Why do people go to uni if it is a waste of time?

Come back to me you’ve spent some time looking at employment figures for COMPSCI grads. A minimum wage donkey from anywhere in the world can rattle out some code. Takes skill to write good copy to a specific audience. Can’t do that from an open plan office in Bangalore.

“Every person from my uni”. Reviewed a few hundred LinkedIn profiles did you? Don’t make me laugh.

I just did and almost every single source says that the unemployment rate for computer science graduates is around 10%, which is very low. I am not sure where you're getting your figures from, but you must be dreaming. Computer science graduates are highly employable because they show strong problem solving skills and have experience using a range of technologies. They don't just know how to 'code'. Meanwhile an English lit student just knows how to read a poem.

I’m sorry the COMPSCI dream of instant employability is over and has been for a decade or more. (I’d also look into what kind of roles they’re going into.)

You seem to be conflating an emotional “I think poems are silly, tee-hee!” position, (which you’ve brought up twice, adding nothing of substance), with “English at uni is a waste of time” which you haven’t been able to back up.

I am just being realistic. What company needs someone who can read and write poems? It's a valid argument. Companies don't care that you can write a poem or create your own story. It's just how it is. I haven't seen a single job that requires creative writing skills. It's a perfectly valid argument. Show me a job advert which requires an English degree with creative writing skills or whatever skills you get from writing poems. Meanwhile, computer science degrees are needed everywhere. Go to indeed and you will see countless numbers of tech roles that prefer computer science graduates. The truth hurts, but it is the truth, sorry.

That's why most English grads go into jobs not even related to their degree because essentially they have no other choice but to switch careers due to the lack of career opportunities.

My friends went to uni but for me, I am glad I am going down the apprenticeship route because even though it limits me I am trained in the sector and gaining experience and I am getting a job at the end. Working looks for experience not qualifications so much. Some entry level jobs do ask for A Levels and equivalent though.

Companies may not need someone who can read or write poems, but they all need people who can read and write well.

In all honesty, quicker for you to just write "I don't know what an English Lit & Creative Writing degree entails, or why employers in every sector value people who can write coherently"

You also seem think that unless someone becomes poet laureate, or the next Lee Child, then they have 'switched careers' and you've caught them out in a gotcha moment. They're using their skillset in their day to day role, that's the point.

So anyway, what evidence are you bringing to the table, beyond blurting out "the tRUtH hurTs" as if it's a statement of fact?

Companies may not need someone who can read or write poems, but they all need people who can read and write well.

In all honesty, quicker for you to just write "I don't know what an English Lit & Creative Writing degree entails, or why employers in every sector value people who can write coherently"

You also seem think that unless someone becomes poet laureate, or the next Lee Child, then they have 'switched careers' and you've caught them out in a gotcha moment. They're using their skillset in their day to day role, that's the point.

So anyway, what evidence are you bringing to the table, beyond blurting out "the tRUtH hurTs" as if it's a statement of fact?

Study a subject they enjoy and then use it to apply to any role that requires an undergrad degree for consideration ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

NB. Your friend will probably be more employable than someone with a COMPSCI degree all said and done. Fair play to them.

But you don't need a degree in English lit to be able to write and read well. I got a grade 9 in GCSE english literature and grade 7 in GCSE english language and I never felt that I needed to do a degree in English lit to be able to write or read well. In fact, for most companies having a GCSE grade 4 is enough. For most jobs, GCSE english language pass is enough to get a job.

I am not saying that English lit degrees are completely useless, but more like, completely unnecessary. I can display the same skills that you can without having an English lit degree. I have graduated from university in a STEM subject and there were hundreds of jobs that I have come across that require computer science degrees which is why it took me longer to find it, because I was at a disadvantage due to the fact that I didn't have a computer science degree. I have had a few months of job searching experience to be able to confirm that computer science is a valuable degree. Lots of companies prefer computer science grads.

But you don't need a degree in English lit to be able to write and read well. I got a grade 9 in GCSE english literature and grade 7 in GCSE english language and I never felt that I needed to do a degree in English lit to be able to write or read well. In fact, for most companies having a GCSE grade 4 is enough. For most jobs, GCSE english language pass is enough to get a job.

I am not saying that English lit degrees are completely useless, but more like, completely unnecessary. I can display the same skills that you can without having an English lit degree. I have graduated from university in a STEM subject and there were hundreds of jobs that I have come across that require computer science degrees which is why it took me longer to find it, because I was at a disadvantage due to the fact that I didn't have a computer science degree. I have had a few months of job searching experience to be able to confirm that computer science is a valuable degree. Lots of companies prefer computer science grads.

Just not true is it lmao

Really not.

Computer science has the HIGHEST unemployment rate of any degree subject. And has done for so long that there were government reviews and research into it a decade ago…

English on the other hand has better than average unemployment rates.

https://www.hesa.ac.uk/data-and-analysis/sb263/figure-10

Like I know someone with an English lit degree with creative writing

I think that some 6th forms push uni a lot. They dont seem to inform the students of any other options (e.g. apprenticeships, jobs with training, college courses etc). My old 6th form was like that. So i think some go for the sake of it.