Has a degree lost its value today
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Original post by kumon
Got A at AS level, it was the easiest piece of work, just memorise a some facts and regurgitate the same crap why x did this and y did that. And A* at gcse
Somehow, I don't think AS level and GCSE History is comparable to undergraduate level
I don't find it massively difficult myself, I'm on track for an A* at A2. However I'm not so ignorant as to believe that because of that, I would breeze through a degree in it.Posted from TSR Mobile
Original post by Namige
It doesn't take much to memorise things.
Despite the fact that it does, a history degree trains you not to memorise information, but to prepare you to perform analyses based on primary and secondary information under specific contexts, and to formulate arguments in logical and comprehensible ways. A good programme also equips you with creativity and critical thinking skills.
This is why the finance industry does hire quite a number of history graduates (from good schools, obviously).
Original post by Lucy96
Somehow, I don't think AS level and GCSE History is comparable to undergraduate level I don't find it massively difficult myself, I'm on track for an A* at A2. However I'm not so ignorant as to believe that because of that, I would breeze through a degree in it.
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I don't find it massively difficult myself, I'm on track for an A* at A2. However I'm not so ignorant as to believe that because of that, I would breeze through a degree in it.Posted from TSR Mobile
It certainly depends on what kind of grades you are aiming for in your university, and which university you go to.
I shouldn't think it would be difficult to breeze through a bare pass degree in some universities.
Original post by Lucy96
Somehow, I don't think AS level and GCSE History is comparable to undergraduate level I don't find it massively difficult myself, I'm on track for an A* at A2. However I'm not so ignorant as to believe that because of that, I would breeze through a degree in it.
Posted from TSR Mobile
I don't find it massively difficult myself, I'm on track for an A* at A2. However I'm not so ignorant as to believe that because of that, I would breeze through a degree in it.Posted from TSR Mobile
Be honest here, how many history undergraduates are actually any good at basic maths? My history teacher can't even do basic percentages, how on earth they would cope in finance is beyond me.
Original post by clh_hilary
It certainly depends on what kind of grades you are aiming for in your university, and which university you go to.
I shouldn't think it would be difficult to breeze through a bare pass degree in some universities.
I shouldn't think it would be difficult to breeze through a bare pass degree in some universities.
That's the case for every degree though! Most people won't aim for a bare pass, I mean those who go to a decent university who are aiming for the top marks.
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Original post by Lucy96
It is a degree that is not soft but has gone down in value
the subject is pretty pointless like sociology
however the skills used and aquired are wanted in other areas so it has great value
Original post by kumon
Be honest here, how many history undergraduates are actually any good at basic maths? My history teacher can't even do basic percentages, how on earth they would cope in finance is beyond me.
Do you have any evidence that there is a correlation between history undergraduates and poor maths skills? That is ONE example, don't generalise so much. I'm sure there are plenty of history undergraduates who are in fact very decent at maths.
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Original post by Lucy96
Do you have any evidence that there is a correlation between history undergraduates and poor maths skills? That is ONE example, don't generalise so much. I'm sure there are plenty of history undergraduates who are in fact very decent at maths.
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Are you good at maths? Lets not lie here, look in school and you will find loads.
Media Studies certainly isn't soft or worthless. It's a lot more deep rooted in psychology sociology and economics that most people like to think. I don't even study it but have done a few Media modules and work for a film production company. It goes beyond simple semiotic theory and marketing, but explores social discourse, the nature of ideas and trends in human history. Media is such a broad term but if you paid attention in film studies rather than just wacxing lyrical over your favourite tv show ever you'd realise it demands a certain level of analytical thinking and greater consciousness of everything around you. Alot of the other students do just coast through these modules though. You can't say that television, film, radio, advertising, news, magazines, social media etc aren't a huge part of people's daily lives, incredibly influential and lucrative.
Though if you're just saying that more specific/specialized degrees in areas of media or apprenticeships would be more useful then I get that.
Personally I think it's totally idiocy getting EVERYONE to go tmdownt the degree path. We need apprenticeships, we need people with practical skills and know how to operate in the workplace not just the classroom or exam hall... Or how to regurgitate facts. What's wrong with people undertaking manual labour? Instead of outsourcing everything to China, we need to start manufacturing things again. It's not just for those who aren't 'academically minded' either. Some people like to work with their hands.
I had job offers before I went to uni because of my work experience/unpaid internships which got me good references and contacts, my personal statement, portfolio and general attitude of putting myself out there. I know that as soon as I'm done with my ****ing degree I'm going straight back to working freelance, or with the companies that already have the door open for me because of persistently trying to show them what I can do or clients- not running around saying 'I have a degree, have faith in me and offer 50k job straight out of uni plz!'
