Degree worth extra £160k over lifetime

[Man of Harveys]

Fair play turi, I would be reluctant to trust my life to a Dr who had earned his qualifications at night school in the local Tech College, but there are still a lot of graduates who have qualifications that are unlikely to get them a job in the area that they have studied.

But, the big professions aside (lawyers and doctors, say), university degrees have never been about actual vocational training as much as they're about learning how to learn - how to absorb large amounts of written information quickly, or to express complicated ideas vocally in seminars - all skills which I learnt at uni which have proven invaluable in my work (I studied politics and I'm a business journalist, so the two were not really related.)

 

[Gully]

In my chosen profession the organisation provides all the training, prior to an offer of employment all individuals are assessed for their suitability to be trained, amongst many other qualities. However that said there are some fields where basic educational qualifications are required and we do have positions where a degree is mandatory. I accept your point about absorbing information quickly or the ability to express complicated ideas vocally, these are skills that may not be present in everyone, however much of this can be taught as an individual progresses through their career.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

i also know someone doing FOLK MUSIC as a degree

At Newcastle?

A mate of mine TEACHES folk music there. He left school at fifteen.

 

[Ozymandias]

But, the big professions aside (lawyers and doctors, say), university degrees have never been about actual vocational training as much as they're about learning how to learn - how to absorb large amounts of written information quickly, or to express complicated ideas vocally in seminars - all skills which I learnt at uni which have proven invaluable in my work (I studied politics and I'm a business journalist, so the two were not really related.)

Which is where Poly's came into play, I studied engineering which is vocational training, I needed it for my chosen profession and Poly's generally tuned the degree to meet the requirements of industry, hence Poly's specialized in a particular field (Coventry has one of the best automotive design courses int the world).
Personally, getting Poly's to become Uni's was a mistake, it diluted there abilities.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

In the time my classmates from school are getting a four year degree I'll have earned >€120k of that back. works out as 2k a year more over an average working lifetime if thats taken in to account. Not 100% it'd be worth it...

Curiously, IT is one profession where a degree can actually work against you. For example, recently we had two applicants for a Java programmer. One was a girl with a degree in Computer Science, the other left school at sixteen but she had six months practical experience in the IT department of a blue-chip corporation. Guess which applicant got the job?












Yup, the one with the biggest tits

 

[turienzo's lovechild]

At Newcastle?

A mate of mine TEACHES folk music there. He left school at fifteen.

correct sir

name?

 

[Garry Nelson's Left Foot]

I have a degree. In Politics and Philosophy.

Hope that helps the debate somewhat.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

I have a degree. In Politics and Philosophy.

Can I have LARGE fries with that?

 

[Trufflehound]

university degrees have never been about actual vocational training as much as they're about learning how to learn - how to absorb large amounts of written information quickly, or to express complicated ideas vocally in seminars.

And how to drink lots of beer, inflate condoms over your head, and throw up into other people's front gardens. Let's not overlook these important aspects.

 

[Man of Harveys]

And how to drink lots of beer, inflate condoms over your head, and throw up into other people's front gardens. Let's not overlook these important aspects.

True. My uni mates have been scanning in their old pics from the first year recently - there are NO books to be seen anywhere, but Spinal Tap-esque numbers of guitars are simply everywhere, all the time. That's all we did. Er, and pull loads of BIRDS, obviously...

 

[Garry Nelson's Left Foot]

Can I have LARGE fries with that?

Don't ask me. I just clean the toilets

 

[Bry Nylon]

I studied politics and I'm a business journalist, so the two were not really related.

I have a Politics degree too, and I'm a firefighter. The two are definitley not related!

 

[Tesco in Disguise]

But many university leavers walk straight into a £15k job they could have walked into just as easily before university.

That film studies degree from an ex poly probably does nothing for 90% of the students taking it other than costing them loads and increasing their alcohol tolerance.

totally agree. i don't know why people spend thousands of pounds going to an ex poly that doesn't demonstrate any knowledge beyond gcse.

having said that, i don't suppose i really needed my degree (politics, now working in local government - slight link) but boy was it fun.

 

[Tesco in Disguise]

I have a degree. In Politics and Philosophy.

Hope that helps the debate somewhat.

me too!

"an unexamined life is not worth living."

 

[bigc]

I'm studying for a Politics degree at the moment.

To be honest I'm not enjoying it as much as I thought I would. If someone offered me the chance to jump into employment in my chosen field(say Politics) and forever waive my need for a degree, I'd do it in a shot.

 

[Tesco in Disguise]

where are you?

 

[bigc]

UCL.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

totally agree. i don't know why people spend thousands of pounds going to an ex poly that doesn't demonstrate any knowledge beyond gcse.

having said that, i don't suppose i really needed my degree (politics, now working in local government - slight link) but boy was it fun.

Some Ex-Poly's can offer degree courses that are ranked as one of the best in the country. Old University snobbery should be a thing of the past.

 

[ROSM]

I gained my degree equivalent (which can be converted should I ever be bothered to sit the UMIST conversion paper) through sponsored day release over 7 years. I was working and earning at the time and am still with that company.

However, I get totally frustrated by those who study history of art but have no wish to be an art historian. I know that may employers are now looking for relevance when assessing degree level candidates and that can only be a good thing.

You dont to have done journalism to become a journalist. But politics or history - which requires research and use of evidence are sound base subjects which with NCTJ top up can be very useful.

 

[Tesco in Disguise]

point. i was referring mainly to academic courses that are offered at ex-poly universities.

polytechnics have their role, to be sure. but i think trying to make them more red-brick has been a mistake.