No degree? Fuck off we don’t want ya!

[Kid_Eternity]

lol , if you saw my address book, there would be a straight look at the door for me

 

[EastEnder]

it makes me cross though - degree classifications should be standardised.

In an ideal world, but it's hardly practical. After all, the entry requirements for uni/ex-poly these days vary enormously. Some places will accept you on a bachelors degree with 1 E at A level. Places like Oxford expect 4 A's as the starting point.......

If the pass marks for degrees were standardised, then everyone at Oxford would get a first and everyone at Bogner Technical College would get a 3rd.......

 

[_angel_]

I had to get around 90% for my first.

*polishes shiny badge*

was that a maths/ sciencey subject by any chance. I know in arts degrees (I did history) a first was over 70% but then they don't tend to hand out 100% or anywhere even near to that for essay based subjects.

Although it seems to have changed now (at gcse level) hearing about people getting 100%.. it never happened in our day

 

[spanglechick]

In an ideal world, but it's hardly practical. After all, the entry requirements for uni/ex-poly these days vary enormously. Some places will accept you on a bachelors degree with 1 E at A level. Places like Oxford expect 4 A's as the starting point.......

If the pass marks for degrees were standardised, then everyone at Oxford would get a first and everyone at Bogner Technical College would get a 3rd.......

and your problem is?

 

[EastEnder]

and your problem is?

Who the fuck's going to apply to Bogner Tech College when they know they'll come out with a 3rd?!?!?

The current system may be flawed, but it wouldn't work any other way. Everyone knows that a 1st from Oxford is vastly more impressive than a 1st from tinpot town college - it's not like anyone would confuse the two! Equally, a 3rd from Oxford is probably on a par with a 1st from many small town institutions.

To standardise pass marks would require a dramatic sea change in how the system works and how people perceive it. It would take years for society to adapt. Whole generations would be screwed because rather than getting a 2:1 from a run of mill college, they'd get a 3rd, and people who would've got a 3rd at Oxford would end up with a 1st!

 

[lobster]

I think standardlization is a good step forward, it would obviously empty most of the universities though.
Regarding GCSE,S , the standards have certainly hit a low, to make this country seem bright.

Alot of areas are possibly better left alone as polytechnic status, the work is more practical and perhaps geared for the workplace opposed to research...

In some countires polytechnic education still exists, and as far as i know, its good education.

 

[axomoxia]

I'd hazard a guess that an IT degree from Bogner Technical College is probably better than a degree from Toff Corpus College, Oxbridge. A universities general ranking doesn't always mean the same for all their courses. Especially when Toff Corpus dosn't actually teach you anything useful in the real world....

On the plus the OP will be happy to know that the chap we want to hire (as a IT developer) has eight GCSEs and started work as a fitter....

Andy

 

[lobster]

as far as oxbridge goes , computer science courses are good academically, i would say ucl,imperial,york,durahm andwarick are just as good as well.

the webcam was discovered at cambridge, alot of encryption algorithm were/are researched at oxbridge. At other universities, other area are considered more researched...

IT is a ambigous word , it can mean ample things to anyone....

 

[EastEnder]

I think standardisation is a good step forward, it would obviously empty most of the universities though.

Genuine standardisation, where a 1st is a 1st, be it from Cambridge or Clacton, would be untenable in the current political climate.

The government is obsessed with sending as many people as possible to university. This may not be a very popular observation, but people aren't all of equal academic ability.... The more people go to uni, the greater the spread of abilities becomes. Consequently, with true standardisation there'd be vast numbers of graduates leaving uni after 3 years with 3rds, and comparatively few with 1sts. Is it realistic to expect the number of uni applicants to carry on growing or even remain static under such as regime? Not a chance.

The end result would be a significant reduction in the number of people going to uni - only those who think they could do well at somewhere like Oxford would bother applying, after all if everything's standardised, then you'd have to achieve the same at Clacton college as you would at Cambridge in order to get the same degree class.

So while Blair et al are set on increasing uni attendance, and the colleges need the funds after all, the chances of standardisation are remote, in the extreme......

 

[Tom A]

In July I graduated with a 2:2 in Geography and Applied Environmental Science (dual honours). I have still not got a job now, due to zero experience in anything other than uni, the complete lack of anything other than mostly call centre work where I live (Stoke-on-Trent), and the multitude of problems caused by suffering from an autistic specturm disorder. In the meantime I am on Incapacity Benefit hoping that disabled student's allowance would be able to at least partially cover the tuitions fees at postgrad level, as I feel that staying in academia will be my only way of not languishing on benefits for the rest of my life. The first six months of uni were particualy bollocks for me.

