[Cats150]

I've just finished my A2 exams in English lit, religious studies and psychology. For a while I've wanted to study theology then teach it as my career but lately I've had doubts. I've always loved books and I love English lit but I feel that I'm not good enough at it to do it as a degree. I got an A at AS and I predict that I will get a B at A2 but if I sat the exam again I could probably get an A. However, my teacher is fantastic and teaches in depth, so much so that I've had to do very little in the way of analysis. So I feel that I've not achieved these grades on my own. Will I be good enough to do a degree or should I stick to what I know I'm good at?


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[mel0n]

It's really hard to judge from a small paragraph over the internet. If you enjoy it and think you can get a good enough grade to be accepted at university for it, then go for it. I understand what you mean about the teacher helping the class a lot, but I bet there's people in your class with low grades as well? Which shows that, although the teacher's input is effective, the individual (you) has to have an amount of aptitude themselves =)

[Cats150]

I see what you mean, I feel as if my ability has somewhat dipped towards A level. At GCSE I got an A* with a not so good teacher but now I struggle to achieve half marks for an essay in class. Sometimes I wonder whether my teachers mark harshly as I achieved an A at AS and a high B for my A2 coursework. I'm just worried of making a mistake in choosing English over theology. Will the skills for analysis be taught at uni? I hope to go to Exeter.


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[Cats150]

Hump


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[Cats150]

I mean bump


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[Norton1]

(Original post by Cats150)
I mean bump

You went down in my estimation.

[mel0n]

(Original post by Cats150)
I see what you mean, I feel as if my ability has somewhat dipped towards A level. At GCSE I got an A* with a not so good teacher but now I struggle to achieve half marks for an essay in class. Sometimes I wonder whether my teachers mark harshly as I achieved an A at AS and a high B for my A2 coursework. I'm just worried of making a mistake in choosing English over theology. Will the skills for analysis be taught at uni? I hope to go to Exeter.


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I am not sure how the course is taught at Exeter - best off having a look at their first year modules and seeing if there are any introduction modules into that sort of stuff. Personally, although my first year at uni consisted of an introduction into the degree, we weren't exactly taught how to write an essay and analyse etc, rather we were thrown in a little bit at the deep end and eventually all adjusted. I know that sounds a little scary but it seems to work out, and there's always time in seminars to discuss ideas and develop ideas.

If you reaaally want to study English then go for it. Most universities that I can think of want an A or a B in English, so if you're capable of achieving that and predicted to do so then go for it. And some universities allow you to take modules from different departments so perhaps you'd be able to choose some from a theology department. Also, I wouldn't advise setting your heart on one particular uni, as English is extremely competitive and - although I'm not saying your incapable - even the most passionate and intellectual can be turned away from unis for reasons that I am unaware of really.

[Cats150]

I think there are modules on critical analysis in year 1 at Exeter.


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[Skyblue.Salma]

(Original post by mel0n)
I am not sure how the course is taught at Exeter - best off having a look at their first year modules and seeing if there are any introduction modules into that sort of stuff. Personally, although my first year at uni consisted of an introduction into the degree, we weren't exactly taught how to write an essay and analyse etc, rather we were thrown in a little bit at the deep end and eventually all adjusted. I know that sounds a little scary but it seems to work out, and there's always time in seminars to discuss ideas and develop ideas.

If you reaaally want to study English then go for it. Most universities that I can think of want an A or a B in English, so if you're capable of achieving that and predicted to do so then go for it. And some universities allow you to take modules from different departments so perhaps you'd be able to choose some from a theology department. Also, I wouldn't advise setting your heart on one particular uni, as English is extremely competitive and - although I'm not saying your incapable - even the most passionate and intellectual can be turned away from unis for reasons that I am unaware of really.

Hi sry Im butting into this convo but Ive applied for english and my firm is bham uni and insurance is bham city uni. I just wanted to ask if you could give us some tips hiw to be successful at Uni doing English. I really want at least a 2:1 over all.

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[Rancorous]

You write ok, and if you love reading you're probably cut out for an English degree. I can't help you on your decision, however. One tip; I didn't study English, but look carefully at the course requirements at different universities. I know at UCL they had students doing a lot of Chaucer in the first year. Quite a bit of medieval stuff which I'm not fond of at all. They also made students write an essay a week, if I recall correctly.

[mel0n]

(Original post by Skyblue.Salma)
Hi sry Im butting into this convo but Ive applied for english and my firm is bham uni and insurance is bham city uni. I just wanted to ask if you could give us some tips hiw to be successful at Uni doing English. I really want at least a 2:1 over all.

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Lool, how am I meant to tell you that? Everyone is different, there is no 'blueprint' to passing the degree as essentially, what I've found at King's anyway is that, the department want you to develop your own technique and don't want 100+ essays at the end of term that are all in the same writing style etc. Two people with completely different styles of approaching an assignment or course could both end up being highly successful. What I would say is ask the lecturer before any assessments what they expect such as how many secondary sources they expect, whether they would like you to signpost your essay, whether they mind the addition of first person etc etc just to tailor it slightly to what that lecturer wants - as they are usually the one who will be marking it.

[Skyblue.Salma]

(Original post by mel0n)
Lool, how am I meant to tell you that? Everyone is different, there is no 'blueprint' to passing the degree as essentially, what I've found at King's anyway is that, the department want you to develop your own technique and don't want 100+ essays at the end of term that are all in the same writing style etc. Two people with completely different styles of approaching an assignment or course could both end up being highly successful. What I would say is ask the lecturer before any assessments what they expect such as how many secondary sources they expect, whether they would like you to signpost your essay, whether they mind the addition of first person etc etc just to tailor it slightly to what that lecturer wants - as they are usually the one who will be marking it.

Right. Well thats understandable. And signposting an essay? Lol sorry I didn't get ur expression.


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[mel0n]

(Original post by Skyblue.Salma)
Right. Well thats understandable. And signposting an essay? Lol sorry I didn't get ur expression.


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For example, one of my lecturers preferred if, in our essay, we would stop at a point and say 'so far I've discussed such and such, I will now go on to discuss blah di blah' along with a very general 'statement' at the start of the paragraph that introduces you to the thing you're discussing.

[Skyblue.Salma]

Oh right. Thank you

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