Who's Going To Uni?

[Father Dougal McGuire]

I graduated last year and got myself a job last week. They are asking for a reference from my current employer and from my uni. Does anyone know who at uni I should be contacting?

[SweeperDee]

Applied for my postgrad yesterday.

[SweeperDee]

I graduated last year and got myself a job last week. They are asking for a reference from my current employer and from my uni. Does anyone know who at uni I should be contacting?

Your project supervisor, your year leader, programme leader, anyone who you've been in contact the most with really.

[Ayrshire-SFC]

Got in last minute at UWS through clearing for BA (Hons) society, policy and politics

[supermik]

On 10 August 2016 at 01:30, Father Dougal McGuire said:

I graduated last year and got myself a job last week. They are asking for a reference from my current employer and from my uni. Does anyone know who at uni I should be contacting?

You are the brainbox with the degree.. You are asking us dafties!

(maybe someone from the admin dept at your uni can do it)

[Honest_Man#1]

On 10 August 2016 at 01:30, Father Dougal McGuire said:

I graduated last year and got myself a job last week. They are asking for a reference from my current employer and from my uni. Does anyone know who at uni I should be contacting?

I used my dissertation supervisor. As Sweeper says it's really anyone who you know well enough that would give you a good reference.

[ICTChris]

What is a degree for? http://thebackbencher.co.uk/the-great-university-illusion/

Also, in the Observer today, a quarter of 2004 graduates are earning £20,000 a year. The median salary for the class of 2004 is £31,000.

I find the idea that a degree is a method of signalling to prospective employers interesting. Certainly when I worked for a large financial company with a big graduate programme they didn't seem to focus on your degree - we had English Literature and Law graduates working in the Technology division. Also, when my dad ran his own business he said he didn't really look at what degree people had when recruiting graduates. They are going to learn on the job in most cases anyway.

I graduated in2002 and have never worked anywhere approaching the subject of my degree.

[ICTChris]

You can't afford me throbber.

[Honest_Man#1]

2 hours ago, ICTChris said:

What is a degree for? http://thebackbencher.co.uk/the-great-university-illusion/

Also, in the Observer today, a quarter of 2004 graduates are earning £20,000 a year. The median salary for the class of 2004 is £31,000.

I find the idea that a degree is a method of signalling to prospective employers interesting. Certainly when I worked for a large financial company with a big graduate programme they didn't seem to focus on your degree - we had English Literature and Law graduates working in the Technology division. Also, when my dad ran his own business he said he didn't really look at what degree people had when recruiting graduates. They are going to learn on the job in most cases anyway.

I graduated in2002 and have never worked anywhere approaching the subject of my degree.

It's definitely the case that the specific degree doesn't matter too much, it's just a signal that you're bright and can learn. I found it helped in interviews having specific knowledge about business areas that I knew about due to my degree, so I probably seemed more competent than someone asked the same questions who done a history degree, but it definitely wasn't a necessity to have done a management degree to get onto a management graduate programme.

How on earth a graduate from 2004 is still earning £20,000 is beyond me. They should try to go back and get a good graduate programme as it would already be at least 5K higher as the starting salary.

[Adam]

My degree has little or no influence in what I do, but I would say it certainly helped me get the job.

[welshbairn]

41 minutes ago, Honest_Man#1 said:

It's definitely the case that the specific degree doesn't matter too much, it's just a signal that you're bright and can learn. 

You don't have to be bright to get a degree. Employers like it because it proves you can put a bit of effort in and finish what you start.

[Honest_Man#1]

1 hour ago, welshbairn said:

You don't have to be bright to get a degree. Employers like it because it proves you can put a bit of effort in and finish what you start.

I'm only really speaking about a top university degree (and a either a first or 2:1), but whilst some subjects are easier than others, you definitely do need to be bright to even get in to a good university, never mind actually getting the degree.

[vikingTON]

The cross-over between "being bright" and "working hard" is probably enough for a 2:1. Different fields will claim that their degree is more 'difficult', but other than having an objectively larger workload I'm unconvinced by that argument.

For most professional jobs doing a post-grad now forms part of the entry ticket - getting funding or acceptance at that level without holding a relevant degree is much harder.

[welshbairn]

2 hours ago, Honest_Man#1 said:

I'm only really speaking about a top university degree (and a either a first or 2:1), but whilst some subjects are easier than others, you definitely do need to be bright to even get in to a good university, never mind actually getting the degree.

I disagree. You have to be good at memorising  and regurgitating stuff, but you are rarely challenged to take in and interpret new information. I know total thickos who got firsts at "good" universities but worked very hard and were organised with their time. 

[Granny Danger]

It doesn't surprise me that there are a large number of graduates earning fairly poor salaries.  There are plenty of folks studying and graduating in subjects that are unlikely to lead to high salaries, that's a conscious choice they make.  That's not a criticism, learning should not all be about vocational attainment but equally folk studying subjects that have little employment related benefits or where there is an over abundance of graduates in a particular disciple must accept the reality of that situation.

[The Chlamydia Kid]

Whose been to the most prestigious uni in this thread? Any Oxbridge?

[banana]

14 hours ago, Granny Danger said:

It doesn't surprise me that there are a large number of graduates earning fairly poor salaries.  There are plenty of folks studying and graduating in subjects that are unlikely to lead to high salaries, that's a conscious choice they make.  That's not a criticism, learning should not all be about vocational attainment but equally folk studying subjects that have little employment related benefits or where there is an over abundance of graduates in a particular disciple must accept the reality of that situation.

You're a good sport going against your pussy-whipped prejudices to explain a fair percentage of the gender earnings gap, Danger. Bravo!

[Granny Danger]

1 hour ago, throbber said:

I bet Oxford was full of c***s.

You would have fitted right in.  Obviously not academically.

[gavin_3110]

I left school and didn't really know what to do. I don't think I'm particularly academic and certainly didn't stick in at school.

I went to college from school and really enjoyed it, it was very practical and I defnitely learned a lot. I left a few years later with an HND, this and some other bits and pieces I had done were enough to get me into the third year of a degree in Computer Networking.

From a learning point of view, I'd say I learned close to nothing in the course of studying for my degree. A lot of theoretical rubbish and irrelevant modules. Scraped through and was glad to be out of there.

The degree helped me get a job though, I was offered a role the day I sat my final exam. I had also been working in two different part time jobs continiously from near enough the day I left school which gave me a little edge over the other applicants. My last part time job was relevant to my studies and I learned far more there than at university. Many of those on my course had only known studying and were in for a fright.

My choice of study was purely practical as I knew there would be plenty of opportunities in the sector. I've been in this line of work for about 7 years now and although I didn't think my degree furthered my knowledge, it's certainly been of benefit when going for jobs.

Computing is a bit of a weird one, I'd say professional certifications from vendors such as Microsoft or Cisco are of equal importance to prospective employers and definitely of more benefit in terms of knowledge.

[Romeo]

Romeo Junior is wanting to go stay in Glasgow Uni digs, even though we are not too far from the uni. I think he want's a bit of freedom and he himself says he want's to "have the student lifestyle" and make new friends.

He's been offered digs in Cairncross house. Does anyone have any info, feedback or experience of this place?

If you could keep your replies to the non, drug and drink, rapey, death type me and Mrs Romeo would appreciate it.

I may regret posting this.