[Fallen]

(Original post by MendyM)
Thats just it, isn't it? You all have this notion about prestige but the world outside of the university is far more complicated. There are so many unemployed and underemployed graduates with very high degrees. I had hoped to start a discussion...

Forget it.

Well what answer did you want, then?

As others have said, they are two of the most prestigeous universities in the world, yes it does look good on one's CV. Does this mean an employer will be less rigorous in their interviewing? Absolutely not. Does it mean that you an employer is more likely to say "Yeah bring him in for interview", probably.

The world outside of university isn't particularly complicated at all as far as I can tell. You should write a convincing and sincere covering letter, have a clear and compelling CV, and in interview you should excel in the tasks given whilst getting on famously with the interviewer.
I said it wasn't complicated, not that it was easy.

[Herr]

(Original post by Smack)
Where did you get these statistics from? From the most recent HESA survey, none of those were in the top 10 even.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education...?frame=2281806

I believe I last read that on the Complete University Guide, interesting the one you posted....... bet it must shock a lot of those on TSR

(Original post by M1011)
Ahh I remember this list. Good old Aston came in 10th, or 2nd if you adjust it for university size. I've extrapolated this data at length and reached the conclusion that I'm almost guarenteed to be rich!

...cough...

You will get there

[Herr]

Can anyone tell me how exactly did this myth come about on TSR that having Oxbridge qualification is a passport to a job more than likely a high paying job?

[Noble.]

(Original post by Herr)
Can anyone tell me how exactly did this myth come about on TSR that having Oxbridge qualification is a passport to a job more than likely a high paying job?

http://www.cherwell.org/news/academi...aid-in-country

[ForKicks]

(Original post by Herr)
Can anyone tell me how exactly did this myth come about on TSR that having Oxbridge qualification is a passport to a job more than likely a high paying job?

I think the thread should be 'potentially opens doors to the top employers'. The rate of employment does not necessarily indicate success as those jobs could be anything. If you were looking at it your way, you could say that an Oxbridge degree actively puts off potential employers, if those potential employers are McDonald's.

[ForKicks]

(Original post by Noble.)
http://www.cherwell.org/news/academi...aid-in-country

Exactly. The claim is that Oxbridge students make top $, not that they can get employed anywhere from McDonald's to Goldman Sachs.

[Smack]

(Original post by Herr)
I believe I last read that on the Complete University Guide, interesting the one you posted....... bet it must shock a lot of those on TSR

It didn't cause much controversy at all to be honest. I think that most people on TSR are now aware that an Oxbridge degree isn't a golden ticket to graduate employment, and that universities with a more vocational focus tend to have higher graduate employment rates than those which offer a wide range of academic degrees.

[Observatory]

(Original post by Smack)
Where did you get these statistics from? From the most recent HESA survey, none of those were in the top 10 even.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education...?frame=2281806

Bear in mind this is just measuring what proportion of people have a job, not what sort of job they have or how much they are paid. ICL, LSE and UCL top the tables for average graduate earnings.

Though at least in the case of ICL and LSE this is a little unfair to Oxbridge, because Oxbridge's average is weighed down by people studying less-useful subjects like theology, ancient celtic languages and so forth that aren't offered at ICL/LSE.

[fudgesundae]

(Original post by Smack)
Where did you get these statistics from? From the most recent HESA survey, none of those were in the top 10 even.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education...?frame=2281806

I'm almost certain that doesn't only include graduate jobs. Waiting tables and working at McDonalds would count towards those statistics. It also doesn't have any indication of salary levels.

[M1011]

(Original post by Noble.)
http://www.cherwell.org/news/academi...aid-in-country

http://www2.lse.ac.uk/intranet/Caree...ance/Home.aspx

Check out the average earnings on that link

Although granted that is a masters degree and to be honest I think it's a typo (the economics masters average is about half that).

[Observatory]

(Original post by M1011)
Although granted that is a masters degree and to be honest I think it's a typo (the economics masters average is about half that).

I doubt it's a typo, but then a lot of the people on that course will already have work experience in banking/consultancy.

