What I'm finding hard is that I did a National Diploma which was a vocational coruse and trying to do a acadmic course which I don't enjoy. I realise that you have to do a hardcore degree to get anywhere, but I'm not interested. I got into Bath University which is very academic studying Computer Science. I didn't enjoy it at all. I stuck at it but I found it all boring and most of all hard. The degree's that I'm looking at are those so called "Fake University" The sort of unis that do Networking degrees. I've been considering doing a foundation degree in Networking then getting transferred to the final year of a hons degree and hopefully get the chance to do a placement. One reason why I dont want to go into work straight away is the fact that if I get made redundant, It will be even harder getting a job considering everyone has a degree. Any advice, help?
Woooh nelly. Tories couldn't ever of done this, thanks to new labour i know my kiddies will be able to goto oxbridge, because i'll be able to afford it (hopefully). 3 grand per year. but uni's can give you a rebate. Now, game theory kinda tells us what happens, and once again i know a few uni's (including some of oxford's) plans on the matter. All 3 grand, way to go socailists. You do get a rebate, but its kind of a slap in the face. However you only pay your fees when u graduate, well your loan pays your fees. As for jobs, the point is you don't *have* to goto uni to get a great job, its just if you've got what it takes to be good enough for such a job, ur good enough for uni. I just find it funny how theres a specific budget (which is hudge) for getting people into higher ed. Why not just abolosish top-up/tutian/new-labour-election-promised-not-to-do-this-fees for good degrees were we desperately need them (engineering, doctors etc.). But with 50% going to university, you do need to look to the future a bit more. However its quite easy uni = fun. I know one person who hasn't had the best time of their life at uni, and thats because there a looooser. but please i've actually had the state where i've been on the brink of tears when a 15 year old kid from (what i would consider) an abusive family, says they can't afford to goto uni, which would of been the escape she needed, she was smart enough, its just "Uni's a waste of time and money" and with the cost comming from anything but un-supported kids at the perants feet, its not as easy for everyone, and i really hate what a solcailist government is doing to education. I'm rather emotional on the matter.
aye i've not been explaining this very well... Sorry. New Labour (the socialist party) came to power, with the promise of getting more people into higher education, they said they wouldn't charge people to goto uni. They lied. First came tuition, oh damn, thats loosing us votes, "Top-Up" fees. just a little over 1k per year, to be paid before you start your year. (thats about $1,865 for something that whilst our conservative party was in power was free). ouch! Now there making it worse, Each uni in the UK is been given the power to set its own level, upto 3k per year, so only the rich people can afford to goto the good uni's, keeping the rich in power and the poor people stupid, what made us great during the more un-enlightend parts of our history. Because each uni has the power to set their on limit, they are all going to go straight upto maximum, because they know that most people will say "Oh no way i'm going to southhampton if its only charging 2k per year it musn't be as good". However the uni's are allowed to give a bursery to people, i think its anything upto £1800. The reason for this is, whilst the current top-up system is paid BEFORE each year, the new system will be paid at the end of your degree programe. So its like another student loan, but will allow new labour to say that 'students aren't in any extra debt'. Nice eh? So oxbridge won't be giving much back, and some will weight on the course (if you want to do say computing at york, u'll get only 200£, but do erm, typography, you will get 1000£). I hate this, so much. The government and LEA and university funded department i work (part time, in between my degree) admit that theres a problem getting people on the science courses (including engineering, which we need more people in). So its hypocracy that drives me made, and the fact our current government is a sham of numbers. I come into contact with a lot of bright kids, often only 15 or 16 (appologies anyone this age reading this). Most of these are very mixed up, and wanting to begin to find direction. A lot of them come we see come from, crap homes, were the perant(s if there very lucky) are stupid and don't care for their child. But from some adverse freak of evolution there are some very inteligent children in this situation, its our job to help them find higher education direction that suites them, and uses them to their full potential. Its often very rewarding, but regretably all to lately, when their perants see 3,000 PER YEAR. no chance, i know one 15 girl thats already imensapated just so she can goto 6thform? Her perants said no get a job pay rent.
Would you recommend the foundation degree then top-up to a hons degree route? The reason why I thinking of doing this route is that I really don't want to do all the busines/pointless modules in the first and second year. When you finish the foundation degree, you're able to transfer to the final year of the hons degree. Hopefully they'll also let me do a placement.
A comp sci degree should have some modules looking at buisness stuff, u need to know it, we've got one on law that will effect us (part of proffesional aspects). Its very useful, because of it i knew pretty much everything ebuyer have done wrong to me, in a legal sense. If you don't like learning in lectures/labs + on your own, don't goto uni. A 'proper' degree shouldn't be computer science & networking, it would be computer science, you would then do a CCNA or something. You should goto uni because its awsome fun, and you learn INTRESTING THINGS, as oposed to been trained, lots of people goto uni, find their course nothing but boring (even i find mine boring at times) but you should be loving every minuite of it.
To be perfectly honest, I didn't entirely enjoy the independant studying at all. When I was doing my national diploma, I enjoyed every single minute of it. When I went to Bath Uni, I really didn't enjoy the course and the teaching methods. Then again, it was a very high standard compared to the university I'm thinking of going to this sept. The foundation degree does offer more practical work which I rather do.. There is alot of discussion about needing a degree to secure you in the future, especially in I.T where some employers don't even look at you if you don't have a degree. This is the inital reason why I'm off to university.
Im not sure I made the correct choice to go to uni. Im in my 2nd year now, hate the work (not doing work, just the subjects) but really do think sticking at it is for the best. My mates are temp'ing earning next to nothing, hoping it will all work out in the end. Made some good mates which is good. All depends on what YOU think will you YOU the best possible start career wise.
yup its all about getting a course that suites you get in contact with the person at the unis ur thinking going to in charge of applicants, grill em also everyone says the friends you make at uni are the ones you spend the most time with for the rest of ur life. Well I'd add those from 6th form who also went to uni, you just find that you end up thinking differntly.
