[Pollypotion]

Attention all current students! A year 13 calling out for help here! I've been killing myself for weeks now going through the pro's and con's of both courses for uni, but they're both equal!

History: I'm terrified that I will do horribly in it, I think I could cope with the reading since I do history and english lit now, but the exams terrify me ever since GCSE. Plus, I'm nervous I wont be able to be independent in it, knowing what to read and if the lectures are helpful in telling you exactly what you need to know to succeed in the degree. Anyone help me on how they find their history degree? (preferably medieval history) but I feel the job prospects will be promising!

Criminology: I find crime fascinating and have done for years, I think I'd thoroughly enjoy the subject and succeed. BUT I'm not interested whatsoever in any jobs related to it: council, police, civil service and prisons? No thanks! Although I have no idea what I want to do, I think i'd be intimidated by these jobs and not get far. Again, anyone help who currently does this?

So the dilemma is should I be scared of my disbelief in myself? Or should I be scared of job prospects in the future? PLEASE HELP, and sorry for the long message, I just need help ASAP because personal statement writing begins next week and I need to book open days

[Tesphena]

(Original post by Pollypotion)
Attention all current students! A year 13 calling out for help here! I've been killing myself for weeks now going through the pro's and con's of both courses for uni, but they're both equal!

History: I'm terrified that I will do horribly in it, I think I could cope with the reading since I do history and english lit now, but the exams terrify me ever since GCSE. Plus, I'm nervous I wont be able to be independent in it, knowing what to read and if the lectures are helpful in telling you exactly what you need to know to succeed in the degree. Anyone help me on how they find their history degree? (preferably medieval history) but I feel the job prospects will be promising!

Criminology: I find crime fascinating and have done for years, I think I'd thoroughly enjoy the subject and succeed. BUT I'm not interested whatsoever in any jobs related to it: council, police, civil service and prisons? No thanks! Although I have no idea what I want to do, I think i'd be intimidated by these jobs and not get far. Again, anyone help who currently does this?

So the dilemma is should I be scared of my disbelief in myself? Or should I be scared of job prospects in the future? PLEASE HELP, and sorry for the long message, I just need help ASAP because personal statement writing begins next week and I need to book open days

Hi!

Don't worry too much about exams, all they really are, are essay done in a strict time limit. Perhaps work on exam technique for this summer's batch of exams - writing at speed and under pressure - and see if you feel the same way. Even if you still hate exams, some universities rely heavily on coursework to assess students, so check course descriptions to see if this is the case at the universities you're interested in. For most courses I know about reading lists relating to modules are provided, at least for first year, and whilst you're still expected to find your own material, the reading lists sort've ease you into this. Plus libraries sort their books by topic and there's lot of material online that you'll be taught how to search for, so finding material is really never a problem. The history lectures I've been to at Hull are mostly really interesting, but they're only intended to be supplementary, they'll help but you'll need to do a bit of reading on the side! You spend a very little amount of time in lectures and seminars as a history student though, so finding time to read isn't really an issue either. All in all I love studying history!!!

As for criminology, I can't help much as I don't study it, but with a lot of jobs it doesn't matter what degree you have, so long as you have a degree. Having a criminology degree shouldn't shut many doors on you, and I'm sure you'll have a lot more varied career choice than council, police, civil service and prisons!

What I would recommend is looking closely at university course descriptions to make sure you chose not only the degree but the individual course best suited to you. After all two different universities can offer two very different history degrees, or two very different criminology degrees. If you're still struggling to decide, perhaps consider taking both as a joint degree, then if you prefer one to the other you could always ask to drop the one you like least?

[Anetata]

(Original post by Pollypotion)
Attention all current students! A year 13 calling out for help here! I've been killing myself for weeks now going through the pro's and con's of both courses for uni, but they're both equal!

History: I'm terrified that I will do horribly in it, I think I could cope with the reading since I do history and english lit now, but the exams terrify me ever since GCSE. Plus, I'm nervous I wont be able to be independent in it, knowing what to read and if the lectures are helpful in telling you exactly what you need to know to succeed in the degree. Anyone help me on how they find their history degree? (preferably medieval history) but I feel the job prospects will be promising!

Criminology: I find crime fascinating and have done for years, I think I'd thoroughly enjoy the subject and succeed. BUT I'm not interested whatsoever in any jobs related to it: council, police, civil service and prisons? No thanks! Although I have no idea what I want to do, I think i'd be intimidated by these jobs and not get far. Again, anyone help who currently does this?

