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Worrying trend in student subject choice

Reply 40

tis_me_lord

14

Physics SUCKS, and sociology rules.

Now leave me alone.

Reply 41

Xanthe

1

Don't you think this has to do more wider issues? Rubbish science teaching in schools would be one of them. If teachers can't enthuse their students, what hope is there of students carrying on with science and mathematics. Hence they switch off and find other subjects which are more accessible and probably don't require the same high level of high motivation/academic ability.

Reply 42

Morbo

17

R.J.A

no, my point is that the growth of business nationally isn't possible without the services of accountants etc.....

Incorrect, actually. The UK actually has a surplus of people in the financial services sector: we sell more financial services to customers abroad than we buy in from abroad.

Whether or not it would be worth increasing the number of people in that sector would be down to an analysis of whether there are still increasing returns to labour in accountancy, corporate finance etc.

More subjectively, I don't think domestic accountants are responsible for growth, they just aid it. Also, the UK is far behind many other countries in R&D: perhaps we need more graduates as innovators (e.g. scientists) rather than business studies graduates as managers?

But re: the original poster - I don't find it worrying that fewer people are studying science. Eventually salaries for science graduates will become higher and attract more people - simple economics.

Reply 43

not1

OP

15

Worzo

But re: the original poster - I don't find it worrying that fewer people are studying science. Eventually salaries for science graduates will become higher and attract more people - simple economics.

I don't think it's that simple. If British science departments have to close down, and student numbers are reduced, then the expertise of the teaching base will suffer and we will ultimately have poorer quality graduates. We need action now to boost numbers going into science/maths.

Reply 44

_Jax_

1

Gaz031

I agree that it is rather worrying but this trend is primarily due to society encouraging less academic people to go to university and they ultimately study less academic subjects.

This is very very right! Someone should tell the goverment this.

Reply 45

Arminius

14

I think making science more up to date could help, theres no getting away from learning the basics (which can be boring) but if science lessons concentrated a bit more on say building a mobile phone and linking it with other subjects it could be so much more inspiring.

For example in your chemistry lessons you could learn about the processes involved in making the plastic for the phone, and the metals etc in the battery. Then in physics you could study the electronics inside the phone, how the battery works, how the display works etc.

Then in ict you could study the software in the phone and how that works, instead of repetitive tasks using ms office...

We can't get away from the fact that students need to be interested in their subjects to do well, but trying to spark off that enthusiams at as young an age as possible is very important.

Reply 46

kellywood_5

17

tis_me_lord

Physics SUCKS, and sociology rules.

Now leave me alone.

VERY well said! :biggrin:

Reply 47

oblivious

13

carla18

Sciences wern't at all popular in my 6th form. There was only 4 doing A level chemistry about 1 doing physics and 7 doing biology.

My sixth form this year didn't even offer physics or chemistry cos nobody wanted to do them, 4 people did biology

Reply 48

McNuggets

As being nowhere near the vague categorisation of "Science stalwart" myself, I am powerless but to hark back to my GCSE spell in the subject, in which for the most part I could just never align myself with the subject - students are simply peripheral participants.

Although I did plough through to an A-grade for that subject. So if ever I prove surplus to requirements in the art world, at least that's a labyrinth. Sigh.

Reply 49

Hanzing

13

Psychology Is a Science. :smile:

I think people look down on the degree to much, I mean it has much wider implciations in careers than jsut Pyscholgits - Teaching, Clinical practices, Criminology, Health, Educational... The possibilities are wide-spread. I loved dfoinmg Biology at A-level, I just didnt have the natural enthusiams and knowledge for it that I do for Psych. Is it that bad if people are choosing degrees that they enjoy?

Reply 50

Kingspharm

10

More people doing donkey-degrees means our proper ones will be more valuable and there'll be less competition in the job market.

It's not just about people not being attracted to subjects, but the calibre of people entering university education - because of this Government's socialist meritocratic nonsense attitude, everyone is encouraged to go to university as everyone is supposedly equal and has equal right to higher education - these will be the people studying for 'non-traditional' qualifications.

