Your thoughts on university

Buzzybee90

Flugelhorn wrote: »

Oh yes. It ultimately comes down to the Uni and the degree - there are some places that I wouldn't have been so keen to see DC go to and help with funding.

Always wary of the "first class hons" from some places that would be the equiv of a 2:2 or

I think that's a bit of an exaggeration.

You have to look within the unis at separate courses, for example I went to a normal uni, but the grade entry was high - my A levels would have got me into many 'traditional' unis but I far preferred the one I went to. I've known some friends at my uni with courses that allowed them in with what I'd call bad grades but others that didn't get in with their much higher grades, for a different subject.

I was the only female first classer on my course, so I know they're certainly not easy to come by.

Some new unis are amazing for some courses.

Buzzybee90

claire21 wrote: »

Thanks all

They have no idea what they want to do, I didn't when I left school at 17. I wonder will a time come when they do know.

I get the whole experience of cooking, money management, catching a bus etc but isn't that what we did when we just left home anyway?

Yes, I'm sure it is. It's just those that didn't go are still living at home!

notanewuser

I don't seem to be able to post my reply!

poet123 wrote: »

I don't disagree but are you the norm? What field are you in? Could you do the same starting out today?

HR. I had no idea what I wanted to be at 18. I took academic and arty A levels despite advice not to. I had worked 30+ hours a week at a hotel through my GCSEs and moved out at 17. I was restaurant manager by 19 (and studying an HNC in my own time), then moved to Conference and Banqueting manager at 21. I covered the finance manager's maternity leave and enjoyed it so much that I moved into accounts for the chain rather than the hotel. From there

lika_86

Buzzybee90 wrote: »

I think that's a bit of an exaggeration.

You have to look within the unis at separate courses, for example I went to a normal uni, but the grade entry was high - my A levels would have got me into many 'traditional' unis but I far preferred the one I went to. I've known some friends at my uni with courses that allowed them in with what I'd call bad grades but others that didn't get in with their much higher grades, for a different subject.

I was the only female first classer on my course, so I know they're certainly not easy to come by.

Some new unis are amazing for some courses.

Depends though, any Oxbridge degree is likely to be viewed as more academically rigorous than even a well-regarded course from an ex-poly.

claire21

Ok I don't want to side track it and I had to look up hierarchies lol

So what you are saying is the exam pass levels can be the same but it's a bit of snobbery where you got it from, for what of a better word?

Buzzybee90

lika_86 wrote: »

Depends though, any Oxbridge degree is likely to be viewed as more academically rigorous than even a well-regarded course from an ex-poly.

Of course, but most of us don't go to Oxbridge.

Flugelhorn

Buzzybee90 wrote: »

I think that's a bit of an exaggeration.

You have to look within the unis at separate courses, for example I went to a normal uni, but the grade entry was high - my A levels would have got me into many 'traditional' unis but I far preferred the one I went to. I've known some friends at my uni with courses that allowed them in with what I'd call bad grades but others that didn't get in with their much higher grades, for a different subject.

I was the only female first classer on my course, so I know they're certainly not easy to come by.

Some new unis are amazing for some courses.

It does vary by course and employers will know this - at least well informed companies will.
the comment about the equivalence of degrees was slightly tongue in cheek I am afraid and probably related to ranting from OH about DPhil theses he has reviewed the quality of which really bears no relation to the class of first degree the individual got.
I find the whole thing about which uni quite curious - I studied medicine and basically you come out with the same qualification / registration wherever you go - I picked a Uni that sounded quite nice and applied - now it is one of the hardest to get into and I am sure they would never have taken me if I applied now...

Buzzybee90

claire21 wrote: »

Ok I don't want to side track it and I had to look up hierarchies lol

So what you are saying is the exam pass levels can be the same but it's a bit of snobbery where you got it from, for what of a better word?

The degrees are worth exactly the same, but some people view them differently - either because they think the degrees differ in rigour, or because they're snobs and will think their 2.2 from Durham is inherently better than anything you can get from an ex-poly.

daisiegg

The university experience? For me, looking back on it, it was the chance to have time to pursue interests,and a lack of stress. Kids these days are so stressed at school. Then work takes up all your time and causes you stress. University felt like a period of absolute FREEDOM. Of course you do have studying and exams to do but you have lots of time to do it and lots of resources to help you. It was just great. I had time to do lots of volunteering (which was good for my cv) and I really enjoyed things like managing money, living independently, learning to cook, etc. I didn't do the whole party lifestyle and nor did most of the people I knew.

My brother is in his first year of uni at the moment, studying engineering at a top university. His course is pretty intensive - lots more contact hours than some other courses, particularly arts courses. However, he is having an absolute ball. He is in a mountaineering society and frequently goes off with them at weekends on mountaineering courses all over the country - heavily subsidised, making it something that realistically he really would not be able to do at any other time in his life. He is in a running group and has made great friends that way..... And I am getting a migraine and can't see what I am typing so I will cone back and edit this to finish my message later!

lika_86

claire21 wrote: »

Ok I don't want to side track it and I had to look up hierarchies lol

So what you are saying is the exam pass levels can be the same but it's a bit of snobbery where you got it from, for what of a better word?

Put it this way, a lot of universities offer law degrees, but 2.1 from a top university (Oxbridge and Russell Group) is much more likely to be well regarded than a 2.1 or even 1st from an ex-poly where standards and quality are generally perceived to be lower.