Uni Graduates in here

[Antecer]

Just curious and would like a little info about how those of you who graduated from Uni' with a degree, found life after Uni'.

1) What was your degree in?

2) Which class degree did you get?

3) Was the Job you got (assuming you did) after Uni, closely linked to the degree you studied for, i.e degree in business and you went for a business job.

4) How did you find the workplace, and the huge change from the studenty lifestyle, to the professional workplace?

5) Was all the studying worth it?

Thanks for your time

 

[touch]

Im still in my first year at uni so i can only answer question5.

-What studying?

 

[Gaygle]

Thinkin about going to uni huh? I 100% would if you got the chance. Its not only a chance to study, but a chance to have an absolutely blast. It makes you grow up a LOT as well. BTW i haven't finished uni, first year actually, but loving every second of it!

 

[A2Z]

Thinkin about going to uni huh? I 100% would if you got the chance. Its not only a chance to study, but a chance to have an absolutely blast. It makes you grow up a LOT as well. BTW i haven't finished uni, first year actually, but loving every second of it!

i go kent uni too

 

[Andy100]

1) What was your degree in?

Accounting & Business Information Systems

2) Which class degree did you get?

2.1

3) Was the Job you got (assuming you did) after Uni, closely linked to the degree you studied for, i.e degree in business and you went for a business job.

Corporate Restructuring & Insolvency work for Ernst & Young so yup very related.

4) How did you find the workplace, and the huge change from the studenty lifestyle, to the professional workplace?

Very hard. I hated working for a large corporation where you can't trust anyone and your wage is linked to how well you get on with your mentor.

I got out of it and set up my own kitchen fitting business and loved it.

Now I'm back to accountancy having moved to Australia. It's a skill that'll get me a job anywhere and always pays well.

5) Was all the studying worth it?

Yes and no. While my qualifications have helped me out no end I have friends with more qualifications who can't even get a job. The saying "it's not what you know, it's who you know" is one of the truest I've ever heard.

 

[Raymond Lin]

The saying "it's not what you know, it's who you know" is one of the truest I've ever heard.

No kidding, I can't even get an Admin job at the CPS ! Was going to start at the bottom and get some experience, and still didn't get it. It's either I am not qualified to file paper, and data entry, or there is someone who has a PHD got it.

 

[Antecer]

Thanks all, especially Andy, living and working in Australia sound fantastic. How does it all work getting a job out there? visa or permit system maybe?

Is it as simple as, 'if you can get work out there, you're sorted'?

 

[HEADRAT]

1) Bsc Hons Information Systems

2) 2:1

3) Kind of, my first job was for an "Internet" company but I guess it was close enough!

4) I worked for an "Internet" company in the dot.com boom, it was just fantastic, lots of hard work but had a great time and made some good friends.

5) 110 % yes

HEADRAT

 

[Dinomania]

1) What was your degree in?
BEng Engineering Design (started general, then specialised in Communications Electronics)

2) Which class degree did you get?
Desmond (2:2)

3) Was the Job you got (assuming you did) after Uni, closely linked to the degree you studied for, i.e degree in business and you went for a business job.
I should say, I now work for Motorola Networks & Enterprise in the R&D Engineering sector.

4) How did you find the workplace, and the huge change from the studenty lifestyle, to the professional workplace?
At Moto I find it fine. I have been going there for summer placements since after the 1st year, and spent 9 months of my sandwich year there too. It's a laid-back place to work - though I have worked in another electronics firm which was very very different, and I didn't get on there at all. Depends on the people, I find.

5) Was all the studying worth it?
Studying? Come on, I got a 2:2
It was worth it to put myself a few rungs up in the world, and I had an excellent time at university - but I must say I don't miss the pain and suffering of coursework one bit!

 

[Bear]

1) What was your degree in? Electronics and Communications Engineering

2) Which class degree did you get? 2:2 MEng

3) Was the Job you got (assuming you did) after Uni, closely linked to the degree you studied for Yes, Im an RF Design Engineer so design cellular comms equipment

4) How did you find the workplace, and the huge change from the studenty lifestyle, to the professional workplace? I was a mature student so have been in the work place for some time before becoming a student, but yes work is very different from student life

5) Was all the studying worth it? Yes, I had a great time being a student and the course has given me a good grounding for what I do for my job

OOhh sounds like Sara is my kind of lady

 

[NicktheNorse]

1) What was your degree in?

Aeronautical Engineering

2) Which class degree did you get?

2:1

3) Was the Job you got (assuming you did) after Uni, closely linked to the degree you studied for, i.e degree in business and you went for a business job.

Aerodynamicist at Renault F1 Team, so yeah, very closely related. Aero is pretty specialised to be honest

4) How did you find the workplace, and the huge change from the studenty lifestyle, to the professional workplace?