 

[Hollis]

Genuine standardisation, where a 1st is a 1st, be it from Cambridge or Clacton, would be untenable in the current political climate.

It was also be incorrect. Cambridge degrees are likely to be more demanding than the same course elsewhere.

 

[EastEnder]

It was also be incorrect. Cambridge degrees are likely to be more demanding than the same course elsewhere.

Reluctantly, I'd have to agree..... (guess which accountant went to Cambridge.... )

And the thing is, pretty much everyone knows that!

For donkeys years, everyone has known that uni's aren't made equal. An Oxbridge degree is harder to get than a ex-poly equivalent.

Flawed as the current system may be, people understand it.

 

[spanglechick]

Reluctantly, I'd have to agree..... (guess which accountant went to Cambridge.... )

And the thing is, pretty much everyone knows that!

For donkeys years, everyone has known that uni's aren't made equal. An Oxbridge degree is harder to get than a ex-poly equivalent.

Flawed as the current system may be, people understand it.

maybe -

i think i'm just a bit narked because i didn't know anywhere was easier than my crappy old ex poly.

it means, in theory, i could have done even less work for my 2.2 in "prannying around on stage, watching films and reading books"

 

[EastEnder]

I'm quite happy with the current system.

There's no way I'd have got away with doing as little work as I did and still have ended up with a 2:1 in Computer Science if I'd gone to Oxbridge....

 

[Streathamite]

Cheers for that Jezza, a much appreciated insight that. Thing is if I showed them my address book on my mobile phone I reckon some of them would be a little shocked (journos, PAs MPs, high ranking political types, heads of education orgs etc). What I’m going to have to do is work that into the cover letters without it seeming too showy!

errmmm...will any of those names write a personal ref? i'll draft it for you if you want.;
also, can't help thinking you may be missing a trick. network, man, network! USE your contacts.

 

[jæd]

The government is obsessed with sending as many people as possible to university. This may not be a very popular observation, but people aren't all of equal academic ability.... The more people go to uni, the greater the spread of abilities becomes. Consequently, with true standardisation there'd be vast numbers of graduates leaving uni after 3 years with 3rds, and comparatively few with 1sts. Is it realistic to expect the number of uni applicants to carry on growing or even remain static under such as regime? Not a chance.

But, but, doesn't the increased numbers of people passing A-levels show that students are getting brighter...? So more people should be able to get Firsts in a standardised marking scheme... Or could it mean that A-levels are what they used to be...? I'm a bit

 

[Streathamite]

IT is a ambigous word , it can mean ample things to anyone....

to be more precise; it is a vast, diverse, multi-faceted field

 

[lobster]

The end result would be a significant reduction in the number of people going to uni - only those who think they could do well at somewhere like Oxford would bother applying, after all if everything's standardised, then you'd have to achieve the same at Clacton college as you would at Cambridge in order to get the same degree class.

If this happend hypothetically a debate could be initiated weather universities need to be everywhere, alot of money could be spent on better health or higher benefits to the unemployed or something, where by in the universities place a college course that has a more practical approach would be a lot cheaper,where by the goverment would not have to spend so much money as there would be less resources to fund.
I don't disagree with you in that not everyone is smart, especially by the titles of the some of the degrees that exist. Obviously the title is not everything either.
Don't misread what i am writing, i still believe in more than one university as everything cannot fit into area, it could , but it would be like a colony with just students.

But, but, doesn't the increased numbers of people passing A-levels show that students are getting brighter...? So more people should be able to get Firsts in a standardised marking scheme... Or could it mean that A-levels are what they used to be...? I'm a bit

I would be more inclinded to go with the latter, that A-levels have become simplified.

 

[_angel_]

If this happend hypothetically a debate could be initiated weather universities need to be everywhere, alot of money could be spent on better health or higher benefits to the unemployed or something, where by in the universities place a college course that has a more practical approach would be a lot cheaper,where by the goverment would not have to spend so much money as there would be less resources to fund.
I don't disagree with you in that not everyone is smart, especially by the titles of the some of the degrees that exist. Obviously the title is not everything either.
Don't misread what i am writing, i still believe in more than one university as everything cannot fit into area, it could , but it would be like a colony with just students.




I would be more inclinded to go with the latter, that A-levels have become simplified.

They've certainly changed them I think. For the record my sister who's doing A level Maths now says they've shaved a lot of the syllabus from when she took it first time round at school over ten years ago. And Maths is still bloody hard but all the same!

