Some Direction Needed for Someone Finally Getting Their Life Together

What I'm saying is that your choice of degree subject isn't necessarily going to affect your chances of getting a job later. If you want to go into a specific field then you should probably choose a related degree, but if you don't know yet then you'd be best choosing something you think you'd enjoy. A friend of mine studied Egyptology for her degree, and has just landed a very competitive job with a media planning company on Leicester Square. Go figure.
 
Mundu said:
Thanks for the info guys. What are MScs, BScs and BEngs all university courses then? D4VE is a HNC like a HND a more vocational qalification or something different?

Basically an HNC is identical but doesnt have a few of the HND modules. This enables me to complete my HNC parttime in 2 years.
Basically, its a one of the top qualifications for a more creative role, although if you are looking at Science or Engineering you'll be after a BSc or MSc.

You could, get a job and do a part time HNC, that would give you money and a qualification. I know when I was at Uni I wanted to get some work experience and cash - maybe you feel the same deep down. :)
 
Sparky191 said:
Doing something that earns you a decent living doesn't have to be boring.

Theres a lot of rubbish courses/degrees out there. Don't end up with/on one.
Arcade Fire's pretty much covered most points. But personally I just don't see the point in doing something boring for a degree because you might be able to earn a decent living one day, surely if the degree is boring, odds are you're not going to like the job either ;)
Life is far too short to do something that bores you to death just because you think it might help you in the future. With such a wide range of choices offered to people these days, it's not like you're forced to do something you're not interested in.

It's 3 years of your life and a lot of money, it's just not worth it if you don't enjoy it to some degree (pun not intended :p) because it's not like automatically having a degree guarantees you a job anymore.
 
Because you seem to be saying you should ONLY do something that will earn you a lot of money and it's not worth thinking about what would interest you. I may be wrong, it's just the way you're coming across to me.
It's all a matter of how you want to live your life anyway, so if that's what you want to do I'm hardly going to condemn you for it :p I just personally don't think it's strictly the right way of going about it. Maybe it comes down to those who live to work and those who work to live?
 
I have got to disagree with the sentiment of 'don't do a degree that wont get you a job'. I don't think education is a means to an end. It is a worthy end in itself.
 
Well basically I'm decided on one thing atm I want to go to a decent uni in London. i don't know how I'm going to get on to the course or on what course but at least I've figured something out

I could finish my A Levels off at a college next year so if they let me continue the IT AS level I took 2 years ago that'll be Art, IT and Photography A levels and will give me enough points to get on a course but if I end up wanting to get on a course that needs specific A Levels then it's pretty pointless. I could do a HND in something then a degree but then I'll be waiting an extra year before I get to uni but I'll be doing something I like hopefully. I thought I could do a extended degree which would include the foundation course but I realised all the UCAS stuff had to be in in January so that idea wouldn't work.

The problem is I still have no idea what courses I'd enjoy. I'm trying to figure out what I like and something that involved computers and design or graphic artist or something similat but what does graphics design actually involve? The careers advisor talked about using a mac and I wouldn't mind but the fact I've never used one before is what I'm worried about and the fact that a lot of these things that sound interesting to me I've had no previous experience with is what I'm concerned about as I assume other people on the courses will have at least a little experience.
 
^Heck no!

I'm doing a Meng in Computer Systems Engineering and I have never done any form of electronics at GCSE/A-level or any form of programming. Generally courses assume you know nothing about the topic but can learn the basic material very fast.
 
Yeah but technical stuff like that usually requires a maths A-level because that shows that although you may not know the content, you have the right sort of skills to learn it without too many problems.
 
join the prison service see the world, maybe that should be see the inside of a wall, but seriously when I was younger I always wanted to be in IT but then I found a job I really love and there is so much more to it than locking people up, also im the resident IT expert on my unit yay
 
BobTheFish said:
I have got to disagree with the sentiment of 'don't do a degree that wont get you a job'. I don't think education is a means to an end. It is a worthy end in itself.

Thats fine if you don't need to havea living. If thats the case thats fine. Lots of people are happy living off their parents or the state. I don't have a problem with that. But I prefer to have my independence myself.

I said "consider" of how to make a living. Not become a wage slave. I did say theres no point in doing a course that you can't make a living at, thats probably a bit harsh. Theres no point in doing a rubbish course would be nore correct.
 
Mundu said:
....something that involved computers and design or graphic artist or something similat but what does graphics design actually involve? The careers advisor talked about using a mac and I wouldn't mind but the fact I've never used one before is what I'm worried about...

When you are drawing it doesn't matter if you use a Mac or a PC the fundamentals of the programs are the same. As someone else said most college course assume you know nothing and go from there.

Graphic design covers a big area. Graphics for print, illustrations, Computer graphics etc. To get an idea look at graduates portfolio and then see what course they did. Theres a good range of portfolio's here http://www.coroflot.com/ Also look at the jobs on offer, because it nice to have something to aim towards in my opinion.

I have a few friend who wanted to be a pilots since they were kids and constantly strove towards that. We're not all that driven. I did a degree in design and then a variety of design and IT diploma's/course. I've worked at either design or IT for years.
 
Sparky191 said:
I said "consider" of how to make a living. Not become a wage slave. I did say theres no point in doing a course that you can't make a living at, thats probably a bit harsh. Theres no point in doing a rubbish course would be nore correct.

I feel that you are completely missing the point of University. A degree in many cases has nothing to do with what you want to end up in, as like it has been said a lot of people don't know what they want to do before or even after they have one.

The point in doing a degree, much like GCSE's A-levels is to show potential employees that you have the capacity to learn. Not that you are an expert in the related field already, I mean how could you be as you probably have no real world experience, but to show that if you were to be hired you would be able to take on board new concepts/ways of thinking that will enable you to successful in the role, and pass any exams that are probably related to the job. Why do you think most graduate jobs ask for a 2:1 in general and not in a specific degree? In fact a lot of numeric jos actively look for graduates in from arty degree backgrounds to get a broad range of people.

If you have a specific career in mind like law or pharmaceuticals then yes I agree that you should try and take a relevant degree, but taking a degree that you have an interest in and therefore likely to be more successful in should not hinder you in any way.

*edit* I feel I may have got the wrong end of the stick in what you were saying about course, yes don't do a rubbish course but I still think the points above stand, too many peoople think that they HAVE to do a course in what career they want to do but that isn't the case.
 
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