Does it matter where you get your undergraduate degree?

"The media doesn't change fundamentally the way we see the world".

Really? Do you pay any attention to what is happening in the world at the moment?

https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/facts/ just because some guy in Sweden decided to set up some awards for certain subjects in 1895 doesn't mean those subjects are still the most influential.

I'm guessing that the names David J. Thouless, F. Duncan M. Haldane and J. Michael Kosterlitz trip off your tongue as more influential than Bob Dylan....you're in the minority though.

For Mathematics there is no Nobel prize rather the equivalent prestigious award called Fields Medal.

All I am saying is that I consider physics to be a more "important" (please notice the quotation marks) science than architecture. That's all!

But as Physicist Stephen Hawking has told in Google's Zeitgeist conference; philosophers have not kept up with science and their art is dead.

Then you have my sympathy for not appreciating the full range of beauty and art that humans are capable of.

Who said that I am not appreciating beauty and art! As I wrote please notice the quotation marks!

But I thank you for your sympathy PQ...

Finally, would you at least agree that a BSc in Applied Golf Management Studies (yes the degree exists in the UK) is less "important" (again notice the quotation marks) than a BSc in Physics or a degree in Medicine? Would you at least agree on this PQ?

He is rather philosophical isn't he...

Not at all - You're talking about a well established and highly respected degree that has an enviable success rate in getting its graduates employment in a specialised and lucrative field....compared to a generic course that is focused on a broad field and a degree that prepares it's graduates for entry level in a specific profession. All three degrees have their merits and will suit different people (and provide those people with the preparation they need in order to succeed in the areas they're interested in).

Finally would you explain why you feel this need to rank subjects/universities/people in terms of "importance"? What are you compensating for?

No I do not think so. He actually elaborated this argument in more detail in his book a brief history of time.

My understanding is that he meant it literally. But please correct me if I am wrong.

I also asked this P.Q. so I will ask you also. Do you agree that a BSc. in Applied Golf Management Studies (yes the degree exists in the UK) is less "important" than a degree in Medicine or Physics.

The degree is valuable for what it is but the worlds best golf manager will not bring humanity forward, that's all I am saying.

I am not trying to compensate. I just do not believe that all universities (in the UK mind you) and all subjects are equal in terms of "importance" (again please notice the quotation marks).

If you want to work in the multi-£billion golf leisure industry it's a excellent start and seems very succesful.

a BSc. in Applied Golf Management Studies

Yes that is true. But if we were to define "importance" as the ability of a discipline to bring humanity forward, then would you agree that a degree in Medicine or Physics is more important than a degree in Applied Golf Management Studies?

Yes that is true. But if we were to define "importance" as the ability of a discipline to bring humanity forward, then would you agree that a degree in Medicine or Physics is more important than a degree in Applied Golf Management Studies?

Just thought Id add my experience.

I'm going back to university to do Software Engineering next September after a two year gap working in finance.

I emailed a ton of top software development companies in Manchester and I managed to speak to a CEO of a nationwide company who urged me to go to University, I asked him a ton of questions regarding this and in short he said the uni for this particular career is not really looked upon as it is the skills you have to show and how well you can code and in which languages.

I asked this as I was either going to go into an Access course to go to Manchester University or use the grades I had from A-levels(BBC) to get into Manchester Met and he advised to go to Manchester Met as in the long run it wont matter and also one of his directors lectures there.

I know this is completely based around the tech industry more but Its an interesting view, as I was really reluctant to go to a university such an Man Met but if it wont affect my career in the long run id rather go asap.

In my opinion over any career though, if you work hard you will always succeed.

I think you're doing what you've done many times in the past - assume that your feelings towards physics and golf are the same as every other person.

There's probably more people who value their golf over physics in the UK....there's certainly more money in golf than physics because people are willing to pay more for something they can participate in directly than for theoretical work done by someone else.

Different people have different priorities to you - that doesn't make them wrong or less...just different.

See my edit.

And why is "importance" important? Most 18 year olds, and progressively fewer 20/30/40/50 year olds, are not trying to do something "important"...

Lancaster is a joke of an institution in my opinion.

I think you're doing what you've done many times in the past - assume that your feelings towards physics and golf are the same as every other person.

There's probably more people who value their golf over physics in the UK....there's certainly more money in golf than physics because people are willing to pay more for something they can participate in directly than for theoretical work done by someone else.

Different people have different priorities to you - that doesn't make them wrong or less...just different.

Please chill out guys………