which degree could daughter choose ?

[Mariam82]

My daughter got v good gcse results. She is now doing -
PERFORMANCE STUDIES, PSYCHOLOGY AND BIOLOGY at A level.

Half way thru AS YEAR she is finding the biology hard (E) and Psychology
ok (C). She wants to perservere with the biology.

She definitely wants to go on to university but what kind of course could
she follow with these a levels ??? She is realistic so any advice would
be great.
Many thanks

[jack705]

Best career for student is where he/she feel easy to go, so just ask her in which subject she is interested? as you mentioned she is more into biology then ask her to choose subject related to biology, there are many fields in bio at university level now she had to decide according to her preference

[Michael James]

Well as a 33.5 year old london business degree educated person. A degree in this country right now in my view is a waste of time and money. Unless your offspring is the best of the best and comes out with a 2.1 or first form a redbrick University they have no chance.

Look at apprentice schemes.

[Michael James]

I hate to be the one to put anyone off education, but I'm afraid we need a dose of reality. I graduated in 1999 and competition for graduate schemes was ultra tough then as it always has been now there is the poor economy to contend with also. In my day most people got 2.2 I got a 2.1 and I'm sorry I now this will win me few friends but I do believe in a lot of cases a 2.1 just isn't as demanding as it was. I recently started on a part time MSc and was shocked lets put it that way. So you get a 2.1 you apply to all the big grad schemes along with thousands of others with 2.1s. Only a few get selected. In my day apprenticeships didn't exist now they do- its going full circle. To be honest I really would advise any child of mine to consider it even if they were academically brilliant. Because if rightly or wrongly you don't get on that grad scheme you then are behind the people who left school at 16 as you have less experience. Many banks and companies are now taking people on with a levels sometimes even just gcse and from what I can see the initial training is similar to many of the old grad schemes -you start on lower pay but I have to say my view and I hate saying it is think twice about University in today's world is it really the best option? I wonder whether the UK will suffer another brain drain - I really do.

All the best whatever you decide.
Michael

[Arty]

Hi Mariam82,

I wonder if there is an advisor your daughter could talk to at school about this?

I think it is very important to understand the job market before deciding what further studies to take. For instance many students who have taken Media Studies have found it hard to find work especially if they do not want to move out off a specific region.

Times are difficult now as you well know, and your daughter needs to know what potential opportunities there are out there in the future if the economy does not improve much.

I kind of understand what Michael is saying because so many people are getting degrees these days. Years ago a degree was something out of the ordinary but not today.

Some vocations require having a degree.

In America some people can have two degrees and train for a Masters, and many go on to work on an internship after getting qualified because they gain work experience.

I think your daughter needs to decide what opportunities there would be out there with regard to work or gaining post graduate experience.

No doubt your aim is to see your daughter in good steady employment in a position she worked hard for and deserves.

Good luck!

Arty

[Michael James]

Calling a spade a spade most of these advisers are like recruitment consultants who I hold in very low regard. Do a google search on the trutha bout recruitment consultants.

You'd be better of speaking to someone who actually works in the sector/s your daughter is interested in.

Plus usually people in education at whatever level no diddly jack dibbbly f*** all about the real world.

When I was a university student I was lucky to have lecturers who were in industry as well or had been for years and years their lectures were good the academics -were yes you've guest it shitty shite.

My honest opinion is to try and get some kind of a n internship even if its not paid and be studying towards the relevent professional qualification for that sector sorry but University in this country now is a waste of time and money it really is.

[Michael James]

"degrees and train for a Masters, and many go on to work on an internship after getting qualified "

A degree or masters is not a qualification.

[Arty]

Originally Posted by Michael James

"degrees and train for a Masters, and many go on to work on an internship after getting qualified "

A degree or masters is not a qualification.

`

A degree is a qualification. Why did you get your degree if it was not?

Regulative bodies state a degree is a qualification. Not everyone who gets one gets a job right away but it doesn't mean a degree is not a qualification.

[Michael James]

"A degree is a qualification. Why did you get your degree if it was not? "

I am london business degree educated (I'm now33.5)and hate to put anyone off.
BUt apprenticeships are on the way back in this country.

A degree is not a qualification in the sense that it does not teach you how to do anything, it gives you a relatively in depth understanding of the main theory and practices in your chosen sector and proves you have the ability to challenge paradigms and in some degree courses problem solve.

Although I'm sorry some degree causes I have seen now I would not wipe my bottom on.
In my day to get a2.1 or 1st you had to provide robust challenge to the accepted paradigms.

I've now seen masters courses where they don't even do this -I was rather shocked.

A degree is not a qualification in the sense that on a CV you can not say you are qualified to do anything.

Now if your degree was relevant it may give you some exemptions form exams however is a degree worth it -in terms of future employability in the UK in 2010 -NO

[Arty]

Originally Posted by Michael James

"A degree is a qualification. Why did you get your degree if it was not? "

I am london business degree educated (I'm now33.5)and hate to put anyone off.
BUt apprenticeships are on the way back in this country.

A degree is not a qualification in the sense that it does not teach you how to do anything, it gives you a relatively in depth understanding of the main theory and practices in your chosen sector and proves you have the ability to challenge paradigms and in some degree courses problem solve.

Although I'm sorry some degree causes I have seen now I would not wipe my bottom on.
In my day to get a2.1 or 1st you had to provide robust challenge to the accepted paradigms.

I've now seen masters courses where they don't even do this -I was rather shocked.

A degree is not a qualification in the sense that on a CV you can not say you are qualified to do anything.

Now if your degree was relevant it may give you some exemptions form exams however is a degree worth it -in terms of future employability in the UK in 2010 -NO

I know what you are saying. A degree is a qualification but it doesn't mean it will land a job which needs you to obtain work experience. However, some jobs want both a degree and prior work experience and this is what internships can do, providing relevant experience. A person needs to be careful though that they are actually offered a learning experience rather than working an internship just to help a company grow.

Not all areas offer apprenticeships though. The thing is a lot of younger people have dreams and want to find the best way to go into a field of their interest. Their decision may not always be popular choice and this is why they need guidance. May be talking with someone who actually works in desired the industry.

[Michael James]

"May be talking with someone who actually works in desired the industry."

Correct I seem to remember that was the point I made right at the start.

With regards to apprenticeships that is the way it is going. You will notice that many banks and large companies about 12 months ago started offering trainees schemes for A levels and even GCSE. Before these would all have been graduates.

I have even seen big company training schemes on websites where it details two routes and then it will say something like and if you choose to go to university -blah blah blah.

Thus the value of a degree just isn't there anymore and I can only see that trend continuing for a number of reasons.

DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE JUST HOW SERIOUS THE SITUATION IN THIS COUNTRY IS MY FRIEND.

[biderk]

Thanks for starting this thread. I hope it will be helpful to many people that are searching for this topic. Keep posting guys and keep this forum a great place to learn things. Are you looking for a few easy steps to make money online? Maybe I must ask,if it really does take a few easy steps to making money on the internet with all the hundreds of different ways to make money on the internet one can easily find yourself trapped in an overload of information which brings you to a point of confusion or indecisiveness