On Tuesday, alumnus Hishaam popped in to see us.
Hishaam is currently doing a Masters in Continental Philosophy at the University of Warwick and is then aiming to move on to a Law conversion course in London.
Hishaam is on the top right of the above photo; this picture was taken after Warwick Bears won the BUCS Ultimate Frisbee first division regional championships for the first time.
Hishaam explained the flexibility in the module structure of his undergraduate degree in PPE (Politics, Philosophy and Economics): depending upon the modules chosen, students can finish with a BA or a BSc – Hishaam finished with a BSc because across his second and third years he selected more economics modules than philosophy modules (Hishaam opted to drop politics at the end of his first year and told us that all students are given the opportunity to drop one of the three PPE branches at the end of first year). Hishaam also explained that students are expected to cover a combination of all three subjects in their final year.
Hishaam stressed the need to join as many societies and/or sports as possible to meet new people in Term 1 of Year 1, and the need to start looking to secure accommodation before the end of the first term for the next academic year.
Hishaam also spoke to us of his participation in the under 20s GB Ultimate Frisbee training team in preparation for the 2021 World Championships, his love of Jeu de Paume (real tennis) and the huge range of activities available.
Finally, Hishaam offered a few words of wisdom: “You don’t need to know the specific field of your career when you apply to university… pick something that could lead you in that direction.”
Having taught Hishaam Spanish as early as Year 8 and all the way through to A level, it was a real joy to catch up with him and to learn of his success.
Name: Hishaam
Date of graduation: July 2021
A levels: Mathematics, Spanish, English Literature
University: The University of Warwick
Course details: PPE (Politics, Philosophy and Economics). Graduated with a BSc in Economics with Philosophy.
How did you decide on your university or career?
Quite honestly, I picked PPE (Politics, Philosophy and Economics) precisely because I didn’t know what I wanted to do in my career. Students (usually) either fall in the maths-y or literary box, but I knew that I liked both. So I picked an interdisciplinary course that would allow me to use both my quantitative and literary skills. Why Warwick? FIRSTLY because Warwick’s PPE course is one of the strongest in the UK, with Warwick’s Economics and Philosophy departments being particularly highly regarded. Secondly, student life. Older friends of mine had told me of the quality of life at Warwick (cute towns such as Leamington Spa, the countryside, close access to Birmingham Airport) and having spent nearly four years there I can only say the same!
What’s the most unexpected thing you’ve learned in your career/during university so far?
EVERYONE IS IN THE SAME BOAT: no one knows anyone; everyone now has to make their own timetable and is responsible for showing up to lectures; the vast majority of students have never studied first year material (indeed, the point of first year at university is to get everyone in the same boat).
What’s one piece of advice you would give to your younger self?
You don’t need to know now what you want to do later. It sounds almost clichéd, but it’s really important to have this in mind. Often, the postcard you write yourself when you’re fifteen is “expired” when you’re 25 because you’re a different person and have different interests. In other words, it’s a hidden stroke of luck to only know later in life what you want to do, because you’ll be sure then that what you’re currently interested in aligns with who you are at that moment.
Are there any skills or experiences you think are essential for success in your field?
Diligence and flexibility of mind. PPE is a challenging degree, both in terms of workload and the different ways of thinking that students are required to switch between throughout the course.
Are there any skills or experiences you think are essential for success in your field?
Diligence and flexibility of mind. PPE is a challenging degree, both in terms of workload and the different ways of thinking that students are required to switch between throughout the course. To be sure, most universities that offer PPE allow you to drop one of the three branches at the end of first year. But at any rate, if you want to succeed, you’re going to have to be confident in your ability to perform well in at least two disciplines. As a PPE student, what this means is that you’re going to be marked alongside students who study politics, philosophy or economics full time.
What factors should students consider when choosing a university or career path?
You should ask yourself: Given what I’ve heard of the course from friends and/or the university website, does it sound like a course that I would enjoy? The UK is great at allowing you to pursue your interests all the while closing little to few doors along the way—where law is concerned, more than half of UK solicitors didn’t study law at undergraduate level! I’m always reminded of Mr Shepherd (yes from our school) who told me years ago that he did his undergraduate degree in landscaping! That didn’t stop him from being a great maths teacher.
What is the most enjoyable part of your chosen pathway?
Being able to explore a range of interests. I loved being able to jump to an economics assignments once I had spent the day doing philosophy. Your mind can catch a breath (though you’re still working) because it’s being stimulated in a different way and is busy answering different problems that require different ways of thinking.
What did you do to build your profile whilst at the BSP?
I made sure to undertake a range of activities such as music and sports, and showed in my personal statement that I had read (or read about) authors that were relevant to my course. Try as best you can to present yourself as an interesting and well-rounded individual.
What job would you like to do in the future and why?
I’m not quite sure what job I want to do later on, though I am eager to work in law (perhaps as a barrister, solicitor, or even judge). I enjoy philosophy, but the real world too, and law seems like a good way of combining the two. However, I did do a finance internship in the summer of 2024, and although the experience was incredible – I was lucky enough to do it in New York – I realised that finance (in this instance, private equity) wasn’t for me. Was it a waste of time? No! At the very least I was able to eliminate a potential career path, which was far from worthless.
