by Alex
When I first embarked on my journey to becoming a Law/Creative Industries student, I thought I would be one of the few with a hybrid degree. On my first day I realised that I had completely underestimated how many others were in the same boat as me.
After three years in uni, it seems that everyone is a double degree student nowadays. I mean, it's almost impossible to meet someone new on campus who isn't studying in two different areas. The single degree student is a dying breed. Okay, that may be too strong. Single degree students are like unicorns.
So, when I do come across this mythical creature who is a straight law student, I usually applaud them and ask them how they survive because I can barely make it through two law subjects, let alone four.
When I first embarked on my journey to becoming a Law/Creative Industries student, I thought I would be one of the few with a hybrid degree. On my first day I realised that I had completely underestimated how many others were in the same boat as me.
After three years in uni, it seems that everyone is a double degree student nowadays. I mean, it's almost impossible to meet someone new on campus who isn't studying in two different areas. The single degree student is a dying breed. Okay, that may be too strong. Single degree students are like unicorns.
So, when I do come across this mythical creature who is a straight law student, I usually applaud them and ask them how they survive because I can barely make it through two law subjects, let alone four.
Here are just a few tips from what I've learnt from being a double degree student:
1. Expect to meet distinctly different types of people
When I attended my first creative industries tutorial, I made a ton of friends. We all bonded over our favourite TV shows, immediately became Facebook friends, and hugged goodbye. However, when I went to my law tutorial, it was as thought I had entered a completely different universe. No-one made direct eye contact. Nobody learnt each others' names. When I did talk to people, they didn't even say goodbye when they left. Of course, this is a generalisation but you catch my drift. You cannot expect everyone in every faculty to be the same.
2. Suss out what's hot and what's not
For example, in law it's cool to wear suits. In CI, not so much. In CI, you can be crazily expressive and different. In law, it's weird if you don't have an IV filled with coffee dripping into your arm.
If you want to avoid making a faux pas, do your social homework because it'll help you relate to your fellow classmates better.
3. Compartmentalise
When I switch between law and CI, it's sometimes a case of 'old habits die hard. ' Try and keep a style guide --that is, a guide on writing techniques--for each subject. Overarching skills like time management and note preparation are key to all subjects and are great use in any subject. But referencing styles, assignment formatting, and presentation styles are generally unique to each faculty, so remember to differentiate between what suits each area.
4. Take PRIDE!
Enjoy being a double degree student :) You're lucky to have the best of both worlds. It may be hard and confusing sometimes but you will have a fuller and enriching experience at university.
1. Expect to meet distinctly different types of people
When I attended my first creative industries tutorial, I made a ton of friends. We all bonded over our favourite TV shows, immediately became Facebook friends, and hugged goodbye. However, when I went to my law tutorial, it was as thought I had entered a completely different universe. No-one made direct eye contact. Nobody learnt each others' names. When I did talk to people, they didn't even say goodbye when they left. Of course, this is a generalisation but you catch my drift. You cannot expect everyone in every faculty to be the same.
2. Suss out what's hot and what's not
For example, in law it's cool to wear suits. In CI, not so much. In CI, you can be crazily expressive and different. In law, it's weird if you don't have an IV filled with coffee dripping into your arm.
If you want to avoid making a faux pas, do your social homework because it'll help you relate to your fellow classmates better.
3. Compartmentalise
When I switch between law and CI, it's sometimes a case of 'old habits die hard. ' Try and keep a style guide --that is, a guide on writing techniques--for each subject. Overarching skills like time management and note preparation are key to all subjects and are great use in any subject. But referencing styles, assignment formatting, and presentation styles are generally unique to each faculty, so remember to differentiate between what suits each area.
4. Take PRIDE!
Enjoy being a double degree student :) You're lucky to have the best of both worlds. It may be hard and confusing sometimes but you will have a fuller and enriching experience at university.