So you want to study History...

[Viggen]

...may it be the Ancient, or Medieval or Modern History!

 

My question would be, how does one choose a University?

 

What would be the important points that needs to be considered? If you had to make a list of the 5 most important things when choosing a university (for studying History), what would they be in your opinion?

 

cheers

viggen

[sonic]

...may it be the Ancient, or Medieval or Modern History!

 

My question would be, how does one choose a University?

 

What would be the important points that needs to be considered? If you had to make a list of the 5 most important things when choosing a university (for studying History), what would they be in your opinion?

 

cheers

viggen

 

1) Decide which period you want to study! It may seem obvious to anyone who's been to University, but different Departments have different specialisms. eg. When I went to University in Cardiff it was becoming known for its study of military history in the Ancient World.

 

2) Decide which period you want to study!

 

3) Once you've decided which period, look at the specialisms of the lecturers at each university. When I was looking I found that there was a lecturer at Lampeter University (in central Wales) who specialised in the Etruscans. However, I rang to ask him a few questions and found that he was leaving to go to teach at Oxford. I didn't go to Lampeter!

 

4) Look at the reputation of the University. In the UK there are a lot of new universities that have recently (ie in the last 20 years!) upgraded from colleges and Polytechnics. People from older instituitions look down on these and you need to be aware that a degree from one of these may be seen as less than one from Oxbridge!

 

5) Distance from 'home'. Do you want to create a brand new lifestyle, or commute, or go to the University in your home town? I wanted to have a brand new lifestyle so travelled a large distance to get to University from my home town. No home visits except during major holidays, no weekends at home. It forced me to adapt and become a more integrated person!!

 

6) Work out what qualifications you need to attend specific universities. For example, I didn't have the grades needed to go to Oxford or Cambridge! Strangely enough, I decided to put them out of the equation!!

 

Will that do for starters? Yes, I know there's six, but I wanted to emphasise point 1!!

Edited June 8, 2008 by sonic

[docoflove1974]

I really can't add anything else to that; it's sound advice, no matter what area you want to study.

 

There are websites which can tell you more about universities here in the US; Chronicle of Higher Education, Peterson's and others that I'm blanking on. The internet makes these searches so much easier. Oh, a good local library should have Peterson's guide in print, too.

[Melvadius]

To open out this question ot its fullest extent I would add another equation to the list which is:

 

Decide if you are able to study full time, if not look at options for part-time &/or 'remote learning' as, at least in Britain, there are several university courses being offered on a part-time basis which can often become part of a full degree.

 

To give a couple of examples:

 

The Open University - based in Britain and also available in several European countires - but not the US, has a large number of 'remote learning' courses avilable in modular format which can either be taken as full-time equivalents or else over a number of years on a part-time basis, while you work. Their History Degree is part of their Hunmanities stream but you normally have several different topics available for study. BTW I have heard of several people taking OU Degrees in preference to a 'normal' university as it can work out cheaper plus you have the added option of earning money by working along with your studies.

 

Oxford University has a Department for Continuing Education whihc offers modular Undergraduate; Certificate, Diploma and Advanced Diploma courses although I beleive they do not currently add up to a full Degree themselves they can be added to Degree courses run by other Universities.

 

The obvious disadvantage of remote study is that you probably will not get the 'full' university experience and it may be more regimented, with limited courses available for study, consequently limiting the options for anyone interested in doing their own personal projects as part of their Degree.

Edited June 8, 2008 by Melvadius

[longshotgene]

I think the bigger question is, "How far do you wish to take your work?" In the States you can pursue a degree online with the American Military University. I think the quality is good, and the studies are harder than any university I have gone to sit in. My book load for this semester is heavier than any other time in my academic career. The professors want a lot out of your work, and the expectations are high. Posting your comments online gives you a lot of time to think about your response, which I think gives you the ability to gather more information and bring more to the table. As far as professors giving your degree credibility, in the United States I feel that only exists on the Ivy League level. If I go to Notre Dame, Yale, Princeton, etc., my degree is held in higher esteem. Nowadays to just have a degree gives you a good deal of credibility. In the field of history, your personal works will go far as well. Just my thoughts.

[docoflove1974]

Posting your comments online gives you a lot of time to think about your response, which I think gives you the ability to gather more information and bring more to the table.

 

This is a big trend in both 4-year and 2-year higher education institutions, to use more technology, particularly discussion boards and/or online assignments, in order to enhance the learning experience. With my students, I work certain grammar or vocabulary lessons online, and it makes them work on their lessons in a thoughtful manner. When I taught literature courses, I took topics which require a fair bit of thought and expansion and made them online questions. This is increasingly common.

 

As far as professors giving your degree credibility, in the United States I feel that only exists on the Ivy League level. If I go to Notre Dame, Yale, Princeton, etc., my degree is held in higher esteem. Nowadays to just have a degree gives you a good deal of credibility. In the field of history, your personal works will go far as well. Just my thoughts.

