Not sure what to do at Uni

[Voltar]

Very sensible posts in here from semi-pro.

A Geology degree is very, very desirable for the oil industry and for mining companies.

If I had to redo an undergrad degree I'd not do what everyone was pushing me into and telling me to do: I'd have done a course I really wanted to do and was really interested in. In fact, the only reason I did mine was because it would be 'useful' and not because I was passionate about it.

If you want my advice, do something you're passionate about and interested in. Don't just do something because for a bit you think it would be good and then become convinced thereof due to what it looks like/ what people say.

Good luck with it

 

[benjo]

Don't Plymouth give you a month or so at the start of the academic year to jump ship if you don't like your course? The only thing I can suggest fella is that you go sit in on a few lectures or scan the portal for lecture information, etc.

Earth Sciences can be fun (I did a few modules roughly in the same area) but they're so bloody tedious at the same time. Ocean Science is a really good course, but unless you put yourself behind it 100% you won't get very far as you generally need to already have a life-sciences background. If I'm not mistaken either, you'll probably be playing catch-up hence the need to be totally committed.

The Earth Sciences / Geology courses are very good as you're probably aware but they're also very expensive due to the amount of trips they go on. Unless you can affort it with ease - I know I wouldn't have - you're going to struggle or miss out.

Hey mate,

Yeh they do give you the chance to swap courses, a few people did it last year. I think I might do what you've said, and have a look into other lectures when I'm there. That way I can see what this new course I'm starting is like and what the science ones are like.

I struggled to afford last year, so any extra costs on top are going to be a struggle

The plus side is, I'm only going to be doing 4 modules out of 6 on this course I'm set to start this September as I did them last year. I'll have plenty of spare time to do other things I'm interested in so it might work out ok.

I just don't know what I want to do with myself, most of my friends have got a career in mind they're aiming for .

 

[r2d2]

I'm in the same boat mate :/

My heart says Maths but my head says...where do I go with maths? It'd be from a top uni, potentially Oxbridge, if not somewhere in the top 10 in the country but still...what does that get me other than "be a maths teacher"....

Like everybody else has said a good Maths degree from a top ten institution will get you far mate.

 

[Haircut]

To all who replied to me, cheers.

I see finance as a sort of "aim" but I always think wouldn't it be better to do something like economics to head into that or is pure maths more respected even if you arn't directly trained for it?

Uni choices are hell. I will probably apply for Oxford as my top choice but don't really expect to get in (Cambridge requires STEP and if I mess up that one optional exam I lose one of my 5 places). Leicester is fairly high on my list due to it doing very well as of late in maths courses, but I worry that it's not a super highly "respected" uni compared to places like Warwick, Durham (which it beat, supposedly) and OxBridge...

To be honest I wouldn't worry too much about it, I did mathematical physics (now working as a software developer so that's one possible career option for you!) I already had offers from Birmingham, Bristol, Sheffield and Durham (I messed up my chances of Cambridge when I got lost on campus and missed half my maths test ) when I went to visit the campus at Nottingham.

I thought that the campus was great and ended up going there. Maybe one of my other choices might have been more prestigious but at no point have I ever felt it hindered me, even after screwing about for 3 years and ending up with a 2.2.
I've spent my career working for large blue chips, including investment banking and oil sectors.

Your degree is mostly a stepping stone - it will get you into your first job and from then on it's about the experience and even for graduate schemes I can't imagine many companies will be overly bothered if your degree is from Leicester rather than Warwick.

 

[RandomTom]

Like everybody else has said a good Maths degree from a top ten institution will get you far mate.

As long as you've got a personality and can fend for yourself in a job to go with it

But that's true for everyone, you can't be a genius but have no social skills and expect to excel (unless you start something up). It's a social culture.

 

[craptakular]

Hi all,

I've just finished my first year of Digital Art and Technology at Plymouth, and I didn't really enjoy it. I'm set to start Web Applications and Programing at Plymouth this September.

