ranked high it must not be a bad place, but not the other way round. :wink:

and, Heythrop is part of UoL in the end, no need to be too bothered about reputation!
Original post by Schlegel
Any specialist college doing only two subjects won't be high up in the rankings I'm afraid. LSE was ranked 250-300 worldwide in some survey I remember. It's ridiculous, certainly, but since most ranking place heavy emphasis on research output, funding amount, it's not entirely unfair. In the same survey Manchester was ranked 25th this way. So, take precautions with rankings, if a uni is ranked high it must not be a bad place, but not the other way round. :wink:

and, Heythrop is part of UoL in the end, no need to be too bothered about reputation!


yeah, i thought about that but it was philosophy rankings that i was talking about. i've been told not to rely on that, but from what i've heard they're good, have a good reputation, just wondering why the subject rankings don't reflect that.
Original post by jacksonriddle

Original post by jacksonriddle
are they flexible with the modules, do they allow for choice for each topic?
also what did you think of the location, atomosphere-wise?


No it isn't flexible, which I saw as a down side immediately, but after looking at the course further the modules they do would be ones I'd choose anyway, depends on personal preference.
And I the campus is lovely :biggrin: and so is the accomodation, definitley loved that! and York itself is brilliant :biggrin:
Reply 107
Hi everybody, need guidance urgently...have closed out 4 out of my 5 choices for Philosophy for 2012 ( Cambridge, KCL, Warwick and York) and am torn between UCL and Durham. Am hearing that the undergraduate experience at UCL for Philosophy isn't great - not much contact time and supervision ? How is it at Durham ? Would love to get some input so I can make my decision - have to let my school know on Monday....
Reply 108
Original post by roxypd
Hi everybody, need guidance urgently...have closed out 4 out of my 5 choices for Philosophy for 2012 ( Cambridge, KCL, Warwick and York) and am torn between UCL and Durham. Am hearing that the undergraduate experience at UCL for Philosophy isn't great - not much contact time and supervision ? How is it at Durham ? Would love to get some input so I can make my decision - have to let my school know on Monday....


I've heard good about Durham, nice place too. One of the places I would definitely go and also recommend.
Original post by roxypd
Hi everybody, need guidance urgently...have closed out 4 out of my 5 choices for Philosophy for 2012 ( Cambridge, KCL, Warwick and York) and am torn between UCL and Durham. Am hearing that the undergraduate experience at UCL for Philosophy isn't great - not much contact time and supervision ? How is it at Durham ? Would love to get some input so I can make my decision - have to let my school know on Monday....


durham is actually amazing. one of their professors came to talk to our school about a combined offers degree which sounds quite interesting, but it's an excellent uni and they're great at teaching philosophy. the reason i haven't applied myself is because i've heard it's quiet, and i come from a big city and like cities, but yeah, i had a lovely teacher who went there and he said "i never got into any fights in uni... why would i, i went to durham"
lots of my friends are considering it because it's such a great uni, if you like beautiful quiet towns it might be your thing.
also, i'm considering applying to cardiff instead of glasgow, any opinions on the course/uni? i've been to both unis to have a look at the atomosophere and campus, but i wasn't sure then that i wanted to do philosophy so now i have no idea about any of the teaching standards and styles that these two unis have.
Reply 111
I'm an upper sixth student and I'm applying to do philosophy at:

Cambridge
Warwick
Leeds
Sheffield

Any opinions on these uni's for philosophy?

And I'm stuck on my final choice between Bristol and York, help?!
Reply 112
Original post by jacksonriddle

Thanks so much !
Original post by roxypd

For my final five I reckon:
Sheffield
Lancaster
Nottingham
Essex
Stirling

at the moment anyway :smile:
Original post by escoke93
I'm an upper sixth student and I'm applying to do philosophy at:

Cambridge
Warwick
Leeds
Sheffield

Any opinions on these uni's for philosophy?

And I'm stuck on my final choice between Bristol and York, help?!


Bristol would definitely be my choice from those two; it's a more thriving environment and the Philosophy department is wonderful.
Right, after months of deliberation, I think I'm gonna go for:

Cambridge
Durham
York
Sheffield
UEA
Reply 116
I still don't know where to apply for my 5th choice... Does anyone know, is it possible to add a fifth choice once you've submitted your UCAS application? Because I'm deciding between LSE, Durham, Cardiff and Sheffield as a 5th choice and if I could send it off and got an offer from one of my insurance choices I would probably go for LSE/Durham. But then if not I might choose another insurance (Cardiff or Sheffield).

Also, if it is possible, does anyone know how easy it is to do? I mean is there the option on track or do you have to call up UCAS etc?
Reply 117
Oh and also, has anyone submitted their application yet? I'm hoping to send mine off by the end of this week :smile:
Reply 118
Original post by laura94
Oh and also, has anyone submitted their application yet? I'm hoping to send mine off by the end of this week :smile:


I've get everything sorted, but my PS. Printed off a draft to talk it over with my tutor :smile:

I've decided to not do philosophy, but theology. Stuck between the two but originally was going for Philosophy, which would've been at the places below.

Whilst it's sort of irrelevant, as it's not philosophy, I've applied for Theology at Heythrop, Manchester, Bristol and Birmingham. Final choice is Latin at Manchester.
Original post by laura94
I still don't know where to apply for my 5th choice... Does anyone know, is it possible to add a fifth choice once you've submitted your UCAS application? Because I'm deciding between LSE, Durham, Cardiff and Sheffield as a 5th choice and if I could send it off and got an offer from one of my insurance choices I would probably go for LSE/Durham. But then if not I might choose another insurance (Cardiff or Sheffield).

Also, if it is possible, does anyone know how easy it is to do? I mean is there the option on track or do you have to call up UCAS etc?


what do you know about the course at cardiff? it seems like all the modules are optional or something, but i know it's really hard to get into nowadays, apparently last year they had 7 times more applications than they had places :s-smilie:

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