 

I wholeheartedly disagree...not only because I have my PhD from a MAJOR university which happens to be public, which is in the top 5 in the country in my field...as well as my BA and MA from another public university which is again very highly regarded. Let's face it, if you go to a university which is in the top 5 or top 10 in your field, particularly for your graduate work, then it doesn't matter a lick if you went to a public or private university.

[Sinead]

That's a good question actually...

 

I've been looking at colleges to apply for next year, and I'm really really swaying to oxford. I'm in Ireland though...so it'd be extremely expensive. I can study Classic Civillization and Archaeology there. but if I stay in Ireland, I can do Ancient History and Archaeology.

 

Both require ridiculously high points though :S

[sonic]

That's a good question actually...

 

I've been looking at colleges to apply for next year, and I'm really really swaying to oxford. I'm in Ireland though...so it'd be extremely expensive. I can study Classic Civillization and Archaeology there. but if I stay in Ireland, I can do Ancient History and Archaeology.

 

Both require ridiculously high points though :S

 

In that case, you might like to look at other universities. For example, the Welsh universities offer a different mix of courses. This is especially the case in the first year and allows you to change tack in the second and third year.

 

For example, I applied to do Ancient and Mediaeval History. In my first year I took 'History' (476 to 1990), Archaeology (a form of 'Principles and Application') and Ancient History (Homer to the Fall of the West). At the end of my first year I could then have gone on to do any of these subjects - and in fact my personal tutor was worried in case I dropped Ancient History for Archaeology!

 

I would still say, though, that I would recommend choosing the direction that you want to go first and then base your choice of university on what YOU want to do, rather then choosing the university and taking a course that they offer in the hope that it works out and you find it interesting!

 

There's little worse than finding yourself at university, committed for three years to a course you're not really interested in! It could make all the hard work and financial sacrifice seem like a waste.

 

But then, what do I know: I'm a little old bloke whose time at Uni is long gone!!

[Sinead]

thanks for that. :-) it's a better approach than what i've been doing. finding the right course is so hard though!

 

ye have great courses in england [/end jealousy]

[guy]

Respectfully, one must first decide for what purposes one is studying history.

 

Become a High School teacher? A professor of history? An author of historical fiction? An amateur history buff?

 

Unless one is becoming a professor of history at the university level, reputation and resume mean less than one would think.

 

Personally, along with studying history, I recommend mastering some other field-engineering, mathematics, science, medicine, architecture, etc- in order to use that specialized knowledge to speak with more authority about certain aspects related to history. (Plus, there may be more job security. )

 

 

guy also known as gaius

[jesuisavectoi]

Some great points here! I think I was pretty lucking getting into my university, they're the most comprehensive for Ancient History in the state, have their own museum and have a strong connection with archaeological digs which students can participate in. Here's hoping my GPA's good enough to go on one of them!

[Honorius]

Some great points here! I think I was pretty lucking getting into my university, they're the most comprehensive for Ancient History in the state, have their own museum and have a strong connection with archaeological digs which students can participate in. Here's hoping my GPA's good enough to go on one of them!

 

Congratulations, did you get into MacQ? if you did i hate you

[jesuisavectoi]

Some great points here! I think I was pretty lucking getting into my university, they're the most comprehensive for Ancient History in the state, have their own museum and have a strong connection with archaeological digs which students can participate in. Here's hoping my GPA's good enough to go on one of them!

 

Congratulations, did you get into MacQ? if you did i hate you

Yeah MacQ. I just scraped in though! The campus is amazing. Seriously, we have a lake! If you're at another uni now you can always transfer.

[tk421]

Getting into the right university can be a challenge indeed. The above advice and suggestions can help a lot. Best not to learn those lessons in your fourth year.

[Virgil61]

If you want something more than just getting a degree for personal gratification then online degrees aren't what you want (I think that goes without saying). If you're looking forward to doing grad work or getting in the door with a job interview then reputation, reputation, reputation plays a big role I think.

 

I completely agree with docoflove1974. A degree from more than just the Ivies will get you some respect, but remember the admissions office is the real target if you want a grad school.

 

How's the public university where you live? UCLA, Berkeley, Texas, Michigan and N Carolina are some publics held in high regard. You can find a professors at hundreds of colleges and universities who got at least one of their degrees from them.

 

Smaller liberal arts colleges are great, especially if you want to position yourself for grad schools. Just remember they come with debt, debt, debt. [i think Ursus has a degree from a very well-regarded liberal arts college.]

 

I hate them but look at the USNews college listings. Everyone downplays them but everyone looks at them.

 

Besides high-school teachers and PhDs remember that a lot of students with history degrees end up in law school & as military officers. More true in the past than it is now I think, but there's still quite a few.