Sociology BA
In most of my lectures I am hanging on to every word, you can feel the lecturer’s enthusiasm for their subject.
Student ambassadors from the University came to my school and spent a lot of time with us encouraging us to apply to university. It was helpful because I am the first in my family to go to university. I came to an Open Day and loved it – I remember walking into Woolf lecture theatre and being very impressed, it was a sunny day and the campus looked lovely.
I had enjoyed it at GCSE and A level. I am very interested in people and increasing my understanding of why we behave the way we do and sociology helps with that. I see sociology as not just a subject, but as a way of seeing the world through a different lens.
In my first year, I liked studying the sociology ‘classics’ because my interest in those theories is what brought me here in the first place. Getting to grips with them at a deeper level and being taught by a professor who is well known and respected has been a highlight.
Currently, I am doing a module called Modern Chinese Societies. It focuses on comparing life in China to our own experiences. I have learnt so much and it has really broadened my horizons. I am writing an essay comparing our welfare state to the situation in China; it’s fascinating.
When I speak to my friends, we all agree university is challenging but also that it is good to be in that kind of environment – you wouldn’t get the same level of gratification if it was easy.
In most of my lectures I am hanging on to every word, you can feel the lecturer’s enthusiasm for their subject. One of my favourite things about Kent is that our lecturers enjoy being challenged, they encourage it, they want to know what you think. The academic staff all have office hours if you need to talk to them or you can just email. They provide extensive feedback on essays, which is invaluable in helping you to improve.
I enjoy seminars, discussing an issue helps to fix it in your head.
I used to lack confidence but when I came to Kent I was placed in a house with a politics student and a law student and I had to learn to hold my ground in an argument – it’s made me quite articulate! I enjoy the freedom you have at university to discuss all subjects with people from different backgrounds, we learn a lot from each other.
I did, it is a great experience and although you have independence there is help if you need it and it is easy to take advantage of all the campus has to offer. I have made friends for life and they are an excellent support structure.
The library is amazing and there are a huge amount of online resources so that you can get the information whenever you want to. All the lecture theatres I have been in are good. There is lots of support in the School, and the Student Learning Advisory Service offers great workshops and help with essay writing. Also, the Careers and Employability Service arranges lots of events.
At the moment I am thinking of two possible paths. One is to work in the finance sector, and the other, which I am leaning towards, is to continue my studies and eventually become an academic so that I can further the discipline in some way and help to boost knowledge.
I think in the future having the kind of transferable skills this degree develops will help me to fare well because I will be able to adapt to changes in the working world.
If you want to do social sciences, Kent is very good place to come. Visit the campus, if you can and speak to current students. Finally, don’t leave your essays to the last minute – it’s not worth it
