1. This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.

Work or go to Uni? (I.T)

Discussion in 'General' started by hellomoto, 26 Mar 2005.

  1. hellomoto

    hellomoto What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    4 Sep 2003
    Posts:
    612
    Likes Received:
    0
    Knowing that more and more people are finding it hard to get a job/placement has turned me off going to University. I've got a National Diploma and pretty much no formal I.T experience. I'm considering doing Computer Science with Networking at uni with a placement, but I honestly can't be bothered. Should I just go straight into work and work myself up in the ladder? Or should I just go Uni, do well and hope I get a decent placement?

    Any experience/advice appreciated.
     
  2. Shadowed_fury

    Shadowed_fury Minimodder

    Joined:
    21 Nov 2003
    Posts:
    7,506
    Likes Received:
    21
    As far as IT goes, i doubt you'll do much better by going to uni.
    Do what i'm doing, work and do certified training by a proper IT workplace/training school.
    You train at home via web/cd's, send work off to tutor (whom you can ring whenever) and then take the exams after.

    It is costly, but a hell of a lot cheaper than uni, and you get qualifications that are worth looking at, also, you get money at the same time ;)

    (sorry if i offended any Uni-goers, just my opinion.)
     
  3. Hiren

    Hiren mind control Moderator

    Joined:
    15 May 2002
    Posts:
    6,161
    Likes Received:
    33
    If you want to get into I.T I'd say go the work route, I've met a hell of a lot of IT graduates both at uni and when I used to work in IT and most of them don't have a clue.
     
  4. hellomoto

    hellomoto What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    4 Sep 2003
    Posts:
    612
    Likes Received:
    0
    What about going to University and doing a placement?

    Would it be harder in getting a job 4 years down the line?

    Edit: Why do them employ graduates if they don't know anything :S
     
  5. scotty6435

    scotty6435 What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    4 Sep 2004
    Posts:
    1,386
    Likes Received:
    0
    A placement would be fantastic as you get years of practical experience AND a nice piece of paper at the end of it :) It might be a fight to get one but well worth it (I'm doing a medical one atm and I'm so happy I won't end up with £20,000 debt).
     
  6. Nedsbeds

    Nedsbeds Badger, Slime, Weasel!!

    Joined:
    16 May 2002
    Posts:
    1,972
    Likes Received:
    9
    just remember you'll have a bloody good time at uni.

    meh, theres always time to grow up later
     
  7. Shadowed_fury

    Shadowed_fury Minimodder

    Joined:
    21 Nov 2003
    Posts:
    7,506
    Likes Received:
    21
    Uni is a rip off, simply.
    They employ grad's because they've got a degree which obviously looks better than it is.
    Some of them don't even know how to build a pc. wtf. :confused:
     
  8. Nedsbeds

    Nedsbeds Badger, Slime, Weasel!!

    Joined:
    16 May 2002
    Posts:
    1,972
    Likes Received:
    9
    well postgrads at unis are doing research or teaching. they could also specialise in other things, like maths. tbh i wouldnt worry that they couldnt build a pc.
     
  9. Shadowed_fury

    Shadowed_fury Minimodder

    Joined:
    21 Nov 2003
    Posts:
    7,506
    Likes Received:
    21
    Are you serious?
    5 years of IT or whatever and they can't do a simple thing like that, suprises me somewhat.
    Though, i suppose if you need something doing in excel they know what you need. :rolleyes:
     
  10. Nedsbeds

    Nedsbeds Badger, Slime, Weasel!!

    Joined:
    16 May 2002
    Posts:
    1,972
    Likes Received:
    9
    exactly, anyone can put a pc together. why would they teach it on a science degree? A typical uni degree focuses on a completely different aspect of IT.
    And not all our postgrads where i am, actually have a degree in computer science.
    TBH if they started teaching us computer maintenance i would want my money back.
     
  11. purepope

    purepope Banned

    Joined:
    17 Jan 2005
    Posts:
    79
    Likes Received:
    0
    its hard to find a job in australia in I.T. because for every 1 job theres 40 more then quilifyed applicnts, however there is a country wide shortage on brick layers, moter mechenics, steel fabricators, electrisions, plumbers and jobs like that,
    i can earn 1000$ a day from being a brick layer, or anything to do with building a house, because there are alot of houses being built for the rich ppl :D


    i think placement here is called apprenticeships, or traineeships
     
  12. Sc0rian

    Sc0rian Here comes the farmer

    Joined:
    23 Feb 2003
    Posts:
    3,542
    Likes Received:
    2
    Hey,

    I'm comming to this choice to.

    My feelings are 100% like hellomoto. I agree with Shadow the most. imo... But I will have to make a choice soon

    - S
     
  13. Bogomip

    Bogomip ... Yo Momma

    Joined:
    15 Jun 2002
    Posts:
    5,164
    Likes Received:
    40
    now THATS offensive. Every uni student works damn hard for degrees. Long hours and huge 15000 page dissertations oni a single topic is alot of work. I "really would" like you to try and sit a 2nd/3rd/4th year exam in anything and see how you do.

    Also, uni isnt just about learning stuff specifically. Its about changing more as a person. Students are very passionate. You learn about lots of differant perspectives on EVERYTHING by going to uni. You learn dependance upon yourself. How to work hard by yourself! And more than that, it shows employers that your sure damn capable of starting something which you know will be 4/5 years long, and finishing it. It shows commitment to a subject and all that!

