Arts or Science?

Chilipepper72

I'm trying to decide between doing arts, specifically philosophy and french, and science. On the one hand I want to something I'd be interested in, but on the other, I want to actually be able to get a decent job when I'm finished, so any advice on which way i should go would be really appreciated.

Scrappychimow

Chilipepper72 wrote: »

I'm trying to decide between doing arts, specifically philosophy and french, and science. On the one hand I want to something I'd be interested in, but on the other, I want to actually be able to get a decent job when I'm finished, so any advice on which way i should go would be really appreciated.

lol

Chilipepper72

cheers, a few more words of wisdom like that should clear things up for me no problem

Unregistered.

Chilipepper72 wrote: »

cheers, a few more words of wisdom...

Don't do Arts.

Eluminous

This is better discussed with family/school counsellors, rather than be swayed by the whims of forum users.
You can find info on those courses already in the forum, and the TCD site.

Jammyc

As said above its something best discussed with family/counsellors etc. but personally, I would say go with what you're interested in. If you've no interest in Science, you're less likely to actually stick it out, never mind enjoy it for the 4+ years.

Chilipepper72

family hasnt been that much help tbh and the school counsellor was absolutley useless. I originally had my heart set on psychology but i didnt get enough points, so I was thinking about doing a general degree then doing the h dip when i'm done. then again that would be four years down the line by which time I could have changed my mind completely about psychology. just to know what philosophy is like from someone studying it would be a great help in deciding what to do

SureYWouldntYa

Chilipepper72 wrote: »

family hasnt been that much help tbh and the school counsellor was absolutley useless. I originally had my heart set on psychology but i didnt get enough points, so I was thinking about doing a general degree then doing the h dip when i'm done. then again that would be four years down the line by which time I could have changed my mind completely about psychology. just to know what philosophy is like from someone studying it would be a great help in deciding what to do

this is why arts could be better. leads you in so many different directions. contrary to popular belief you can succeed with an arts degree

Chilipepper72

SureYWouldntYa wrote: »

this is why arts could be better. leads you in so many different directions. contrary to popular belief you can succeed with an arts degree

I probably didn't make myself clear when I said I could change my mind about psychology. The point I was trying to make was if I did science and after four years of college education decided doing, and paying, for another 2 years of psychology wasn't my cup of tea, then i'd still be able to get a job. If I do an arts degree and decide I don't want to continue with the h dip, well then ill be up **** creek without a paddle.

aaabbbb

You could always do psychology through science in Maynooth ? You do pure science in 1st year and then start phsyc in 2nd if you change your mind re psychology you can then opt to transfer to a BSc at the end of 2nd year

You could always choose to do arts and then choose Phsyc , French and philosophy and decide after 1st year which you would like to do.

Chilipepper72

aaabbbb wrote: »

You could always do psychology through science in Maynooth ? You do pure science in 1st year and then start phsyc in 2nd if you change your mind re psychology you can then opt to transfer to a BSc at the end of 2nd year

You could always choose to do arts and then choose Phsyc , French and philosophy and decide after 1st year which you would like to do.

Haha I like the way you think. Unfortunately I was thinking exactly the same as you are a year ago. I did the psychology through science but i dropped out after a month . I wasn't too happy doing the science but the main reason for dropping out was more due to social shtuff plus the fact that its an absolute bollocks getting out to maynooth froom where I live. The transport problem is the same for UCD so thats why I'm focusing on trinity, as its only a half hour in on the dart. This is good advice though so keep it coming, I've only got 2 and a half days to decide:eek:

TrollHammaren

If you don't think you're going to enjoy science then I wouldn't go for it as it will just drain you. I did psychology for my undergrad and I worked with quite a few people doing the H.Dip, so it's not a bad idea. Do a course you think you'll enjoy.

There's little point studying for any degree if it doesn't interest you; science is a lot of hard work and you'll make yourself miserable if you have no interest in it. Try not to pay much attention to the arts v science debate regarding jobs, you're more likely to get a job with a good arts degree in an area you enjoy studying and working than an average science degree which you have no interest in. Chances are if you go into a degree which you have no interest in you'll just end up dropping out, I've seen it happen countless times! Follow your interests and you won't go far wrong.

