Uni

[Welton Toffee]

Is there actually any point?

In two year's time I'll have a piece of paper and a massive amount of debt, will it help me get a better job or is it just an excuse to get hammered on a regular basis?! (which is no bad thing obviously...)

 

[Dom1878]

I fear that Uni may not even get a better job tbh, there are alot of jobs going around which need no qualifications, and Jobs in specialist areas are taken up by the better students!

I wonder if there is any point, and fear that you may get out and have no money and no job prospects.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Depends on the uni you go to. From an employment point of view, many degrees don't really get you a job from the knowledge you've learnt but more the evidence that you can learn to a reasonable standard. Of course you get out of uni what you put in.

Pretty much all unis have good libraries and have access to Acorn and all that so the opportunities to learn are plentiful, regardless of whether your course tells you you should be learning.

 

[Welton Toffee]

Depends on the uni you go to. From an employment point of view, many degrees don't really get you a job from the knowledge you've learnt but more the evidence that you can learn to a reasonable standard. Of course you get out of uni what you put in.

Pretty much all unis have good libraries and have access to Acorn and all that so the opportunities to learn are plentiful, regardless of whether your course tells you you should be learning.

What's that?

UEA is a top 20 uni and I was advised that History is a pretty good course to do. Problem is I have no idea what I want to do career wise so wondering whether it's worthwhile or not!

 

[heatmeiser]

The problem sometimes is that a 16/17 year old gets to decide what an adult has to do for the rest of their life.

The lucky ones have a career in mind and choose a course specifically for that. Not just random media/arts/business studies.

I did sociology and can't honestly say what made me choose it (I was one of only 5 lads from a class of about 60 )

 

[Welton Toffee]

I did sociology and can't honestly say what made me choose it (I was one of only 5 lads from a class of about 60 )

Seems a good enough reason to me

 

[Bruce Wayne]

What's that?

UEA is a top 20 uni and I was advised that History is a pretty good course to do. Problem is I have no idea what I want to do career wise so wondering whether it's worthwhile or not!

Might not be called Acorn The thing where you have free access to all the journals. Most universities have it.

Regarding your course, I don't think it really matters. Like I said, unless you go for a career like science or IT where you obviously need to know about those subjects, many companies simply look for the ability to learn that getting a good degree from a good uni shows. Many City workers for instance will have non-economics degrees.

 

[NeoNaoNeo]

Just go for three years and have no responsibilities and piss about. It's a glorious institution. And the Lib Dems even want to make it free.

Which is nice, because the Student Loan Company is run by fascists.

 

[atrottel]

From an employment point of view, many degrees don't really get you a job from the knowledge you've learnt but more the evidence that you can learn to a reasonable standard.

But equally will three years' experience in a job actually put you ahead of a graduate entrant?

Back in the day, the answer was probably that the uni entrant had the advantage (although it was a patently ridiculous and mainly class-based distinction).

Then the answer transitioned to being better able to get a job with a degree.

Nowadays, with the (imo) devaluation of both school qualifications and the "university" label and unless you are taking a respected course leading directly into accepted value in a profession, the pendulum has definitely swung in favour of practical experience. And the financial difference goes without saying.

(As a matter of interest, decades after my school and college days, the subjects that have been most of practical use and financial benefit in my life have been ones I either only took to O-level or learned myself post-formal-education.)

 

[Bruce Wayne]

But equally will three years' experience in a job actually put you ahead of a graduate entrant?

Back in the day, the answer was probably that the uni entrant had the advantage (although it was a patently ridiculous and mainly class-based distinction).

Then the answer transitioned to being better able to get a job with a degree.

Nowadays, with the (imo) devaluation of both school qualifications and the "university" label and unless you are taking a respected course leading directly into accepted value in a profession, the pendulum has definitely swung in favour of practical experience. And the financial difference goes without saying.

(As a matter of interest, decades after my school and college days, the subjects that have been most of practical use and financial benefit in my life have been ones I either only took to O-level or learned myself post-formal-education.)

Certainly something to consider. I think a degree from a good university is still worth it. A degree from a poor one not.

 

[atrottel]

As a business owner, whether someone I was considering for a position had a degree or not would have no bearing on my decision whatsoever (as long as that degree was not relevant).

If, on the other hand, they had three years of relevant experience in employment that would definitely stand in their favour. In fact, if they had three years' irrelevant experience in employment as opposed to a degree in partying from Toytown Uni that would still probably be in their favour.

What would beat all hands down however is three years travelling the world and working your way as you went. (I admit I would not be your typical employer, however!)

 

[Cena]

Is there actually any point?

In two year's time I'll have a piece of paper and a massive amount of debt, will it help me get a better job or is it just an excuse to get hammered on a regular basis?! (which is no bad thing obviously...)

I'm at uni Welts.

Bad things to get out the way:

1) Loads of debt
2) Degree prob won't be worth much
3) Prob won't get a job related to the degree

I've realised that the 3 above are probably true, however, the bad is far and above outweighed by the good i have experienced from going to uni.

The Good:

1) Money Management - With rent, bills, food, socials, i have learnt so much more about how to manage money, when to hold back and when to spend, something which i am grateful for.

2) The Learning - I do sports studies and it is so interesting, i've covered the philospher Foucault, philosophy of sport, child protection and social analysis. It opens up a world of academic learning for you, and i now enjoy education more than i ever have.

3) The Social - You don't need me to tell you Welts, you meet so many more people, and it teaches you more about people. Through people i have met, i ended up visiting their homes, places like Accrington, Lincolnshire, Hertfordshire; i would never have gone to these places normally. Also i have so many more mates now rather than just lads i knew from school.

I have noticed that i have grown up a lot more since going to uni, and i suppose it i will be a little bit more ready for when i have to go in 'the big wide world' by myself. For that experience alone, i think uni is 100% totally worth it

 

[Welton Toffee]

Great post Cena

 

[Cena]

Great post Cena

Ta lad, great avatar

 

[Piijt]

I am in the recruitment business in the oil industry overseas, trust me, degrees are important.
Nowadays the door is closed to anyone without a degree yet most seniors in the industry have little in the way of qualifications, only vast experience.
All the vacancies I have right now demand a degree plus a minimum of 10 years experience, I still get ****loads of applicants.