Just need help :/

Hey there.

So I'm in a bit of a situation. At school, like many other 6th years across Scotland, I am going through the motions of going to university open days, reading online articles, each uni's prospectus, researching etc.

I am in the position, of not being 100% set on what I want to do as a career, and what I want to do at University. My current career goal, is to be a film critic. Now, although you don't need any degree requirements to become a film critic, I've always wanted to go to University. The best advice I've gotten (and the least helpful in creating a decision haha), is choosing a subject you love, rather than one based on a certain career path. Logic would dictate, for a film critic job in mind, to do a film studies degree. I am against doing a film-making degree course, and much prefer the theory aspect (analyzing film, techniques etc). However, I still have many other interests. For example, philosophy; I went to the Edinburgh open day today, and I fell in love with the Philosophy lecture. I'm doing higher RMPS this year, and the philosophy unit is so interesting, which is helped by my teacher having her degree in philosophy. Other interests include Psychology, History, Criminology.

I guess I need advice on making a decision, as making a personal statement (which is due in rather soon) for multiple subjects, proves to be a challenge. Furthermore, if people have recommendations for universities in Scotland, which suit the above subject courses, please say. In terms of grades:
-National 5 English & Maths, both A
-Higher French, English, Human Biology, Maths; BBCC respectively (5th year)
-Higher Classics, History, RMPS, Media (6th year)

I look forward to reading your replies, and thank you so much in advance!

-Bnaca

My only comments are.

It sounds pretty specialised.
Maybe you could find a joint honours with film and journalism or film and and philosophy?

The only film courses ive looked at are in England at UEA and Westminster.

Thanks for the advice! Ideally, I'd like to stay in Scotland for studying, but I'll keep looking.

Bump for anymore advice!

I'm confused what "over-specialising" you're talking about.
I just need advice with choosing a degree course and university...

With some courses, like English language, there's not a defined career path. You can take an English language degree and then go on to do most things.
With some courses, like business studies, there are a few logical career paths: you can work in accountancy, or management, or set up your own business - but there are also the career paths that are open to everyone.
With some career paths they lead to one possible career. If you do a vet med degree, you become a vet. It's not impossible to take a vet med degree and then work in another job field, but it's unlikely. Theoretically, you could become a primary school teacher with any degree, but it's far more likely for the person with an English degree than the person with the vet med degree.

A film degree is very specialised, in that you've cut off a lot of options. You've not met the requirements for a lot of jobs: you can't be an architect, you can't be a GP, you can't be an accountant etc. But unlike the vet med degree, which has cut off the same options, a film degree doesn't open any doors. With a film degree, you know about film. There are no jobs that specifically require a film degree - you don't need a film degree to be a film producer, or a film critic, or to work in advertising. You've really limited your options for if you change your mind and want to work outside film - you're not really even qualified to work in a similar area like TV. If you did want to re-train, you have already used your quota of student finance, so unless the rules change you would need to self-fund an additional degree.

As you've said, you should choose a subject you love. But you're spending a lot of money on this. It's £9000 per year just for the tuition fee. It's a lot of money to spend on something that doesn't lead anywhere. And if in 10, 20, 50 years you think "well, actually, I really wish I had a degree in..." you won't be able to do it unless you can afford to pay the whole lot upfront.