University question

[frugiedh]

Okay, my son is checking out university options. I mentioned to someone who had gone to university that he was considering taking a "communications" course at Laurier and possibly at least partly in french since he will have his french immersion certificate from high school. Anyways, this person said that it would be a useless degree and suggested that he instead do a history degree. He is good at history, languages, english, etc.
Does anyone have an opinion about this to give me some insight into this course? It looked interesting and we thought would give him a broader base of education to perhaps work in a government position.

[eqsania]

Communications would be basically for doing PR work, so there could be a number of possibilities there. As for history, here is an article with possible careers.

http://www.historians.org/pubs/Free/careers/Index.htm

If he's fluent in French and English, he could try for an interpreting career, there is always need for French-English.

[frugiedh]

Thanks for that info! We had a look. May look into the liberal arts major?? Will keep looking.

[Boo Radley]

Ooops sorry frugiedh I didn't see your question until now.

Unfortunetely I don't know much about these degrees.

But why Laurier? Unless he intentionally wants to go to Waterloo, I'd find a better city cuz Waterloo is very dull imho.

[cdnbabybubba]

I don't know much about the communications course but my husband has his honours specialist course in history so if you or your son has any questions I can ask him. Oh and he went to York Univ.

What does your son want to do after University though? I think that is the bigger question then what course to take.

[Fractalic]

Communications looks like a really interesting degree, I know someone doing it and the readings looks awesome...
It's the possibilities of work after that are sort of limited... I think it's like PR, journalism, writing political speech... but it's all jobs that are not needing a lot of people so you have to be real good and sort of lucky to find a job in your domain...

[apeiro]

I think communications is a more versatile degree than History. It can be applied to many more employment options. It's "useless" if you expect people are going to be offering jobs right after graduation. But apparently if you apply to companies looking for someone with a B.A, communications is useful and preferred over something like history. Because communications deals more with current subjects and involves more practical skills than history. History teaches you how to research and document well, but there are very few options to actually use your history knowledge base, if you're not into becoming a teach. I'm basing this on knowing people with communication and history degrees, I haven't studied them myself. I would say my degree choice of physical anthropology/archeology is even more useless...LOL
But a basic B.A is kind of useless in general... it always makes sense to at least attempt some graduate work after your undergraduate if you want to stand a chance in your field.

[pointofnoreturn]

My sister did communications at UOttawa and she hated it even though she was planning to do something in media and film. The first year are filler courses - you need to take stuff like philosophy, etc. It's really only your 3rd and 4th year that you specialize in the courses (i.e. film, etc). Not to mention, the popular courses are usually the ones that are limited in terms of class size.

She was in French immersion in high school as well so that's why she went to UOttawa - since it was a good school and a bilingual school one at that.

I'm not sure.... I think the problem with a degree that's so broad.... sometimes you end up not knowing what to do with it.

[frugiedh]

omg... the above post makes me feel sick. This is another course that my son has himself sold on... I can't believe that your sister "hated it". The French Immersion part seemed like such a good idea?!?!? Do you know WHY she hated it and what she is doing now with her degree?

I don't understand what this decision of "where to go" should be based on?!?!?! I look at my son at 17 making this decision that is going to cost thousands of dollars and it just does not seem right to just "pick" something and go!

It feels like there should be so much more involved in making a decision like this. My opinion is that if he goes next year at 18, there is a 50/50 chance of success in what he picks and how he performs in it and I don't like those odds. I think he should wait a year and investigate some job shadowing, work at a job that involves discipline and a certain performance level and talk to other people about his options. I feel like there are so many things to consider.

Reading a book now called "What's Wrong with University" and it is so interesting but now I"m even more confused!!!!

[fierce_angel_6000]

What one person might "hate", another might love. Even though pointofnoreturn's sister hated her experience, that does not necessarily mean that your son will.

Besides, if he later on feels that he does not enjoy his program, switching to a different program is easy (as most first-years take very similar courses).

About "where to go", for some employers, certainly the name of the university is an appealing factor when looking to hire graduates. An engineering degree from the University of Toronto does look better than one from, say, Brock University. BUT he should not have to worry about university names unless he's taking his Masters/Ph.D. Even still, a lesser known university can produce a more qualified graduate, than a well-known university. If the budget allows, send him to an university that is known for their excellent communications program (pay for the name). If not, make sure to send him to a good university, and he will do equally fine.

Most importantly, make sure that your son is studying something that he enjoys (even remotely). It's very difficult spending 4/5 years in university, studying something you hate.

[fierce_angel_6000]

Sorry for the wordiness. I think my English is going down-hill.

[frugiedh]

Thank you fierce_angel_6000 and everyone else!! All very valid points! I need all the help I can get and yes, ultimately it is his decision but I always like to make as informed a decision as I can. I did not go to university, just college, so it is even more difficult for me to understand all of this. I had not thought of the fact that some universitys are known for specific programs.

I do agree that he needs to study something he likes. I have heard this over and over. I guess linking 'what he likes' and the ultimate goal at the end of it all is the key. I have read that many students do post-graduate education as well so will keep that in mind.

[ketchudj]

1) No one can ever take a degree from you, having one opens a lot of doors, so make sure he finished what he starts with some sort of degree. No ever says "I wish I had never gotten my university degree"
2) 80% of students change their mind once they get into university, it is part of the university experience. Try your best to find the best program for him bearing this in mind.

[bug]

To be honest, the jobs some people end up getting have little to do with their actual university degrees. Especially when it comes to general B.A. and even B.Sc. Unlike professional programs like Nursing, Business, and Engineering. If he is even thinking about teaching, he might want to consider a degree that qualifies as a "teachable".

In that way, university is a bit different from college which I think does a better job at preparing you for a specific field/job. Some entry-level jobs are fairly general in their degree requirements. Sometimes even just a 4 yr university degree will do. My friend has a B.Sc in Biology and she works in publishing now.

French and English language skills are definitely an asset though. Lots of people come out with history degrees. Is communications a little more specialized and less popular? I can see many jobs accepting both degrees.

[matrix82]

I graduated two years ago and I would strongly encourage your son to keep with the french and become bilingual. It opens up so many other doors. I had only wished that someone had told me to become bilingual.

I would also encourage him to try to learn some other languages as well. CSIS is always looking for new recruits with language skills. With a BA if you had language skills you can look into the RCMP, which can require bilingualism, I would say a BA or even a BSc is a stepping stone to another degree. To be on a career path right away community college is the way to go, the trades are really looking for people. Your son could also look into a B.ED, in which he would spend 5 years and come out with his BA and his teaching degree, UNB offers that. A friend of mine did that and she taught for a year in an isolated area making enough money to pay a chunk of her student loans back and she is now working on her Masters of History.

The combined degree's like that are fantastic, its a little heavier courseload but in the end you save at least a year or more in training.