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Stop judging degrees.

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Let's be realistic, how many people actually use the subject they studied at university afterwards? Unless it's medicine or some other vocational course, it's not many, whether it's media studies or Maths, after university you probably won't use it.

Generally it comes from people doing 'hard' subjects who resent those studying subjects with a lighter work load and like to justify to themselves that doing a harder subject makes them cleverer I guess? A lot of people on my course (Maths) used to make fun of arts and humanities students and it just made me feel uncomfortable...you should be doing a subject because you enjoy it, not to make people think you're better than everyone else

The logical thought pattern you develop with a maths degree is invaluable - very useful in a career in finance/accounting.

What on earth do you learn in a Media studies degree? What skills do you acquire that put you above graduates who've studied vocational/academic subjects?

Sorry bro but it's the truth. Some degrees are more useful than others.

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Reply 41

hellodave5

Original post by EatAndRevise

I start in September.

I suppose not, but I tend to think that there are certain degrees that are not as useful as others, in terms of career prospects, information taught etc.

But people pick their degrees for a variety of different reasons, so who are we to judge?

Good luck. University is good fun, but I'm sure ye will have many an all nighter!

It really depends what you perceive as useful aye... with regards to financial gain or advancing society in more 'humanitarian' ways; and the nature of information being specialist and specific or broad and 'jack of all trades'.

Most degree's have their merits. The ones which seem to be perceived as less 'useful' are those which don't directly relate to a job, are newer fields, less significant advancement, or with A level content being less scientific (this latter end point relating to psychology rather strongly lol).

Areas are broad too. For instance sports area consists of nutrition and physiotherapy (can be taken up as part of an MSc to qualify) which are specific areas and usually deemed respectable. Neuroscience and clinical psychology, facets of psychology, are also deemed respectable.

I probably rambled on this, more than usual - beer has wiped out my short term memory for the next few hours I think.

Reply 42

scrunkie

Is Sociology a **** degree? I personally don't think so, so many transferable skills and a range of viewpoints, whether it's social, psychological, business, political etc. It's a broad subject which allows for someone indecisive about their career choice to keep their options open whilst getting a good education. Can't always judge degrees by whether they're reputable or not tbh.

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Reply 43

Sgt.Incontro

STEM master race checking in. :biggrin:

Reply 44

SarcasticMel

Original post by scrunkie

What's that got to do with the degree? There aren't enough Training Contracts for the amount of Law students there are, does that mean Law is a **** degree? Nope, no it doesn't.

University is supposed to be a place for higher learning. The % of the population academically capable of that is lower than those actually going.

Mind you that I am not saying those people are stupid, nor that they have no value. I just feel a different route would suit them better. Take people who go work in hotels straight after school. That is a much better option than studying (if it existed) hotel management or whatever. Likewise there are many jobs where university three years academically is not as good as three years hands on experience.

And then yes, even in law, there are just too many grads. Hence why you get people saying "I am a graduate but can't find a decent job".

Reply 45

username1857597

Original post by Okorange

People who are actually secure about themselves don't judge other people's degrees.

I could care less what degree someone is doing if it was not for the following fact... Most people rely on student loans to be able to pay for their university education. It is a life-altering investment, one which has to be justified.

Yes, I know: "University is not about getting employed afterwards." But is that student loan going to pay for itself? Where does a degree leave you when it gives you zero earning power and puts you in serious debt as much as the rest of the degrees? It is not as if liberal arts degrees are cheaper.

The problem is especially noticeable in the US, where 4-year universities can #rek you with 100k+ in debt. Of course that we have a right to judge, we are part of society aren't we? It just so happens that this problem is significant enough that it may affect the rest of us if it goes even further unchecked.

Talking about it should not be viewed as judgemental categorisation, but as an issue which needs more attention due to the potential implications.

(edited 8 years ago)

Reply 46

scrunkie

Original post by Broscientist

Why is the student loans repayment system our problem? The government have decided this is how it'll work so obviously students are going to take advantage of it? If it's there, why not use it. Most graduates will earn over £21k in their lifetime, granted not all will pay their whole loan back but that's how the system is.

