Is a degree worth anything nowadays?

[Z]

Do you think there's still value in teenagers and young adults (or mature students!) getting a degree?

[Crimson Dynamo]

no

the minute they started making up unis and colleges the arse fell out of the kudos

"Oh I have a first class degree in Media Studies at the University of Castlemilk"

"aye right hen, huv you ever worked in a shop before? coz if ye huvny ye can do one and take yer degree way ye"

[Tom4784]

I imagine they'd make for decent drink coasters.

[Jay.]

Depends on which career. I'm going into teaching so it's necessary for me to get a degree. But some, you could probably do without I suppose.

[Crimson Dynamo]

University of Bedfordshire
University of Central Lancashire
University of Cumbria
Edge Hill University
University of Essex
Glyndŵr University
Leeds Beckett University
Liverpool Hope University
University of Portsmouth
etc

:umm2:

[Kizzy]

Of course there is, it shows you can dedicate yourself to 3yrs of study and have the skills set to apply yourself in theory and in practice.

[Kizzy]

University of Bedfordshire
University of Central Lancashire
University of Cumbria
Edge Hill University
University of Essex
Glyndŵr University
Leeds Beckett University
Liverpool Hope University
University of Portsmouth
etc

:umm2:

Do you have a degree LT?

[Jack_]

University of Portsmouth

rude :hmph:

But no I'm sat in the library right now procrastinating on an essay that's due Tuesday and that I have no motivation to do (along with another 3000 word piece) and I'm wondering just what is the point

So this thread is probably badly timed :laugh:

[Kizzy]

rude :hmph:

But no I'm sat in the library right now procrastinating on an essay that's due Tuesday and that I have no motivation to do (along with another 3000 word piece) and I'm wondering just what is the point

So this thread is probably badly timed :laugh:

My daughter graduates from Lancaster uni shortly and she almost gave up 100 times :laugh: Keep at it jack, 3000 words is nothing it's 2 sides of A4... piece of pis ;)

(hope that's some motivation)

[Crimson Dynamo]

Do you have a degree LT?

yes

[Kizzy]

yes

I don't mean in rescuing flies from whisky... :laugh:

[arista]

Do you think there's still value in teenagers and young adults (or mature students!) getting a degree?


Maybe later on in Life.

http://www.k-li.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/London-Grafters-Team-grey-sweatshirt-1.jpg
But Now we need Grafters
not fecking Lazy Students


Feel The Force

[Crimson Dynamo]

I don't mean in rescuing flies from whisky... :laugh:

:inamood:

i have a hons degree in Geography from a well established and highly respected Scottish Uni by the sea

(obviously from a time when that meant something)

[Crimson Dynamo]

Maybe later on in Life.

http://www.k-li.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/London-Grafters-Team-grey-sweatshirt-1.jpg
But Now we need Grafters
not fecking Lazy Students


Feel The Force

yes, 10 hours a week?

disgusting when when need to stimulate the economy:nono:

[arista]

rude :hmph:

But no I'm sat in the library right now procrastinating on an essay that's due Tuesday and that I have no motivation to do (along with another 3000 word piece) and I'm wondering just what is the point

So this thread is probably badly timed :laugh:


Jack Go with Your Heart

[Kizzy]

:inamood:

i have a hons degree in Geography from a well established and highly respected Scottish Uni by the sea

(obviously from a time when that meant something)

Not exactly vocational then, what's wrong with others getting degrees in their area of interest at the the universities you listed?

[joeysteele]

Yes, in my view.
However, I was swayed recently by what another member said as to heading straight to Uni and not really thinking more about what degree to go for.

I went to straight to Uni and got all I hoped for,I am aware too however that for some, more time between finishing education then going to Uni can be a good thing.

The important thing for me and I would say possibly for others is to go for a degree because you want to after analysing and thinking about all other options open as well.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Not exactly vocational then, what's wrong with others getting degrees in their area of interest at the the universities you listed?

because they join the workplace 3 or 4 years after their peers with 3/4 years less experience and then have peers who are stupider as bosses

get a job, use your intelligence to get promoted and get up the ladder quicker

when you retire you can get drunk, watch pointless and wank into the sink

[Kizzy]

because they join the workplace 3 or 4 years after their peers with 3/4 years less experience and then have peers who are stupider as bosses

get a job, use your intelligence to get promoted and get up the ladder quicker

when you retire you can get drunk, watch pointless and wank into the sink

I think that's a very outmoded view, the opportunities for young people are increasingly limited without.

[Crimson Dynamo]

I think that's a very outmoded view, the opportunities for young people are increasingly limited without.

in what industry?

[Kizzy]

in what industry?

The geographical industry :hehe:

[Crimson Dynamo]

The geographical industry :hehe:

:fist:

I am an expert in cross sectional data analysis and climatology

[RichardG]

Obviously some degree courses are more useful than others, and equally attending certain Universities will give you better prospects than attending others, but overall I reckon it's still worth the time and money if you put enough effort in and make those three years count. Yes it's not easy to get a job afterwards, but it would likely be a lot harder to move into a decent skilled career with good promotion prospects without one these days.

[Vicky.]

Depends what you want to do. Obviously for lawyers and that its all essential. But in general, degrees are useless and I do think a lot of people go to uni just for the lifestyle rather than giving a damn about education :joker:

[Calderyon]

Only if you continue studying. In terms of job getting, employers favor vocational/career school more.

At least that´s how it is out here.

