University.

A friend of mine got expelled for fighting, the police even let him off as it was self defence.

And I dont go to Exeter.
To be fair fella, all your talk of fighting, police involvement, falling out with people and potential traffic offences makes me think you ought to take a step back and consider whether uni is really for you :p
 
Is it the great thing it once was?


Personally having only just started, I can't speak really, except to voice my opinion.


In my opinion: Its not.

I've found my time here very underwelming.


1: Half the Goddamn tutors etc are foreign. I'm sorry but in a busy lecture hall, the last thing you want is someone who barely speaks English to try and hold the attention of the hall.

2: The work. It's really not the challenging (yes I know it gets harder), and I really can't see the relevance.

3: The people. Whilst i've got no real problem myself, having gotten in with a good bunch of people, there are so many foreign people here. Sorry if this sounds racist :rolleyes: , but its disconcerting to see so many Chinese, African people etc, whose grasp on the language and involvement in the university is minimal.


Pointless rant I know, but I just can't see what is so great about university education. It has the feel of a system that used to be special, but is now about batch orders.


For the record i'm going to a decent university, not some awful place :p


What do you guys think?

1) The is what makes the academic environment great, that so many people from different cultures mix and mingle. So many bright minds from across the world breaking down cultural and racial barriers in the pursuit of knowledge and science. Universities try to get the smartest people form across the world, so of course there will be foreign tutors.

2) You are in 1st year, work will get harder. If it doesn't then you are doing a useless subject.

3) This is one of the most important reasons why university is such a great experience. You work in a wonderful multi-cultural environment, this is a dream scenario compared to most work places that have the same mono-culture. Enjoy it while you can, unless you get lucky in n internation firm then you willm greatly miss these operatunies for interaction.

This aspect of university was so interesting it was one of the main factors I carried on in academia doing a PhD. I work in a lab with 20 people from 15 different countries. It is amazing fun.

You just sound like a xenophobic racist TBH.
 
1) The is what makes the academic environment great, that so many people from different cultures mix and mingle. So many bright minds from across the world breaking down cultural and racial barriers in the pursuit of knowledge and science. Universities try to get the smartest people form across the world, so of course there will be foreign tutors.

2) You are in 1st year, work will get harder. If it doesn't then you are doing a useless subject.

3) This is one of the most important reasons why university is such a great experience. You work in a wonderful multi-cultural environment, this is a dream scenario compared to most work places that have the same mono-culture. Enjoy it while you can, unless you get lucky in n internation firm then you willm greatly miss these operatunies for interaction.

This aspect of university was so interesting it was one of the main factors I carried on in academia doing a PhD. I work in a lab with 20 people from 15 different countries. It is amazing fun.

You just sound like a xenophobic racist TBH.

Maybe he's at university to learn, not to partake in a liberal multicultural and multiracial fantasy.
 
And what better way to learn than to study under some of the greatest minds in the world... Whether they English, British or African, if they know their stuff then it shouldn't matter. Having said that we did have a russian Guy for a few of our lectures and we had great trouble understanding him, however his slides and notes were brilliant.
 
I think you just answered your own question. It isn't enough that someone be clever or knowledgeable; without the ability to skilfully impart that knowledge to others, it is useless.
 
We had trouble understanding his speech and considering most lecturers just read off the slides anyway (although the best don't) it didn't really make any difference as we had the slides and notes to fall back on.
 
Maybe he's at university to learn, not to partake in a liberal multicultural and multiracial fantasy.
That is part of learning. Using clever words to moan about foreigners from a pedestal in whitest Essex is not ;)
 
That is part of learning.
Part of indoctrination maybe
2yudnww.gif
 
University can be all it's 'cracked up to be' if frankly, you are cut out for it. Sounds obvious, but one of the biggest parts of the experience is the pursuit of knowledge, personal development and experiencing opportunities that you may not ever have the chance to do otherwise. I could be seen to have an elitist viewpoint in that I believe there is a massive variance in the quality and scope of courses and institutions. Post 1992 universities (ex-polys as many are) do generally bring up the rear of league tables. Far, far too many people are studying in further education, but this has all been covered many times before.
 
Part of indoctrination maybe
2yudnww.gif

Well I don't know about other graduates but I aim to end up working in an environment full of people from other nationalities not a factory in Basingstoke.

