Yup- that’s right! I picked Liberal Arts because I was unsure of exactly what I wanted to study at university, and I haven’t regretted it for a second.
I distinctly remember the daunting thought of deciding on a degree and having no idea what I wanted to study. I knew that the majority of my peers had a path mapped out. For many people, it was extremely clear and obvious what the next step was. However, I had no idea what I wanted to study next and I remember it feeling extremely stressful.
My A-Levels…
My A-Levels were English Literature, Spanish and Psychology. I didn’t enjoy psychology but knew that I loved English and Spanish. I didn’t want to drop either subject or study them as joint honours because that felt restrictive when I could see so much overlap. I knew that I liked the interdisciplinary approach to studying both English and Spanish. I loved learning the context and politics involved in the texts that I encountered in English, and similarly, in Spanish, I was exposed to everything from politics to history to geography to culture to tradition. Furthermore, I hated dropping so many subjects for A-Level and I missed studying history, politics and languages. I was truly stuck!
Interdisciplinary and flexible…
And then it happened! I met someone who was studying for a liberal arts and sciences degree. As I began asking them about the structure of their degree and the interdisciplinary nature of the course, something clicked. Could I study just liberal arts? Immediately, I opened my browser and searched for ‘Liberal Arts Degree’. Sure enough, the first result read ‘KCL Liberal Arts BA’. I clicked on the result and within minutes I was sold. Everything suddenly began to fit into place. I didn’t need to study joint honours, I could study a degree that would allow me the flexibility to explore and tailor my studies to my interests and that would also encourage me to think critically about the world.
Falling in love with London…
Now I knew that I liked the course at KCL but I wasn’t set on London. I distinctly remember telling my parents that I would NEVER consider London as an option for uni. But I was persuaded to go and visit as a point of comparison. Well, of course, I was completely sold and fell in love with the campus. I was struck by the Strand campus being in such a central location and how amazing it was looking onto the Thames during the open day. The staff and ambassadors seemed so welcoming and friendly and seemed genuinely happy. Everyone had time for questions and was able to share their experiences. I learnt so much about the structure and opportunities involved in the course.
Experimenting…
Before I knew it, I had found my course and I knew where I wanted to study. It took me a while but I am grateful that I didn’t settle for a course that didn’t feel right or that would have restricted any flexibility in my studies. I am also thankful that King’s allows students to experiment and try new things. Other courses that I had explored were set on making students choose a major within the first term or before they had even started the course. I am grateful because, without that time to experiment, I wouldn’t be where I am today- a history major. Who’d have thought?
It’s okay if you don’t know what you want to study…
So that’s how I got here. I am currently writing my dissertation on the rights of women in the 20th century. I am a history major, and a student ambassador and I have been able to study modules on topics that I could have never even conceived. I would also never have expected that I would now be thinking of studying history at a postgraduate level. Looking back, I think I would tell my younger self, that it’s okay that you don’t know what you want to study because Liberal Arts will give you the chance to work that out as well provide you with a whole new outlook on the world.
By Rachel Wyss, Liberal Arts BA.
For more information on our Liberal Arts BA, click here.
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