Getting a degree... less worth by the year.

[Beansprout]

Could you explain that better, are you referring to 'certain people' as those with or without degrees?

Just meant the people who harp on about how uni is totally and utterly worthless because of omg debt or whatever. Admittedly only a very small number

I personally believe universities should drop the worthless courses - for example, there's one here called "surf science and technology" - wtf? But then - the universities need £££, have to meet targets, and so forth....

It's a really tricky area, and it just annoys me when people try and generalise - which is fine in itself - but generalise and sensationalise as if it's the whole picture, and as if there don't exist any graduates who, shock horror, go on to do well like graduates have for hundreds of years. Just with slightly more debt, I suppose, which is where the whole argument stems from....it's true that uni is costly, and for the majority of us students it is a problem - but that's not the whole story, and uni shouldn't be discredited as a result.

I considered not going to uni at all - infact, I could probably quit whenever I wanted - but I decided I needed to - more for the experience and qualification than the money (or lack of!)

 

[pinkacidbootson]

Thats a good point, there's a lot more to university than the end result, a well paid job. I don't think a value can be placed on the experience itself, the lifestyle rocks.

That's half the reason i want to go.

 

[KaHn]

I haven't the slightest regret. It defined me, and I am shiny-eyed at the prospect of going back next year...

I think the very least it stretched me, in ways that working life would never offer. It has afforded me opportunities that I simply wouldn't have had.

I think the problem is that people are constantly measuring 'success' by the pay packet - it seems to be the only criteria under which it has been suggested that degrees are 'devalued'

One of your better posts.

What is happening that Graduates are becoming under appreciated, we are more and more refered to as the "media study age" where you could do a respectable degree such as maths, science or engineering and you will still be scoffed at by the older generation because "degrees" are now easy.

I assure you they are not!

As for success after your degree if you get a job with oppourtunities once you have finished and you can do the work well you will be promoted.

KaHn

 

[cleanbluesky]

Just meant the people who harp on about how uni is totally and utterly worthless because of omg debt or whatever. Admittedly only a very small number

I personally believe universities should drop the worthless courses - for example, there's one here called "surf science and technology" - wtf? But then - the universities need £££, have to meet targets, and so forth....

On related news, did you know that Middlesex has dropped History due to financial concerns... really casts a shadow of doubt on some modern universities...

 

[triggerthat]

Interesting program on ITV now comparing the current earnings of those with degrees and those without, and whether it still holds true that spending time and money on a degree actually pays off or not. According to studies, graduates are not about 3x worse off over their lifetime (in comparison to what the potential greater earnings were a few years ago over a non-degree worker) because of the costs of studying, and the high number of graduates that are now being churned out. graduates are now finding it increasingly difficult to erase debt, get a decent job... and many are feeling that their degree, though seemingly a great idea at the time, just isn't paying off.

Just wondering if this is proving true for any recent graduates at the moment or if any graduates maybe regret doing their degree on some level, or are finding things harder than maybe friends who didn't go to uni?

I don't want TV or read the news. If I did I think I'd become depressed.

I am in the process of applying for placements and some of the firms I went for an interview with were fantastic. There will be no way (not that I am aware of) that you can secure a position at such a firm without HE schooling.

 

[SidewinderINC]

as most people have stated here - its all to do with the vast number of people doing mickey mouse courses like "film studies" - what a waste of time that is!

i know somebody thats doing it, just because she wanted to come to uni for the social life, she'll be going into office work most likely afterwards.

i'm doing a biotechnology degree, and hopefully i'll be taken on within mycology as a phd student next summer.

 

[cleanbluesky]

As for success after your degree if you get a job with oppourtunities once you have finished and you can do the work well you will be promoted.

KaHn

Last time I checkd, organisations seek only to use employees to its own end... the only time I have seen someone gain something from work was at the expense of being tied it - i.e. oportunities for further qualification or 'promotion'... or those who invest a great deal of their effort in the 'role' in the job... but then again I have mostly worked in offices. I have also seen very hard work go unrewarded. I have worked on charity projects that I have put my own pro bono time and even money into, that I have turned down better paid jobs to keep only to receive nothing from the charity or company in return... but then again I wasn't doing it for rewards

 

[cleanbluesky]

I think psychology is one reas that would definately benefit from having a degree more than other areas (eg: I.T.). It's a specialist area that requires a lot of learning in order to understand the many complexities it deals with (and there's a LOT of theory, it was going to be my chosen degree after Journalism)... and if you're going to go down the councelling/psychologist route I think a degree is essental not only to break into that field, but to begin and maintain a successfull practise. Good luck though, hope you achieve your goal, god knows you can pscho-analyze anything to (beyond) death.

