[TenOfThem]

After visiting 5 universities I have a daughter who has narrowed down preferred university choices

BUT

a few random ... "lets go to this talk" 's and she now has even less fixed views on what course she actually wants to do

anyone else in this position

[oxymoronic]

(Original post by TenOfThem)
After visiting 5 universities I have a daughter who has narrowed down preferred university choices

BUT

a few random ... "lets go to this talk" 's and she now has even less fixed views on what course she actually wants to do

anyone else in this position

Has she considered universities which offer flexible course options? For example, at the Scottish ancient universities students usually study three subjects in their first two years of study, during which time they can alter/change their degree as they wish. This is a good option for people who have a general idea of the area they'd like to study (for example, "something English/history related") but they have a number of subjects that interest them - I certainly found it useful to study my subjects at university without being committed to doing the entire degree in it. At Edinburgh (where I did my undergrad) the majority of people I knew changed their degree in some way during the first two years, it was completely normal not to know what you wanted study whereas in England it seems a lot more fixed with less possibility to change, which I don't think is a good thing.

Durham also offer a flexible course where students select a general area such as social science, sciences or humanities then can select modules from different courses as they wish. I believe Exeter have a similar programme, as do Liverpool and Lancaster.

[TenOfThem]

Thanks for the response

She started wanting Bio-Medicine or Bio-Science thinking she might want to transfer to medicine if she did well

Then she started to drift towards bio sic with genetics ... this turned into neuroscience and then turned into psychology ... which has, of course, to be a single subject


She spent ages hovering between the 2 of these and then decided on our last visit that she wanted to check out History and Law




I think the difference is that Scotland start university a year early and has a 4th year to start choosing

[Ecosse_14]

(Original post by TenOfThem)
Thanks for the response

She started wanting Bio-Medicine or Bio-Science thinking she might want to transfer to medicine if she did well

Then she started to drift towards bio sic with genetics ... this turned into neuroscience and then turned into psychology ... which has, of course, to be a single subject


She spent ages hovering between the 2 of these and then decided on our last visit that she wanted to check out History and Law




I think the difference is that Scotland start university a year early and has a 4th year to start choosing

Why does psychology have to be a single subject? There are many joint honours combinations with psychology.

[TenOfThem]

(Original post by Ecosse_14)
Why does psychology have to be a single subject? There are many joint honours combinations with psychology.

If she is to do psychology she will want a BPS approved course otherwise she cannot go on to be a psychologist

BPS do not approve joint honours

[Ecosse_14]

(Original post by TenOfThem)
If she is to do psychology she will want a BPS approved course otherwise she cannot go on to be a psychologist

BPS do not approve joint honours

Oh right. They do approve some though. I know there's a few at St Andrews which are approved by BPS joint honours.

[TenOfThem]

(Original post by Ecosse_14)
Oh right. They do approve some though. I know there's a few at St Andrews which are approved by BPS joint honours.

They will be 4 year courses

[Ecosse_14]

(Original post by TenOfThem)
They will be 4 year courses

They are, like all (just about) courses in Scotland. I was just giving an example that there are accredited joint honours, it doesn't make a difference to the accreditation whether it's 3 or 4 years as that's based on the 2 years at honours level really.

[Smason5]

I was indecisive about 2. When there was an scheme for 1 of the options i knew that if i didn't apply then i would lose the oppurtunity to do the course. I didn't want to say no and so applied for the scheme and hence chose that course for a degree. I didnt feel sad after and so i knew i chose the right choice.

[TenOfThem]

(Original post by Ecosse_14)
They are, like all (just about) courses in Scotland. I was just giving an example that there are accredited joint honours, it doesn't make a difference to the accreditation whether it's 3 or 4 years as that's based on the 2 years at honours level really.

Interesting

The universities have made it clear that the compulsory elements of the accredited course preclude a 50-50 joint honours

Though there are some "with" courses that work

Thanks for the heads up

[TheSownRose]

(Original post by TenOfThem)
Interesting

The universities have made it clear that the compulsory elements of the accredited course preclude a 50-50 joint honours

Though there are some "with" courses that work

Thanks for the heads up

There are quite a few 'with' and 'and' courses that are accredited; check them out here: http://www.bps.org.uk/bpslegacy/ac

Kent does a psychology and law, for example, as do Sheffield Hallam and Swansea (Swansea also does law and psychology as an LLB course.) Leicester does with biology and neuroscience, Staffordshire does human biology and psychology.

[TenOfThem]

(Original post by TheSownRose)
There are quite a few 'with' and 'and' courses that are accredited; check them out here: http://www.bps.org.uk/bpslegacy/ac

Not at the universities she is keen on

Thanks anyway


TBH if she were still just prevaricating between Psych and Bio Sci I would be fine .... they were both from the neuroscience direction and at least that seemed to be her interest

It is the sudden introduction of addition of alternates that has thrown me ... I am worried that she does not really know and I am terrified that she will spend 3 yrs and £50k on something she does not love ... ... or worse still be one of these that start one, stop, start another, stop, ....................