ABSOLUTELY MASSIVE CHANGE. Work compromises of the following: Get up, drive to work, sit down in front of computers for majority of day, some walking around to check wind tunnel and speak to people, drive home, go to sleep cause you are so tired. I'm usually in the office 12hrs a day. For the next god-knows-how-many-years I'll be doing the same thing over and over and over again until I retire.

My job is great, working life isn't so cool and all in all I miss the uni lifestyle but I certainly couldn't go back to uni now (waaaay too much work).

5) Was all the studying worth it?

Undoubtable, no way to get into F1 aerodynamics without an aero engineering degree. I didn't want to get stuck in a completely menial office job!

 

[D.P.]

Just curious and would like a little info about how those of you who graduated from Uni' with a degree, found life after Uni'.

1) What was your degree in?

Artificial Intelligence and Psychology Joint Honours

2) Which class degree did you get?

First class, with class medal

3) Was the Job you got (assuming you did) after Uni, closely linked to the degree you studied for, i.e degree in business and you went for a business job.

Yes, i am carrying on my studies starting a PhD.

4) How did you find the workplace, and the huge change from the studenty lifestyle, to the professional workplace?

technically I still am a student. The improvements are that I get paid, I work in a close.noit friendly atmosphere, I work with some amazingly gifted people.

5) Was all the studying worth it?

Thanks for your time

Yes, the studying was wortj it (otherwise why go to university...)

 

[Rich_L]

Just curious and would like a little info about how those of you who graduated from Uni' with a degree, found life after Uni'.

1) What was your degree in?

Pathology

2) Which class degree did you get?

2.2

3) Was the Job you got (assuming you did) after Uni, closely linked to the degree you studied for, i.e degree in business and you went for a business job

Not in the slightest whatsoever.

4) How did you find the workplace, and the huge change from the studenty lifestyle, to the professional workplace?

Did degree at Cambridge, workplace is significantly less taxing mentally, and most days is less hours work. Less holiday though

5) Was all the studying worth it?

Studying..hmmm. Going to university - absolutely, have a bunch of fantastic mates, spent way too much on having 3 years of amazing times and had a generally brilliant time.

Thanks for your time

 

[peter_hutson]

1) What was your degree in?

BEng in Fuel Engineering & MSc in Petroleum Engineering

2) Which class degree did you get?

2:1 in BEng and a Pass in my MSc. In my Msc course you either got a Pass or a distinction, no other grades. Except fail of course,

3) Was the Job you got (assuming you did) after Uni, closely linked to the degree you studied for, i.e degree in business and you went for a business job.

Yep, my job is directly related to my choosen degree.

4) How did you find the workplace, and the huge change from the studenty lifestyle, to the professional workplace?

No major change for me, my courses consisted of lectures Monday-Friday, 9-5. The exception being when I had labs and wednesday afternoon, which was free for sports. So getting up and spending a full day at work was no shock, unlike for some of my friends, who were used to around 10 hours lectures a week! If anything my work load at work was less than at Uni, my weeekends are free and I don't have to study in the evenings

5) Was all the studying worth it?

Without a doubt yes, I would never have got my current job without my University education. I also had a great time at Uni and made loads of friends , most of whom I still know. University for me was a learning experience on both an acandemic and a personal level. I can hoestly say it was the best experience I have ever had and I still look back on those days with fond memories.

 

[callmeBadger]

What was your degree in?

Theoretical Mathmatics (chaos and stuff)

Which class degree did you get?

2:1

Was the Job you got (assuming you did) after Uni, closely linked to the degree you studied for, i.e degree in business and you went for a business job.

Straight after Uni I looked into Maths related Jobs, seems its either Teaching, or stats compiling, looked for about 6 months, had a placement at a school for a couple of months as a Class Room assistant in the Maths dept of a secondary, in short I taught the Maths while a qualified teacher did all the disipline stuff for 6 months and the reports. School went into special messures (not surprising as they were employing non-qualified teachers to fill the gaps in specialist subjects). Got a job in IT 1st line, quickly to second line. then on to Team leadership stuff within 18 months.

Left that postion as it was badly paid for effort I was putting in, got a job in large outsourcing company and still here.

Nothing atall to do with my degree, but most of my colleagues have degrees and are not using them, almost a joke at work that as long as you've got a degree your employed.

How did you find the workplace, and the huge change from the studenty lifestyle, to the professional workplace?

as a student i worked really hard 3 days a week 38 weeks of the year i had to get up before 11 to get to my lectures on time, unless it was raining / cold / to much effort.

As a proper worker in the real world, my alarm goes of at 6.30 and i'm normally on the road for 7.30, sometimes earlier, depends where i'm being sent. @m never home before 7pm

I look back at how I was at uni and wish i could still live that way (but with the money i now have). Swings and roundabouts, loads of time to enjoy myself, no money, enough money and no time.