That's an awfully magnanimous post considering you once describe me as being able to weave prejudice into an oscar winning speech or some such...

EDIT: here we are
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showpost.php?p=8065659&postcount=73

 

[regulus]

Instead of going to uni I went travelling for 3 years and worked and lived all across the world. That was my education. I'm on slightly less than 50k a year now and when driving past Kingston city centre on a thursday night, I don't regret NOT going to uni in the slightest.

Travelling around the world trying to find work, money and accomodation in different countries taught me a thing or two about looking after myself. Living and studying in a city on debt 2 hours from home didn't really appeal to me.
I wouldn't change a thing.

 

[PikeyPriest]

Depends on the subject completely. Sickens me that they are talking about departments of `normal` subjects (largely chemistry + physics) while other unis can continue to open courses on media studies, surf studies, wine studies...etc. Being perfectly honest i see very little benefit from learning these subjects that can be transfered to a job afterwards.

*edit*
i`m studying medicine at uni (4th year of 6) and wouldnt change any of my choices.

 

[Posty]

Instead of going to uni I went travelling for 3 years and worked and lived all across the world. That was my education. I'm on slightly less than 50k a year now and when driving past Kingston city centre on a thursday night, I don't regret NOT going to uni in the slightest.

Travelling around the world trying to find work, money and accomodation in different countries taught me a thing or two about looking after myself. Living and studying in a city on debt 2 hours from home didn't really appeal to me.
I wouldn't change a thing.

what are you doing now?

 

[n3crius]

Well it differs for everyone, and I know a lot of people get into industry early on without a degree.

For me, earning a 1st was my ticket. Everything followed after that.

I enjoyed working like hell to achieve it, and in some ways miss the insanity of that period.

My girlfriend recently got her 1st too, so being both from Grimsby and now living in London doing the professions we both set out for, we have no regrets in our decisions.

Both of us worked all hours during our degrees, we both know and will remember the strife and time apart we endured to achieve the results. Well worth it though!

 

[cleanbluesky]

Well it differs for everyone, and I know a lot of people get into industry early on without a degree.

For me, earning a 1st was my ticket. Everything followed after that.

I enjoyed working like hell to achieve it, and in some ways miss the insanity of that period.

My girlfriend recently got her 1st too, so being both from Grimsby and now living in London doing the professions we both set out for, we have no regrets in our decisions.

Both of us worked all hours during our degrees, we both know and will remember the strife and time apart we endured to achieve the results. Well worth it though!

Statements like this would really help if you were to give us a little background, such as your profession... I have bared all, there is no fear here...

 

[daz]

as most people have stated here - its all to do with the vast number of people doing mickey mouse courses like "film studies" - what a waste of time that is!

Film Studies isn't a micky mouse subject, English and Film Studies at Kings is pretty well respected. It involves a lot of essay writing skills, just like any other arts degree.

 

[n3crius]

Statements like this would really help if you were to give us a little background, such as your profession... I have bared all, there is no fear here...

she's a fasion buyer, i'm a software developer. (been fascinated by computers and programming since childhood)

she studied in lincoln (ceremony at Lincoln cathedral was very cool), i studied in newcastle.

so, we studied apart at slightly different times. been hard, things are working out a lot better now. hence i think the strife pays off. but that's my world, i know no different.

 

[triggerthat]

Company? Pay?

 

[n3crius]

enough to keep a roof over our heads right now

 

[triggerthat]

So you are just working to pay your bills?

Wrong answer.

 

[cleanbluesky]

So you are just working to pay your bills?

Wrong answer.

If all you are after in money, learn to operate a crane... Deadly_ferret recokens as little as 2 weeks training and up to 70k PA

 

[triggerthat]

If all you are after in money, learn to operate a crane... Deadly_ferret recokens as little as 2 weeks training and up to 70k PA

What if you hit someone or something you are not suppose it?