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Why do people get a degree in something with low prospects...

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Well firstly... it may seem basic... but surely interest for interest's sake is worth study for to some degree? We only live once and you may say studying for a degree in x is self-indulgent and useless, but 3 years at university gives you the opportunity to do it. I hate the idea that we can't learn for learning's sake and that there isn't something good in that. I also think the idea "well people only go for the social life if they don't study 'useful degrees' is just silly'. I guess people shouldn't go study accountancy at uni because you can do that through an apprenticeship and it makes a lot more sense as you can earn while doing your qualification without the cost of unis. Therefore people studying accountancy would just be going to uni to socialise.

Now I know that isn't true in all cases and there aren't that many apprenticeships out there, but I think people should have the opportunity to study what they want. It may lead to new ideas, political thought or someone one day weaving a basket underwater that serves some significant benefit to mankind. Universities are havens for thought and even if some degrees are seen as 'useless' by some, they still exist because there is a demand for them from people who are passionate about the subject.

Reply 41

username878849

People please don't **** about a film degree. Companies will not look at you without a degree for film, be you a critic or a filmmaker. Unless you know somebody or have money, the only way to get in is with a film degree.

That said, don't go to somewhere like the Uni of East London for obvious reasons.

Reply 42

jaybutler

Original post by yabbayabba

1) Many people go to university to study for the love of a subject. That is still a valid reason.

2) Many people go to university having no idea what exactly they want to do with their lives. If you don't know what you're going to do, picking a vocational course which is likely to pigeon-hole you to a certain career you may not want a few years down the line is not the greatest of ideas.

Subjects like that, are rarely complex enough to REQUIRE going to university. You really think someone who had a legitimate passion for art, couldnt develop and perfect his skill in his own time, whilst also working towards setting up a great future?

i bet a huge majority of people who study such things, will end up in a job which

-has zilch to do with what they studied - so might aswell have studies something more worthwhile
-also happens to have little prospects, is dead end, low salary, little security, etc

jus sayin, no hate

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 43

Londonpie72

Fair enough not a fan of retail graduate management type jobs. Have been there part time for nearly 5 years been working since at College and will be moving on to something more related to my degree. Can't wait to hand in my notice.

Majority of the managers where I work are not university educated but those type of industries experience is more relevant than a degree.

Reply 44

yabbayabba

Original post by jaybutler

Didn't say anything about those subjects requiring a university degree - it's just a choice. I think it's great that somebody is able to study something they are passionate about for credit, with guidance from experts in that field. The whole world doesn't revolve around employability or profit; people don't all have the same priorities.

Also, if you are thinking of employability, a student can also be working towards your future whilst doing the degree - by doing work experience or whatever. Even if you don't do work experience whilst studying, there's often time to get work experience/internships after graduation. There's not always a massive rush to get into the perfect high paying career straight away.

Yep, most people don't do a job that links directly to their degree - but so, why is that a problem? It doesn't mean the degree was a waste if they felt that what they had learned during their time at university was valuable. Firstly, people gain useful transferable skills from degrees that are applicable to work place situations. Furthermore, part of my degree is in French, but I have no desire to be an interpreter, a French teacher or whatever. I just very much enjoy learning languages and about the culture. For me, that's not a waste of time at all despite the fact I'm unlikely to use it in my chosen future profession.

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 45

Mbob

Original post by jaybutler

Very few subjects actual require attendance at a University in order for you to learn them, you could teach those things to yourself (or through an OU degree). To an extent you 'teach yourself' at University anyway. The only exceptions are subjects where there is a practical element, but even then those are generally only a small fraction of the overall learning.

But you are much more likely to actually learn a subject if you go to University as you will be in an academic environment. Plus you get all the other benefits of being at a University.

Reply 46

TheCurlyHairedDude

It's the reason why graduate employment is so high. I'm a Marketing executive and a team leader, and we have just hired a graduate who thought he needed a degree to do the job. I'm 1 month from being 18 and don't even have A-levels waste of time.

