University degree not worth as much as touted

Really2

SingleSue wrote: »

I have to agree with the above completely. My eldest son is dyslexic and had been written off as, well, completely stupid (even had one teacher say that when intelligence was handed out, my son was at the bottom of the pile).

He loves books, he loves writing but up until he started his GCSE's, was attaining scores more suited to a primary school child rather than one at senior school...but he WANTED to be able to write. Fast forward to now, he has picked up his predicted exam score from an E to a B, has been described as a talented writer (if a little dark and weird, think Jeffrey Deaver ) and has just been put in to do English Lit on top of English Langauge...something we never thought possible just 18 months ago.

It has taken an awful lot of hard work on his part to get there but he was determined to break the confines of dyslexia...and he has.

Mind you, I'm still disappointed he didn't go with his sciences for A levels, he is predicted A's in Chemistry and Physics and a B in Biology for GCSE!

That is great news Sue. I always like a story like this because I know from experience we are always written off as "Lazy writers etc."
The fact is it is the opposite we have to take twice as long to achieve what others class as normal. I think the age of the computer is great because it has helped to unlock the potential of many who would have been written off in the past.

carolt

I agree with both of you - but Sue's case is not about real limits - the point of the story is that the school imposd artificial limits that were not appropriate for her son, and limited him, literally.

What I mean is that when at Oxford I had to do work (and live life) in a way that was intellectually, physically and emotionally stretching in a way that I hadn't experienced before, and that enabled me to stretch my brain and know where it 'hurt'. Does that make sense?

And I'm comfortable with that. I got my 2:1 - I know my brain is good enough for anything I need to do in normal ife, and better than many - but equally, I know that I'm no genius - I worked damn hard.

Having pushed myself to my limits, I don't feel the need to constantly do it again.

Obviously, there were areas that university didn't test - setting up your own business is one you mentioned that has been very stretching for me, and I'm still learning my strengths and weaknesses there.

It's like I don't mind being a woman - I'm sure any of the men on here could beat in a fight, because I'm a girl. No problem.

I don't think everyone is equal and equally capable of everything. I think everyone is unique, with special strengths, loves and passions.

That's what makes this place so fantastic - because you come up against others who come from such different 'places', who have such different areas of expertise. I'm learning all the time. Feeling my way.

I certainly don't claim to be any expert (except at grammar, maybe ) - I doubt I'll ever get my head round all the economics.

But it's fun trying.

Really2

carolt wrote: »

I
What I mean is that when at Oxford I had to do work (and live life) in a way that was intellectually, physically and emotionally stretching in a way that I hadn't experienced before, and that enabled me to stretch my brain and know where it 'hurt'. Does that make sense?

Having pushed myself to my limits, I don't feel the need to constantly do it again.

Again I get most of your post but I really don't agree with that. I can't see you could possibly hit your limit before starting a job.

A lot of teaches drop out after starting teaching, they obviously did not find uni thier limit.

SingleSue

I am forever pushing my limits.....in fact, I think I would go as far as saying I haven't a clue what my limits are!

I was told I would need an access to learning course before starting the degree, or at the very least, some A levels...I ignored them (I'm a stubborn begger) and just got on and started the degree. I didn't flounder in my first year, in fact, I did better than the average!

Mind you, anything I do, I like to take it to the limit and over it...from working to dieting.

carolt

Really2 wrote: »

Again I get most of your post but I really don't agree with that. I can't see you could possibly hit your limit before starting a job.

A lot of teaches drop out after starting teaching, they obviously did not find uni thier limit.

No - as I said, not all limits, but certainly intellectual limits.

As I said, business skills for example, or indeed teaching skills, are NOT tested at university.

But intellectual skills are pretty applicable in most lines of work.

carolt

SingleSue wrote: »

I am forever pushing my limits.....in fact, I think I would go as far as saying I haven't a clue what my limits are!

I was told I would need an access to learning course before starting the degree, or at the very least, some A levels...I ignored them (I'm a stubborn begger) and just got on and started the degree. I didn't flounder in my first year, in fact, I did better than the average!

Mind you, anything I do, I like to take it to the limit and over it...from working to dieting.

Maybe your limits are very, very high Sue - from stuff you've said before about the Mensa-type ability of your family, that may well be the case...

It may take more than a degree to 'test' you.

But for us ordinary mortals, it's good training.

MissMoneypenny

olly300 wrote: »

However due to the media perception and the knowledge of bad comprehensives one, reason why people send their kids to private school is that they want their average ability child to learn in a class where they are not disrupted.

My son shared his first university house with five students who were from private schools. They struggled at university with the reseach they had to do for themselves instead of the constant help they had received from their teachers at private schools. I'm not saying are all private school pupils are like that, but these were from five different private schools, yet they had to get A grades to get to that university! I was amazed to watch two of them struggle with basics maths that most primary school children could do.

One set of parents even arrived at the house during exam time and sat there every day to ensure their daughter was studying as she had struggled in her first year. In the final year, one of them failed his degree and the other four only managed to barely scrape a degree by getting a third.

The final year my son shared a house with students who got their A passes from state schools. One passed her degree with a First and the other two got 2:1s.

I've been through all the agony that some parents put themselves through re schooling, but the best bit of advice I received was from a teacher who said that a clever child will always do well. Parents also have to realise that teachers aren't miracle workers and they can't make a silk purse out of a sows ear.

Really2

SingleSue wrote: »

I am forever pushing my limits.....in fact, I think I would go as far as saying I haven't a clue what my limits are!

100% with you on that Sue. The more pressure I get the better I work and the more it inspires me.

MissMoneypenny

SingleSue wrote: »

I was told I would need an access to learning course before starting the degree, or at the very least, some A levels...I ignored them (I'm a stubborn begger) and just got on and started the degree.

You could have done your degree with The Open University as they make no such stipulation.

What degree are you doing and where?

Out,_Vile_Jelly

Very interesting thread.

I think it's important to be aware that OxBridge isn't the be all and end all. When I was at school (local comp) we got very good UCAS advice from the Deputy Head of 6th Form who made it his business to be very knowledgeable about options. I was recommended to apply for OxBridge by my Biology teacher, but wanted to study English Lit and was advised that a redbrick uni would actually be better for that. We were told that you'd be better off doing Modern Languages elsewhere, and at the time Nottingham was considered the best for Medicine and that's where the brightest girl in the year went. Liverpool was the best rated for Vet School then.

Many people don't just go to uni for academic rigour; I grew up in the sticks and it was a chance to move to a big city with bright lights, paved roads and civilisation. Employers will look at how you used your free time, long holidays and opportunities for placements and internships- it's probably the most flexible time of your life in terms of work experience.