Do you really need a degree?

KaHn · 21 Jun 2012 at 20:30

Martin_Man said:
I work in a call centre and out of 10 people in my team, 7 of them have a degree. I've not got 1 and we are working in the same job. They have a big fat loan to pay back as well.

woohoo call centre \o/

KaHn

craptakular · 21 Jun 2012 at 20:39

k27 said:
My degree was in Social Policy and I have a Psychology MSc.

This is where you went wrong.

The Chemist · 22 Jun 2012 at 00:14

Study Petroleum Engineering and earn that tax free arab money!

Tobeornottobe · 22 Jun 2012 at 00:16

I am the youngest of six, and the only one of the six who did not go to University. However I earn a lot more than any of them have ever done. My eldest brother just achieved a 6 figure salary when he retired.
My employing company prefers to take a lot of their intake at 18, as the feeling is that they are more receptive learners (blank canvas etc), and have less skewed expectations.
I am 50 now, and seriously considering hanging up my sextant and ullage tape soon.

escape sanity · 22 Jun 2012 at 00:27

If the only reason you want to go is "because I'll get a better job" then no. Unless you are planning on a job that actually requires a degree in which case you wouldn't be asking this question.

Tobeornottobe said:
I am the youngest of six, and the only one of the six who did not go to University. However I earn a lot more than any of them have ever done. My eldest brother just achieved a 6 figure salary when he retired.

Worst "I'm rich" post ever.

Tobeornottobe · 22 Jun 2012 at 00:33

escape sanity said:
Worst "I'm rich" post ever.

I have seen worse

Morgoth · 22 Jun 2012 at 01:27

InKursion said:
With all respect you shouldn't be taking a core-academic subject if you're so worried about job prospects. There's a division, here: if you care about getting a good graduate job and salary and a BMW, go do a Management degree and something that will outwardly equip you to get a comfortable salary. You do core science subjects because you have an interest in the subject/knowledge/world and because you are interested in it. If you end up getting a good-paying job at the end, that's a bonus.

That's a load of balls really, a lot of graduate recruiters happily take science graduates.

callum · 22 Jun 2012 at 01:50

I feel that a degree adds to your 'toolbelt' in getting a good job.
Personally i'm studying accounting and finance at strathclyde university with the goal of becoming a chartered accountant at one point. There are other routes to the CA qualification but I feel that with free tuition fees in Scotland people are missing out on an opportunity if they opt out of going to uni.

InKursion · 22 Jun 2012 at 03:25

Morgoth said:
That's a load of balls really, a lot of graduate recruiters happily take science graduates.

Nowhere am I saying that they are unemployable in graduate recruitment. I'm just saying it shouldnt' be the main motivationf or taking one of these subjects - they are difficult, abstruse, academic, and not that concerned with equipping you for the 'real world' and a good salary. Most of the hardcore academic subjects have the same job prospects statistically, with minor variations between them - none of them really are as good for prospects as the more vocationally-leaned courses. But that's not the point of them.

craptakular · 22 Jun 2012 at 06:40

Moses said:
LOLOLOL

So blunt... I lol'd .

I didn't want to be harsh but it seemed obvious to me.

Kenai · 22 Jun 2012 at 07:01

I think ultimately, what you need these days is something that sets you apart from the people you are competing with.

For some amongst us that may be a degree, for others it may be their drive and determination, some may stand out based on their personality, or work experience, or even just that daddy knows the chairman.

alx · 22 Jun 2012 at 08:54

Simon said:
Yes as I have an engineering degree and work for a big company who treat me well.

Without my degree I wouldn't be doing this

Snap!

Ev0 · 22 Jun 2012 at 09:52

Tobeornottobe said:
I am the youngest of six, and the only one of the six who did not go to University. However I earn a lot more than any of them have ever done. My eldest brother just achieved a 6 figure salary when he retired.
My employing company prefers to take a lot of their intake at 18, as the feeling is that they are more receptive learners (blank canvas etc), and have less skewed expectations.
I am 50 now, and seriously considering hanging up my sextant and ullage tape soon.

Fair enough, but things were a little different in the world 32 years ago

Gzero · 22 Jun 2012 at 13:21

I'd say it depends on your social and career mobility.

If you live in an area with work/experience on offer without the need for a degree, then getting a degree doesn't affect you.

If you live in an area where the market is get the cheapest person possible, then you are truly stuffed.

Good example is software developers in Dundee, but across a bridge in Edinburgh much better situation.

flibbage0 · 22 Jun 2012 at 17:21

Well I want to do be a pharmacist, hopefully a hospital pharmacist one day.

That requires a 4 year degree, so yes it depends on what career path you're going down.

On a side note I'M DONE WITH MY EXAMS

What do I do now, I have mixed emotions :confused:

The Chemist · 22 Jun 2012 at 17:30

flibbage0 said:
Well I want to do be a pharmacist, hopefully a hospital pharmacist one day.

That requires a 4 year degree, so yes it depends on what career path you're going down.

On a side note I'M DONE WITH MY EXAMS

What do I do now, I have mixed emotions

5 years counting pre reg! I would strongly advise against going into pharmacy right now. The days in which it was a much viable option compared to plenty of exams Doctors had to do post education, while pharmacists done a 3+1 year BPharm and hit 40k as soon as graduation, are over. Seriously, stick to medicine, veterinary medicine or some form of a dental degree. Do your research!

Erich Kriegler · 22 Jun 2012 at 17:35

oops didn't read that carefully enough.

Gimli · 22 Jun 2012 at 17:37

Got a few years to decide whether I'm going to Uni or not, but I don't know if it's worth doing the extra years to get a degree in Graphic Design or to go straight into work. Any ideas?

Bucket · 22 Jun 2012 at 17:49

DrewSecrets said:
Got a few years to decide whether I'm going to Uni or not, but I don't know if it's worth doing the extra years to get a degree in Graphic Design or to go straight into work. Any ideas?

I'm currently studying Graphic Design at University.

It isn't the only way in to the industry, but I'd certainly tell people to do that route for quite a lot of reasons.

I would however say that where you study is quite a big part of it, too.

flibbage0 · 22 Jun 2012 at 18:23

The Chemist said:
5 years counting pre reg! I would strongly advise against going into pharmacy right now. The days in which it was a much viable option compared to plenty of exams Doctors had to do post education, while pharmacists done a 3+1 year BPharm and hit 40k as soon as graduation, are over. Seriously, stick to medicine, veterinary medicine or some form of a dental degree. Do your research!

No, all I'm hearing is don't go into pharmacy, especially on the student room

I'm not clever enough to get into medicine and I don't think I would be a very good doctor.