How useful will a university degree be?
Give me an answer that is concrete. I'm very curious.
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MasterLee · 56-60, M
Not very outside of the sciences or engineering unless you intend to stay only in acedemia. A degree gives you just enough to get in the door. Many in HR have ridiculous degrees and screen applicants out who haven't given a ton of money to a college or University. Reality shows that most college graduates do not have enough knowledge to do the job. Most employers have to retrain the graduate almost from the start. In many cases I have seen in the last few years, the graduate feels they have no need to learn and they should have benefits someone takes years to earn. College degrees have less meaning today and many college students should have gone to a vocational school but the stigma has been placed into our social consciousness as the ideal. We need to as a society bring back the status of vocational training and rethink our society to survive. The old ways were better in this area.
Miram · 31-35, F
I strongly believe that all my siblings should attain a degree. They can have a part time job while doing it if they wish.
The best paying jobs require higher education. Even if one manages to land a good paying job without a formal education or tech training, jobs don't last forever nowadays like they used to. What do you do when you are out of work at 35 or 40 and all you have on your resume to show is your experience in your last job? If you can't find a similar job, you have nothing to show a potential employer.
At 35 to 40, you are competing for management jobs, because no one is going to hire a 35 year old for a entry level position. They higher cheaper paid kids for that. Kids who are probably familiar with all the new relevant tech and concepts.
Even if you are too, as an older worker, they expect you to prove it first. And you may not get the chance. So, you are likely going to be competing against guys with paper.
And whether we like it or not, if we are being realistic, companies aren't going to give a damn about you feeling you are self learnt. They don't have the time to evaluate your skills on an individual basis, so they rely on information about your education and skills. A worker with no degree has little chance against all the competition out there with degrees unless they have good connections in the company they want to work for.
At the very least, one needs some certificates.
I know a guy who didn't have any formal training and is working as a tech for Verizon.
I also know a whole bunch of other guys who didn't have any formal training and are working at fast food restaurants and as janitors.
Another crucial point to mention is that permits for research (funding too) or to start any business in most countries are given to those with a formal training. The higher, the better.
The best paying jobs require higher education. Even if one manages to land a good paying job without a formal education or tech training, jobs don't last forever nowadays like they used to. What do you do when you are out of work at 35 or 40 and all you have on your resume to show is your experience in your last job? If you can't find a similar job, you have nothing to show a potential employer.
At 35 to 40, you are competing for management jobs, because no one is going to hire a 35 year old for a entry level position. They higher cheaper paid kids for that. Kids who are probably familiar with all the new relevant tech and concepts.
Even if you are too, as an older worker, they expect you to prove it first. And you may not get the chance. So, you are likely going to be competing against guys with paper.
And whether we like it or not, if we are being realistic, companies aren't going to give a damn about you feeling you are self learnt. They don't have the time to evaluate your skills on an individual basis, so they rely on information about your education and skills. A worker with no degree has little chance against all the competition out there with degrees unless they have good connections in the company they want to work for.
At the very least, one needs some certificates.
I know a guy who didn't have any formal training and is working as a tech for Verizon.
I also know a whole bunch of other guys who didn't have any formal training and are working at fast food restaurants and as janitors.
Another crucial point to mention is that permits for research (funding too) or to start any business in most countries are given to those with a formal training. The higher, the better.
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SimplyTracie · 26-30, F
@DrWongKC I would think it depends a lot on what you’re studying or your discipline. Would you trust me to operate on your child without a medical degree or build you your hotel without a civil engineering degree? Of course not.
However, you could be hired as a head coach of a football team if you’re experienced in football and have leadership skills but have no degree whatsoever.
However, you could be hired as a head coach of a football team if you’re experienced in football and have leadership skills but have no degree whatsoever.
DrWongKC · 26-30, M
That'd work in a world that is filled with intelligent people. I'm in Information Technology and I'd also like to do Business, these are skills that I feel does not require formal education certification as people can prove the capability by doing it.
But I feel that many companies are too busy to judge on an individual basis and always give those privileged enough to have good academic credentials priorities even though business or IT success is not absolutely determined by such academic credentials.
I happen to be the not so privileged.
The other is that companies can use that as a reason to make me do work that'd normally be given to a degree holder, to me and tell me that I am paid less because I don't have a proper certification.
What I realise is, university does not perfectly certify a person as capable. I mean there are so many variables.
But how do I find a way to be successful in the traditional sense without having to have a top university certification?
But I feel that many companies are too busy to judge on an individual basis and always give those privileged enough to have good academic credentials priorities even though business or IT success is not absolutely determined by such academic credentials.
I happen to be the not so privileged.
The other is that companies can use that as a reason to make me do work that'd normally be given to a degree holder, to me and tell me that I am paid less because I don't have a proper certification.
