What would you study?

Jimm_Scope

If you were given the option of a free undergraduate course, you didn't have to consider money or finances (including jobs after the course) and you had all the time needed to learn it. Just purely what topic you would most love to do at university. 

What would you go for?

Personally, I'm struggling between picking archaeology (digging up old stuff is so cool!) and international law. I know many people find law boring, but I think it'd be so interesting to learn it all.

If push came to shove... archaeology. 

66Mustang

Philosophy.

In fact I do intend to study it in the future. I am presently doing the A level (for the second time) but want to go to a university and do it as a degree in the future.

I really agree with studying a subject that you enjoy. I initially chose maths, along with economics and some other subjects like law and business, but realised I really wasn't enjoying it all and was doing it for the job prospects. I switched to philosophy and am finding it enjoyable and am also doing quite well too, better than I was doing with the other subjects.

No I won't walk into a £100,000 job once I graduate but I think whatever job I do get will be a much nicer working environment and I will also feel more fulfilled in doing it. I still have all my knowledge about money/investment/tax/pensions etc. which will (and already has) be put to use for my (and my family's) benefit but don't intend to enter that world on a professional basis as it is very cutthroat/backstabby and not a healthy place for someone like me.

Jimm_Scope

Somehow I hadn't even considered philosophy!!

That's higher than law for me now that you've brought it back to my attention  I recently started reading about Socrates, Plato, Descartes, Locke as a few examples, but I've barely touched, never mind scratched, the surface.

I do think these days a degree can be so necessary for certain high-paying jobs that the financial factor really plays into decisions. It's why I was trying to remove that factor to get what subjects people are really interested in.

C_J

Like @Jimm_Scope I would love to study archaeology I find things like that and history so interesting. The thought of uncovering something that hasn't seen the light of day for so many years and the thought that the last person that touched or held the item lived so long ago and being a person that get the privilege of laying eyes on the items you find for the first time wow it would be great.

66Mustang

Out of curiosity what is it that you like about archaeology? I am wondering because there is a subject called Classics that sort of combines archaeology with philosophy and law as well. In a way, anyway!! It involves learning about Greek and Latin philosophy, law, culture etc. You might find that interesting?

Jimm_Scope

Sort of like what @C_J said, the idea of finding something that nobody has seen or touched in centuries. While I like all archaeology what I really love is the archaeology that focuses on what regular day to day living was like. This can often be much harder to find out, because only the rich or powerful kept records or handed down expensive items that were kept in good condition. 

66Mustang

Yeah that's very true. I vaguely remember a few years ago some graffiti in Pompeii was discovered that said something along the lines of an obscene word and then the name of whoever was in charge. Basically the equivalent to a graffiti we may have today saying "f__k the Tories". I sort of had the impression that everyone from history was well spoken and polite...but like you say we only really see artefacts from a certain type of person i.e. educated and/or privileged. That brought to mind for me the fact that "normal" people in history were not so different to a lot of people today!!!

C_J

I have to agree with what @Jimm_Scope said learning what life was like back then. I find the documentaries on TV really interesting where they uncover Roman roads what's left of buildings or a village from the past I'm often watching things like that.

WelshBlue

Psychology.  Mainly to understand myself as much as the professionals seem to do.

The mind is a wonderful thing, working correctly - brilliant ... not firing on all cylinders and it's such a negative thing with a huge impact.

I owe my life to Psychologists, so would be good to see how they got me to where I'm at  

durhamjaide2001

Definitely social work in children's services because I didn't have a good experience with social work I used to be promised things I didn't get, have my social work change all the time and have social workers who were either late or not turn up for appointments and because of this I want to change this if I become a social  worker