[DaveO]

Re: University entry : Wed Sep 19, 2012 1:45 pm  

Roofs wrote:

......the degree gave me the confidence and self-belief to do things that I never thought I would be able to. For example I supervise family contacts in places such as prisons and rehabilitation facilities. In all honesty before uni I would have found the thought of prison work very daunting (not that people should, but I'm just the type who's shy and feels easily intimidated sometimes I guess), whereas now I love doing it and find it really interesting.
Likewise with my voluntary work - there's no way in a million years that I would have though pre-uni that I could do something like that (working all types of shifts e.g. midnight-6am) but it's easily the most-rewarding thing I've ever done and I've learned / gained so much from it whilst also 'giving back' a bit.

If this doesn't convince people who think that degrees are useless unless they are vocational that this isn't the case, nothing will.

There is so much more to university education than the study of the degree subject. It is the kind of personal development you mention above that adds so much value to it. Pretty much like yourself doing the degree was something that for me made a huge difference on a personal level. I did do a vocational degree and have worked in the field ever since but I was totally unfazed at being sent to Switzerland by my first employer after a matter of weeks in the job. The thought of me doing this four years earlier would have never entered my or anyone else's head who knew me then.

It is very heartening to read that someone who has graduated recently has got the same sort of benefit from their degree outside of the subject studied as I did over 30 years ago. It is this kind of personal development that always led to employers looking for graduates as opposed to just clever people.

Re: University entry : Wed Sep 19, 2012 1:56 pm  

DaveO wrote:

... It is this kind of personal development that always led to employers looking for graduates as opposed to just clever people.

So such personal development is only available via a degree course?

Re: University entry : Wed Sep 19, 2012 3:01 pm  

I must say I find it so sad that many of today's job's require a degree to merely get a foot in the door. Long gone are the day's of people starting at the very bottom and working their way up. It's such a shame for those who don't excel academically, but do so in a working environment, and I include myself in that category. Now don't have the chance to follow their dreams, because employers stipulate a degree to be necessary.

I know that myself and many of my older colleagues, wouldn't be where we are now without having had the chance to start at the very bottom. That's of course no longer an optional path. A degree in Marine engineering is a must. But for me we exclude so many viable candidates purely because they didn't excel in an educational environment that may not have suited them in the first place, and it's wrong.

This is going to sound terribly biased but many of our recent recruits from university. Don't wish to get their hands dirty. Don't understand the very basics of the job, because they've never been exposed to it. Yet act as if they know it all. On the job training should be the way to go in in many cases, depending on the job of course. Unfortunately the opposite to that has happened in nearly every case, and we are far worse off for it. Certainly in my sector.

Re: University entry : Wed Sep 19, 2012 5:17 pm  

DaveO wrote:

Of course its wrong! You would have to be pretty stupid to believe it were true! Why? Well take the University my son has gone to which is where I went, Aberystwyth.

Ha. Ace. So your whole theory is based on the fact that your son is currently studying at Aberystwyth? Well my 3 years at the University of Sheffield painted a very different picture but you probably won't believe it so I won't go down that path.

However, note how The Video Ref mentions that it is very much prevalent in the first year, a key point as to why I agreed with him. In most cases, the first year counts for nothing and the pass mark is ridiculously low. Hence students are out on the lash a hell of a more frequently while being a student than they would be as a "normal" member of society.

I have seen people who come across during the day as extremely sensible and respectable descend into situations that you wouldn't believe at night. I go back to Sheffield occasionally and its a completely different atmosphere during the week when students are out compared to that at the weekend when it is mainly "locals".

I think you are pretty out of touch with the reality of the situation to be honest.

[Kosh]

Re: University entry : Wed Sep 19, 2012 10:21 pm  

Dave Lister wrote:

Well my 3 years at the University of Sheffield painted a very different picture but you probably won't believe it so I won't go down that path.

And my 7 years at the University of Bradford painted a completely different picture to yours. Maybe you just keep bad company? Or maybe you're just on a wind up. Again.

Re: University entry : Thu Sep 20, 2012 9:34 am  

Kosh wrote:

Dave Lister wrote:

Well my 3 years at the University of Sheffield painted a very different picture but you probably won't believe it so I won't go down that path.

And my 7 years at the University of Bradford painted a completely different picture to yours. Maybe you just keep bad company? Or maybe you're just on a wind up. Again.

Nope. Plus that wasn't the company I kept, however I had eyes that reached beyond my own circle of friends and activities.

Maybe it is different at smaller Universities and places that aren't so geared up for students. Hence very different experiences.

Re: University entry : Thu Sep 20, 2012 9:43 am  

What the hell does it matter if students go out and get drunk on a night? As long as they do the work who cares in this context?

Re: University entry : Thu Sep 20, 2012 12:05 pm  

Him wrote:

What the hell does it matter if students go out and get drunk on a night? As long as they do the work who cares in this context?

Yup.

Re: University entry : Thu Sep 20, 2012 12:08 pm  

LovesToSpooge wrote:

I must say I find it so sad that many of today's job's require a degree to merely get a foot in the door. Long gone are the day's of people starting at the very bottom and working their way up. It's such a shame for those who don't excel academically, but do so in a working environment, and I include myself in that category. Now don't have the chance to follow their dreams, because employers stipulate a degree to be necessary.

I know that myself and many of my older colleagues, wouldn't be where we are now without having had the chance to start at the very bottom. That's of course no longer an optional path. A degree in Marine engineering is a must. But for me we exclude so many viable candidates purely because they didn't excel in an educational environment that may not have suited them in the first place, and it's wrong...

Re: University entry : Sun Sep 23, 2012 9:32 am  

JerryChicken wrote:

Can I just say, you sound like a a really great person and the sort of invaluable asset to society that most of the millionaire "celebrities" should look up to.

THAT is the most important thing you wrote, if you enjoy your work then you can't put a price on that.

Thanks mate, really appreciate you saying that.

Best of luck to everyone starting uni over the next week or two.