Graduates 'Could be Jobless For Years'

GrammarGirl

themanbearpig wrote: »

If a young person truly wants to get into the media sector, they should read a subject like history, english literature or philospohy. Media studies, is and always will be, a doss subject. At 17(when you apply at university), its unfair to expect every young person to understand the implications of picking a subject that the world will look down on, which is why they should receive guidance from their school.
But the school would never dissuade a student from higher education as they need to push as many people into university to produce the statistics to make themselves look good on the league tables, with little or no regard for the student.

The finger of blame should firmly be put on the state, as there need for ever increasing graduates (to make the UK look good on the global stage!), has distorted the graduate market, and has given every undergraduate a terrible reputation.

But if I had done an English degree, would I have gained the knowledge I needed to do my job? Maybe not. I did media with journalism and haven't experienced any disdain for my qualification. However, for those without a clear idea of their career path I would always recommend a more generic, traditional degree as it inevitably will open more doors.

There's also the fact that a good degree from a traditional university requires high grades that many can not achieve. Should they be ostracised from higher education because of this, when so many jobs require a degree level education?

fc123

This thread is close to my heart.

2 X kids 22 and 15.
The 22 yr old bright enough to do whatever he would like but flighty, entrprenuerial (wonder where that came from?) just left uni with 2;1 (3 marks off 1st aparrently) in academic subject. Would really like to change the world (completely) , feels strongly about injustices that he sees here and in 3rd world. Wants to make a difference. But how?

His parents limp along along in The Bottom of The Pond...with freedom of mind but little cash to spare to free him from needing to earn an independent living.

His dad (my OH) had no choices..leave school at 16 to bring money into the household. He wanted to go to art college (in the days of free fees and grants) but his parents said 'no'. The talent he had was never realised...indirectly in our current work it is used, but it was never developed. His dad still doesn't think he has a 'Proper Job'.

So he went off to work in the butchers. 5 am start, got hung on a hook in the freezer (for a larf) , was sent out the back to kill the rats etc. His mother though't it was the best job ever as he got joints of meat to bring home for 'free'...but those joints were never 'free'.
He went to night school to get English and Maths O'Level as he didn't do well at school.....if you didn't turn up, no-one noticed...moved up to office work, accounts clerk...then met me.:cool:

They were actually very expensive 'Free' joints of meat longterm.

It ensured that he could never move 'up' and dam him for daring to protest...a very noble working class upbringing..all hair shirt, worthiness and angst.

I came from an academic back ground..just as much Hair Shirt/worthy stuff going on but coupled with academic 'suffering'. I rebelled..and left school ~@ 16...left home too.

Thank goodeness for free education as I retrained @ 20.....full grant, no student debts and it changed my life. ...but now, I think I should have stuck with the academia and done law..I would own a nicer house.:o

Daughter is very focused on her adult goals.
Wants very nice house, done up house, a cute doggy (she is so cross I won't have a dog) and a good earning hubby. Trad..and I don't argue with her,,,,it's normal for daughters not to want to be like mum.

So, she will go for the secretarial angle I guess...her art abilities are to die for...but she won't entertain it as a job/career. Not reliable enough income wise in her view.

misskool

I never knew what I wanted to do. I did A-levels in Sciences because I was good at Science. I then got a 2.1 from a redbrick university in a solid science subject and still didn't know what to do.

I then got a DPhil and I've now got a job but I still don't really know if this is all I want to do. Degrees and what you do for a living vs what you want to do could be diametrically opposite ends.

It's nice to see people who did degrees that are useful to what they want to do though. But a degree (or two) doesn't mean much when you don't really know what you want to do (or keep changing your mind!)

fc123

Cleaver wrote: »

I have a rather useless 2:2 in Archaeology. From a good uni though.

Aah..... but you know how to dig properly.;)

Pont

I've posted before on a similar subject (but on a different thread) so apols in advance!