    And if you think a degree is easy, then either youve been talking to people doing the wrong degrees, extremele clever people, or liars! I know "nobody" who is finding there degree easy. Employers know they arent easy, but the fact is, people without them are much more likely to work for less money!

    and would people quit with the "£20 000" debt thing? It may be alot ofmoney, but sonsidering its both goingto my own education, my own living, and to an institution where many scientific breakthroughs come from (yes, unis do "RESEARCH". You know, for the good of all!) then no, it isnt a waste of money! I sure wish people would give this "uni is a ripoff" thing a break!

    And PG Computer Scientists who dont know how to build a pc ? wtf!

    edit: sorry if any of that sounded too harsh! it just how i feel!
    edit2: ontopic :p go to uni, if you didnt get that from the post! itll be a blast ;)
    edit3: btw, thats transexual thread that got closed is AMAZING! Can it be stickied so for years to come, new members can bask in its amazingness"
     
  14. Shadowed_fury

    Shadowed_fury Minimodder

    Joined:
    21 Nov 2003
    Posts:
    7,506
    Likes Received:
    21
    Tbh, you can get to places many different ways in life.
    I took a much different path to most people I know, and what most people tend to think its the only way forward.
    I'm not insulting people who to uni, I just believe its overpriced and damn right not needed to get the job you want in IT, unless its say office based :)

    Sorry if I offended anyone, but like I said it is my personal opinion.
     
  15. TheAnimus

    TheAnimus Banned

    Joined:
    25 Dec 2003
    Posts:
    3,214
    Likes Received:
    8
    rightie, i work part time for aimhigher, promoting science in higher education.

    belive me, there is SO MUCH BULLCRAP. so many people who are clueless, doing worthless degrees.

    a degree is ment to show you have the abililty to learn, rather than be trained, it shows that u can learn. Not any more!

    Typogrophy, hell anything Humanities, social sciences. These are becoming more and more ********, and just plain easy. There are lots of them but even the government is begin to admit too many people are doing them.

    Computer Science, i've a story about this degree at my uni, thats shocking but i shouldn't tell you the details, suffice is to say, the quality of applicants (mostly the fault of alevels) is bad.

    Some people for their final year project in computer science aren't making any programs, only writeups. I mean jinkies, there 3rd years who can't code, at all, not just well AT ALL! :jawdrop:

    a degree gets you to an interview thats it. The figures we get (there from a new labour government so should be treated with a pinch of salt) says that you will be earning 40% more as a graduate by the time your 40.

    Uni is expensive, and thanks to new labour, ensuring only thouse rich enough can goto decent uni's leaving poor people to goto portsmoth, you need to remeber, Uni should be the best damn 3 years of your life. So far they're the best 2 of mine. :thumb:
     
  16. Shepps

    Shepps Slacking off since 1986..

    Joined:
    5 May 2002
    Posts:
    1,492
    Likes Received:
    7
    I choose the uni path, more for the experience of university than employment propects. Im glad i choose uni! I know its going to be dam hard to find a job when i graduate, but i'd rather have three / four years of uni behind me than three / four years of working full time.

    just my two cents..
     
  17. slaw

    slaw At Argos buying "gold"

    Joined:
    13 Feb 2003
    Posts:
    1,050
    Likes Received:
    40
    You also have to remember that there is a difference in unis too. Originally i went to a really good one that shall remain name less. I didnt finish being a bit of a lazy sod. A few years later i went to one of these old polys/unis so study computing. This place was a joke. I was expecting it to be formal methods and object oriented programing but instead they had a word and power point course!

    In other words, if you can get in to a good quality uni go. You will get a much broader understanding of computers but otherwise get a job where you will get some training. Dont wast you time/money with one of these fake unis/polys
     
  18. SitraAchra

    SitraAchra Minimodder

    Joined:
    28 Sep 2002
    Posts:
    736
    Likes Received:
    2
    Why do IT at all if the job market sucks? I don't understand...
     
  19. Shepps

    Shepps Slacking off since 1986..

    Joined:
    5 May 2002
    Posts:
    1,492
    Likes Received:
    7
    I did computing because i couldn't think of another course to do and i've always fancied a career in i.t. if that doesn't work out, i guess i'll become a teacher or something :worried:
     
  20. DaSuperFly

    DaSuperFly What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    19 Apr 2002
    Posts:
    1,013
    Likes Received:
    1
    I definately agree with you there, if the government didn't pay towards pointless degrees then there'd be no need to have tution fees at all

    Well I dunno about your uni but at Warwick the standard of applicants is pretty high with the majority of Comp Sci on the most part being very good.

    I know how you feel about the people who can't code at all, however some of the non-coding projects done are very interesting, if not code intensive.
    Then again you can't expect everyone work hard at uni to put in the effort and get coding since the main difference between A levels and degrees is the fact that you are more reliant upon yourself to get things done.

    Degree can get you a lot more than an interview, you learn a lot of quite interesting computing and with options available to learn more about possible career interests.
    That way you can earn 40% more as a graduate, I hear of plenty of graduates earning £32-35k just on graduation. Lets face it, if you want a great career you can have it, it all about the drive you put into getting wherer you want to be.

    I wish people would stop digging into the government about tution fees, it's only about £1k a year which for the standard of education is an absolute bargain.
    Also the government doesn't want to raise the fees, it's the universities who need more cash and hence are raising their fees.
     

Share This Page