I'm starting to feel the same tbh, I'm becoming dissilusioned with software engineering and computer human interaction buzzwords where every lecture consists of "scalibility, flexibility, maintainability" and terms such as "ubuiquitous computing". I'd much rather be doing something practical like web development, programming or networking.
uni degree... enjoy it?
- Thread starter fonzee
- Start date
I'm starting to feel the same tbh, I'm becoming dissilusioned with software engineering and computer human interaction buzzwords where every lecture consists of "scalibility, flexibility, maintainability" and terms such as "ubuiquitous computing". I'd much rather be doing something practical like web development, programming or networking.
Associate
- Joined
- 6 Dec 2007
- Posts
- 2,103
Here goes...
What you studying and where to?
Computer Science at Glamorgan
Enjoy it or not? Why?
Yes, course isn't too hard if you have your head screwed on and the social life is good too.
Meet your expectations?
Exceeded them - didn't think it would be so much fun!
What career you aiming for?
Teacher/web development.
How you finding the financial side of things?
Pain in the posterior - my parents apparently earn too much to get any help but really cannot afford to give me money to live.
Any regrets?
Moving in with a bunch of schmucks in the second year who cost me my deposit.
What you studying and where to?
Computer Science at Glamorgan
Enjoy it or not? Why?
Yes, course isn't too hard if you have your head screwed on and the social life is good too.
Meet your expectations?
Exceeded them - didn't think it would be so much fun!
What career you aiming for?
Teacher/web development.
How you finding the financial side of things?
Pain in the posterior - my parents apparently earn too much to get any help but really cannot afford to give me money to live.
Any regrets?
Moving in with a bunch of schmucks in the second year who cost me my deposit.
What you studying and where to?
Glasgow uni-Mechanical engineering
Enjoy it or not? Why?
Yeah its pretty good, only been in for around 5-6weeks though
, mainly enjoy going out and getting sloshed currently/going to on campus gym 
Meet your expectations?
Yes
What career you aiming for?
No idea
How you finding the financial side of things?
Pretty easy going as I'm staying at home and dont pay rent and get some money off my parents, I could still do with getting a job for some more beer money though
Any regrets?
Not earning more money pre-uni and getting myself into a flat/halls as Travelling in takes around 40+ minutes walking/train (and is a pain in the rear end.)
Glasgow uni-Mechanical engineering
Enjoy it or not? Why?
Yeah its pretty good, only been in for around 5-6weeks though
, mainly enjoy going out and getting sloshed currently/going to on campus gym Meet your expectations?
Yes
What career you aiming for?
No idea
How you finding the financial side of things?
Pretty easy going as I'm staying at home and dont pay rent and get some money off my parents, I could still do with getting a job for some more beer money though
Any regrets?
Not earning more money pre-uni and getting myself into a flat/halls as Travelling in takes around 40+ minutes walking/train (and is a pain in the rear end.)
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Soldato
- Joined
- 18 Oct 2002
- Posts
- 2,537
- Location
- Norfolk
What you studying and where to?
Just graduated Politics at the University of York
Enjoy it or not? Why?
I loved it! Amazing friends, amazing new experiences doing things I never would have considered before Uni, opening up new career opportunities and ideas.
Meet your expectations?
The University experience exceeded them but the degree itself was disappointing.
What career you aiming for?
Social work
How you finding the financial side of things?
Not too bad. Getting temp work as a student, or even a graduate, is hellish where i am at the moment. Its not as easy as it once was to just say..oh ill just get a bar/shop job for the evenings to pay for my beer. There are jobs about though if you look hard enough.
Just graduated Politics at the University of York
Enjoy it or not? Why?
I loved it! Amazing friends, amazing new experiences doing things I never would have considered before Uni, opening up new career opportunities and ideas.
Meet your expectations?
The University experience exceeded them but the degree itself was disappointing.
What career you aiming for?
Social work
How you finding the financial side of things?
Not too bad. Getting temp work as a student, or even a graduate, is hellish where i am at the moment. Its not as easy as it once was to just say..oh ill just get a bar/shop job for the evenings to pay for my beer. There are jobs about though if you look hard enough.
Just to balance things out, here's a doom and gloom post.
What you studying and where to?
Computer Science
Enjoy it or not? Why?
Not at all. I didn't expect to pay £3k+ a year to be read slides from a Powerpoint by non-native speakers of English. The whole course seems to have a dull undertone and the standard of teaching was better at sixth form imo. I'm willing to bet many other institutions are similar, so I guess I'm having a dig at higher education in general. I'd drop out tomorrow if the tuition fees were inflated to £5k.
