Need Help Picking my University Course (UK)
I hate these kinds of posts, especially when they're this lengthy, but I really need a bit of help because I've been struggling to decide what to do for quite a few weeks now. The only way I can get this help is by going into detail since I feel like my situation is kind of unique, so apologies if I ramble a lot. To help, I've highlighted all the stuff that you need to read.
**
**Anyways, to the point. Whilst I'm not dead set on going into IB, I'd really like to keep my options open. I'm choosing between 3 courses - two at UCL, one at Edinburgh. I'll also apply to LSE for the same course I'm applying to at Edinburgh but I highly doubt that I'll get in. I've listed the courses below with some advantages and disadvantages to each course that I'd encourage you to read, but if you can't be arsed I get it lol.
UCL BA History: The breadth of study in this course sounds amazing, it is a target university and I absolutely love London. For most people this would be the natural choice. For me though I'm not sure. The main issue is that I got a 6 (B) in GCSE maths and I decided not to study it at A level. If I study History even though its a target university I will have no opportunity to demonstrate any maths skills and I worry that this might outweigh the whole target thing. Now you might be wondering why I'm considering IB since it seems like I didn't enjoy maths? I have no problem with maths, I just didn't try as hard as I should have and I was warned against taking it at A level since I got a 6 even though I was considering it but I sorely regret that now as I would have done fine.
UCL BA History, Politics, and Economics: I think this is objectively the best course to be able to keep my options open since its a target university and I can work on my maths, but I think I'm scared I'd enjoy the content the least amount of all the courses. Chances are I'd still enjoy it quite a lot, but is it worth the risk? I'm more certain that I'd enjoy the other courses. I'm a little scared of the maths because people have warned me about taking economics at university without an A level in maths. However, it isn't required for the course and you only need a 5 in GCSE maths. When I visited, one of the students said that around 40% of the people who they take on don't have A level maths. I'm also worried that since the course focuses on Eastern Europe for a lot of the modules (aside from the economic theory) it might get boring after a while. I am half Bosnian so I take great interest in the Balkans but studying that for 3 years might get a little drab, but I will get to take modules from other departments too so I can have a break. If this course is far better than the others, then I'd be willing to take the risk I think. I don't want any 'what-ifs' in the future.
Edinburgh MA Economic History: So out of all the courses this is the one that interests me the most in terms of course content. And the content is perfect really since I don't have a background in maths, as I will have to do calculus, probability etc, and I can do even more if I want to. Still, the maths should be fine for me (theres not even a GCSE maths requirement for the course! I'd guess you'd struggle without it tho). The point is that it seems like it would prepare me very nicely for the kind of maths I'd be doing in an Investment Bank, but I could be wrong. However, I have some reservations. First of all, paradoxically, the course. I feel as though banks might not see it as the kind of financial/technical course that they'd expect from a semi target university, even though in a way it is. I feel like they might just see it as a History course being totally oblivious to the mathematical content and the stuff I'll passively learn about investment banks during the course. The fact that I had to explain that theres was maths in this course says it all really. Then again, Amber Rudd the Ex-Conservative MP did History at Edinburgh and worked at JPMorgan, but she had rich parents and I do not. I think it might be a lot harder to network in Edinburgh since everyone is in London. Its not like I can just casually take a trip to London to have a 15 minute chat with someone over coffee. It's also semi target which means that if I'm not dead set on IB then it would be so easy for me to fall behind the competition. Finally Edinburgh seems kinda boring compared to London as a city, but it's fine really.
Sorry for the horrendously lengthy post. Any help is much appreciated. Thanks!
Just do whatever interest you, and do it well, and your options will be open.
Uni matters, course doesn’t. LSE>UCL>Edin. Apply to a course where you think you have the most chances of getting in, and where you’ll do well. I don’t recommend applying to 2 courses at the same university, it’s better to apply to other unis with your 5 choices. Other schools you may want to look into that are strong for IB are Bath, Bristol, Exeter, Kings, Nottingham, Warwick
Would go for HPE at UCL
Frankly you go to uni to get a piece of paper and hopefully the job you want, I was more idealist when I was choosing my ugrad, but today I would say pick a field of study that interests you so that you can do well, but do not stress too much on the single courses and don't be too picky. It's better to do a couple courses you aren't 100% enthusiastic about but be in a good spot for recruiting than the opposite. Like you can study history books even at 30 if it still interests you, but once you missed the IB train, it's not that easy to get another shot. Also:
you will find many courses to be very different than what you expected
You forget 70% of what you studied at uni after 2 years
You can study whatever interests you on the side by reading books
So, this said I would strongly advice to do HPE at UCL: economics shows interest in the field, gives you the grounding in the subject and looks more mathematical on paper, history is for fun since it seems to be what you like the most and maybe politics sounds boring but I guess since there are 3 majors and there are also optional modules it won't be too much stuff. History at LSE would probably be better and it's not a super competitive course like straight econ, so I would apply there too. Also, don't banks have some requirements for A level maths?
This is some quite solid advice I think. Sadly I don't have the grades for straight History at LSE so I'm applying for Economic History which is better for me anyways really. Are you sure banks require a level maths tho? If you went to oxford to study PPE w/o a level maths surely you'd still be able to go into investment banking right? I don't know shit tho tbf
banks don't care as long as you are numerate - ie fine with numbers, can you do multiplications/divisons/percentages increases easily in your head, if yes you are good enough.
Temporibus aut dolores deleniti eos qui eligendi cumque. Aut ipsa inventore molestiae corporis blanditiis.
Iste et quos magni. At odio laboriosam quibusdam accusamus ut accusamus tempora. Hic et et rerum delectus voluptate. Sit eum sit fuga sint nam.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...