What I realise is, university does not perfectly certify a person as capable. I mean there are so many variables.
But how do I find a way to be successful in the traditional sense without having to have a top university certification?
SimplyTracie · 26-30, F
@DrWongKC I think you can learn basic IT stuff on the job but stuff like coding/programming, data communications, data conversion, storage and retrieval, systems analysis and design, and systems control might require formal training. I really don’t know.
A formal education doesn’t mean you will be successful in your craft but at least you’ll have the knowledge to be successful if you are willing to do the work.
A formal education doesn’t mean you will be successful in your craft but at least you’ll have the knowledge to be successful if you are willing to do the work.
rckt148 · 61-69, M
so if say you get into a university ,want us to do the work too ?
Pick a field you love the work ,
or a trade you love the work ,then be the best in that job you can possibly be .
Thats how you get to be successful
not just by doing the job ,but by showing your skills and quality ,attention to detail is superior to others who can provide the same service .
You are the one they can count on ,and if there is a problem you go above and beyond to make it right .
The customer is the one buying your service ,,they should always get what they paid for (the wise one goes above and beyond )
The word of mouth praises can make or break you
Chose the right profession and be the best
even working in a crap job ,you never know who is watching
Pick a field you love the work ,
or a trade you love the work ,then be the best in that job you can possibly be .
Thats how you get to be successful
not just by doing the job ,but by showing your skills and quality ,attention to detail is superior to others who can provide the same service .
You are the one they can count on ,and if there is a problem you go above and beyond to make it right .
The customer is the one buying your service ,,they should always get what they paid for (the wise one goes above and beyond )
The word of mouth praises can make or break you
Chose the right profession and be the best
even working in a crap job ,you never know who is watching
SimplyTracie · 26-30, F
SimplyTracie · 26-30, F
@DrWongKC However that might be true, that was not the basis of your question. 😔
sarahcupcake · 36-40, F
Well..... I doubt there is a degree course in Feminism. If you're talking about studying history then it doesn't matter if you are male or female... History is history.
xSharp · 31-35, M
@sarahcupcake womens studies is nothing but feminist propaganda, if you refuse to deny fact you will fail the course. lol
its not history its: womans suffrage lmao
but thanks for going straight to calling me a perv, you prove my point on the women studies course and feminism exactly, nothing but lies to make themselves feel good like, ALL MEN ARE RAPISTS and PERVS! 😏
now go ahead and apologize like the strong independent intelligent responsible woman you are and who knows that she was wrong for generalizing 😌
its not history its: womans suffrage lmao
but thanks for going straight to calling me a perv, you prove my point on the women studies course and feminism exactly, nothing but lies to make themselves feel good like, ALL MEN ARE RAPISTS and PERVS! 😏
now go ahead and apologize like the strong independent intelligent responsible woman you are and who knows that she was wrong for generalizing 😌
sarahcupcake · 36-40, F
Totally depends on the University and the grade of the degree. In UK the top grade is a First and the bottom grade is a Third. If you don't get a First or a 2.1, really it's been a waste of time. The only exception to that are professions where it has been decided (for politically correct reasons) that everyone has to have a degree no matter what the quality of that degree.
DrWongKC · 26-30, M
@sarahcupcake I think we're losing touch with real education. Finland's education where students explore what they want, and these students seem to know what is important to learn which are the usual Math Science, so on, but they willingly do it. That sounds more pleasant than the current in most countries.
sarahcupcake · 36-40, F
It's basically a fact that the educational standards in UK have historically been dumbed down to pander to so called league tables. @DrWongKC
Love4All · 56-60, F
For some positions, a degree means higher pay.
In some fields, a college education does matter - one can see the difference between a person with a degree and a person without (even with more years of experience in that field).
In some fields, a college education does matter - one can see the difference between a person with a degree and a person without (even with more years of experience in that field).
SW-User
Depends on the degree
Apprenticeships can be more useful
Apprenticeships can be more useful
DrWongKC · 26-30, M
@SW-User Apprenticeship sounds interesting. Can you tell me more about it?
SW-User
@DrWongKC Trades - electrician, plumber, carpenter for example
More practical
Or do a teacher training degree
More practical
Or do a teacher training degree
rosedragonslayer · 18-21, F
No clue but I get told to not bother with it and to go into trades
DrWongKC · 26-30, M
@rosedragonslayer Me too! Like for example, we need to know what is in the minds of those employers. Will they feel that a university graduate is more capable than not? Will they be fair to our intrinsic merits, or will they tell us to go back to public education?
rosedragonslayer · 18-21, F
I did not get most of that but okay @DrWongKC
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DrWongKC · 26-30, M
@Pianist1234 This is what I want! But this is a luxury to me, to be respected as an educated person. The reason is, I can be educated by following philosophy experts and learning their style. But then again I am not certified as educated.
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