Before anyone says, I am at an 'ok' university... i.e in the top 25 of the 2010 ranking table. I find the whole thing a chore and feel my time would be best spent gaining proper experience in the workplace. I've handed over too much money to throw the towel in now, so I'm going to weather the storm and see what doors it'll open for me.
Meet your expectations?
Not really.
What career you aiming for?
Still not 100% sure what domain of IT i fancy yet. Something hardware/ r&d related would be nice!
How you finding the financial side of things?
Fine - I live at home and work weekends.
Any regrets?
Wish I'd followed my heart and done something automotive related - might have made the experience a little more stimulating.
What you studying and where to?
Computer Science
Enjoy it or not? Why?
Not at all. I didn't expect to pay £3k+ a year to be read slides from a Powerpoint by non-native speakers of English. The whole course seems to have a dull undertone and the standard of teaching was better at sixth form imo. I'm willing to bet many other institutions are similar, so I guess I'm having a dig at higher education in general. I'd drop out tomorrow if the tuition fees were inflated to £5k.
Before anyone says, I am at an 'ok' university... i.e in the top 25 of the 2010 ranking table. I find the whole thing a chore and feel my time would be best spent gaining proper experience in the workplace. I've handed over too much money to throw the towel in now, so I'm going to weather the storm and see what doors it'll open for me.
Meet your expectations?
Not really.
What career you aiming for?
Still not 100% sure what domain of IT i fancy yet. Something hardware/ r&d related would be nice!
How you finding the financial side of things?
Fine - I live at home and work weekends.
Any regrets?
Wish I'd followed my heart and done something automotive related - might have made the experience a little more stimulating.
Soldato
- Joined
- 28 Nov 2005
- Posts
- 13,049
I'm a uni drop out ish, however uni helped me where I know I'm going.
I did computing, left because I knew for a fact I don't want my life in that direction.
Ended up doing building services engineering which i'm now on pause with, but It's led me to join the Royal Engineers as a design draughtsman.
One of my lecturers did it, plus I've always wanted the armed forces lifestyle.
Ok I might not get a degree, but I'm glad my life has gone pear shaped the last few years for me to find a direction I'm really interested in and a lifestyle i've always wanted in the back of my mind.
I did computing, left because I knew for a fact I don't want my life in that direction.
Ended up doing building services engineering which i'm now on pause with, but It's led me to join the Royal Engineers as a design draughtsman.
One of my lecturers did it, plus I've always wanted the armed forces lifestyle.
Ok I might not get a degree, but I'm glad my life has gone pear shaped the last few years for me to find a direction I'm really interested in and a lifestyle i've always wanted in the back of my mind.
Soldato
- Joined
- 29 Jun 2004
- Posts
- 12,957
What you studying and where to?
Mechanical Engineering, hopefully doing an MEng as apposed to BEng. I'm doing this at QMUL.
Enjoy it or not? Why?
I love the course. Very exciting and very engaging. Learn many many concepts that you would never think were possible.
Meet your expectations?
It surpassed my expectations by quite a lot.
What career you aiming for?
Probably specialising in heat transfer & thermodynamics energy engineering. I want to do a PhD, but it'll be tough. One of my aims to become CEng and FIMechE.
How you finding the financial side of things?
Lovely.
Any regrets?
Not taking the first year seriously.
Edit: Just realised I replied to this thread last year
Mechanical Engineering, hopefully doing an MEng as apposed to BEng. I'm doing this at QMUL.
Enjoy it or not? Why?
I love the course. Very exciting and very engaging. Learn many many concepts that you would never think were possible.
Meet your expectations?
It surpassed my expectations by quite a lot.
What career you aiming for?
Probably specialising in heat transfer & thermodynamics energy engineering. I want to do a PhD, but it'll be tough. One of my aims to become CEng and FIMechE.
How you finding the financial side of things?
Lovely.
Any regrets?
Not taking the first year seriously.
Edit: Just realised I replied to this thread last year
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So, questions...
What you studying and where to?
Computer Science. Never worked a day in the field in my life.
Enjoy it or not? Why?
Not really. My generation was all about the dot com boom and everyone was programming or something in the IT field. I went along since I didn't know what else to do.
Meet your expectations?
It did, was a great course but ultimately not for me.
What career you aiming for?