Graduates in general will be trying to get as high up the ladder as possible and the higher you get the more international you will be working, whether it be side by side with people from other countries or via the internet/phone. Working in a big company will most likely expose you to international ways and so learning to live with them at university is part of the training.
 
University can be all it's 'cracked up to be' if frankly, you are cut out for it. Sounds obvious, but one of the biggest parts of the experience is the pursuit of knowledge, personal development and experiencing opportunities that you may not ever have the chance to do otherwise. I could be seen to have an elitist viewpoint in that I believe there is a massive variance in the quality and scope of courses and institutions. Post 1992 universities (ex-polys as many are) do generally bring up the rear of league tables. Far, far too many people are studying in further education, but this has all been covered many times before.

I agree (although I went to an ex Poly). I went to uni to get a degree so I could get the knowledge and qualifications needed to get the sort of job I want. While I was there I also tried to do loads of things I wouln't have been able to do outside, such as sailing, powerboating, ski racing etc. Leaving uni having done loads of things I wouldn't have been able to do. Problem is I think i'm in the minority, so many people are there to doss and drink...
 
Dear Ac1d1ty,

You sound like a stuck up plick who has been brought through this life on mummy and daddies wallet, given everything you need and never having to work a real job for more than a hour.

In that situation, you have no opinion that is valid on anything simply because you have lived in a bubble wrapped world and no idea what the real life is like.

Report back in a years time when you have, and do your self a favour. Cut your self off from mummy and daddy :).

You never know, those people around you that you think aren't fit to be there might just be of a much higher intelligence than you, as they are most certainly a better person for not complaining at your whining just because they don't speak English as well as you. Main question, can you speak their language?

ags
 
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Seems to be a fairly mixed response to this so I'll add mine.
I don't know where or what everyone is studying that doesn't think university is all it's cracked up to be because I went to a good university and studied Computer Science. I was a real computer geek before this and on day 1, moved into halls and decided I'd never play an online game whilst at university - so I cut all ties and went head first into the university lifestyle.

The more new, uncomfortable (out of my comfort zone) things I did, the more I loved it, this doesn't mean getting blind drunk every night, but just finding the right group of friends (I had preconceptions of certain people - too loud, too alcoholic, too selfish etc - that simply weren't true once I made an effort to socialise with them), societies and sports clubs to keep you on your toes - as well as finding the time to study just enough to make your grades. I could have *EASILY* (I can't stress this enough) continued as an online gamer (I ran a clan and had a massive group of online friends I effectively gave up overnight) and I would have been unhappy with university - probably moaning about similar things (people, workload and lecturers). The work would have been the same, the people around me would have been the same but it's because I chose to throw myself out of my comfort zone and mix with people who were all in the same boat (albeit they were much more socially practised than I was) that I truly believe that those 3 years were the best of my life so far.

The skills I learnt there (of many different sorts ... nudge nudge wink wink ;)) were so much more than the actual Computer Science education I received - which, whilst really challenging at times, was generally easy once I set my mind to it. I consider it a bonus that I've come out with a piece of paper saying I've got a 1st class degree from a good university - If I knew what I was going to experience, I would have still gone to university even if they said I wouldn't get a degree!

University is what you make it. Drop all your preconceptions of the people around you and just try to get along with them - it'll make your university life so much more enjoyable!
 
Dear Ac1d1ty,

You sound like a stuck up plick who has been brought through this life on mummy and daddies wallet, given everything you need and never having to work a real job for more than a hour.

In that situation, you have no opinion that is valid on anything simply because you have lived in a bubble wrapped world and no idea what the real life is like.

Report back in a years time when you have, and do your self a favour. Cut your self off from mummy and daddy :).

You never know, those people around you that you think aren't fit to be there might just be of a much higher intelligence than you, as they are most certainly a better person for not complaining at your whining just because they don't speak English as well as you. Main question, can you speak their language?

ags

He isn't in THEIR country, so the onus is not on him to learn their language... the onus is on immigrants to learn ours, or preferably not come here.
 
I think you just answered your own question. It isn't enough that someone be clever or knowledgeable; without the ability to skilfully impart that knowledge to others, it is useless.

The abilitiy to teach others has nothing to do with race!
 
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