History Degree - Panic!

Debatable - RH was #10 for History in the Times last year, Exeter is #8 this year. Better unis obviously aren't out of the question, depending on the OPs GCSEs and AS-levels.

Even given that, Exeter is #13 on the Times overall table.

Basically, I'm considering applying to study history at Uni but am very unsure. So, wanted some advice.

I was seriously considering doing a science based subject at uni, but, work experience and a bit of soul searching is making me reconsider.

I never considered english based subjects mainly as they come naturally to me and I've never felt all that pushed by doing them. But, I did the Peterhouse Cambridge competition (http://www.pet.cam.ac.uk/admissions/essays.html), and even though I went through ridiculous sleep deprivation and insane amounts of Red Bull in doing it (started 4 days before deadline...) it felt awesome. I felt pushed and able to let my mind run riot and develop a writing style without restraint. I loved it.

I want this from Uni. I want lates nights and lots of words. But, I've got some serious concerns:

Taking a History degree deosn't provide a definite career path, I don't want to end up on 25K or struggling to find employment. Science seems more safe.

My GCSEs mean I won't get into a top 10 uni. I read this thread:
http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=470586
and most of the comments came from cambridge students. I'm scared I won't get pushed at a Uni that isn't top 10 and if that's the case, I'll hate it probably.

Unlike subjects like medicine, I can't get W.E to get an idea if it's for me and I don't know if my experience of Peterhouse is good enough groudns to know I'll like it.

Any advice/knowledge anyone could provide would be great

Oh,yes. It's very crude to do so but if we were to group unis together by general prestige you'll probably have

Oxford, Cambridge
(medium gap)
UCL, Durham, Warwick, Bristol, York, Edinburgh, St Andrews
(small gap)
Exeter, Bath, Manchester, Newcastle....

Then about another four or five groups after that. Let me make it clear that this is quite crude and I mean to no disrespect to those lower unis that can still offer good teaching, support and experiences. Also, employers don't care as much about rep as most think so how much many employers really care about such a rank of prestige is debatable. Either way you aren't going to be disadvantaged by going to Exeter. Not by any means.

Uh...doesn't that pay about 25k?

Oh,yes. It's very crude to do so but if we were to group unis together by general prestige you'll probably have

Oxford, Cambridge
(medium gap)
UCL, Durham, Warwick, Bristol, York, Edinburgh, St Andrews
(small gap)
Exeter, Bath, Manchester, Newcastle....

Then about another four or five groups after that. Let me make it clear that this is quite crude and I mean to no disrespect to those lower unis that can still offer good teaching, support and experiences. Also, employers don't care as much about rep as most think so how much many employers really care about such a rank of prestige is debatable. Either way you aren't going to be disadvantaged by going to Exeter. Not by any means.

I dunno why people are having a go at her for not being content with earning 25k a year, it's hardly a lot. It's just enough that you end up not getting any help from the government and you end up in a worse position than those on the lower pay brackets. I wouldn't be able to live comfortably on 25k a year at all.

I dunno why people are having a go at her for not being content with earning 25k a year, it's hardly a lot. It's just enough that you end up not getting any help from the government and you end up in a worse position than those on the lower pay brackets. I wouldn't be able to live comfortably on 25k a year at all.

What happened to LSE/Imperial, consistently alternately 3rd and 4th in the rankings ?

There is more than a 'small gap' between Warwick and UCL one one hand, and frigging Newcastle and Manchester on the other!

Imperial's not exactly relevant to this discussion since it doesn't offer History.

I think we're derailing the thread a little by squabbling about uni prestige - let's at least wait to hear the OPs GCSEs and AS-levels.

On an above average salary? You would need to learn to live more modestly then!

I don't think my parents have done too badly over the years on less than 40k combined. We've certainly had quite a comfortable upbringing.

Don't forget that most of us (not all for we can never predict) will have partners who have their own earnings also.

No there's not. Small-medium at best. What problem do you have with Manchester, Newcastle etc? They are well ranked, major, solid and respected universities. Both members of the Russell Group (the significance of this is open to debate).

I already admitted how crude it was (and am now wishing I hadn't done it). An employer is going to be more concerned with the cadidate and degree class than uni rep. Also, a lot of it is subject specific. Manchester is certainly Warwick's equal in law. Newcastle is UCL's equal in some egineering.

Regardless a combined salary of 50k gets taxed down to about 30k over night. A car each that will cost about 5-10k. Mortgage at least 10-20k for a small house - it's all gone. When you have children if one of you wants to stay at home and raise the kids 25k is jack as well. You also get absolutely no help from the government and when your children go to uni you have to pay for what other children get for free. Either way I won't be happy on less than 50k at least. I don't think it will be that hard to be honest, I got an e-mail about a job for after my degree with 45k+car+holiday+health care graduating pay.

*Most any government analyst position is always open to history majors because we are good critical thinkers. Every gov analyst spot I looked up had history as an accepted degree.*

I'm no expert but I think that the upper echelons of the civil service are dominated by history grads, as well as some philosophy, economics etc. grads. OP, you'll be held in high regard your your analytical and research skills.