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Sociology - not an academic subject?
I'm about to sit AS levels and I'm already trying to decide whether to drop Sociology or Geog next year (typical me). I e-mailed the History departments of some good unis asking them whether I would find it harder to get in with Sociology than the more 'traditional' Geog.
Most unis, including York, said they didn't care. Durham basically told me that I'd find it a lot harder to get with Sociology, because it is not an 'academic subject'.
So if it isn't academic - what is it?
Most unis, including York, said they didn't care. Durham basically told me that I'd find it a lot harder to get with Sociology, because it is not an 'academic subject'.
So if it isn't academic - what is it?
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Mishael
I'm about to sit AS levels and I'm already trying to decide whether to drop Sociology or Geog next year (typical me). I e-mailed the History departments of some good unis asking them whether I would find it harder to get in with Sociology than the more 'traditional' Geog.
Most unis, including York, said they didn't care. Durham basically told me that I'd find it a lot harder to get with Sociology, because it is not an 'academic subject'.
So if it isn't academic - what is it?
Most unis, including York, said they didn't care. Durham basically told me that I'd find it a lot harder to get with Sociology, because it is not an 'academic subject'.
So if it isn't academic - what is it?
deginitely drop sociology instead of geography
Mishael
So if it isn't academic - what is it?
So if it isn't academic - what is it?
40% of people who took Sociology at my college got an "A" grade at A2. Given the fact that we are hardly a high-flying academic institute I think that this says alot about the subject and personally I believe that it (along with many others) is a soft option A-Level.
The point about Durham frowning upon it is interesting given the fact that they have a department that teaches it.
Is this abit like the universities whos Law departments dont like people who have done A-Level Law?
Mishael
I'm about to sit AS levels and I'm already trying to decide whether to drop Sociology or Geog next year (typical me). I e-mailed the History departments of some good unis asking them whether I would find it harder to get in with Sociology than the more 'traditional' Geog.
Most unis, including York, said they didn't care. Durham basically told me that I'd find it a lot harder to get with Sociology, because it is not an 'academic subject'.
So if it isn't academic - what is it?
Most unis, including York, said they didn't care. Durham basically told me that I'd find it a lot harder to get with Sociology, because it is not an 'academic subject'.
So if it isn't academic - what is it?
Drop Sociology.
Mark_KK
40% of people who took Sociology at my college got an "A" grade at A2. Given the fact that we are hardly a high-flying academic institute I think that this says alot about the subject and personally I believe that it (along with many others) is a soft option A-Level.
The point about Durham frowning upon it is interesting given the fact that they have a department that teaches it.
Is this abit like the universities whos Law departments dont like people who have done A-Level Law?
The point about Durham frowning upon it is interesting given the fact that they have a department that teaches it.
Is this abit like the universities whos Law departments dont like people who have done A-Level Law?
I'm not saying it's difficult - esp compared to Hist - though I think it's actually a lot more difficult (and interesting) than Geog. What I mean is, what is it classed as if it isn't academic? It's not vocational...so what is it?
Sociology is an academic subject, just not one of the better regarded ones. If you like it a lot more than geography, it might be better to carry it one (no point taking a subject you hate), otherwise, I sometimes get the impression that geography is better thought of. What other subjects are you doing?
Frances
Sociology is an academic subject, just not one of the better regarded ones. If you like it a lot more than geography, it might be better to carry it one (no point taking a subject you hate), otherwise, I sometimes get the impression that geography is better thought of. What other subjects are you doing?
English Lang, Hist and Geog.
I probably will drop sociology as it's a night class and I don't want to do an A-level on 2 hours a week. It just annoys me when people who've never been to a sociology lesson in their life dismiss it as 'rubbish' without thinking.
Mark_KK
40% of people who took Sociology at my college got an "A" grade at A2. Given the fact that we are hardly a high-flying academic institute I think that this says alot about the subject and personally I believe that it (along with many others) is a soft option A-Level.
But apprantly nationally the amount gettings As was more like 18%.
Mishael
English Lang, Hist and Geog.
I probably will drop sociology as it's a night class and I don't want to do an A-level on 2 hours a week. It just annoys me when people who've never been to a sociology lesson in their life dismiss it as 'rubbish' without thinking.
