University Courses with good career prospects

Person_one

tunde10 wrote: »

Okay, thanks for correcting me. I don't know much about Art but it sounds like a career where i would assume most successful people did not have to go to University to study.

Also it's good to know that History and Geography degrees are actually valuable. But can i ask what jobs can someone apply for after graduating with this?

Also Redbrick sounds like them top universities which is currently not a realistic option for majority of people. That's why i suggested courses where is entry isnt so difficult.

Finally its not about having a career planned out perfectly. Like i mentioned, he currently doesnt know what he wants to do. That's why i was trying to ask for help to make a list of courses.

Ok, I'm going to be brutally honest and say that it doesn't sound like you are the best person to be advising him.

Point him in the direction of projects.ac.uk, and encourage him to do lots of his own research, there's tons of information on the internet and a clever 17 year old will be able to find it.

Try not to worry so much about his future, he'll be fine, most people are even if they don't get it exactly right in their youth. In some ways, mistakes are good.

tunde10

Person_one wrote: »

Ok, I'm going to be brutally honest and say that it doesn't sound like you are the best person to be advising him.

Point him in the direction of projects.ac.uk, and encourage him to do lots of his own research, there's tons of information on the internet and a clever 17 year old will be able to find it.

Try not to worry so much about his future, he'll be fine, most people are even if they don't get it exactly right in their youth. In some ways, mistakes are good.

Okay, i'm not really advising him. Just wanted a good list of potential courses to give him that actually leads of a valuable degree.

But anyway i guess that website would do all that so i would definitely suggest that as well as seeing a careers advisor.

Would have been nice to get some suggestions based on personal experience though as that was my aim.

Person_one

tunde10 wrote: »

Okay, i'm not really advising him. Just wanted a good list of potential courses to give him that actually leads of a valuable degree.

But anyway i guess that website would do all that so i would definitely suggest that as well as seeing a careers advisor.

Would have been nice to get some suggestions based on personal experience though as that was my aim.

Nobody can tell you what the right course might be for one individual they've never met.

Every course has different strengths and weaknesses, leads to all sorts of different career paths and suits some students and not others. What is perfect for me or a 17 year old I know would be disastrous for another.

MoneySavingUser

tunde10 wrote: »

Also it's good to know that History and Geography degrees are actually valuable. But can i ask what jobs can someone apply for after graduating with this?

For things like being a Doctor you need a medical degree.

But for most other things any subject will do to a certain extent.

You mentioned 'Accounting & Finance' in your first post - all the large accounting firms i.e. PwC, Deloitte etc. take on lots of people with non-accounting degrees - look on their website at the student profiles you will find people who have done History, English etc.

Look for a local graduate career fair and look at jobs on sites like http://www.milkround.com/ & http://www.prospects.ac.uk/graduate_job_search.htm you'll find others aswell that don't need a specific degree.

liney

You seem to be overlooking the fact that traditional academic degrees have many transferrable skills. My history degree was about statistics, research and an awful lot of theory. It was not, 'Lizzy I became Queen after Mary I', and many students changed courses after the first year, unable to cope with the assignments.

At 17 he probably has a vague idea about what he wants to do. He should start his research there, and work backwards to see what he needs to achieve that.

If he really has no idea; none what so ever, I suggest a year out to focus his mind!

Dunroamin

Person_one wrote: »

Ok, I'm going to be brutally honest and say that it doesn't sound like you are the best person to be advising him.

Point him in the direction of projects.ac.uk, and encourage him to do lots of his own research, there's tons of information on the internet and a clever 17 year old will be able to find it.

Try not to worry so much about his future, he'll be fine, most people are even if they don't get it exactly right in their youth. In some ways, mistakes are good.

I think you mean http://www.prospects.ac.uk/

Dunroamin

tunde10 wrote: »

Okay, thanks for correcting me. I don't know much about Art but it sounds like a career where i would assume most successful people did not have to go to University to study.

Also it's good to know that History and Geography degrees are actually valuable. But can i ask what jobs can someone apply for after graduating with this?

Also Redbrick sounds like them top universities which is currently not a realistic option for majority of people. That's why i suggested courses where is entry isnt so difficult.

Finally its not about having a career planned out perfectly. Like i mentioned, he currently doesnt know what he wants to do. That's why i was trying to ask for help to make a list of courses.

With a few exceptions, if it's easy to get into, it isn't worth doing. The university you go to and the class of degree you achieve is, in many cases, more important than the subject.

Caroline_a

I went to uni. One of my daughters didnt. She is now earning (at 32) a 5 figure sum doing a job she loves. All by hard work. Uni isn't the key to success - it can be a shortcut in some cases, or an entry requirement in others, (teaching, medicine), but to spend £30k on 'I'm not sure what I want to do' seems bonkers.

tunde10

Just to let everyone know, im not his parent or even close. He is 18 & i am 23. I am asking in behalf of his brother who is concerned as whenever they talk about his university plans, he still has no clue. His brother made the mistake of studying Media studies at uni. Even though not the worst degree, it became pretty clear that it will be a very hard struggle to get a job especially in this economy. So i think its understandable to be a bit concerned about his brother

Also i've not said you have to go to University. I have school friends who didnt & are doing quite well & some of the ones who did have spent 2yrs out unemployed or in min wage jobs.

To be honest, i think he should be researching himself but its nice to try and put him in the right direction.

tunde10

Caroline_a wrote: »

but to spend £30k on 'I'm not sure what I want to do' seems bonkers.

Thats exactly why i was asking. Its stupid to go to Uni, do a pointless course for 3yrs. Only to come out and be on jsa or min wage for years. Its better to just work & get training once you leave school. But as far as i kno, he hasnt said he doesnt want to go University.