University degree not worth as much as touted

baby_boomer

Radiantsoul wrote: »

Do you have any evidence for such a bold assumption

Unis are still awarding 2:2s - just fewer of them. The movement upwards has nevertheless been persistent (in spite of the increasing numbers attending). Ring any bells from the A Level debates?

My source - about the Unis being frightened of parental complaints in the age of student fees - is a Russell Group university admissions tutor.

beckeroo wrote: »

2:2 Yes you can still get them. The drinkers degree!!.

How revealing. So a Desmond (Tutu) has effectively replaced a Thora (Hird) over last three decades!

Generali

MissMoneypenny wrote: »

It's a good theory, but how does that explain how I went into investment banking? My parents didn't know about investment banking.

Same with me. My parents didn't know anything about it and I went to state schools for the whole of my education so I didn't hang out with City workers' kids or anything either. Most of my mates' dads did normal office or skilled jobs (plumbers etc).

I got into Investment Banking by accident really. I got a temp job doing data entry for Standard Chartered then lied about what I'd done there to get a temp job with another bank that was much better than data entry. I was rubbish so they fired me but by the time they got around to canning me I was skilled so got a third job which I was then able to do and thrived at.

GDB2222

Generali wrote: »

I got a temp job doing data entry for Standard Chartered then lied about what I'd done there to get a temp job with another bank that was much better than data entry. I was rubbish so they fired me but by the time they got around to canning me I was skilled so got a third job which I was then able to do and thrived at.

Sounds like you've absorbed banking's high moral code then.

baby_boomer

:rotfl::rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

lostinrates

ninky wrote: »

it's interesting everyone is still touting uk unis as the best option. what about the sorbonne? or harvard?

Which everyone?

fwiw, I think the BEST education is possibly a varied one. My sil went to oxford, then sorbonne, then an Ivy League and now considering next option. Niece 1 is considering US Ivy league for her choice too. Its an expensive option though.

lostinrates

lostinrates wrote: »

I'm in a bit of a stew about trying to cope at all in French actually....I'll either cope a bit or I won't.....

fwiw I coped In fact, alone I coped quite, having a bit of a joke with some people in a supermarket and forgettin it might be an issue it wasn't. After that I did find it harder, possibly because I became more aware of it, having thought about it. Also, I hav fallen into terrible habits of not relly trying when DH or someone else is around to do it for me: very, very bad.

Anyway ...its cool I coped, I'm proud of it, and while I most certainly was not fluent most of the time and would have been able to transcribe conversation I kept up for the mos part. was trying to translate from english in the main though....which is always a recipe for lack of fluency!

ninky_2

lostinrates wrote: »

Which everyone?

fwiw, I think the BEST education is possibly a varied one. My sil went to oxford, then sorbonne, then an Ivy League and now considering next option. Niece 1 is considering US Ivy league for her choice too. Its an expensive option though.

i've heard parents sometimes get special tutors to coach them in activities that get the points for ivy league. like starting your own charity.

ninky_2

MissMoneypenny wrote: »

It's a good theory, but how does that explain how I went into investment banking? My parents didn't know about investment banking.

well there will always be exceptions. i'm talking about trends rather than individual anecdotes. you can find heavy smokers that don't get lung cancer but the stats will show heavy smokers are more likely to get lung cancer.

are you saying parental background is not a major factor in future career success?

lostinrates

ninky wrote: »

are you saying parental background is not a major factor in future career success?

fwiw I think its clear it is, and clear that people can also buck trend. It doesn't need to be within same career either, although that often helps. Just the reinforcement of work ethic, following interests, commitment to goals can be transferred...or not, to children from home environments.

MissMoneypenny

carolt wrote: »

I don't know, how does it explain how you went into investment banking?

Slightly off-topic (but only slightly) can you tell how you did end up doing that?

I'm just interested.

When I realised I couldn’t be a show jumper, I applied to work for banks that sponsored horse trials as I thought I could be the one holding the cushion with the ribbons and be near horses all day. Then maybe get "discovered" to ride for an owner.:D Instead the bank selected me to be one of the staff fast tracked through their system. I soon realised that their way, I could earn enough to buy my own horses. Then the long working hours took over and the horses had to go as I then had the money but not the time. Plus, I loved investment banking.