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I CAN'T CHOOSE BETWEEN SCIENCE AND THE ARTS! help :(

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Reply 60
Avatar for Muffinz
Muffinz
16
Be warned: medical training isn't a walk in the park. Your exams are tough as **** due to all the stuff you have to remember, you have lectures all day (which is really hard to deal with - when you focus in lectures it takes a lot of effort to make synotpic links and paraphrase and nitpick) and your training and education could last up to a decade. You have to be really dedicated to do it.

Again, legal training isn't a walk in the park. There's a lot of reading, memorising and studying to be done, and then jobs are extremely competitive. You may end up specialising into a field you don't enjoy in order to get lucrative work.

Graphic design is competitive too, and most designers end up making leaflets nowadays.

Really, you need to do as people on this thread have said, and look into these possible choices BEFORE YOU APPLY and see what you fancy. Weigh up the pros and cons. If you go into uni and decide you don't like it in the first year, you can change too, but it's always better to be right the first time.
Reply 61
Avatar for megan.c
megan.c
14
I hereby ban any anti-artist on this thread from:-

watching television/film,
seeing a play,
dancing,
listening to music,
wearing anything that bears any design,
having any design feature in their place of residence,
doodling,
reading,
looking at anything that has a specific aesthetic,
playing video games,
reading magazines,
wearing make-up,
etc.

What? You can hardly slag off a subject then take for granted all the things in life which are arts based.
Original post by gingermitch
Everyone keeps asking me what I want to study at university and I reply with the same three words 'I don't know'. Most people have a clear(ish) idea of what they want to study but I really can't decide between

-Law/Business
-Medicine/Biology related courses
-Art/Design related courses (ie graphic design)

all of which are completely different.

I'm predicted 5A's, and I'm not particularly incredible or terrible at any course. I love so many things I simply cannot pick. I find law & businesses' main weaknesses are that I may find the course boring, but I see myself in that kind of job(managing people). I find Biology interesting, and would love to study Medicine, however the competition, risk of rejection and demanding lifestyle puts me off. I additionally love designing and being creative but fear a course in for example Graphic Design would not leave me with a secure job at the end of it.

Does anyone have any opinions or ways in which I can sway my mind toward a particular course? I'm really running out of time (especially with medicine, would need lots more work exprerience) as UCAS applications are later this year.

Please help, sooo stressed! :frown:


I was in exactly your position about 2 years ago. I was an all-rounder at school and couldn't choose. Got A*s and As like yourself. Took graphic design at uni in the end and dropped out after 3 months because I hated it. I now work in banking for Barclays, study management, and am so much happier applying myself than I was studying. Perhaps consider a gap year? I would hate to see you make a decision (possibly the wrong one), regret it, drop out, and end up with a bunch of debt and regret like myself :frown:

Please do not just pick a course because you feel pressured to by your school/college/family/friends. A degree is not the be-all and end-all. My sixth form convinced me and my peers that I 100% had to go to uni and that there is no work out there. I can confirm that this is absolutely untrue!

I emplore you, don't just "pick one" because you feel that you have to. You should really only go to study a degree in something if it is your passion and you feel totally convinced that you would relish the opportunity to get your teeth really stuck into a particular area of study. If you're floating between several options, I would seriously ask you to consider taking some time out to think. There's no rush, when I was at uni there were people in first year with me who were anywhere between 18 and 60! :smile:

Any questions, feel free to ask me - I'm a (nearly) 20 year old uni drop out :tongue:
Reply 63
Avatar for math1234
math1234
14
Original post by superturtle
Oh okay then. So who built this website that you are using, and who designed it as well?


is TSR made by some arts guy? If it's true then no wonder why the heck I always get warnings for my harmless posts, lol
BTW, who gave the idea of a "website"(WWW)? Indeed, he was a computer scientist, not some stupid arts graduate.


This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App
(edited 11 years ago)
Original post by megan.c
I hereby ban any anti-artist on this thread from:-

watching television/film,
seeing a play,
dancing,
listening to music,
wearing anything that bears any design,
having any design feature in their place of residence,
doodling,
reading,
looking at anything that has a specific aesthetic,
playing video games,
reading magazines,
wearing make-up,
etc.

What? You can hardly slag off a subject then take for granted all the things in life which are arts based.


One issue: we're talking about university degrees. Aside from video game design and makeup development, you don't need a degree to work in any of the industries producing these things. And makeup development would almost certainly be undertaken by people with science backgrounds.

Not saying I disagree with the sentiment, but these are bad examples.
Reply 65
Avatar for NR09
NR09
10
If you would live to study medicine (as you say you would) then go for that. Don't let the thought of rejection or the competition put you off. The worst that could happen is that you do get rejected and then you apply for something else or do something new. If it is truly what you think you would like to do, then choose that.
Reply 66
Avatar for megan.c
megan.c
14
Original post by TurboCretin
One issue: we're talking about university degrees. Aside from video game design and makeup development, you don't need a degree to work in any of the industries producing these things. And makeup development would almost certainly be undertaken by people with science backgrounds.