Reply 47

TheCurlyHairedDude

Original post by TCD23

People please don't **** about a film degree. Companies will not look at you without a degree for film, be you a critic or a filmmaker. Unless you know somebody or have money, the only way to get in is with a film degree.
That said, don't go to somewhere like the Uni of East London for obvious reasons.

Wrong. Only way to become a pilot is to get a degree in aeronatuical engineering. Wrong.

Reply 48

KCosmo

This thread is strange. It's just a backwards way of doing things to judge someone by what course they're studying/what job they do. Do people really read this much into the perceived jobs prospects of someone's course?

Reply 49

Smack

Volunteer Team

Some people do it because they enjoy it. Nothing wrong with that.

Others do it because they are fooled into believing that degree subject does not matter when it comes to graduating and that a 2:1 or above is a 2:1 or above.

Reply 50

Profesh

Original post by Chrisofsmeg

An equally valid question is why does somebody create an account on tsr just to post a controversial question that will most likely end up creating an argument. Happens far to frequently.

Why can't people do a degree in something that interests them? What would be the point of doing a degree in a subject that you were completely uninterested in just to get a job in a field that they'd probably dislike?

3'17".

Reply 51

badumdumtscht

TSR: where your degree is slated by GCSE and A-level kids.

Reply 52

Lord Asriel

The OP's instrumental view of education demonstrates the limitations of following a degree path that is focussed on a single vocation. It was never designed to be a means to an end, its an end in itself.

The point of education isn't solely to get a job. Its to be able to think and make sense of the world around us. The fact that university has become so focussed on employment is a tragedy rather than something to be celebrated. Yes, people traditionally went to university to learn a subject in depth, but the value came from being open to new ideas and ways of thinking, becoming more aware of what we don't know or being a place where we can intellectually grow.

Having spent several years at university (and in the NHS) you do come to be aware of the inherent weaknesses of purely vocational education. In my time teaching at medical school and on nursing courses I have observed a certain narrowness of thinking, emphasis on technique over reflection and a resistance to accepting difference or ambiguity (thats not to say there aren't other strengths to this kind of education). Funnily enough, these are fostered in the "low prospect" degrees the OP dismisses.

Sure, many go to university for non academic reasons, but that doesn't render the subjects on offer worthless, it's just the individual not making the most of the opportunity. All education has an intrinsic value, and that value will be decided by the recipient. It just sometimes needs imagination and thought for others to recognise it.

Reply 53

Socmyoligy

Students nowadays are so narrow-minded. You can't see the worth of anything beyond the "dollaaa" signs. And I can't believe so many have fallen for this troll thread.

Reply 54

M1011

I despise people that do this god damn "/thread" thing. You don't get to end the thread just because you've had your say, so stop trying.

RAWRRRRR (yes I'm taking out general anger at the use of that term on you :smile:

)

Accepted!

Original post by jaybutler

People no longer seem to go to uni to set up a future for themselves, they just do it because everyone's doing it and its expected

I did Psychology to become a psychologist. It wasn't until after I graduated that I found it was near impossible to get into a clinical psychology post-grad and qualify.

So now I'm stuck with a useless degree.

Same story for the rest of the people on my course (that I know of).

Reply 57

notforthe141

Original post by JobHelp

should have done the research before hand. Pretty much proves what OP was saying, people go and do courses without actually considering where it would take them

Reply 58

Dalek1099

Original post by jaybutler

And then complain when they can't find work?

You're spending thousands a year (9000 from here on out), dont choose something just because you "think its fun". If you like underwater basket weaving, then do underwater basket weaving in your spare time, don't get a degree in it and then wonder why no employer needs an underwater basket weaver.

Gonna get negged to hell for this, but its completely true - most people who do a non specific degree will eventually end up working in something completely different to that degree anyway, so why not study something with a lot more direction/focus which will set you up financially and then follow your other passions in your own time?

People no longer seem to go to uni to set up a future for themselves, they just do it because everyone's doing it and its expected