Though if you're just saying that more specific/specialized degrees in areas of media or apprenticeships would be more useful then I get that.
Personally I think it's totally idiocy getting EVERYONE to go tmdownt the degree path. We need apprenticeships, we need people with practical skills and know how to operate in the workplace not just the classroom or exam hall... Or how to regurgitate facts. What's wrong with people undertaking manual labour? Instead of outsourcing everything to China, we need to start manufacturing things again. It's not just for those who aren't 'academically minded' either. Some people like to work with their hands.
I had job offers before I went to uni because of my work experience/unpaid internships which got me good references and contacts, my personal statement, portfolio and general attitude of putting myself out there. I know that as soon as I'm done with my ****ing degree I'm going straight back to working freelance, or with the companies that already have the door open for me because of persistently trying to show them what I can do or clients- not running around saying 'I have a degree, have faith in me and offer 50k job straight out of uni plz!'
Original post by kumon
Are you good at maths? Lets not lie here, look in school and you will find loads.
I'm average; I can certainly cope with basic maths. But I'm not a history undergraduate, thus my mathematical ability is irrelevant in this discussion. I know plenty of people who have great maths and history skills.
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Original post by Namige
It doesn't take much to memorise things.
Surely this is all scientists do? Gravity? Just memorsing what other people said about the subject.
Original post by kumon
Are you good at maths? Lets not lie here, look in school and you will find loads.
Mathematics has little relation to history, regardless it's still nonsense.
(edited 10 years ago)
History isn't soft, but it has limited career prospects. The only relevant jobs I can think of is teaching or work in the museum.
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Original post by kumon
Has a degree lost its value today:
Media studies
Photography
Criminology
History
Art
*Insert other soft subjects.* Have lost their value.
Media studies
Photography
Criminology
History
Art
*Insert other soft subjects.* Have lost their value.
With Art though, it's more about being at university, improving your skills/techinques and building a portfolio than having that piece of paper that says "I do art at degree level, derp."
Original post by Little Wolf Taima
not running around saying 'I have a degree, have faith in me and offer 50k job straight out of uni plz!'
hahahahahah. When I imagine people on TSR, that's the exact type of person I imagine.
The amount of ignorance on this forums . Everyone's going to die in the end, do what you enjoy and leave it be.
OP, degree's in general have definitely lost value, no doubt.
. Everyone's going to die in the end, do what you enjoy and leave it be. OP, degree's in general have definitely lost value, no doubt.
Original post by kumon
Got A at AS level, it was the easiest piece of work, just memorise a some facts and regurgitate the same crap why x did this and y did that. And A* at gcse
I would argue that Biology and Chemistry this is the case. You simply regurgitate the facts as well.
In History how you use the facts you know to put a across a well argued, articulate argument that uses work produced by others as well as your own views in an essay for A-level. So hardly regurgitating facts-you make it sound like the times table.
I mean biology is just learn facts as is Chemistry if you want to break it down. Obviously grasping the concepts involved for all of the above subjects is much more difficult than regurgitating. Some of the material is quite complex to grasp and it isn't a simple matter of regurgitating facts. Like I said, sciences could be argued to be regurgitating facts-but I have said why this is just a stupid way to look at things.
I mean regurgitate is just a stupid way of describing the course. If this is what defines a soft subject then like I said the sciences could be argued to be soft due to how easy it is to get 100%. After all, just learning facts.
Art is the best subject-no
As always some degrees are worth more than others (Medicine > Business Management) and to an extent they all have value, i.e. the Uni experience etc. But as degrees have become more and more common they have, on the whole, lost value as it seems that regardless of intellect you can go to University if you please so you get myriad graduates, a notable amount of whom have a fairly useless 2:2 in a fairly useless subject.
To an extent.
I look at my mate who got an apprenticeship when he left Sixth Form. He drives an 11 plate and has money to waste in casinos. He works for a good company with access to moving up the ladder, so his earning potential would be very similar to a graduate. Whereas when I graduate I doubt I'll get anything aside from part-time work, and will probably have to do a Masters.
I look at my mate who got an apprenticeship when he left Sixth Form. He drives an 11 plate and has money to waste in casinos. He works for a good company with access to moving up the ladder, so his earning potential would be very similar to a graduate. Whereas when I graduate I doubt I'll get anything aside from part-time work, and will probably have to do a Masters.
Original post by kumon
Be honest here, how many history undergraduates are actually any good at basic maths? My history teacher can't even do basic percentages, how on earth they would cope in finance is beyond me.
My history teacher used to teach maths
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