Not saying I disagree with the sentiment, but these are bad examples.


Not at all, if two people with the same experience and concepts but differing degrees were going for a job in television, or an opening for a drama teacher, or were competing for a place at a fashion company, then the applicant with a degree in a more relevant subject would be looked upon more favourably.
Original post by megan.c
Not at all, if two people with the same experience and concepts but differing degrees were going for a job in television, or an opening for a drama teacher, or were competing for a place at a fashion company, then the applicant with a degree in a more relevant subject would be looked upon more favourably.


That doesn't mean that the degrees are necessary to do the job well, merely that once in existence they give employers a convenient means by which to differentiate applicants.
(edited 11 years ago)
Original post by Nucleolus
I know Science graduates that are in well-paid jobs, and I know Arts graduates that are unemployed. I also know Science graduates that are unemployed, and Art graduates that are in well-paid jobs.

People seem to think that having a science degree guarantees you employment, when it doesn't, in the same way that people think studying an arts degree makes you instantly unemployable. There are external factors besides a degree that contribute to your employability, such as experience, contacts, the university you went to etc.

I would rather study a degree that I'm passionate about than a degree that I forced myself into due to employment prospects. Passion for a subject itself creates future success, whether you're studying arts or sciences.


Exactly what I have discovered, I have yet to do my undergraduate as I apply for 2013
Currently, year 12 in my school get overall worried about science vs non-science degree that they miss the purpose completing assuming a certain degree equals a job, which it doesn't as other factors come into it as you've stated.
(edited 11 years ago)
Reply 69
Avatar for Maker
Maker
20
Original post by megan.c
I hereby ban any anti-artist on this thread from:-

watching television/film,
seeing a play,
dancing,
listening to music,
wearing anything that bears any design,
having any design feature in their place of residence,
doodling,
reading,
looking at anything that has a specific aesthetic,
playing video games,
reading magazines,
wearing make-up,
etc.

What? You can hardly slag off a subject then take for granted all the things in life which are arts based.


Most of the above would not be possible without scientists and engineers designing and making the technology like computers, printing technology and fabrics.

Most people who employ designers, actors and artists want people with relevant experience far more than a degree. Anyone who wants to work in these sectors should get 3 years of relevant experience, a portfolio, contacts and wages than spend it doing a degree and getting a lot of debt.
Reply 70
Avatar for megan.c
megan.c
14
Original post by Maker
Most of the above would not be possible without scientists and engineers designing and making the technology like computers, printing technology and fabrics.

Most people who employ designers, actors and artists want people with relevant experience far more than a degree. Anyone who wants to work in these sectors should get 3 years of relevant experience, a portfolio, contacts and wages than spend it doing a degree and getting a lot of debt.


Don't believe I actually devalued science - you need both to live in a world that is both habitable and enjoyable.

And you deny that a degree focused at a career in that industry would be helpful? My own degree focuses a hell of a lot of time on gaining practical experience, as much exhibit-able work as possible and there is even a year long work experience module which you have to pass.
Reply 71
Avatar for megan.c
megan.c
14
Original post by TurboCretin
That doesn't mean that the degrees are necessary to do the job well, merely that once in existence they give employers a convenient means by which to differentiate applicants.


In the case of drama teaching (and teaching any other subject) a degree in a relevant subject is mandatory.

As for other subjects, a degree gives the person access to materials that can better develop their skills towards a particular line of work, just as any other degree. Most of the careers I have mentioned would require an enormous amount of dedication and natural talent (not to mention the right connections in the first place) if you were to attempt to master them on your own.

Yes, some of those careers don't require a degree, but they require experience, skill and a sense of professionalism which are all focused on in a relevant degree.

(not to mention the fact that university itself is a life experience which many want to have, it would be hardly fair to tell people more interested in the arts that they can't do their chosen discipline at degree level)
Reply 72
Avatar for Maker
Maker
20
Original post by megan.c
Don't believe I actually devalued science - you need both to live in a world that is both habitable and enjoyable.

And you deny that a degree focused at a career in that industry would be helpful? My own degree focuses a hell of a lot of time on gaining practical experience, as much exhibit-able work as possible and there is even a year long work experience module which you have to pass.


I am glad we agree that science and the arts are both important in our lives.

My contention is if someone wants to work in the creative sector, then relevant experience, a good portfolio and industry contacts are far more important than a degree however good that is. One can do a degree while working and earning and don't have to saddle themselves with large student debts.

Most of the creative fields are low paid and short term so its going to make things harder if someone goes into it with large debts rather than after A levels when they have no debts.