Right now I'm a Project Manager on Infrastructure Services, I'm looking to get into teaching. I'm not about the money no more (Well, soon).
How you finding the financial side of things?
Easy, stayed at home.
Any regrets?
A few but don't we all have them
Thanks
update: 21 now, still looking to get out of IT
What you studying and where to?
BSc Sport and Exercise Science at Aberystwyth
Enjoy it or not? Why?
Sort of. Some of the modules are extremely boring and pointless. 2nd year is a lot better than 1st year because all the rubbish is out and it's interesting now. I'm probably not enjoying it as much as the Chemistry degree I was doing but I hated Bangor.
Meet your expectations?
The course doesn't but I love the place and the people I am with.
What career you aiming for?
Teacher hopefully or maybe something else if I find myself interested in a specific thing a long the way.
How you finding the financial side of things?
OK. Could do with a job (which I'm trying to get) just to work a few hours a week to pay for food.
Any regrets?
Maybe not doing enough work in 1st year, but that has changed this year.
BSc Sport and Exercise Science at Aberystwyth
Enjoy it or not? Why?
Sort of. Some of the modules are extremely boring and pointless. 2nd year is a lot better than 1st year because all the rubbish is out and it's interesting now. I'm probably not enjoying it as much as the Chemistry degree I was doing but I hated Bangor.
Meet your expectations?
The course doesn't but I love the place and the people I am with.
What career you aiming for?
Teacher hopefully or maybe something else if I find myself interested in a specific thing a long the way.
How you finding the financial side of things?
OK. Could do with a job (which I'm trying to get) just to work a few hours a week to pay for food.
Any regrets?
Maybe not doing enough work in 1st year, but that has changed this year.
What you studying and where to?
Computer Forensics at Sunderland Uni
Enjoy it or not? Why?
I have just started and its been ok so far im doing a bit that i all ready did at college but the stuff that i haven't done is awesome.
Meet your expectations?
Yes
What career you aiming for?
To work in computer forensics
How you finding the financial side of things?
Fine so far but i thing it might get worse later on
Any regrets?
Nope
Computer Forensics at Sunderland Uni
Enjoy it or not? Why?
I have just started and its been ok so far im doing a bit that i all ready did at college but the stuff that i haven't done is awesome.
Meet your expectations?
Yes
What career you aiming for?
To work in computer forensics
How you finding the financial side of things?
Fine so far but i thing it might get worse later on
Any regrets?
Nope
Man of Honour
- Joined
- 27 Sep 2004
- Posts
- 25,821
- Location
- Glasgow
I don't know if it counts but I finished a couple of years ago now so I figure I might as well post my experiences.
What you studying and where to? Law at Abertay Dundee
Enjoy it or not? Why? Enjoyed it greatly, it was an interesting subject and I met some great friends there as well as having some fantastic experiences that I am not likely to have had without it.
Meet your expectations? In that I got a degree and an interesting 4-5 years out of it, absolutely.
What career you aiming for? Not law as while I like the subject I'd not really want to practice it which is fine as I'm training to be a chartered accountant now.
How you finding the financial side of things? Financially it wasn't too bad although I've got a fairly hefty student loan to pay off. Working during the summers and having a year out helped by meaning I only had to work for one year out of my time there.
Any regrets? Only that I didn't take part in more sports and university clubs. Other than that I had a pretty good time, it's possible I could have squeezed in a few more nights out but that's a bit doubtful.
What you studying and where to? Law at Abertay Dundee
Enjoy it or not? Why? Enjoyed it greatly, it was an interesting subject and I met some great friends there as well as having some fantastic experiences that I am not likely to have had without it.
Meet your expectations? In that I got a degree and an interesting 4-5 years out of it, absolutely.
What career you aiming for? Not law as while I like the subject I'd not really want to practice it which is fine as I'm training to be a chartered accountant now.
How you finding the financial side of things? Financially it wasn't too bad although I've got a fairly hefty student loan to pay off. Working during the summers and having a year out helped by meaning I only had to work for one year out of my time there.
Any regrets? Only that I didn't take part in more sports and university clubs. Other than that I had a pretty good time, it's possible I could have squeezed in a few more nights out but that's a bit doubtful.
Associate
- Joined
- 15 Apr 2008
- Posts
- 1,031
- Location
- West Didsbury, Manchester
What you studying and where at?
Embedded Systems Engineering at Leciester
Enjoy it or not? Why?
Having a fantastic time, this is the second time i've been at Uni, studied at Aston for a couple of years before they let me down. Coursewise and supportwise.
