How many of you...

[andrewsmith]

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

Seems in example you give, that weight to the old school tie is perfectly justified.

+1

My degree is from a ex poly (northumbria), which is one of the top 5 in the uk in my field

[Sir Trev]

I went to Brighton Poly when it was still Brighton Poly. My four year sandwich degree gave me a year out at work as part of my studies and meant I had a leg up on the red-brick uni graduates when I finished. Bizarely I ended up working for a company we had done a project on and so salied through the interviews as I knew so much about them.

Would I do it again? Probably yes. 80's degrees were pretty hard work and I have no idea about current standards. Didn't have many lectures in my final year but the reading and assignments we had to do kept us all too busy for any kind of social life...

BSc Economics - no use whatsoever flogging Telecoms.

Plus side, there were no fees when I did it and you got a grant for living and dole in the holidays as well.

Downside, I've got twin sons who will be going to Uni next year and I'm wondering where I'm going to find the £100k or so to fund it....rather than saddle them with a old of student debt before they have even started life

Yes - partly. And yes - definitely.

Career #1 (working in radio for 10 years) followed a cultural studies / media degree. However, it was the practical skills that I learnt; the work experience (both 'official' and in my own holiday time); and the industry people I got to know during that time that helped to secure me my first job. The finer points of cultural theory are a long distant memory!

Career # 2 (massage therapist for the last 6 years) followed on from doing an anatomy, physiology and massage qualification - I wouldn't be able to get my professional association membership and public liability insurance without it. Plus, like others who've mentioned the practical / vocational jobs they do, I most definitely couldn't do this job without having learnt what I did during my initial course.

I don't envy any young people nowadays trying to decide whether to go to Uni and / or trying to find employment. When I started out in the media in the mid 90s it was competitive - I suspect nowadays it's nigh on impossible.

[keith_d]

Degree in Chemistry.

Jobs:

Laboratory Robotics (yes)
Laboratory Automation (yes)
Oil Economics Software (no)
Data Storage Geek (no)

So I started off in work related to my degree but ended up in IT because the money was better.

Keith.

Degree - BA(Hons) Hospitality Management

initial Career - pub manager - and yes required a degree for the graduate programme. I helped myself by completing my thesis of the pub industry. (i could legitimately spend all day in the pub in the name of research).

Self employed- mobile bar owner - yes the degree gave the broad basis for all I needed

CSA - only the parts of how to deals with PV people and the ability to listen

Local authority - CSO - not really
Project manager - only partially but I'm working my way onto a project and event management degrees courses

Nope. A degree in Civil Engineering and I now do sales and IT stuff, all of which I have learned on the job. Don't regret having done the degree though - Uni was a fantastic experience for the most part

[Messie]

I have a Psychology degree and postgrad qualifications; I teach Psychology. I couldn't teach without a degree.

But I also have a qual in furniture making, which I achieved before going to Uni at 23. I've only used that a few times for home DIY

My formal qualifications are useless in my current job. You don't need to know about electrical maintenance to full C+G level to manage a motorbike dealership.

As soon as I completed my apprenticeship I left my job and never did any electrical work ever again. I even call a sparky out to do anything around my own house - I'm crap at it.

[Dave20046]

Originally Posted by Messie

I have a Psychology degree and postgrad qualifications; I teach Psychology. I couldn't teach withou a degree.

But I aslo have a qual in furniture making, which I achieved before going to Uni at 23. I've only used that a few times for home DIY

I kind of understand why it's a requirement as I suppose it's to encourage people with an understanding of the value of education...but why do they make it so hard to get into teaching when there are more accessible profitable career options? I'm sure a bit back they were lacking teachers.