 

[Callie]

errmmm...will any of those names write a personal ref? i'll draft it for you if you want.;
also, can't help thinking you may be missing a trick. network, man, network! USE your contacts.

either that or if any of them can provde you with relevant work experience take it! I guess it all depends what sort of jobs youre going for

Most people don't have the advantage of knowing people who might be able to get them a foot in the door.

 

[Streathamite]

either that or if any of them can provde you with relevant work experience take it! I guess it all depends what sort of jobs youre going for
.

erm good point - elucidate KE?

Most people don't have the advantage of knowing people who might be able to get them a foot in the door

absolutely - which is why when you get contacts like that you milk 'em.
hearken unto me, KE.

 

[lobster]

They've certainly changed them I think. For the record my sister who's doing A level Maths now says they've shaved a lot of the syllabus from when she took it first time round at school over ten years ago. And Maths is still bloody hard but all the same!

Thats a interesting point worth mentioning,from this years ucas Mathematics search i would think at degree level maths is at standard level, as maths is hard facts layed in stone until proven otherwise, that should not be simplified.
Obviously i am wrong, as there lowering the A-level standards.

 

[_angel_]

Thats a interesting point worth mentioning,from this years ucas Mathematics search i would think at degree level maths is at standard level, as maths is hard facts layed in stone until proven otherwise, that should not be simplified.
Obviously i am wrong, as there lowering the A-level standards.

Problem is the AS/ A2 totally fail subjects like Maths that build up on knowledge. It may be fine for a topic based arts subject, like English or History but my sis is finding she's getting tested on stuff before it's had chance to make sense. I started doing it for one term (and we were racing ahead of her class which she reckoned was going faster than it had ever done at school) and just needed longer to get it in my head.

So in one sense, yeah, they've shaved stuff off the syllabus, but it's because students are expected to do an exam for half the A level - it can be as early as february!!!!!!) that just is too soon to have absorbed the information.

fwiw my friend who is super brainy and went on to get an A at A level Maths reckoned it was only in the last few weeks of the A level course it all fell into place.


Anyway that's just my take on it.

 

[Portia]

i was wondering if anyone knows how the open university measures on the easy/hard scale, compared to ex polys and 'good' unis. i'm going to be starting a course in october.... everyone's told me it's got a really good reputation, what does that actually mean?

 

[spanglechick]

just since it's been mentioned, fwiw, exams themselves are not easier - but teachers are compelled to improve results year on year - and so now:

teach exclusively to the exam
spoonfeed the children their coursework
put in an inordinate amount of time making sure no one fails through not handing stuff in, or not being bothered to pay attention.

 

[Descartes]

The key questions is, How employable are you as an individual?

Friends daughter attended college, only wanted to do NVQ, started as Secretary, within a year, PA and traveling the country all expenses paid, very pleased, and attends all new work related courses. All the makings of a high flyer, but initially, very quiet and not over confident, now knows what to do and how to get things done.

The rules for IT, be a team player, work with people, the guy into machine code at five, swallow your pride and work with the other guys, regardless.

How you present yourself and what image you project is the key issue. make sure you answer the questions in the advert. Do not ramble on about totally unrelated work experience if it does not relate to the position.

Recent short listing, only one candidate asnwered the questions in the advert. One used 10 font to get it all on two pages. another went into four pages. If in doubt, don't.

Be concise, succinct, legible and readable. practise your answers, with friends with work experience, don't hesitate, if in doubt ask for the question to be repeated.

 

[jarhood]

hi everyone....right I am in the middle of a 4 year degree and am thinking I don’t want to do thins anymore it was cool at first moving to another city and living with my mates. Am doing advertising and marketing BA but to tell you’re the truth my passion is in graphics design and flash animation I have been doing it for about 5 years now and am good. Good enough to teach though my summers. The government offered me money to go to university and being only person in my family to do so I took the chance. But now it looks like am going to waste another 2 years of my life. Do I quit and follow my passion and do the only thing is good at or do I stick it out a keep going in this depressing course. I have fallen in to debt for what. I mean everyone has gone a degree but not many people have my skills in IT. Are 22 now ill being 24 when am done...any ideas....

 

[Xanadu]

I wish I could listen to myself when I say that just cos you're good at something doesn't mean you have to do it for a living.

 

[jarhood]

true but i enjoy it and i think everyone would like a job they enjoy....

 

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

true but i enjoy it and i think everyone would like a job they enjoy....

I've got a job I enjoy and I hate it!