My biggest gripe is that Nu Labour have encouraged all of these kids to go off to university on the understanding that a 2:2 in an 'alternative' degree will enable them to change the world and earn big bucks. If nothing else this is downright dishonest. In many cases they end up in the same jobs that they would have got without a degree but find themselves saddled with an additional mountain of student debt.

If I had a pound for each parent who has said proudly to me that little Johnny/Jenny is 'doing their degree' in some obscure subject at a dubious 'university' I could give up my day job. I have, in some cases, taught these kids at GCSE and they were lucky to get C grades. I could cry for these parents/kids because I am sure at least 90% of them will fall flat on their faces. In effect these degrees are practically worthless.

Many of the recent graduates would have best served to enter more vocational studies. We need to get away from the idea that everyone is a potential graduate.

vivatifosi

fc123 wrote: »

This thread is close to my heart.......

His dad (my OH) had no choices..leave school at 16 to bring money into the household. He wanted to go to art college (in the days of free fees and grants) but his parents said 'no'. The talent he had was never realised...indirectly in our current work it is used, but it was never developed. His dad still doesn't think he has a 'Proper Job'.

Its close to mine too. OH's experiences are not dissimilar to mine, though as a veggie I thank God that I didn't get sent to work at a butchers. I went to a dire comprehensive (still one of the lowest scoring in the county) and it seemed an absolute miracle that I managed to come out with any qualifications whatsoever. I left school for the world of work when my dad refused to pay my bus fare to go and study. Did all kinds of temp work before settling into work as a researcher (something that would not be possible today without a degree).

I did get my degree and my masters, but I've had to study for both while working and am a bit sad that I didn't get to experience the fun side of uni, just the slog. Having had to fight to get to study I don't resent those who go to uni, though I do wonder why they would bother to study something that doesn't achieve much. What I find even stranger though, is that group of people who go to uni, have the world of learning open up before them and then don't even try to learn. What's that all about?

PasturesNew

I've always wished this country had the setup that America has: where you can work full-time then go to nightschool to get your degree.

That'd have been cheaper/better all round for most people - and - evening classes would have been worthwhile instead of like they are now: just basic literacy, flower arranging or yoga.

treliac

Cleaver wrote: »

I knew exactly what I wanted to do at 4 too: be a postman. Granted, this was mainly based on Postman Pat,

At 5 all I wanted to do was to work in a sweet shop. Even turned down a very good proposal from the son of a moneyed family in favour of pursuing my dream!

barnaby-bear

PasturesNew wrote: »

I've always wished this country had the setup that America has: where you can work full-time then go to nightschool to get your degree.

That'd have been cheaper/better all round for most people - and - evening classes would have been worthwhile instead of like they are now: just basic literacy, flower arranging or yoga.

The UK has something better....the OU! Work full time, get funding and do it on a time-scale that suits you, plus you can pick and choose modules.... and it's well-respected and standards reasonably high....

misskool

Pont wrote: »

I've posted before on a similar subject (but on a different thread) so apols in advance!

My biggest gripe is that Nu Labour have encouraged all of these kids to go off to university on the understanding that a 2:2 in an 'alternative' degree will enable them to change the world and earn big bucks. If nothing else this is downright dishonest. In many cases they end up in the same jobs that they would have got without a degree but find themselves saddled with an additional mountain of student debt.

If I had a pound for each parent who has said proudly to me that little Johnny/Jenny is 'doing their degree' in some obscure subject at a dubious 'university' I could give up my day job. I have, in some cases, taught these kids at GCSE and they were lucky to get C grades. I could cry for these parents/kids because I am sure at least 90% of them will fall flat on their faces. In effect these degrees are practically worthless.

Many of the recent graduates would have best served to enter more vocational studies. We need to get away from the idea that everyone is a potential graduate.

:T:T:T

It's such a shame how a technical qualification/trade has become something to look down on when it's actually necessary to keep the country running.

There's no reason to turn many vocational qualifications into degrees, you just devalue the worth of the degree in general. A degree is something academic, not everyone is academic. Just need the government to realise this and not push silly targets!