I probably will drop sociology as it's a night class and I don't want to do an A-level on 2 hours a week. It just annoys me when people who've never been to a sociology lesson in their life dismiss it as 'rubbish' without thinking.
Well personally, out of those I'd drop English Lang... which is in fact exactly what I did. But maybe you don't have the same loathing for the subject that I do
And I can see your point about not wanting to do an A Level on 2 hours a week.And I'm used to my subjects being put down by people who've never been to a lesson... I do media studies.
Mishael
I'm about to sit AS levels and I'm already trying to decide whether to drop Sociology or Geog next year (typical me). I e-mailed the History departments of some good unis asking them whether I would find it harder to get in with Sociology than the more 'traditional' Geog.
Most unis, including York, said they didn't care. Durham basically told me that I'd find it a lot harder to get with Sociology, because it is not an 'academic subject'.
So if it isn't academic - what is it?
Most unis, including York, said they didn't care. Durham basically told me that I'd find it a lot harder to get with Sociology, because it is not an 'academic subject'.
So if it isn't academic - what is it?
It's not going to make any huge difference, providing your other 3/4 are regarded as traditional. I don't think I would be too bothered about what certain universities thought-as long as it's not widespread discrimination you're going to have to face. Try not to forget that education is (also) about personal intellectual stimulation, pursuing a field/discipline that you enjoy and not simply doing what Durham ask of you.
I think there's a tendency on this board people have of doing what others want, or expect. The constant suggestions are; study at A level what universities want of you, study at university what x, y, and x employers are looking for. Now, I see why this happens, it is of course important that your education be marketable and that you be employable, but I do think that it's being taken a bit too far here. On the whole, if you're good enough at what you do, then you will be marketable; aside from a few exceptions of course.
It's fine. Take whatever subject you like best.
Mishael
I'm about to sit AS levels and I'm already trying to decide whether to drop Sociology or Geog next year (typical me). I e-mailed the History departments of some good unis asking them whether I would find it harder to get in with Sociology than the more 'traditional' Geog.
Most unis, including York, said they didn't care. Durham basically told me that I'd find it a lot harder to get with Sociology, because it is not an 'academic subject'.
So if it isn't academic - what is it?
Most unis, including York, said they didn't care. Durham basically told me that I'd find it a lot harder to get with Sociology, because it is not an 'academic subject'.
So if it isn't academic - what is it?
Well, personally I found Sociology my hardest a level because felt like it was marked a lot harder than my other subjects, due to many believing that it is a 'soft' subject (my other subjects being History and Governement and Politics). Although, to be honest I did find the AS Level quite easy.
I applied to study History and Politics at Warwick, Nottingham, Sheffield, Leeds, Reading and York and got offers from all of them, even over some friends who had done English or Chemistry instead of Sociology.
I think a lot rests on your personal statement...
Sociology is certainly not a 'soft' subject! There are loads of figures and studies to learn, as well as the views of different sociologists. There's a lot of political knowledge mixed in too: new left realism, the new right, marxism, interpretivism, functionalism, feminism....
I've found it to be very enlightening and helpful for doing my English degree starting in October.
I've found it to be very enlightening and helpful for doing my English degree starting in October.
Evil Muffin
Sociology is certainly not a 'soft' subject! There are loads of figures and studies to learn, as well as the views of different sociologists. There's a lot of political knowledge mixed in too: new left realism, the new right, marxism, interpretivism, functionalism, feminism....
I've found it to be very enlightening and helpful for doing my English degree starting in October.
I've found it to be very enlightening and helpful for doing my English degree starting in October.
However, at school we have been given information that for certain courses (English, Law etc) places like Bristol (and other similar Unis) tend to dislike Sociology, Media Studies, Theatre Studies etc. Beware when choosing your A2 courses, if you want to apply to a top Uni.
Related discussions
- will top unis (oxbridge, LSE, etc.) see these as competitive a levels?
- Is English Lit, Sociology and Criminology an okay subject choice for A level?
- Does it matter if I didn’t study sociology at college?
- A level choices:
- A level advice
- prospective student for BSc Sociology at the LSE
- What A-level goes with psychology and economics??
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- English, geography or sociology?
- A little concerned about LSE
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Russell Group universities are actually very good. We should stop dismissing them.