[MTVN]

Obviously some degree courses are more useful than others, and equally attending certain Universities will give you better prospects than attending others, but overall I reckon it's still worth the time and money if you put enough effort in and make those three years count. Yes it's not easy to get a job afterwards, but it would likely be a lot harder to move into a decent skilled career with good promotion prospects without one these days.

Agree with this, also I think the University experience is a positive one on a personal and societal level, people can have a too bleak view of education sometimes just seeing it as purely a means to a job and an income. I do think that University shouldn't be seen as the only option available when leaving school though and people shouldn't just do a degree for the sake of it

[user104658]

Well it depends. Some careers, obviously, you can't even start without a degree. Other positions are "graduate only" with any degree. For example, my degree was pretty useless when I graduated and had no practical experience to back it up. I didn't need one to start at the company I'm at now and just learned on the job up to manager. But now that I have management experience too, there are possibilities for moving into other management roles that require both a degree and management experience to even apply, that I couldn't have gotten when I had no experience, but likewise couldn't get now if I didn't have a degree...

Hmmmm.

Basically if I was to apply for one of these positions, I suspect my experience would be my selling point and more relevant to actually doing the job, but having a degree is a prerequisite to applying at all.

Then again, there are a lot of things that have come very easily to me in my current job that others at the same management level struggle with. Writing up reports, spreadsheets and stats, actually understanding how the business and the industry works on a deeper level, even just how to communicate efficiently and professionally. All things I'd been doing for years coming out of University.

Tl;dr it's been useful to me even though my starting position wasn't graduate employment, and even though most people at my level in the company don't have a degree.

[Livia]

My degree's been worth quite a lot. I suppose the only way to evaluate it is how well you use it once you've got it.

[lily.]

Do you think there's still value in teenagers and young adults (or mature students!) getting a degree?

It depends on the degree.

[Livia]

I'd say, if you're still unemployed five years after you graduate then you've probably wasted your time.

[user104658]

I'd say, if you're still unemployed five years after you graduate then you've probably wasted your time.

I don't know, depends if the person is being fussy. I knew a guy who got a 1st in something Music related from Oxford... he was then unemployed for something like 7 years (living off mum & dad, not the state) even though he had not only had employment opportunities - but plenty of GRADUATE employment opportunities - but turned them all down because they weren't "music related".

The flipside of the "idle benefits folk" is that there are plenty of silver spoon / trust fund kiddies who get good degrees but when it comes down to it, don't actually want to work, and already have money. You just don't hear as much about those because they are funded by their families rather than by the state.

[Livia]

I don't know, depends if the person is being fussy. I knew a guy who got a 1st in something Music related from Oxford... he was then unemployed for something like 7 years (living off mum & dad, not the state) even though he had not only had employment opportunities - but plenty of GRADUATE employment opportunities - but turned them all down because they weren't "music related".

The flipside of the "idle benefits folk" is that there are plenty of silver spoon / trust fund kiddies who get good degrees but when it comes down to it, don't actually want to work, and already have money. You just don't hear as much about those because they are funded by their families rather than by the state.

Not having a related job after 7 years would suggest to me he picked the wrong degree or just wasn't good enough in his area. And like you say, a good degree opens up opportunities in lots of areas, I've had a couple of great jobs that haven't been law-related. I suppose as a taxpayer I don't care so much about idle people who fund themselves because I'm not ultimately paying for them through taxation. And the idle rich are pretty unemployable anyway in my experience.

[Crimson Dynamo]

I guess you have to ask yoiurself why are you doing it.

ie does the profession you wish to enter require it?

If you are just avoiding work, or for the social life, to meet new people etc then dont bother and get a job

[Kizzy]

How did I know the debate would flip to benefits? Not even graduates can remain on job seekers allowance indefinitely, so the illusion that there's hoards of people clutching a degree sat on benefits is a nonsense.

[Crimson Dynamo]

How did I know the debate would flip to benefits? Not even graduates can remain on job seekers allowance indefinitely, so the illusion that there's hoards of people clutching a degree sat on benefits is a nonsense.

Now now Kizzy, anyroad you smell of air freshener


:hehe:

[Kizzy]

I'd rather that than bullplop LT :laugh:

[Livia]

I thought the whole idea of getting a degree was to get a career in the area of your choosing and of your talents. If people get a degree then don't work for years, why is that not allowed to be included in the discussion, I wonder? Seems pretty relevant to me.

[Kizzy]

It was included in the discussion, except that example isn't representative of students as a whole, the discussion is being led in a particular direction, I don't believe students enter into a degree with the intention to not use that degree.

[the truth]

don't rush to uni, either work a few years or travel a bit before deciding..geta feel for working and a better understanding of yourself and your passions etc which in turn leads to your career and chosen degree...then pick a degree that leads specifically to a career....do not bother with sociology or some vague nonsense and pls do not study a degree in david beckham, yes it does actually exist. theres nothing in it just like that vapid boring walking billboard of a man

[Z]

I wish I'd gone travelling, worked a little bit and THEN thought about going to uni; it just feels like I wasted 5 years that could have been better spent elsewhere. I don't regret going to uni and I love all the friends I made and the things I learned but I do wish somebody had sat me down when I was 16 and told me to look past what my school was drilling into my head every day and see the bigger picture.

[Marsh.]

I went off and worked for 3 years before going to uni.

But that's because originally I didn't want a degree and then after a while realised a degree was the best option for the career path I wanted.