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Off Topic University degrees are they really worth it?

Discussion in 'Sunderland' started by its been fun thanks :), Aug 23, 2015.

  1. MrRAWhite

    MrRAWhite Well-Known Member

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    My office is at St Peter's Campus at the back of the security office in the Prospect Building. Which halls is she staying in? Some of them are pretty good but others not so. None at Sunderland are as bad as the ones my son stayed at at Staffordshire Uni last year which really were poor.
     
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  2. QWOP

    QWOP Well-Known Member

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    <laugh> It's character building mate. My student houses were even worse <yikes>
     
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  3. its been fun thanks :)

    its been fun thanks :) ♬♬Badum-tish! ♬♬
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    My daughter has come to her own decision -after quite a long discussion with us (me and the missus) as I gave her a few pointers and thoughts as suggested by loads of fantastic advice given on here ( very much appreciated btw!), she has decided to defer for a year as she needs to be sure that the subjects she initially chose to study are going to be correct for her in the long term - so she'll get a job in the real world for a year - earn a bit of money (hopefully) and re-evaluate her options next year.
     
    #43
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  4. Disco down under

    Disco down under Well-Known Member

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    Good idea I reckon mate. Try encourage her to do a little travelling as well. People do a lot of growing up on their travels.
     
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  5. its been fun thanks :)

    its been fun thanks :) ♬♬Badum-tish! ♬♬
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    Yes I agree - I was hitch- hiking and working Europe during my teens - not that I'd want her to do the same (well the hitch- hiking bit ) any-hows
     
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  6. John Cardew

    John Cardew Well-Known Member

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    She's going to be in Pann Bank which is the second closest to the campus I believe. It's not TOO bad there, her preference was Scotia (sp?) Quay which was nearest campus and really nice, but she just couldn't justify the extra 1 and half grand a year! We looked at the Precinct too which was a cheaper option but in her words "uninhabitable" <laugh> I think we found a decent middle ground although I have to say that, while more expensive (mostly due to being in Newcastle) my halls in first year were far nicer.
    What do you do at the university if you don't mind my asking?
     
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  7. John Cardew

    John Cardew Well-Known Member

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    Aye it's a shame to miss out on the social side but she can stay over at friends. Plus, she gets a nice place and cooked meals every day <laugh> <ok>
     
    #47
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  8. Deletion Requested1

    Deletion Requested1 Well-Known Member

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    I remember when I was at Uni we were doing a project in teams of 6 and we each had our own section to do. We held regular meetings to discuss progress/problems etc. Anyway this meeting one of the lads did not turn up - so at the next meeting we asked why he had not turned up and he told us "All the housemates are taking turns staying in because the front door is off its f**ing hinges and it was my turn" <laugh>

    I always think about that when I watch The Young Ones
     
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  9. MrRAWhite

    MrRAWhite Well-Known Member

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    I'm a Facilities Duty Manager, which basically means we look after everything out of hours with responsibility for all the teaching buildings and halls of residence as well as the security and welfare of students, staff and visitors. Not a bad job, although sometimes it can be a real pain..
    Who is her main tutor or does she not know yet?
     
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  10. Deleted #

    Deleted # Well-Known Member

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    I left school with a 'few' GCSE's and my highest grade was a D (more to do with the fact I was in the bottom sets due to behavioural problems). I made a career in sales and regularly brought in a higher than average salary, due to being very successful at what I done (used to get loads of ex uni people in these jobs after wasting years there and very few were great sales people). I have since went self employed, starting my own company and now just starting to look at buying property with my brother as a side earner.

    Whilst most people have been going through uni, a lot struggling financially, to come out of it without a job and bleak prospects. I was working during them years making a decent amount of money and building myself up to be in the position I am in today. I would personally advise school leavers these days to look for an apprenticeship, then if that fails look to go in whatever profession as a junior with a view to working your way up. If that fails, then yeah, uni. I will concede for few (very few) selective professions then university is needed, at least half of students probably don't even need to be there.