I got a degree in biochemistry and worked in the health sector for some time before I went into the heritage art field for which I have no qualifications at all but I create things people will pay me for.
Original post by megan.c
In the case of drama teaching (and teaching any other subject) a degree in a relevant subject is mandatory.

As for other subjects, a degree gives the person access to materials that can better develop their skills towards a particular line of work, just as any other degree. Most of the careers I have mentioned would require an enormous amount of dedication and natural talent (not to mention the right connections in the first place) if you were to attempt to master them on your own.

Yes, some of those careers don't require a degree, but they require experience, skill and a sense of professionalism which are all focused on in a relevant degree.

(not to mention the fact that university itself is a life experience which many want to have, it would be hardly fair to tell people more interested in the arts that they can't do their chosen discipline at degree level)


If you look at my post, what I originally said was that you wouldn't need a degree to work in the industries supplying those products, not that any job within those industries would be accessible without one.

You also need to separate the questions of what is necessary to do a particular job and what is necessary to get that job. We're talking at cross-purposes here because I was talking about the former, while you seem to be talking about the latter. A chemical engineer will need formal academic instruction in order to do his job, not merely to get his job.

Finally, you seem to be conflating getting a job in the creative industries with doing a job which confers skills on the younger generation who will themselves go into the creative industries. Drama teachers, art teachers and music teachers are not part of the creative industry, they're part of the teaching profession. Yes, they may have taken drama, music and fine art degrees, but the reason they need them is to do the job of a teacher, not to do the jobs in industry allied to the subjects they teach.
(edited 11 years ago)
I'd say science, it's very hard to get a job with an art degree lately. I'd love to take graphics design, but I know that getting a job would be pretty hard.

BUT saying that, if you have a passion for something. Do it. If I don't get in this year in Psychology, I will be looking at humanties during clearing.
(edited 11 years ago)
Original post by The Dufmeister
Future economic potential of course. The reason most people get an education.


Not really, I'm pursuing education because I'm genuinely interested and enthusiastic about several subjects and at the moment I can't imagine my life without academia. I could have and still have the option that can make me a lot of money now but in the end I just want to learn and have a good time at uni.

And as the earlier poster stated, you're not in the best position to isult other people's degrees.
Original post by Chaofan88
Not really, I'm pursuing education because I'm genuinely interested and enthusiastic about several subjects and at the moment I can't imagine my life without academia. I could have and still have the option that can make me a lot of money now but in the end I just want to learn and have a good time at uni.

And as the earlier poster stated, you're not in the best position to isult other people's degrees.


You are abnormal then. The vast majority go to improve their future economic potential.

Less of the reductio ad hominem, please. I'm maximising my potential, I recommend the OP does too.
Original post by Maker
Its simple,

Science = proper job

Arts = McDonalds


I would just like to point out that I'm starting a music degree in September and since 15 have earned c. £1500 from playing at events. Tell me that I'm gonna work in McDonalds now?! Also, there is nothing wrong with working at McDonalds and if you have a problem with it, do you really deserve a job in the future? Also the course I am going to be undertaking has 85% graduate employment, which is the highest in the country for music and I assume some sciences.

Furthermore many employers favour an arts degree as it incorpartes many different transferable skills including teamwork, motivation and delegation. Some of these cannot be gained with a science degree. I am working at Asda over the summer holiday and the recruitment team said to me at interview that people involved in extra curriculars (eg music) tend to better team players and gel better with other colleagues.
Original post by beanstalkgirl_24
I would just like to point out that I'm starting a music degree in September and since 15 have earned c. £1500 from playing at events. Tell me that I'm gonna work in McDonalds now?! Also, there is nothing wrong with working at McDonalds and if you have a problem with it, do you really deserve a job in the future? Also the course I am going to be undertaking has 85% graduate employment, which is the highest in the country for music and I assume some sciences.

Furthermore many employers favour an arts degree as it incorpartes many different transferable skills including teamwork, motivation and delegation. Some of these cannot be gained with a science degree. I am working at Asda over the summer holiday and the recruitment team said to me at interview that people involved in extra curriculars (eg music) tend to better team players and gel better with other colleagues.


I have earned that much as a musician, without using 3 years of my life and getting in £20000+ in debt. All of those key skills are deliberately included in the syllabi of science degrees. Note that extra-curriculars are exactly that, extra to your degree, and something that scientists are able to do just as easily.

85% isnt bad. McDonalds do have graduate schemes though.
Pick what you think you will enjoy more. I picked a degree subject initially on the basis that it had good employment prospects/left my options open... it wasn't pretty. You've got to study it for three years so it has to be something you are going to find somewhat interesting. Also if you see yourself in management/law that doesn't mean you need either of those degrees, so if you find those subjects boring DEFINITELY don't do them at undergraduate level. If you decide later you want to do them you can go into lots of management jobs without a specific subject and you can do a 1 year Graduate Diploma in Law to retrain.

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