Welcome to the School of African and Oriental Studies: where prospective and current students can discuss everything from RESPECT and the student union, to whether the female population is really the hottest in South England.
many of the current SOAS students who are answering the prospective student's questions on TSR seem to be dropping out of SOAS and applying to other unis. why is that? did you not like SOAS?
I can't speak for everyone, but for me there's a few reasons;
1| Course enjoyment - I don't have. The teachers are really nice, but I don't like the intensity. Like you've barely learned one thing, and you're already moving onto the next thing. It feels as if you're never really getting a chance to just relax. Plus i've realised i'd rather study something else and learn Japanese on the side, rather than as an actual degree.
2| The University itself. It's a good uni, and I don't regret coming here at all - it's been an awesome year and i've made lots of friends [both within and outside the Uni, I'm even going out with somebody in KCL] - but the Uni isn't for everyone. It's not the sort of place where fun is made for you, you have to do it yourself, and it's very politically active [very lefty] which doesn't interest me in the slightest. And the buildings look like crap. I'd prefer to go to a more "traditional" Uni in a sense, if that makes sense [big grand buildings, decent events, etc.]
3| I've just grown up. Before I came to uni I had no idea what I wanted to do after, I just chose the Uni because I liked the name and it was in London. After a year of being independant, I have a better sense of what I want from not just my uni//course, but life in general.
hmm wow ok lol.. im so unsure whether i should choose soas or not.
I really want to study arabic as well as politics as my 'main' and I thought the arabic degree would be good there. but if you say its poorly put together..
do any of you know about politics at all/ have any friends doing politics , if yea are they happy with it or what?
I mean, overall would you recommend the uni or not? the experience seems kind of difficult sometimes from what you wrote. I'm interested in politics but I'm not that into it if that makes sense/ im more interested in international stuff and all.
and this is more for jonboyyork, since you do arabic - just out of curiosity, what are you studying now in arabic? and hows the work load? u mention the huge amount of vocab, how huge exactly is it?
THANKS so much for all the help, I feel annoying for all these questions! Im just trying to find out whether SOAS would be for me and since i've never gotten a chance to see it, it's more difficult! ://////
I'm doing economics and politics, and if you are thinking of doing it combined with Arabic, then the only politics module you'll take in your first year is Introduction to Political Study. Its basically political philosophy and you'll study concepts such as liberty, democracy, power and read the works of Mill, Rousseau, Marx, Schumpeter (and a load of others).
The lectures are quite interesting. The tutorials are a bit hard though because the tutor isn't very inspiring. At least in my tutorial group it always seems to boil down to the rich vs poor arguement, probably because we have a group of people at polar opposites of the political spectrum. The module isn't too hard though as you just have to have a vague understanding of the concepts and be willing to voice your opinion on issues like free speech etc.
I have to say though, I have become slightly dissolusioned with the module, as I find it vague and not very applicable to real life politics. Then again that might be the aspect of politics that you're interested in. If you have any other questions about the module don't hesitate to ask!
I'm kind of the same as the others but a little different.
1) Wrong Course - I came to SOAS doing Japanese thinking I'd enjoy doing a language that is a little bit different. After a few hours of it I decided that it wasn't for me, at least in terms of a degree. So I managed to transfer to History to try make the best out of a bad situation but my heart wasn't at all in it. So I dropped out and had a look at UCAS to see if there was anything good in Extra. I want to do my German again and pick up Italian and when I saw Warwick was still there I knew where I was headed.
2) SOAS - It's, well, SOAS. It really isn't like any other campus or city based uni at all. Like Hikari said there isn't a great deal of fun to be headed at the uni itself. If you want the typical uni experience then you ain't going to get that at SOAS. The social scene is pretty much everything and anything to do with left-wing politics or helping out someone in Africa/Asia or getting in touch with your spirtual side or doing something to the cleaners (don't ask - the SOAS SU seems to have an unhealthy fasination with the cleaners at the uni).
3) Better Understanding of What I Want - In hindsight I rushed into uni. After barely attending my second year of college I should have really taken a gap year. Now I really know what I want to do and that SOAS is never going to be right for me and I just can't wait until October.
THANKS so much for all the help, I feel annoying for all these questions! Im just trying to find out whether SOAS would be for me and since i've never gotten a chance to see it, it's more difficult! ://////
I know how you feel man. You should at least have a look first.
I was initially set on SOAS but began to realise that in some ways it would be a gamble. There were certainly good points which made me apply to SOAS in the first place but now i've whole heartedly decided to take a gap year and reapply.
DON'T go to SOAS....I dropped out...HATED it there....rubbish place, absolutely rubbish student union with boring events, too many weird hippies, alot of extremely boring people, really bad teaching, dirty building, absolutely nothing good about it!!! if you're looking for good student life...DON'T GO THERE!!!!!!!!! biggest regret ever!
For students of Japanese, I'm doing all sorts of things to make next year a pretty epic place with fantastic events and a great student life, so ... there's hope.
This topic does sound all doom and gloom, but regardless I should also say that a lot of the people I know who are still continuing there regret choosing SOAS but are persevering there, simply as it isn't like most other universities in Britain. The biggest advice I can give anyone who isn't sure about SOAS is to really visit it properly as it really isn't your typical uni. It has far more mature, foreign and non-White British students then any other uni I imagine. That's not to say that that is a bad thing - it isn't, but it certainly makes for a much different experience and simply it isn't right for everyone.
Basically I think Politics is a great opportunity at SOAS, you can have a real indepth look at several regions, as well as broader modules, which seem to be different from most unis offering just American/European/British and perhaps a Middle Eastern option. You get 1 hour of lecture and 1 hour of tutorial/class for each politics module. Which isnt alot. So its improtant you do your readigns for the class discussion; although not needed to pass the exam (cram at the end ftw).