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Reply 47

Kash24411

Original post by EatAndRevise

Pointless degrees

Anything with 'sport' in the name
Women studies
Anything art related
Psychology
Sociology
Music
Geography
Media Studies
Film Studies

Useful degrees

Mathematics
Economics
Physics
Chemistry
Engineering
Law
Medicine
Dentistry
History
English
Computer Science
Veterinary Medicine
(Sorry if I missed your degree out. Don't hate me for it :rolleyes:

)

Mad?

How is having a history degree more useful than Geography?
Just curious.

Reply 48

username1857597

Original post by scrunkie

As I said, the best example for my argument would be the current situation in the US. How does a 1.1 trillion (and growing) bubble sound?

Reply 49

Farage is a hero

Original post by scrunkie

Why do people judge degree subjects when they've never studied them or even have any idea about what they entail, the opportunities available after completing them etc.

Why not just let people do what they want to do and not tell others they're doing **** degrees?

Every degree is worth something different, they all provide students with different skills- there's no need for people to be so childish about it 'oh hehe my degree is better than yours hehe'.

If it 'entails' less than 8 hours contact a week, I don't need to get a bachelor's in it to know it ain't worth ****.

Reply 50

scrunkie

Original post by Farage is a hero

If it 'entails' less than 8 hours contact a week, I don't need to get a bachelor's in it to know it ain't worth ****.

What I meant was the content but ok

Does any degree have less than 8hours contact per week? I did Law and had 12 !

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Reply 51

Farage is a hero

Original post by scrunkie

What I meant was the content but ok

Does any degree have less than 8hours contact per week? I did Law and had 12 !

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I know someone doing languages with 3 hours a week.

Reply 52

scrunkie

Original post by Farage is a hero

I know someone doing languages with 3 hours a week.

Seriously?? What's the point ...

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Reply 53

TheStudent18

Original post by grassntai

I remember reading it on some article, there was a source but cba to find it.

And that article is old, here's a recent one http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3026362/Geography-graduate-applied-500-jobs-t-permanent-role.html

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That's just one example. I'm sure there are many examples (like this one) where a graduate of another discipline has applied for numerous jobs. Also, I'm not sure if DM is the best for factual information.

I did come across a news article that you may have been referring to, but to me it doesn't look as if there was any hard research gone into it. It just seems that they listed degrees which seem to receive the most disrespect.

Reply 54

Plantagenet Crown

Original post by BioStudentx

Now now Plant bro - no need to be salty just because you didn't get into Oxbridge. :colone:

What does this have to do with Oxbridge, you can do a STEM degree at practically any Uni :laugh:

Reply 55

DIN-NARYU-FARORE

stop judging degrees and respect their academic value you capitalist pigs!!

nah jk i need dinero give me some of that

Reply 56

Wahrheit

Original post by grassntai

I did Maths and will be going to study econ in September, and yeah I learnt a lot of great skills and hope to learn even more, and for sure these skills are better for certain professions. I'm not aware of what skills media could give though, and it would be unfair for me to say they don't learn skills which could be valuable in a multitude of jobs. Marketing, sales, HR represent a huge number of graduate jobs, and in fact where I work atm by far the majority of people there work in these departments. Sometimes logic isn't as useful as other skills, and not all jobs require it.

(Tangent: There's a similar snobbery with jobs, in fact. Being an accountant isn't a better job than being a waiter...it might pay better, but it doesn't make you a better person.)

That said, if you want a really high paying job it can't hurt...the skills you get from, for example, Maths are valued very highly by employers and it's reflected in the higher avg starting salaries for Maths graduates. It doesn't make them better people though.

Reply 57

BioStudentx

Original post by Plantagenet Crown

What does this have to do with Oxbridge, you can do a STEM degree at practically any Uni :laugh:

I might have been trying to wind you up. But seriously, did you apply to Cambridge?

Reply 58

bittr n swt

haters gon hate

some degrees are simply not worth 9k period. Who the **** would pay 9k a year to study crap degrees like music or art like seriously...

STEM is where it's at and always be.

Reply 59

Anjum - Yasmin

Original post by mizzsnazzter

I'd say psychology ranks higher than history or English in my mind... If anything I would say remove history and English from useful and put it in pointless

Other than that I agree with your list. Although philosophy and theology need to be added to useless

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Nah M8.
English is a modern day necessity that opens doors to very sound and useful careers such as journalism or teaching. You can use it to study law later on as well.
History tends to have a more limited range of careers associated with it but if you play your cards right you can still get a good job with it.
Agree with your point about philosophy/ theology tbh