[TheSownRose]

(Original post by TenOfThem)
Not at the universities she is keen on

Thanks anyway

TBH if she were still just prevaricating between Psych and Bio Sci I would be fine .... they were both from the neuroscience direction and at least that seemed to be her interest

It is the sudden introduction of addition of alternates that has thrown me ... I am worried that she does not really know and I am terrified that she will spend 3 yrs and £50k on something she does not love ... ... or worse still be one of these that start one, stop, start another, stop, ....................

What universities interest her?


My cousin did that stopping and starting (to be fair, he had extenuating circumstances the last time) - drove my aunt and uncle crazy.

Have you discussed with her whether she is sure she wants to go to university at all this year? Well, next year.

[TenOfThem]

(Original post by TheSownRose)
What universities interest her?


Have you discussed with her whether she is sure she wants to go to university at all this year? Well, next year.

Current interests are Leeds/Sussex/UEA


We have discussed a Gap Year ... we are happy for her to do anything she wishes



I am hoping that this is all just to do with her AS results nerves ... she went into them hoping for AAAB and came out telling us they were all awful

Now, I cannot tell if awful is a question she was unsure of or an E grade ... but she is very anxious about the results ... I think that she may well be hedging her bets until she is confident that she can apply for something ... I think she does not want to invest emotionally in a course until she knows where she is


Or, at least, I hope so

[TheSownRose]

(Original post by TenOfThem)
Current interests are Leeds/Sussex/UEA


We have discussed a Gap Year ... we are happy for her to do anything she wishes



I am hoping that this is all just to do with her AS results nerves ... she went into them hoping for AAAB and came out telling us they were all awful

Now, I cannot tell if awful is a question she was unsure of or an E grade ... but she is very anxious about the results ... I think that she may well be hedging her bets until she is confident that she can apply for something ... I think she does not want to invest emotionally in a course until she knows where she is


Or, at least, I hope so

http://www.bps.org.uk/bpslegacy/ac?f...Search_Type=NC This one is accredited at Sussex. According to the Sussex website, they offer psychology with neuroscience.

Defense mechanism is entirely possible. I applied whilst unsure as a delaying tactic; I'd advise making sure she doesn't do that.


In other news, I have now looked at the word 'psychology' so much I'm no longer convinced it's a real word.

[TenOfThem]

(Original post by TheSownRose)
http://www.bps.org.uk/bpslegacy/ac?f...Search_Type=NC This one is accredited at Sussex. According to the Sussex website, they offer psychology with neuroscience.

Defense mechanism is entirely possible. I applied whilst unsure as a delaying tactic; I'd advise making sure she doesn't do that.


In other news, I have now looked at the word 'psychology' so much I'm no longer convinced it's a real world.

Yes "with" rather than "and" are available she really likes that Sussex one


She will have our complete support regarding taking her time (hence my chattering on here rather than hassling her)


I have to say that I thought of Psychology as being a non-subject until I sat in a few of the open day lectures ... it certainly is a word

AND ... a science

[TheSownRose]

(Original post by TenOfThem)
Yes "with" rather than "and" are available she really likes that Sussex one


She will have our complete support regarding taking her time (hence my chattering on here rather than hassling her)


I have to say that I thought of Psychology as being a non-subject until I sat in a few of the open day lectures ... it certainly is a word

AND ... a science

Well, that's good news. If she wants to do a more specialised course (like an accredited joint honours) she may have to compromise more on the university; might be an idea to get her thinking about that.


Oh, I believed it was a real subject, it just stopped looking like a real word I saw it so much.

[TenOfThem]

(Original post by TheSownRose)
...

Thanks for the chat

I am sure that it will all come out in the wash

[hannah60000]

I'm hoping for 2013 entry and from what I've seen quite a few universities are flexible, as you have your core modules then you can pick other modules from other departments you happen to be interested in.

I know for sure Nottingham, SOAS and LSE allowed you to do this I'm looking to do a a History degree.

I'm sure this wide spread, I would look at the course specifications they may give her an over view of what they will expected you to study and the relative flexibility within the degree.

[evening sunrise]

Ensure the student has access to all the information they need.
Be on standby to respond to any request for assistance with interpreting that information.
Be on standby to offer a gentle opinion, if the student asks for it.

Otherwise let them research it and work it out for themselves.

Trying to mitigate against the risks you have articulated is almost impossible.

Firstly, many of the degree subjects are completely new compared to A level subjects. It is impossible to get a true feel for the subject without actually studying it.

Secondly, subjects that seem attractive as A levels change in character when pursued at degree level.

Thirdly, the modus operandi is completely different at uni, it suits some but not others.


Finally, there is the whole living away from home and living independently thing. My eldest son thought it was awsome. Our eldest niece did not last "moving in day" she came back home with her parents and then worked remotely doing a long commute only when absolutely necessary. Both graduated, our son is now a software engineer having graduated last summer, our niece has been a practising pharmacist for a number of years.