In my first year I took two politics modules; Introudction to Political Studies and States People Power (which was really good - and my tutor Sam was really cool too - even if he nominated me every lesson to start the discussion). I spoke a little about Intro on the other reply - but I must say that the topics are very interesting.
This year I've taken African Politics and Comparative Political Sociology. African politics is interesting as I'm sure you can imagine, the lecturer is very good, and the tutor is a nice guy. Comparative pol sociology is normally very interesting; I have a tutorial of just 4 people so we always have to talk lots which is good (although it means I have to give more presentations than normal). Some topics are a bit dry espescially the ones about economics -for me anyway, others are really interesting such as the ones about nationality.
It is a thought provoking course if you show some interest in politics. My views are constantly changing and being challenged at SOAS.
To be fair though, most people who come into a course they are unsure of in the first place, regardless of the uni, share similar sentiments about their choice. I know loads of people in so-called 'better unis' who completely despise being there because of some of the exact same reasons why most people on here chose or are choosing to drop out. I guess the point I'm making is that its not so much different elsewhere...
Hey, I think I already replied to you, Alex, on a different thread; [...]
Originally Posted by Leanne Antonia
I'm doing economics and politics [...]
thank you Leanne and Dempy for answering, i thought i'd never find someone who was actually taking politics!! sorry Dempy i didnt see your other answer before, so thanks for answering again -
You seem to have a better opinion of SOAS than others which, tbh, makes me feel a bit better from what I read in some other people's answers is that the courses are overall not really well organised. Do you get that feeling for politics, overall? And what are you hoping to do in the future (job wise etc), do u know where soas might lead u to? and as for the uni itself, are u enjoying the experience?
Leanne, you write: "the only politics module you'll take in your first year is Introduction to Political Study" - when do you start studying other subjects? is it during the second year?
"the only politics module you'll take in your first year is Introduction to Political Study" - when do you start studying other subjects? is it during the second year?
No, Introduction to Political Study is the only course in Politics that's compulsory. You have to do two in the year, but you get to choose between States, People, Power or Comparative and International Politics for your second one. If you go to SOAS, I suggest taking the latter, because its a prerequisite for International Politics in your second year.
thank you Leanne and Dempy for answering, i thought i'd never find someone who was actually taking politics!! sorry Dempy i didnt see your other answer before, so thanks for answering again -
You seem to have a better opinion of SOAS than others which, tbh, makes me feel a bit better from what I read in some other people's answers is that the courses are overall not really well organised. Do you get that feeling for politics, overall? And what are you hoping to do in the future (job wise etc), do u know where soas might lead u to? and as for the uni itself, are u enjoying the experience?
Leanne, you write: "the only politics module you'll take in your first year is Introduction to Political Study" - when do you start studying other subjects? is it during the second year?
thanks for answering!!
As far as I know if you are doing a joint honours with a language, you'll take only one politics module in your first year. After the first year you do have a bit more flexiability over what you take. None of the people I know who do Arabic and Politics are taking any other module than IPS in 1st year.
I think that the politics department is probably one of the best organised ones in SOAS. The lectures are good and the tutors really know their stuff (my tutors for economics are only PhD students whereas the politics ones have already gained their PhD's)...
I find the politics aspect of my degree quite challenging, but it must be working because I've done well in all my politics essays, even though I find it the harder subject. You get a broad range of lecturers who are really passionate about their subjects too.
As for the future, I'm pretty unsure of what I want to do, I wanted to keep my options open, which is why I chose my degree. I think your degree choice of Arabic and Politics could take you pretty far if you're able to stick it out (btw thats not me saying that I think people are being lazy over the Arabic degree, its just that I know how tough some have found it).
SOAS is tough, right now its kicking my arse! socially its proved to be rubbish, ive hardly made many friends but thats just because im a wee bit antisocial
If you're unsure about coming to soas, i was a bit too when i was deciding (warwick was my other choice) heres a bit of advice.
The people (I'm scared about making generalisations) are usually more into their studies instead of their social lives. which in some ways can be good if youre not into the whole overrated "uni experience". I personally cant stand drunken horny immature people so for me its been good.
Also a tip, if youre planning to live out and want the "uni" experience you feel you wont find at soas; living in intercollegiate halls will be very benefictial. I'd advise this after living in one of the garden halls this year beacause the people are much more into the stereotypical uni life. Even those who live at the incollegiate halls that go to soas are more into having a crazy nightlife.
However, the best advice I can give is no matter what anyone tells you, everyone's experience is different. Mostly its luck. I'm still struggling to find people i connect with, but that doesnt mean you wont. its certainly hard to make friends at soas but when you do i bet theyll be extremely interesting people.
Last edited by Delirium_Phenomena : 25-04-2009 at 20:25.
I'm in my fourth year at SOAS, doing a masters now, having done my undergrad in Politics (with a bit of history on the side). Fire me up with any questions you may have.
I'm in my fourth year at SOAS, doing a masters now, having done my undergrad in Politics (with a bit of history on the side). Fire me up with any questions you may have.
what modules did you do? and is two weeks of revesion enough to pass the first year?
Welcome to the School of African and Oriental Studies: where prospective and current students can discuss everything from RESPECT and the student union, to whether the female population is really the hottest in South England.
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current students dropping out of SOAS
from what I read in some other people's answers is that the courses are overall not really well organised. Do you get that feeling for politics, overall? And what are you hoping to do in the future (job wise etc), do u know where soas might lead u to? and as for the uni itself, are u enjoying the experience?