Jopari87

Speaking from experience, my advice would be to do whatever you think you will enjoy more. If you enjoy a subject studying it will not become a chore and you will get a better degree.

I did a degree in Business Studies rather than science, because there was apparently better job prospects for that degree when I started university in 2005. Hated it then and still hate it now and have decided to go back to study science, which I should have done in the first place.

Also job markets change. A lot of my friends did construction related courses as they expected to walk into a good job. My career guidance teacher was warning against IT as there was an apparent oversupply of people for that sector. Just goes to show what happens when you worry more about job prospects than what actually interests you.

Finally, if you are good enough, and have a bit of luck, you can get a job in any sector, irrespective of supply and demand.

RedFFWolf

Chilipepper72 wrote: »

just to know what philosophy is like from someone studying it would be a great help in deciding what to do

Heya there, I study Single Honors Philosophy. I actually had a huge post a moment ago here for you full of info regarding the subject but I accidentally hit the back button and it's all gone now :mad:

So, I'm just going to try sum it up all nice and shortly now.
I'm going into my fourth year in September and I couldn't imagine being in a better course than what I am in now.

The skills of critical analysis are priceless. Whether in deep argument or to yourself examining or considering something, you may begin to perceive many mundane aspects of the world in a different way. Think twice about having bona fide free will for example !
If anything, I have yet to "lose" an argument with anyone

If you think deeply about any kind of issue at all, then you may enjoy this course very much so, which primarily encourages engagement with issues. Every thing you study will in a way stem into some other field in some way. Overall, philosophy is just questioning; it is examining and trying to discern truth. For example, ethics deals in areas of psychology and sociology without having to get technical or getting into the particular jargon. Psychoanalysis, (which I did in first year but sadly the lecturer has retired and there is no one to teach it now), is quite psychological. Political philosophy is another good example of a module that could easily belong to another course that would not have the title "philosophy" in it.
It's just that philosophy has no unique method like science, (although just to be philosophical here, there are attempts to try construe a proper approach to philosophical enquiry). Some questions that you may deal with in philosophy would be God's existence, free will, the ideal government, the nature of reality, what makes art, questions of knowledge, logic, space, time and so much more!

If you're worried about job prospects, don't be. With the critical analyses skills, the openness to new ideas and dealing with issues and arguments at deep levels are of interest to many employers. Have a look at this article or this one for example if that helps. As a specialist subject, philosophy really only entails teaching it or writing, but they are very comfortable positions I hear. Seeing as you wish to study TSM, in particular French, studying a European language certainly opens the door to many job opportunities at home or abroad.

I hope this helps a bit, but it probably doesn't - philosophy should have me thinking more clearly, but my mind is thinking faster than I type so there's a lot of stuff I'm trying to condense while stopping halfway in sentences and coming back later to finish it (after writing on a different paragraph) .

Keep it with your TSM of course if you have the interest enough in it, SHP is nothing but philosophy after all!! It's a little daunting at first as some lecturers dive right in and some of their vocabulary blows the secondary teachers out of the water, but the department is great and the tutorials can be extremely helpful. After a while you find your feet and it becomes much easier to know where you are in the madness!

Please, any more questions you have about philosophy, I am happy to answer

andrew

If you don't like science, then not only will you dislike your 4 years of college, you'll hate your job too. So basically, you'll hate your entire life. Do an arts degree and get involved in societies to make up for the lack of practical experience, and you won't really be at much of a disadvantage from a jobs POV.

Lisandro

andrew wrote: »

If you don't like science, then not only will you dislike your 4 years of college, you'll hate your job too. So basically, you'll hate your entire life. Do an arts degree and get involved in societies to make up for the lack of practical experience, and you won't really be at much of a disadvantage from a jobs POV.

Yes, particularly with science, liking what you study is more important than you think in terms of things like motivation and application. A lot of my (arts studying) friends say they've no idea how I'm able to put up with the degree I study, but the reality is that you don't mind putting in the work if you think it's worth your while.

If you haven't decided that your long term future lies in a particular line of work, then what you choose to study now is really quite arbitrary.