University degree not worth as much as touted

Really2

lostinrates wrote: »

I'd like to be educated for no reason...or no financial reason.

I see to gain knowledge as a good reason (but not to be state funded). By no reason I suppose I mean not having the career the degree deserves.

If a degree is only done to gain knowledge you are right it should not be state funded.

SingleSue

Really2 wrote: »

Congrats on doing the degree Sue, and just playing Devils advocate do you think it is the piece of paper or the break from work that has stopped you getting back into management?
Personally if I lost my Job I would expect to have to work my way up again to some extent.
I think the open university will show a new employer you are dedicated and most probably more employable because of that, but being an employer work brakes can be the major problem. I could never expect to be at the same level I am now if I had a 15 year break, it would be virtually starting again.
But the degree will give you more options for jobs that require degrees.

I would say a bit of both to be honest.

I haven't been applying for manager level positions and am quite willing to start at the bottom of the tree again (been there and done it before during and after having the children).

I think what scares a lot of people is the fact I am sole carer to 2 known disabled children with all that entails plus the fact I have been out of the job market for a couple of years...the non degree holder just makes it that little bit harder too.

I can work on the degree part to solve that but the sole carer to disabled children is something I can't change.

Really2

Pobby wrote: »

I`m not sure that a degree always cuts it as far as earnings go. I have a relative with dyslexia, doesn`t stop him earning £100k per annum. I have friends with PHDs earning much less. I have operated as self employed for about 25 years. Good years at a bit under 50k and right now it`s a bit around 20k but part time. I dare say that I could up that a fair bit but I am enjoying a bit of winding down time and having most days off.

There are real skills that can be learned to provide a decent income with out a degree. I did start to train as a teacher but illness enforced a long stay at hospital.

Totally agree with all of that.

StevieJ

carolt wrote: »

Ermmm.... :question:

To paraphrase Orwell (Napoleon)

All degrees (universities) are equal but some are more equal than others

Mr_Matey

I'd love to study philosophy, languages or maybe something like Archaeology. I don't think such a degree would lead to a pay increase, or different career path, I just like to learn stuff like that.

The degrees I did do though, counted towards professional qualifications, got my foot in the door with my employer, and massively increased my earning potential.

Both types of degrees have value, but a lot of people don't use their degrees in their work, so you would hardly expect their earnings to be higher just because they have a degree.

As an aside, I remember a joke from uni (probably very old) that a Science student asks why something works, an Engineering student asks how it works, and an Arts student asks would you like fries with that.

Really2

carolt wrote: »

Totally disagree - my OH's cousin is in a pickle bcause without a degree, his years of very specific experience count for nothing. Sure, he can get a burger-flipping job, but that's not what he needs to pay the mortgage.

With a degree all the generic admin/management type jobs become open to you - a la my MIL. Even - as in her case - without the experience.
.

That is absolute rubbish you would not get a management job just because you have a degree !!!!

I am sure anyone highly trained in aeronautics would find it fairly easy to get work in any manufacturing/mechanical job so you seem to have a very low opinion of your cousin.

As for your mil you said she got a job in the career she trained in locally, you have seemed to confused yourself on this one carolt.

Your point.

carolt wrote: »

OH's cousin was exactly the same as you, trained in his job, good pay - made redundant last year. Company closed down UK production. Not trained for anything else - what else can he do?

Just bought a house recently, got married, wife won't let him move elsewhere - not a good situation to be in.

Just to point out, university/broader education can be good when your lifeplan doesn't work out quite as smoothly as you hoped.

What would be the difference if you had a career related degree and that work had left the area?

Where are the iron on management jobs for degree holders?

lostinrates

Mr_Matey wrote: »

As an aside, I remember a joke from uni (probably very old) that a Science student asks why something works, an Engineering student asks how it works, and an Arts student asks would you like fries with that.

Wicked but funny.

Rather like the rumour that in a loo at Wadham there is graffiti abve the loo-roll dispenser saying ''Social Sciences degrees, please take one''

Really2

carolt wrote: »

I think the argument is that we can't and don't wish to compete with China - we want an educated workforce so we can be the next Germany, Japan etc.

But as Germanys unemployment and Japans deflation tells us it is not entirely feasable and who is going to build it?

You cant make a degree related job for everyone otherwise in reality a degree is worth nothing. That is kind of the op's point, degrees are being devalued.

It is simple logic that stands to reason in economics over supply = lower demand = lower prices.

unfortunately that "lower price" will be the wages that degree gets you, a lot are finding already that a degree does not = more money.

Think broadly and look what happened when houses were in over supply what happened? Now relate that to this.

Mr_Matey

lostinrates wrote: »

Wicked but funny.

Rather like the rumour that in a loo at Wadham there is graffiti abve the loo-roll dispenser saying ''Social Sciences degrees, please take one''

There was some funny graffiti in the McDonalds toilets (George St Sydney) that said something like "Quarter Pounder recycling - please flush." Class. :rotfl:

Maybe we should start a funny graffiti thread...

Really2

Mr_Matey wrote: »

As an aside, I remember a joke from uni (probably very old) that a Science student asks why something works, an Engineering student asks how it works, and an Arts student asks would you like fries with that.

That kind of sums up what I am trying to say. The latter degree there gains you knowledge but is it really worth it (if your reason to going to university was to gain a good career) unless you want to know about art?