History or Latin GCSE?
i enjoy both history and latin but i have to choose one and im not sure what to do since i want to make it easier for myself but i also want to have a wide range of skills. i am also taking maths, English, triple science, french, geography, computer science and dte ( all higher tier). ive been told that taking history would be too much workload considering that i also do extra curriculars, but latin seems a bit useless and less interesting than history. im mainly interested in careers in medicine, law and finance, but apparently if i dont take history a level or GCSE i wont be preferred for studying law, but couldnt i just take politics instead? WHAT DO I TAKE??!!!😭
Reply 1
Original post
by san567i enjoy both history and latin but i have to choose one and im not sure what to do since i want to make it easier for myself but i also want to have a wide range of skills. i am also taking maths, English, triple science, french, geography, computer science and dte ( all higher tier). ive been told that taking history would be too much workload considering that i also do extra curriculars, but latin seems a bit useless and less interesting than history. im mainly interested in careers in medicine, law and finance, but apparently if i dont take history a level or GCSE i wont be preferred for studying law, but couldnt i just take politics instead? WHAT DO I TAKE??!!!😭
Take history if u want more skills, Latin is not that useful I’ll be very honest
Reply 2
Original post
by small-town-stuffTake history if u want more skills, Latin is not that useful I’ll be very honest
Languages r often undervalued
Reply 3
i’m team latin! caveat - i didn’t do history at gcse but did take ancient history, which i spent the best part of 2 years *struggling* over… to eventually get the 9. my brain is definitely better wired for the linguistic than historical/chronology side of stuff, so ymmv
if you’re good at latin/french, i would recommend latin. the crossover with french is useful, kind of 1.5 birds 1 stone. if you’re considering studying/working in europe, this could be a helpful base for pickimg up the language and gaining some wacky insight into the history; also, knowing the root meaning of scientific words can be quite fun.
lit. analysis is quite a bit more generously marked than gcse english plus when making notes for it, it’s an opportunity to practise those same skills some more.
from what i understand, the workload is less than history and you can (to a certain extent) gain most of the same skills and then some. grade boundaries aren’t so high for latin partly because fewer people take it. there is a stereotype that latin students are more academically able, though my classmates were living proof that’s not always true…
re:law - many people *practsising* law in the uk don’t have law degrees, or at least not as an first degree. you could study something else to gain a broader worldview & skillset first then do a law conversion should you still want to do law 6+ years down the road
if you’re good at latin/french, i would recommend latin. the crossover with french is useful, kind of 1.5 birds 1 stone. if you’re considering studying/working in europe, this could be a helpful base for pickimg up the language and gaining some wacky insight into the history; also, knowing the root meaning of scientific words can be quite fun.
lit. analysis is quite a bit more generously marked than gcse english plus when making notes for it, it’s an opportunity to practise those same skills some more.
from what i understand, the workload is less than history and you can (to a certain extent) gain most of the same skills and then some. grade boundaries aren’t so high for latin partly because fewer people take it. there is a stereotype that latin students are more academically able, though my classmates were living proof that’s not always true…
re:law - many people *practsising* law in the uk don’t have law degrees, or at least not as an first degree. you could study something else to gain a broader worldview & skillset first then do a law conversion should you still want to do law 6+ years down the road
Reply 4
Original post
by san567i enjoy both history and latin but i have to choose one and im not sure what to do since i want to make it easier for myself but i also want to have a wide range of skills. i am also taking maths, English, triple science, french, geography, computer science and dte ( all higher tier). ive been told that taking history would be too much workload considering that i also do extra curriculars, but latin seems a bit useless and less interesting than history. im mainly interested in careers in medicine, law and finance, but apparently if i dont take history a level or GCSE i wont be preferred for studying law, but couldnt i just take politics instead? WHAT DO I TAKE??!!!😭
Are they the only two you can choose?
Look at the spec and what you'll learn; which looks more interesting?
You don't have to do either History OR Latin in order to be able to go on and take law, however if you want to / have to take one of them then choose the one that you find the most interesting, which, going by what you've said, is History.
Reply 6
17
I'd drop Geography or dte and do History and Latin.
Latin isn't taught by many schools so it can make you stand out, even just dropping it in to conversation, particularly for the professions like Law and Medicine. Particularly as you may be unlikely to do it at A Level, this is your chance to get a great, old, subject on the CV.
History is a subject that is respected by top universities (more than Politics is).
Latin isn't taught by many schools so it can make you stand out, even just dropping it in to conversation, particularly for the professions like Law and Medicine. Particularly as you may be unlikely to do it at A Level, this is your chance to get a great, old, subject on the CV.
History is a subject that is respected by top universities (more than Politics is).
Reply 7
Original post
by PicniclI'd drop Geography or dte and do History and Latin.
Latin isn't taught by many schools so it can make you stand out, even just dropping it in to conversation, particularly for the professions like Law and Medicine. Particularly as you may be unlikely to do it at A Level, this is your chance to get a great, old, subject on the CV.
History is a subject that is respected by top universities (more than Politics is).
Latin isn't taught by many schools so it can make you stand out, even just dropping it in to conversation, particularly for the professions like Law and Medicine. Particularly as you may be unlikely to do it at A Level, this is your chance to get a great, old, subject on the CV.
History is a subject that is respected by top universities (more than Politics is).
Latin does not 'make you stand out' as most students can't take it it cannot be used to judge between candidates.
Reply 8
17
Original post
by Muttley79Latin does not 'make you stand out' as most students can't take it it cannot be used to judge between candidates.
Stand out in real life, not with admissions.
Reply 9
Original post
by PicniclStand out in real life, not with admissions.
No of course it doesn't - you don't list GCSEs on your cv!
Reply 10
12
Languages are life skills, the more you know the better.
Reply 11
17
Original post
by Muttley79No of course it doesn't - you don't list GCSEs on your cv!
Yes I do and why is 'CV' a synonym for 'real life' with you anyway?
Reply 12
Original post
by PicniclYes I do and why is 'CV' a synonym for 'real life' with you anyway?
Once you have A levels then a list of GCSEs is irrelevant. You mentioned the CV!
My O level Latin has never given me any benefit! What 'real life' difference has it made to you?
(edited 1 year ago)
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