Was all the studying worth it?

Worth it? the experience was worth it, but the degree result, i'm still not sure. I learnt more outside the lecture rooms than in them, and some of the friends i meet there are still probably the closest I have.

would I do it again, definetly, but not for the degree more for the chance to experience things that you'd probably not get exposed to elsewhere. both good and bad.

 

[Tunney]

1) What was your degree in?
Physics.

2) Which class degree did you get?
A Desmond.

3) Was the Job you got (assuming you did) after Uni, closely linked to the degree you studied for, i.e degree in business and you went for a business job.
I'm now a software engineer. I did a little bit of programming at university and did quite a lot on my placement year. I learn a lot of skills at uni that I can apply to the job, though it's not directly related to my actual degree.

4) How did you find the workplace, and the huge change from the studenty lifestyle, to the professional workplace?
It's been a gradual change rather than a short, sharp shock. I started on my company's graduate scheme and the first month or so was just like being at university. Even after the official training ended, I still got work in a very relaxed and informal environment. The hours are flexible and there's no real dress code, so I haven't had any real problems. I guess if I had to be in at 9am sharp every morning and was required to wear a suit then things would be different though.

5) Was all the studying worth it?
Definitely. I'm glad I went to university, both for the studying and the social aspect.

 

[Efour]

1) What was your degree in?

Applied Geology

2) Which class degree did you get?

2:1 BSc Hons

3) Was the Job you got (assuming you did) after Uni, closely linked to the degree you studied for, i.e degree in business and you went for a business job.

Yeah, sat on an oilr rig looking at rocks and smoking fags.

4) How did you find the workplace, and the huge change from the studenty lifestyle, to the professional workplace?

Hmm let me think... Nice pleasant town women and booze - Oil Platform in North sea in force 8 Hurricane. (very similar)

5) Was all the studying worth it?

No quit it after 5 years drove me mad, now i work in a boring office, its like being back at senior school again ( i love it really )

 

[Haircut]

1) What was your degree in?
BSc Mathematical Physics

2) Which class degree did you get?
2.2

3) Was the Job you got (assuming you did) after Uni, closely linked to the degree you studied for, i.e degree in business and you went for a business job.
Not really, I'm now a software developer.

4) How did you find the workplace, and the huge change from the studenty lifestyle, to the professional workplace?
I much prefer the work environment. At uni I couldn't find the motivation to do work. After each exam period I had chats with my tutor which basically consisted of him saying that I should be acheiving much more, me saying I'd put the work in next time and never doing so.
Even though I do much more work in the office now I have no problems with motivation.

5) Was all the studying worth it?
All what studying?
The uni experience was definitely worth it but I spent three years not doing any work so I would say that!

 

[Starfall]

1) Masters in Electronic Engineering

2) 2:1 degree average, 1st Masters year.

3) Very closely, although it's slightly different to what i thought i'd be doing 5 years ago. I'm currently an embedded systems design engineer.

4) Very hard, i still miss Uni lifestyle a great deal, even tho i graduated back in June '05

5) Yes

 

[manic_man]

1) What was your degree in?

2) Which class degree did you get?

3) Was the Job you got (assuming you did) after Uni, closely linked to the degree you studied for, i.e degree in business and you went for a business job.

4) How did you find the workplace, and the huge change from the studenty lifestyle, to the professional workplace?

5) Was all the studying worth it?

Thanks for your time

1) Computer Science (BSc)

2) 1st

3) Postgrad scholarship at Manchester Uni to do an MSc in comp science.

4) Well im not totally useful here as im now a postgrad albeit at a different institution. I did however do 13 months at HP as part of my last degree. I found the workplace to be a totally different environment from uni (obviousely) I made the mistake of being a) single and b) living alone, that made for some VERY boring evenings... I liked the fact I had money I quite liked having a routine.. I hated commuting, I liked the fact I got to come up with the ideas rather than doing what other people told me to (though this will vary from job to job of course.)

5) I loved every second of my time as an undergrad (postgrad is never the same and I dont have the same freedom this time round as im living with family much further out to save costs)

No way I would change where I went or what I did, I went to Staffordshire uni which resides in the VERY quiet town of Stafford. For some people it would be hell but it allowed me to come out of my social shell far more than going to London or Manchester would have.

The placement will be invaluable as I have 13 months at HP to put on my CV and I made lots of really good friends I hope to keep for a long time.

I found the whole experience to be fully enjoyable, year 1 was socialising, year 2 was a bit of both but I had a large friend group by then and in year 3 I was lucky to really enjoy my dissertation subject matter so I actually really enjoyed all the work I did as well

I would reccommend it to everyone BUT I would say if you are going purely to socialise then dont bother. Have a brilliant time at uni but if you come out with no degree and all the debt theres just no way that can be worth it.