[Prolific]

Hey. When I got my A2 grades, I was pleasantly surprised to see that instead of BBB, I had achieved AAB. Prior to this I was expecting to study English and American Literature at UEA. Knowing I had better grades than I expected, I used the adjustment process to move to University of York to study Politics and International Relations. I thought it was widely recognised and would open many doors, but it seems shunned in the SR atmosphere. I'm eager to study the course, it seems right up my street, but SR is blunt, and I'm looking for a job, not a fun time.

My options seem limited without an A-Level in Mathematics. I'm not disappointed, I hate maths, but after reading multiple articles online, I feel as though politics and international relations seems like a worthless degree. My options are to either request to move to law - which seems unlikely - when I get to York, take on the degree and achieve, or abandon it completely. Honestly, I feel completely broken discussing this, I always had the hunch that politics was widely respected, even in financial institutions.

What should I do, thinking rationally? I don't want to waste 27,000 pounds on a degree that does not satisfy any employers, but if I decide to quit now, I ultimately lose £5k that is the contractual agreement for halls accommodation. Am I being too naive in assuming a politics and international relations degree is not useful?

Ultimately, I aim to pursue a career in futures trading. I understand this doesn't even require a degree, but to sit in the financial sphere if it all goes pear-shaped, would a politics degree open any doors? Thank you for the advice, I really need to get this off my back!

[DJMayes]

I am not entirely sure what jobs apart from the obvious like a politics degree but bear in mind that the majority of graduate jobs do not specify which degree is required.

[Eboracum]

For most jobs, apart from the obvious ones, it is irrelevant what subject you studied, it's the grade that counts. So I would say, study what you enjoy. If you enjoy Politics and International Relations do it.

I'm about to start Politics at York. I'm thinking in the future I might do a GDL. People in all different jobs have different degrees, don't worry about it!

[Prolific]

Thanks for the advice. I am getting too warped in other's opinions, but this is a big step in my life, I want to be firm that I'm choosing the right thing. Speaking of which, I was considering a GDL after the course, as I felt that it was a good break into legal institution. Rather than the standard law degree, politics seemed a good route into the niche pathway of large economic and political legislature. Other comments are welcomed, I'm still at ends lane over this.

[Prolific]

Also, I'm not deliberately bashing on my own degree. I personally think it's very beneficial, but after repetitive criticism of humanities degrees, I'm beginning to think it's just a deterrence from a BSc degree closer to home. I'm getting myself worked up a little, but advice is primitively reassuring.

[Jack93o]

whats 'SR'?

[Prolific]

Student Room. TSR/SR. ~

[Prolific]

Ah, I'm completely split over this. Should I pursue this degree, or should I look towards alternatives, despite losing £5k in the process? Such a stressful labyrinth of education, Nick Clegg's apology only added insult to injury.

[Tyles]

(Original post by Prolific)
Ah, I'm completely split over this. Should I pursue this degree, or should I look towards alternatives, despite losing £5k in the process? Such a stressful labyrinth of education, Nick Clegg's apology only added insult to injury.

If you enjoy the subject, go for it. If you enjoy it, you'll get a good degree (say 2:1) - and surely, there are jobs out there, otherwise they wouldn't teach the degree in the first place.

[Prolific]

Thank you for the advice, but ultimately university boils down to a job prospect. Politics and International Relations seems like a demanding and flexible course. Whilst it would enrich my being, would I be able to pull this degree into job interviews and impress, or am I stuck to being thrown out the window by a bombardment of finance degrees. Teaching prospects have never appealed to me, as well as public positions such as a minister. Whilst I'd enjoy being a lobbyist in America earning a good wage, a Law degree might better serve me!

[Bulbasaur]

Politics has decent prospects. Don't worry about it.

[Prolific]

Usually I wouldn't worry, I pretty much trawled my way through A levels with no hope of even getting into university. I have low expectations in that respect, but I've always wanted to head into finance. Do you think that the reputation of York, as well as the course, would help me achieve that?

[bestofyou]

defer a year and decide. No point embarking on a path you aren't committed to. Take a breather for a year an decide.

As for halls, if your defer you don't pay. Or so they told me. Ring and check though

[Zenomorph]

P and IR will not open any doors on its own in the finance world.

I don't get your reasoning, Futures trading does not require a degree so why go uni at all, might as well save your 27 k and put it up as trading capital.

P and IR will not get you into finance on its own. Sorry but the world of finance these days has a lot of math in it.

[Prolific]

If I defer, that's £5000 I'm obliged to pay for accommodation. We're not a rich family, so I can't afford to have that kind of debt and nothing to show for it. My current plans are to go to university, immediately talk to my tutor and request a transfer, and see where I can nose around.

[Prolific]

Because futures trading isn't stable. If I use it as effective trading capital and lose a sizeable amount, I've got no prospects for the future and debt. I was thinking of taking a GDL path, or commit myself to a MSc in Economics for a year, push the boat out. Would I be able to do that?

Also, there's nothing else I can ultimately do in my power. Without maths, even if I deferred and got an A in economics, I wouldn't be accepted. I could apply to law if I deferred, but I'm contemplating just accepting the first year of Politics and IR, trying to get RBS/Stone etc. experience in finance. If I fail to gain the experience, I would just transfer to law, and accept that I've wasted a year.

[Prolific]

Thanks for the comments, it's really helped me clear up on my choices. I've decided to follow two paths. I'll post up my possible pathways so any Politics/IR undergraduates can get some ideas:

1. After the Politics/IR degree, I'll ideally pursue a GDL, followed by an LPC. With these in mind, I'd strive for lobbyist jobs in America, where the market for new and bright lobbyists is high and growing.

2. During the Politics/IR degree, my father has some contacts who can get me a few placements in small brokerage firms. With the experience, I'd be able to take a Masters degree in Political Economy and Investment Banking, pursuing futures trading.

[Zenomorph]

2. Not a good idea, FT requires no Masters or even a degree at all. Either try be a FT or commit to the masters because that is what you what to do, one or the other.

NB. FT is a very very tough job, most 80-90% will fail.

[Prolific]

I already trade stocks in my spare time in the summer, as my father works as a broker. I realise the failure rate is high, but that's because most people don't stick to principal rules of trading. And I understand it's not the greatest idea to commit to a masters afterwards, but If I don't have the experience by then, I'd rather take onboard an economics and politics masters degree and pursue market analysis. You've said it yourself, it's a tough nut to crack - I'd rather have backup options if I fail as a trader.

[Prolific]

And in reply to anyone that is wondering why I'm doing a degree if I want to do FT, it's because you need a degree to get a foot in the door. I wanted to take politics instead of law or economics because if FT fails, politics can be converted into law, or matched with a economics masters for finance. I know economics and law are just as flexible, but it's the niche factor I'm considering - businesses looking for someone who knows a lot about political awareness and has a first class hons in something fresh, not a 2:2 in a degree that is easily trumped by a graduate with a higher class.