    My father figure was my Grandad growing up and he learned me all about the value of hard work. You can have all the qualifications in the world, but in my opinion, there's no better education, than on the job training.
     
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  11. haslam

    haslam Well-Known Member

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    Statistically yes it is worth it. There are always going to be people who leave school at 16 with few qualifications and make plenty of money and likewise people who get a great education but do badly for themselves. They aren't the norm, the average wage you will earn goes up with each year of education the issue is people going to university to have a doss (and only a doss) - it doesn't guarantee you anything, it just opens doors which you still have to work hard to go through.

    I did law and became a lawyer (though changed career a few years back but still do something I couldn't do without a degree), my wife did medicine and is a doctor. It is possible to be a solicitor without a degree in law but takes longer and is harder work (in the main) and you still hit a glass ceiling as there are plenty of firms who look down on people who didn't go the academic route. It isn't possible to be a doctor without a degree.
     
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  12. John Cardew

    John Cardew Well-Known Member

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    Ah sounds good, you're the guy in charge when the 4am calls come through from students who've locked themselves out of their flats? <laugh>
    I couldn't tell you mate, I know she's met one person from the department but I'm guessing that was the head and not one of the main lecturers.
     
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  13. Home_and_Away

    Home_and_Away Well-Known Member

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    I've just been having a similar conversation with my lad....
    He's a clever lad but he is so blasé, I told him that I would pick an employee with 'drive' & 'enthusiasm' over some geek with a couple of qualifications every day of the week.
    There is an argument for both sides but with 3 teenagers I'm currently siding with 'apprenticeships' and gaining job related skills.
     
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  14. Lostinvegas

    Lostinvegas Well-Known Member

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    My advise would be to speak to a financial advisor not a careers counsellor as its never caused me or my wife problems. All I can say is you must want to borrow a hell of a lot of money.
     
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  15. John Cardew

    John Cardew Well-Known Member

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    Fair enough mate, it was only a hypothetical discussion anyway and was 4 years ago. Maybe things have changed now with the massive hike in university debt levels? If it's worked out for you, then, topper <ok>
     
    #55
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  16. Lostinvegas

    Lostinvegas Well-Known Member

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    Thanks mate, to be honest with your forthcoming career I don't think you will have any trouble borrowing money.
     
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  17. John Cardew

    John Cardew Well-Known Member

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    Cheers mate, Due to my savings, only having to fund 2 years of university out of 5 and my ever-generous family, all being well I should hopefully be leaving uni 4 years from now without any debt to my name, which will be wonderful.
     
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  18. Poolie Mackem Paul

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    I think it depends on the field to be quite honest. I spent 6 years at uni first studying Sport & exercise science and then Physiotherapy. I was originally going to go into Sporths Therapy post the S&ES, however my form tutor told me to go into Physio due to job oppertunities and sports therapists not being chartered (meaning a physio can do a sports therapists job but a sports therapist cant do a physios). As such ive really benefited from my degree's and wouldnt be where i am with out them. I specialise in musculoskeletal problems, have worked in the NHS, currently work across 4 private clinics in the north east dealing with anyone from joe public to elite athlete's. Ive also worked alongside teams such as Hartlepool United and Boro. Im a qualified acupuncturist and im going to do a masters in Manipulative therapy next. So for me personally its been worth it.

    I encouraged my misses to go to uni as well. At the time of the recession she went through about 4 jobs in 6 weeks due to companys going under. She ended up going to uni and is now a fully qualified mental health nurse.
     
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  19. MrRAWhite

    MrRAWhite Well-Known Member

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    Not quite mate..I have staff who deal with that. I would normally only get called out to the halls if their is things going on that the security guards are struggling with or if there has been a crime or serious incident. The psychology lecturers seem a decent bunch, so I'm sure she will be fine. Let me know on here if you are coming down to the campus with her and if I'm on duty we can meet up.
     
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  20. Blunham Mackem

    Blunham Mackem Well-Known Member
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    Good post mate <ok>

    You haven't missed much <laugh>
     
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