So the dilemma is should I be scared of my disbelief in myself? Or should I be scared of job prospects in the future? PLEASE HELP, and sorry for the long message, I just need help ASAP because personal statement writing begins next week and I need to book open days

I study criminology as I have always wanted to do something crime-related and thought there was no point doing law if I don't end up doing it at Oxbridge due to our lecturer saying we basically have no chance if were not from the top 3 unis for law or don't have contacts and links... Anyway, I have chosen to do it with sociology as it broadens it a bit in terms of future jobs really, plus I have always found sociology interesting, and it does help a lot when looking at issues in criminology HOWEVER I have to say criminology wasn't all I expected it to be, same with most of my course friends, and a friend I spoke to who does Law with Criminology at a different uni.

Don't get me wrong, it is great but there is LOADS of quite boring theory, on my course anyway. But then again all my criminology units bar one (which I find most interesting) are done by the same lecturer so maybe it is just him? Not sure.

It does help understand the reasons for committing crime, criminal behaviour and the workings of the system, but it is just loads of classical criminological theory that makes it a bit more boring I guess. Still a great subject to study, and I wouldn't change it for anything else to be honest (unless it was Law).


Sorry if I wasn't much help. If you have a more specific question about criminology I will try and answer it. It is difficult to generalise about the whole course tbh as there are good and bad things to any courses, and they also vary between universities.

Also there is LOADS of reading on my course, and you're told what to read so don't worry about that.

[Pollypotion]

(Original post by Tesphena)
Hi!

Don't worry too much about exams, all they really are, are essay done in a strict time limit. Perhaps work on exam technique for this summer's batch of exams - writing at speed and under pressure - and see if you feel the same way. Even if you still hate exams, some universities rely heavily on coursework to assess students, so check course descriptions to see if this is the case at the universities you're interested in. For most courses I know about reading lists relating to modules are provided, at least for first year, and whilst you're still expected to find your own material, the reading lists sort've ease you into this. Plus libraries sort their books by topic and there's lot of material online that you'll be taught how to search for, so finding material is really never a problem. The history lectures I've been to at Hull are mostly really interesting, but they're only intended to be supplementary, they'll help but you'll need to do a bit of reading on the side! You spend a very little amount of time in lectures and seminars as a history student though, so finding time to read isn't really an issue either. All in all I love studying history!!!

As for criminology, I can't help much as I don't study it, but with a lot of jobs it doesn't matter what degree you have, so long as you have a degree. Having a criminology degree shouldn't shut many doors on you, and I'm sure you'll have a lot more varied career choice than council, police, civil service and prisons!

What I would recommend is looking closely at university course descriptions to make sure you chose not only the degree but the individual course best suited to you. After all two different universities can offer two very different history degrees, or two very different criminology degrees. If you're still struggling to decide, perhaps consider taking both as a joint degree, then if you prefer one to the other you could always ask to drop the one you like least?

thank you so much, you've really helped! Reading the other post too I've come to the decision that history is probably the right path for me. Considering I can chose which part of history I can look at, I think I will love it! Thanks again, and good luck for the future!

[Pollypotion]

(Original post by Anetata)
I study criminology as I have always wanted to do something crime-related and thought there was no point doing law if I don't end up doing it at Oxbridge due to our lecturer saying we basically have no chance if were not from the top 3 unis for law or don't have contacts and links... Anyway, I have chosen to do it with sociology as it broadens it a bit in terms of future jobs really, plus I have always found sociology interesting, and it does help a lot when looking at issues in criminology HOWEVER I have to say criminology wasn't all I expected it to be, same with most of my course friends, and a friend I spoke to who does Law with Criminology at a different uni.

Don't get me wrong, it is great but there is LOADS of quite boring theory, on my course anyway. But then again all my criminology units bar one (which I find most interesting) are done by the same lecturer so maybe it is just him? Not sure.

It does help understand the reasons for committing crime, criminal behaviour and the workings of the system, but it is just loads of classical criminological theory that makes it a bit more boring I guess. Still a great subject to study, and I wouldn't change it for anything else to be honest (unless it was Law).


Sorry if I wasn't much help. If you have a more specific question about criminology I will try and answer it. It is difficult to generalise about the whole course tbh as there are good and bad things to any courses, and they also vary between universities.

Also there is LOADS of reading on my course, and you're told what to read so don't worry about that.

thank you for your reply! Tbh I think I mainly wanted to study it because I have an interest in serial killers, but the law side bores me completely. Thinking like that makes me realise it probably isn't for me! I'll probably take history, but will maintain my interest in criminal documentaries Good luck with the future, and thanks again!