Reply 51

Hanzing

13

Everyone does have the right to higher education. Regardless of 'Calibre' of person, Pretell what do yuo define a person as before they should be allowed to attend a University. To me no Degree is better than any other. They all have the same worth to the person involved and what they want to do with their life. Its stupid to look down on some degrees because they are not as 'scientific' as others, or are percieved as easier courses.

Reply 52

Kingspharm

10

Even if everyone does 'have a right to higher education', it doesn't mean that everyone should go to university - it strikes me that most people do it because there's a perception that 'to get a good job, you need to have a degree' - doesn't matter whether that degree is in sports sciences, or golf studies or god knows what else.

The proliferation of non-traditional courses is exactly because of the increase in the number of people who are going to university (many of whom are of backgrounds who traditionally wouldn't enter higher education) and less renowned universities inventing worthless courses to attract bodies and hence £££.

Reply 53

Gaz031

15

Psychology Is a Science

It's a social science, not a natural science or mathematics which we need more graduates in.

Everyone does have the right to higher education. Regardless of 'Calibre' of person

Not if they aren't capable and don't work hard.

To me no Degree is better than any other.

I can't share that opinion. Do you think the following are equivelant? Note particularly the institution and degree:
http://search.ucas.co.uk/cgi-bin/hsrun/search/search/StateId/CbMMjw02K38tYyW6cDyoxJhETGCNu-Upwt/HAHTpage/search.HsDetails.run?n=608620
http://search.ucas.co.uk/cgi-bin/hsrun/search/search/StateId/CbMMjw02K38tYyW6cDyoxJhETGCNu-Upwt/HAHTpage/search.HsDetails.run?n=611536
Which is going to be harder work? Which is going to be more respected? Which is going to get you a better job?

Reply 54

Hanzing

13

But then if we define Calibre, and nad chance to attend university in terms of backgrounds/Poverty and Class, why do we instantly think that they wont 'work hard'. out'

If a person take say a degree they enjoy, and enters a career in which they are happy and succesful in who are we to say it was worthless? Surely the whole point of a career is to make your own decisions for yourself. Should we be observant of what society dictates what we should and shouldnt take in order to earn respect for more 'Higher percived' degrees.

Reply 55

Ben.S.

11

Hanzing

But then if we define Calibre, and nad chance to attend university in terms of backgrounds/Poverty and Class, why do we instantly think that they wont 'work hard'. out'

If a person take say a degree they enjoy, and enters a career in which they are happy and succesful in who are we to say it was worthless? Surely the whole point of a career is to make your own decisions for yourself. Should we be observant of what society dictates what we should and shouldnt take in order to earn respect for more 'Higher percived' degrees.

I think the point is that perhaps 3/4 years of study at a university for this person was not really a necessity. It is a tangible cost to them, and to the taxpayer. If they happen to be underpriveleged as well, then it costs the taxpayer even more. 'We' are the taxpayers - that's who we are to judge.

Ben

Reply 56

Muse

13

Hanzing

Everyone does have the right to higher education. Regardless of 'Calibre' of person,

Everyone does not have "right" to go to university. University should be for the academically able, not just a natural progression from secondary school.

Reply 57

Hanzing

13

Miles

Everyone does not have "right" to go to university. University should be for the academically able, not just a natural progression from secondary school.

If a person can academically acheive the grades to get on there desired course why shouldnt they take it? - surely this qualifies them as academically able in the eyes of the university and the course.

Reply 58

Ben.S.

11

Hanzing

If a person can academically acheive the grades to get on there desired course why shouldnt they take it? - surely this qualifies them as academically able in the eyes of the university and the course.

I think the standard debate is about to erupt concerning what is and isn't an 'academic' subject...

Ben

Reply 59

strawberry_wise

13

who decided that people doing so-called "mickey mouse" degrees had lower academic ablility anyways?!

I got 13 GCSEs at A*/A and 6 AS levels at A and I suppose some of you would judge my chosen degree as "mickey mouse". But I'm just doing a subject that I have an interest in that is related to the career that I want. As it should be.

If people want to do physics degrees, let them. I was pretty good at physics but it didn't appeal. Such is life.

Worrying trend in student subject choice

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