Did you go to University?

Devastator · 17th November 2006, 3:12pm

If yes, why?
Did you gain anything from it?
Did you actually enjoy it?
Are you glad you did?

If not, why?
What did you do instead?
Do you regret not going?

In your opinion, is getting a degree actually that important in terms of getting a well-paid job and getting ahead in life?

endless psych · 17th November 2006, 3:14pm

Yes - pretty much because it appeared to be what was expected if you got the grades.
I gained a hell of a lot from it though and enjoyed it maybe a little to much (as my degree classification probably shows...)

I am glad I went.

Zippy · 17th November 2006, 3:18pm

No, and I dunno what I've not got from it really - I'm in a good job working with people who have degrees and I've got a better job than a lot of folk with degrees. I would've like to have gone for the craic though.

**Kenny Everett** · 17th November 2006, 3:20pm

Yes, and I had a great time. As far as getting a job goes it's shot me in the foot to a degree (lol) because the qualification is so specific.

With the time to do again I'd have chosen differently

**djtoast** · 17th November 2006, 3:23pm

Why? - I'm interested in the subjects I studied!
Did you gain anything from it? Yup, far beyond the educational aspect.
Did you actually enjoy it? Yes, socially and for what I learned.
Are you glad you did? Certainly

In your opinion, is getting a degree actually that important in terms of getting a well-paid job and getting ahead in life? Not in the slightest. More so in my case than most, possibly.

katinacooker · 17th November 2006, 3:24pm

No. i miss not hanging around with my mates during the day, but with my job im finished before they are usually. i think i coulda made a lot of friends, but hey im happy with what i've got

Gadafti Inc. · 17th November 2006, 3:24pm

I went - got my degree etc.

it was fun - enjoyed myself and did a bit of learning for learnings sake.

I dunno if I could be as advanced in my career as I am if I had skipped it and taken a job in the area - I think for some people it raises their confidence and sense of self worth. If I had went into work from school I might not have had the ambition that I have and be as confident in my abilities and capacity.

who knows.

I think a vocational degree (engineering, management, business, science, law, accountancy, etc.) would have been very wrong for me. Felt I got most out of learning about what people think and how the world works.

BTW - BA Hons in Sociology in case you care

Devastator · 17th November 2006, 3:28pm

I should have made a poll, shouldn't I?

hotblonde · 17th November 2006, 3:30pm

I'm curious why you're intersted.

poprock · 17th November 2006, 3:33pm

I went to university (or art school, if you prefer). I got a first-class honours degree, but that’s beside the point. I spent four years immersed in a creative hothouse and squeezed as much experience, knowledge and fun out of it as I could. For anybody who wants to work in the arts professionally, art school is the greatest opportunity to get your hands dirty with as many different kinds of specialist equipment as you can. Unless you’re as rich as Creosote yourself and can afford to build your own damned studios and workshops.

I don’t think a designer/artist/whatever can learn their trade or expand their mind as effectively anywhere else. I’d think twice about hiring someone without a few years of art school behind them. Whether they got a degree out of it or not is irrelevant though.

Largest of Gregs · 17th November 2006, 3:37pm

a degree many not be as important as it once was, but there is still a MASSIVE amount of graduate jobs out there that obviously require a decent degree!

Devastator · 17th November 2006, 3:37pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by hotblonde

I'm curious why you're intersted.

I'm now on 'Getting a Degree - Attempt 2'. I'm doing a completely different course from last year (BA Arts & Social Sciences as opposed to BEng Product Design), and basically I still don't feel like I'm getting anything out of it. Just wanting some different perspectives on the whole thing really.

You made it sound like I must have really sinister reasons, haha.

djbarry · 17th November 2006, 3:40pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Devastator

You made it sound like I must have really sinister reasons, haha.

To be honest Emily you probably do.

Devastator · 17th November 2006, 3:42pm

Nooo! It's catching!

Scellanis · 17th November 2006, 3:43pm

I did, I have a pure maths degree to show for it...and some lovely friends.

I did enjoy it though I do wish I'd found the Rocksoc in first year not my last semester. I'm glad I went to uni though, St Andrews is wonderful.

Unfortunately my degree is not much use for finding work as its pure maths not applied and I can't do problem solving of the sort that they give you exams on if you apply for maths graduate jobs. Plus if you say you have a maths degree upon applying for any other job ever they stare at you or run away screaming.