Meet your expectations?
Exceeded my expectations coursewise but it's got a bit to be desired for socially, but then again I was living in the center of Birmingham for two years so I was spoilt.
What career you aiming for?
Looking to go in Linux Driver Development specifically but any Embedded System that boots with Linux will keep me happy. Audio/visual stuff would be nice.
How you finding the financial side of things?
Litterally bankrupting myself but sod it, if I come out with a good qualification in a specialist degree like this, where 99% of graduates are in India they should lap me up when/if I qualify.
Any regrets?
That I didn't really stand my ground when they suggested I change courses for my own good at Aston,. when it turned out they didn't have enough to run the course so we're trying to fill numbers to get it running.
Embedded Systems Engineering at Leciester
Enjoy it or not? Why?
Having a fantastic time, this is the second time i've been at Uni, studied at Aston for a couple of years before they let me down. Coursewise and supportwise.
Meet your expectations?
Exceeded my expectations coursewise but it's got a bit to be desired for socially, but then again I was living in the center of Birmingham for two years so I was spoilt.
What career you aiming for?
Looking to go in Linux Driver Development specifically but any Embedded System that boots with Linux will keep me happy. Audio/visual stuff would be nice.
How you finding the financial side of things?
Litterally bankrupting myself but sod it, if I come out with a good qualification in a specialist degree like this, where 99% of graduates are in India they should lap me up when/if I qualify.
Any regrets?
That I didn't really stand my ground when they suggested I change courses for my own good at Aston,. when it turned out they didn't have enough to run the course so we're trying to fill numbers to get it running.
May as well throw my own 2p in here...
What you studying and where at?
Information Technology for Electronic Business, Kingston University
Enjoy it or not? Why?
Too early to give a definitive comment, but the degree is decent apart from that awful key skills rubbish the government had seemingly everyone tack on. As for the social side of things I seem to be running into an awful lot of third year folk and not much of anyone else...hmmm...
Meet your expectations?
Not as hands-on as I'd have liked, but then I do get the software I need to learn for free so I can do that part at home. The computer systems module is less in depth than the first year of Computer Science, but then I will be doing third year CS anyway so no big loss overall.
What career you aiming for?
Any, but obviously getting into an IT niche is the point of doing this. However I'm not fixed on any one line of work.
How you finding the financial side of things?
Struggling to rub two pennies together each month to be honest (awful student finance system didn't help), but then I do have some weekdays free for employment...
Any regrets?
Not choosing this route following immediately on from college, diving straight into employment was not the best option given what I was aiming for at the time.
What you studying and where at?
Information Technology for Electronic Business, Kingston University
Enjoy it or not? Why?
Too early to give a definitive comment, but the degree is decent apart from that awful key skills rubbish the government had seemingly everyone tack on. As for the social side of things I seem to be running into an awful lot of third year folk and not much of anyone else...hmmm...
Meet your expectations?
Not as hands-on as I'd have liked, but then I do get the software I need to learn for free so I can do that part at home. The computer systems module is less in depth than the first year of Computer Science, but then I will be doing third year CS anyway so no big loss overall.
What career you aiming for?
Any, but obviously getting into an IT niche is the point of doing this. However I'm not fixed on any one line of work.
How you finding the financial side of things?
Struggling to rub two pennies together each month to be honest (awful student finance system didn't help), but then I do have some weekdays free for employment...
Any regrets?
Not choosing this route following immediately on from college, diving straight into employment was not the best option given what I was aiming for at the time.
Hey, I'm in the same position as you Fonzee!
21 and working in IT (I've been doing tech support for 2 local primaries for 2 years)
I was great at school and had awesome grades until it got to A levels where I messed up!
I then went to join the Army, however I dropped out of basic training because it looked terrible after that.
I now want to go to uni but only have AS levels, so I'm trying to enrol on an access to higher education course in January, which if I pass I'd like to go and study a foundation year is physics and maths and then do a degree in physics or computer science.
Until then though I'm working up until christmas!
21 and working in IT (I've been doing tech support for 2 local primaries for 2 years)
I was great at school and had awesome grades until it got to A levels where I messed up!
I then went to join the Army, however I dropped out of basic training because it looked terrible after that.
I now want to go to uni but only have AS levels, so I'm trying to enrol on an access to higher education course in January, which if I pass I'd like to go and study a foundation year is physics and maths and then do a degree in physics or computer science.
Until then though I'm working up until christmas!