Are degrees worthless now?

[Crispy]

Ok, so let's differentiate:

Useful in terms of actually giving you useful skills that translate to the real world? No, not really.

Useful in terms of pandering to entrenched social values to help you get a job? Yes.

 

[butchersapron]

1) is surely yes anyway.

 

[Fruitloop]

Surely the question is 'a degree from where, in what?'.

 

[Crispy]

1) is surely yes anyway.

not a 2:2 in bullshit studies or whatever. If you've done an A-level in a 'wordy' subject, you have the same skillset.

 

[Fuzzy]

Been an absolutely pointless waste of time for all the jobs I ever had. The line of work I hope to go into (one day please God!) it is also an irrelevance.

I'd have spent a lot longer to get to where I am now without my masters. Can be done and is by others. I just got qualfied quicker by studying full time.

 

[spacemonkey]

If you get a degree in rocket science you will get a job.

My housemate got a degree in rocket science (or something very similar)

He got an amazing job in Germany for a weather satellite company on about 50,000 euros a year.

 

[Crispy]

Sometimes I wish I'd done rocket science. maybe you can do it with the OU?

 

[butchersapron]

Surely the question is 'a degree from where, in what?'.

..and 'did i know your father'?

 

[marty21]

i had a lovely time for 4 years, came out not owing much money (I think it was £700) but tbh it hasn't been that useful (american studies and politics) in my career, although a post grad in housing has been useful, and i could only do that because i already had a degree

 

[Fruitloop]

not a 2:2 in bullshit studies or whatever.

Have we met?

 

[cyberfairy]

I have a 2.1 in English and find it impossible to get a graduate job. Fortunately my NVQ level two in Childcare makes me employable for minimum wage Not that I've even found that yet despite excellent references since moving up here....

 

[_angel_]

I have a 2.1 in English and find it impossible to get a graduate job. Fortunately my NVQ level two in Childcare makes me employable for minimum wage Not that I've even found that yet despite excellent references since moving up here....

I was wondering about training to do childcare... but the college that does it is a pain to get it..

ETA The ads I saw requiring the NVQ were paying decidely higher rates than the min wage (One was a college creche and the other Sure Start) It may be worth looking at those areas, rather than private nurseries that I believe don't pay all that well (or always ask for experience/ qualifications)

 

[Agent Sparrow]

Yes, of course, vocational degrees are still very valid.

On top of that, if you want to take a vocational masters or any post grad qualification, you need an undergrad degree. I feel that degree was more a stepping stone to vocational post grad work than useful in it's own right, iyswim (though about 10% of it was of considerable use in my first job re: content, and I did need one on paper to get the work I was looking at).

I wouldn't say a degree is worthless tbh, though some are seen as more valid than others, and some lines of work see them as more valid than others.

 

[mauvais]

Going to uni is immensely valuable in terms of personal development. Getting a degree as a full time student probably also means you've got involved in lots of useful extra curricular stuff which you wouldn't otherwise have been able to do.

[insert obvious jokes here]

 

[moonsi til]

I have a professional qualification and currently doing 2 years p/t for my degree. I chose to complete to a degree cos I enjoy my chosen line of work and it will also be a massive personal achievement. I am not sure about masters level...maybe. I will certainly carry on studying in some capacity.

 

[gentlegreen]

I missed out at 18, and again at 28 when depression killed my OU degree.

Mind you I'm also incredibly lazy

I doubt I could ever have been a scientist though. I probably should have gone down the vocational route (horticulture). It would be good to be working in a job where I could develop real expertise - instead of muddling along in low level IT / AV surrounded by high-achieving academics in a field alien to me.
I can imagine it might have given me a social life.....

At 47, if I could start all over again I would have aimed for living in a particular place (Cornwall or Brittany), and near self-sufficiency.

 

[marty21]

it does give you a social life while you are there, but then you leave, and lose touch with everyone and start again, i do see ex pals from uni sometimes, but not regularly anymore

 

[nino_savatte]

One of my modules had 70 students and absolutely not enough resources (ie books) in the library to cope. I got a 2:2 in that module. Another one there were six of us PLUS an extra library for that subject. I got a first in that exam. It's not rocket science at the end of the day.

70 is too many for one class. Mind you, this isn't something that is unique to universities. FE colleges also have to chase bums on seats. I can remember having to teach a class of 50, not once but twice.

 

[cyberfairy]

I was wondering about training to do childcare... but the college that does it is a pain to get it..