I've been thinking over the summer and I'm not sure If I really want to get into IT. I'm not that interested in the course, and it's going to be another four years on top of the one I've already done. I'm going to be coming out with close to £30k of debt

I'm interested in science related courses like Geology and a few of the Ocean Science courses Plymouth offer, but I'm not sure if the reality is going to be as fun as I'm thinking. I don't even know If I can get onto a science subject with my IT Btec.

Can anyone offer any advice, or has anyone done similar courses?

I did a Geology degree, you could work within oil and gas, environmental protection, Wind farm development, minining, hydrogeology, hydrology, environmental engineering.

Loads of career paths.

I joined the environment agency after uni and hated it, after 4 years I resigned and am going to train as a primary teacher this year. Go figure

 

[benjo]

I've had some more thought on this, and I'm fairly sure I don't want to do the course I'm set to do this September.

Can people that have done Geology/Geography etc give me a bit more information about what's involved in it? I've been reading up on the courses on the Plymouth Uni prospectus but I think it's going to be glossed over and made to look interesting

 

[Nix]

I've had some more thought on this, and I'm fairly sure I don't want to do the course I'm set to do this September.

Can people that have done Geology/Geography etc give me a bit more information about what's involved in it? I've been reading up on the courses on the Plymouth Uni prospectus but I think it's going to be glossed over and made to look interesting

It'll be easier if you buzz me over MSN for this man. My e-mail's in trust.

 

[Dr Jack]

My heart says Maths but my head says...where do I go with maths? It'd be from a top uni, potentially Oxbridge, if not somewhere in the top 10 in the country but still...what does that get me other than "be a maths teacher"....

Grud! What can't you do with Maths? It's about the most highly rated and thus most versatile degree you can get.

 

[benjo]

It'll be easier if you buzz me over MSN for this man. My e-mail's in trust.

It's not in your trust?

<----- My msn is over there anyway

 

[Nix]

It's not in your trust?

Evidently not. My bad. I've saved you the leg-work.

 

[Hayley-K]

I've had some more thought on this, and I'm fairly sure I don't want to do the course I'm set to do this September.

Can people that have done Geology/Geography etc give me a bit more information about what's involved in it? I've been reading up on the courses on the Plymouth Uni prospectus but I think it's going to be glossed over and made to look interesting

Hey, I graduated with a geography degree last year from BathSpa. Not the greatest uni but I imagine the subject matter would be fairly similar.

From what you have said previouly it seems you will take a more scientific route concentrating on physical geography and the first year will set you up nicely with anything you may be unsure of.

I found a lot of the subject matter really interesting but other modules can get a bit dry at times so you need to be pretty motivated and make good module choices. The field trips are a nice addition too

What I would say is the degree is very well rounded you will have experience the sciences, technology (GIS) and more sociological issues. A friend was even able to do his dissertation on the imagined communites created in MMO's

I think when you come out you need to have a clear idea of where you want to go with it, or you may struggle to find a suitable career. I have just finished a Geography PGCE but obviously teaching is not for everyone. The majority of peopel I know have gone into council (planning, environmental surveying) or large business. But others back to retail jobs they had before uni.

Hope that helps

 

[benjo]

That does indeed help

Speaking to Nix at the moment on MSN and Physical Geography does sound quite interesting to me.

My only concern is a career at the end of it. I'm not sure whether to take another course with it to concentrate the direction of the degree?

 

[Hayley-K]

I don't know how Plymouth works but in my first year I was able to choose elective modules, then in the second year you could change to a joint honours degree.

I went to uni thinking I was a physical geographer and came out a human one.... so its best to keep your options open during the first year and specialise more in the second year.

 

[Nix]

Aye. I went in with the intentions of being Physical and came out very Human.

 

[benjo]

Thanks for the comments everyone

 

[benjo]

Well I just had a phone interview/discussion with the head of science at Plymouth

I'm starting environmental science in September

 

[rsatd]

Not sure what to do at Uni

Girls.

/Thread

 

[fonzee]

nice one. what you hoping for career wise?

 

[SilverTongue]

Benjo has somebody else has pointed out Finance is a nice one to get into I started accountancy after I left Bridgwater and never looked back since wish I hadn't started the computing now and not for the reason others on the course will think.

[edit] congrats mate wish you the best of luck