Jeannie Warmington
Course: BA History
Graduated: 2008/09 Academic Year
Destination approx. 6 months after graduation: MA History of Medicine; Aberystwyth University
Background
When I was in school I had a really good history teacher who gave me a real passion for the subject and, because I enjoyed it at school, I was encouraged to do it at university too. I’d also done some work experience in a museum and I knew that in order to get a good job in a museum that I would have to get a history degree first.
I really liked Aberystwyth because it was near to the seaside. The course was also really good here and I liked the feel of the campus in general.
Where are you now?
I am now studying for an MA in History of Medicine here in Aberystwyth. My course involves one to one teaching in seminars on an introduction to the history of nineteenth century medicine and the science of medicine and how it relates to Victorian cultures. I really enjoy the one to one seminars as they are much more in depth than undergraduate seminars and it’s a really interesting subject area with lots of freedom to explore areas that are of particular interest to me.
How did you get there?
Being an undergraduate at Aberystwyth University made getting onto the Masters course easier for me. The staff were great and helped with my application, which I did online. Once I’d done this I was offered the place.
Academically the undergraduate degree has been really beneficial to me as it is a subject area that I want to ultimately work in. The staff in the History Department were all really friendly and approachable and if you needed any help you could e-mail them and they’d reply promptly or you could always just drop in and they would be more than happy to help.
During my first degree I was a member of the History Society which was very beneficial; you are submerged into an environment of challenging learning and you get to make contacts which is very important.
Where are you going?
In the future I really want to work in a museum and, as I have done work experience in a museum, I know what it involves and really enjoy it; I knew I needed a Masters to work in a museum so this is why I have done it. Once I complete my Masters I hope to do some work experience to help my career prospects. There is a really good history of medicine museum in Worcester that I’d like to work at but to begin with I hope to work in a local museum.
What advice would you give to a student doing your subject at university now?
My advice to a student doing History at uni now is to make the most of the first year because from then on it gets much harder. If you put lots of effort in it will pay off. If you need help go to the lecturers, that’s what they are there for and they are always helpful and welcoming.