[Bloodbath]

I heard average LSE was £31K and Oxbridge £27k

[M1011]

(Original post by Observatory)
I doubt it's a typo, but then a lot of the people on that course will already have work experience in banking/consultancy.

http://www2.lse.ac.uk/intranet/Caree...mics/Home.aspx

Even considering that? If it's not a typo then I shall begin working on my LSE Finance application now

[Smack]

(Original post by Observatory)
Bear in mind this is just measuring what proportion of people have a job, not what sort of job they have or how much they are paid. ICL, LSE and UCL top the tables for average graduate earnings.

Though at least in the case of ICL and LSE this is a little unfair to Oxbridge, because Oxbridge's average is weighed down by people studying less-useful subjects like theology, ancient celtic languages and so forth that aren't offered at ICL/LSE.

Where do you find the table for average graduate earnings? I've been looking for one for a while and can't find it. I did come across one a year or two ago IIRC it showed that London universities topped the table, with even places like South Bank having higher starting salaries than many Russell Groups.

I'd imagine the HESA should have it given that it's one of the questions they ask to graduates, but I can't be bothered to trawl through their website.

[Podcaster]

An Oxbridge degree will not open more doors for you but merely open one door a bit wider. However you still have to walk through that door yourself.

[M1011]

(Original post by Podcaster)
An Oxbridge degree will not open more doors for you but merely open one door a bit wider. However you still have to walk through that door yourself.

An Oxbridge degree will not open more doors for you but merely open one door a bit wider. However you still have to walk through that door yourself.

More accurate IMO

[Observatory]

(Original post by Smack)
Where do you find the table for average graduate earnings? I've been looking for one for a while and can't find it. I did come across one a year or two ago IIRC it showed that London universities topped the table, with even places like South Bank having higher starting salaries than many Russell Groups.

I'd imagine the HESA should have it given that it's one of the questions they ask to graduates, but I can't be bothered to trawl through their website.

Disappeared behind a Times paywall I think, but if you have access, should be easy to search for. Here is all I can find publicly, c/p'd from the Times pre-paywall.

(Original post by M1011)
http://www2.lse.ac.uk/intranet/Caree...mics/Home.aspx

Even considering that? If it's not a typo then I shall begin working on my LSE Finance application now :P

Like I said, a lot of them have work experience already. If you worked in IB for 3 years, did a masters and went back, £60k isn't even a particularly good salary.

Also the degree costs £30k and requires a 1st for entry.

[CherryCherryBoomBoom]

(Original post by lukas1051)
Obviously candidates from more prestigious universities will have more doors open to them, but I think the idea that going to Oxbridge automatically sets you up in life is naive and stupid. If you come out with a 3rd or even a 2:2 you'll probably struggle, and if you do a pointless subject like English or Classics you'll probably struggle too. The only people I've seen who hold this view of entitlement are people who haven't yet entered the working world, never an Oxbridge graduate - take from that what you will. Point is, the reputation of the university you have a degree from is only one part in how many doors will be open to you.

Why are English and Classics pointless?

[brendonbackflip]

If it actually does or not, I don't know. However, I thought it was worth pointing out this - my dad used to be in charge for hiring people for some science institution, and he found that in the academic tests, Oxbridge graduates actually did worse than other graduates in general. This was because what was studied in the Chemistry courses was more traditional and not as much reference to industry work. Also, he had a job as a civil servent in a particular role, and people who had had this role before him tended to be Oxford graduates, and not very good at their job.

Before anyone starts bashing me for it, yes, these are two isolated incidents and might not make up the general opinion. But I guess it does shown that there are other factors that affect employment, and some employers will recognised that being from Oxbridge does not make you a better worker.

[Bloodbath]

(Original post by brendonbackflip)
If it actually does or not, I don't know. However, I thought it was worth pointing out this - my dad used to be in charge for hiring people for some science institution, and he found that in the academic tests, Oxbridge graduates actually did worse than other graduates in general. This was because what was studied in the Chemistry courses was more traditional and not as much reference to industry work. Also, he had a job as a civil servent in a particular role, and people who had had this role before him tended to be Oxford graduates, and not very good at their job.

Before anyone starts bashing me for it, yes, these are two isolated incidents and might not make up the general opinion. But I guess it does shown that there are other factors that affect employment, and some employers will recognised that being from Oxbridge does not make you a better worker.

Define more traditional.

Most uni chemistry courses are more practical based whereas at oxford its more theoretical