ETA The ads I saw requiring the NVQ were paying decidely higher rates than the min wage (One was a college creche and the other Sure Start) It may be worth looking at those areas, rather than private nurseries that I believe don't pay all that well (or always ask for experience/ qualifications)

I only have level two which doesn't pay so well..I have looked for college/Sure Start etc work but so far no luck.
Good luck with what you choose-don't think would personally recommend childcare unless you find a place that pays OK which can be quite hard. Lot of hard work, shit, vomit, Ofsted pressure, stroppy parents and violent kids and unpaid overtime writing reports etc at home. Still rather do it than work in a n office though. The good times are wonderful and kids are entertaining and fun but tis lovely handing them back over at four

 

[obanite]

Just being at university also gives you some great opportunities for internships. A huge swathe of students in my year (including myself) were snapped up by investment banks for summer internships; many were offered permanent positions for when they'd finished their degree, too. I wouldn't say the degree they were doing was as important as proven skills during selection (test centres, interview etc), though if I remember the most popular degree was PPE.

 

[Mr Retro]

But my brother for example - he got a 2:2 in media studies. He had a great time at uni, and I'm sure the work was interesting, but if you ask me he could've done more with those three years (and be in a better financial situation)

Media Studies of the 00's is the Social Science of the 80's. In my experience most people do/did them because they couldn't get into a decent course or didn't really know what the fuck they wanted to do.

 

[lobster]

Yeah for specific jobs then degrees are worth it, but then again aren't graduate doctors even having problems getting work now?

I think its because the goverment don't want to cough up the money for doctors to work in the nhs, meanwhile doctors go into private sector which could have a knock off effect on nhs.
Its a sad, pathetic situation which will only start reversing when the situation gets really dire.

 

[untethered]

For the OP, I'd say the point isn't necessarily to do a degree but to do something. Something that gives you more knowledge, skills, experience and contacts than you had at the beginning of the year.

A "degree" is a pretty abstract concept. How useful a degree will be to your career aspirations very much depends on what you do (and as said earlier, where, and your grade). But you also need to get involved however you can with the areas you want to work in. This might mean working part-time or volunteering. It might mean setting up your own projects or businesses. If you don't know exactly what you want to do, gravitate towards the general field. But I'd say "voluntary or public sector" is too vague. What issues concern you? Environmentalism? Health? Education? Housing and homelessness? Politics? ...

 

[fractionMan]

They're never really worthless, but the subject studied dictates how 'useful' they are for getting a job.

For example, medical degrees are far from worthless. Try becoming a doctor without one. I imagine the same could be said (although to a lesser extent) about many of the more vocational degrees such as computing or engineering.

I doubt I could have got the job I currently have without a degree. Sure I could find work as a programmer beforehand, but not well paid and enjoyable work.

 

[Detroit City]

I'm sure degrees are worth it for personal improvement and joy of studying something, but do they hold any weight in the real world? I know a few graduates who done all that work, got all that debt and are now just temping in jobs they could've got with their a levels. It just seams like a catch 22, go to university, get into loads of debt that will take years to pay off or don't go an get stuck with limited choices.

What do ya reckon?

if ya get a degree in a bleedin' worthwhile area such as accounting or computers or engineering then its a great asset. on the other hand if you get a degree in philosophy or psychology or art history then it will most likely be worthless.

 

[fractionMan]

if ya get a degree in a bleedin' worthwhile area such as accounting or computers or engineering then its a great asset. on the other hand if you get a degree in philosophy or psychology or art history then it will most likely be worthless.

Both philosophy and psychology are reasonably well regarded degrees. Not so sure about art history though. Probably a requirement for art historians I'd imagine.

 

[_angel_]

I only have level two which doesn't pay so well..I have looked for college/Sure Start etc work but so far no luck.
Good luck with what you choose-don't think would personally recommend childcare unless you find a place that pays OK which can be quite hard. Lot of hard work, shit, vomit, Ofsted pressure, stroppy parents and violent kids and unpaid overtime writing reports etc at home. Still rather do it than work in a n office though. The good times are wonderful and kids are entertaining and fun but tis lovely handing them back over at four

Vomit doesn't phase me neither does poo!!!

I noticed at my sons nursery they seem to spend a helluvalot of time filling out forms which looks a bit dispiriting.

The pay rates for jobs I saw advertised Sure Start and college creche weren't that bad though circa £15/16 k pro rata.

 

[_angel_]

if ya get a degree in a bleedin' worthwhile area such as accounting or computers or engineering then its a great asset. on the other hand if you get a degree in philosophy or psychology or art history then it will most likely be worthless.

Oi don't diss History! At least it's a proper subject. I suppose it shows you can analyse texts and read books. Basically a degree is just saying to an employer I can stick something out for three years and have the planning skills to complete deadlines and sort out my own time management to learn for exams. Or some such.

 

[Detroit City]

Both philosophy and psychology are reasonably well regarded degrees.

maybe if its a masters degree but not for a bachelors only. I was talking about worthwhile bachelors degrees.

 

[Detroit City]

Basically a degree is just saying to an employer I can stick something out for three years and have the planning skills to complete deadlines and sort out my own time management to learn for exams.

maybe so, but here in the states a bachelors degree in engineering will get the graduate a starting salary of $45,000 per year whereas a bachelors degree in english will only bring $23,000.