Confused about my whole degree. Opinions needed.

Hi everyone. I'm really confused right now about my whole degree.

Right, I got back a piece of coursework this morning, and was shocked at receiving a score of 90 (very high first) in one of my modules. The first line of my tutor's feedback stated: "This is arguably the best first year analysis that I have marked in nearly 40 years of teaching. I would have given this a clear First at Part II level, let alone Part I", "this is stunningly good" and "you also write extremely well while conducting a pretty detailed and precise level of analysis. Please take LING210 stylistics!"

This is all really good... but I've been considering for a while now to drop out of my linguistics degree and study a subject which leads me straight into employment. I really don't know how I'm going to get a job after this degree, and I'll be in tons of debt. I'm also in Lancaster at the moment, and really miss people from back home in London. I'm also on a year-abroad type degree, which means I'll have to move all the way to Canada this August/September for my 2nd year, then come back to Lancaster for a final year. I am homesick.

My alternative plan to this degree would be to spend next year getting science A Levels, and then getting myself onto a radiography degree in London and live at home (or renting somewhere cheap with my fiance), then move in with him once I get a permanent job. Whilst I'm not really talented in science, I reckon I could do above-average with some hard work and get a secure, stable job at the end.

I really don't know. I need an outsider's point of view. Should I continue this degree, move to Canada, knowing that I could probably do "well" in this subject, but not really sure about where this will lead me, job-wise... or start a science degree which will most likely get me a job at the end even though I will probably struggle?

The thing I want most is to get a job quickly so that I can move out with my boyfriend and start building a future with him. What could I do with this degree even if I got a 1st?

Help. Ask me questions if anything is unclear.

very gud question. dats whre i am also confused dese days.. how u gona go nd live in canada .. moving aroud the world .. getting nothing ..
there are two options
1. masters in your interest degree but yours not profitable and beneficial in ur future career
2. jump into what you dont like but there is money and future.
is dat what u wana ask

If you got a first in linguistics you could be a language therapist. Actors have those sometimes to stop lisps and stutters. You might need a while of training. Or there are lots of places with graduate jobs.

The important thing (as I'm sure everyone has said) is to do what you enjoy doing. You clearly have a talent for what you're doing now. As you enjoy it, you'll be better able to get a jobs as your enthusiasm will come through in an interview. Plus the year abroad is definately something 'extra' to put on a cv.

My bf is doing a year abroad, we know it'll be tough, but worth it in the end when it's easier to get a job.

If you get a job in something you didn't initially enjoy it'll become really tedious and it'll make it harder to get a job because in an interview you won't be as enthusiastic as if it was the subject you really have a talent for.

I understand you missing people, but I guess it's just one of those things. They'll still be there when you go back though

Hope this helps

Language therapists need to do a degree in Speech and Language Therapy, but I have considered that as a job, and it isn't something that really appeals to me. I am a kind of person who prefers patient contact over a relatively short period of time, rather than being with one patient for hours day after day.

How do you cope with the long distance btw? Where is his year abroad?

if u want to do sciene degree i think there is no money involved .. u need huge years of experiances .. studying at top unis ... because u have to look for job at the end .. if there is no much trend of that kind of job u looking for .. what u gona do after studying 16 years in ur interst subject ? i mean de desirble JOB

He hasn't gone yet, he's leaving in August/September. Only in Prague, so not as far away, I know. Probably will cope by having a weekly skype convo at least

Good luck. Weekly contact? I don't think I could cope with that!

With diagnostic radiography, patient contact is quite different to the patient contact involved in speech & language therapy. You see a lot of patients, but for only a short amount of time each.


Thanks for that list. Is your friend bilingual? Unfortuantely I'm not bilingual so I guess my options are pretty limited in that sense aswell.

The right career move in the wrong location is something that can be rectified far sooner and easier than the wrong career move in the right location, which will only leave resentment that you moved to be with your fiance I suspect especially if he's earning a lot more than you in the future even if that's just because of other family issues.

I dont see what there is to be confused about. Your lecturer has just told you that you are one of the best students he has taught for years. Stick with it, graduate at the top of your year, get him to do your referance, take your pick of jobs that dont require a specific degree.

No, not just weekly contact, emails and phone calls etc, but a big ol' skype convo at one promised time a week, then even if we're busy we have that to look forward to. There will be other contact, but that one is a constant at one time a week.

The jobs that don't require a specific degree strike me as working for a business/company for the rest of my life, which doesn't appeal to me.

Have you thought about primary school teaching? Working in the civil service? Working for a charity? Do a little bit of research and don't write off all the graduate jobs that don't require a specific degree- you might find one you really like.

Oh I see, that sounds good.

Hell yeah, it sounds a lot more interesting than analysing a piece of novel/play/poetry.

Yeah that's where I fail. I study languages, but only speak one.

My uni do publish lists, though haven't really seen any yet. I know that the usual paths are lexicographer, academia, teaching, media, journalism etc. but although journalism doesn't sound too bad, I would prefer a job which is more hands-on, and practical, rather than purely academic or just involves sitting at a desk.