Students

[BushBlade]

Nope. 3 years wasted for me. A lost kid who acted like he liked what and where he was studying, when in fact, he fucking hated both but didn't have the stones to speak up and change anything for fear of letting people down. All resulted in mental illness and no graduation.

This was only 3 years or so ago. Luckily doing much better now and actively looking for a way back into education, but mine isn't an unfamiliar story. Telling kids that they need to pick a direction which will affect the course of their careers for the rest of their lives at 18/19 is stupid. I didn't know what I wanted for fucking tea the same evening, never mind what I wanted to study for the next 3 years.

True. I didn't go to uni until I was thirty. In hindsight I should have probably gone five years earlier but I was too much of a dick to have succeeded in all likelihood if I'd have gone when I was 18. By thirty, I knew exactly why I was going and what I was going to get out of it.

But I would say that having a degree in something you don't like is still better than not having one.

 

[Tynemouth Blade]

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/what-strange-lights-sky-above-11885447

 

[vorpal blade]

Yep, there you have the contradiction inherent within the Universities.

Lots and lots of spotlights to welcome the students who will spend half their time (or more on some courses) learning how to try and combat global warming.

Lots of encouragement to be socially aware and an insistence on political correctness while half the tutors will be on zero-hours contracts and the Vice Chancellor pockets well over half a mill every couple of years.

Welcome to the pleasure dome - let's hope your parents can afford to pay the VC's salary.

 

[alcoblade]

Yep, there you have the contradiction inherent within the Universities.

Lots and lots of spotlights to welcome the students who will spend half their time (or more on some courses) learning how to try and combat global warming.

Lots of encouragement to be socially aware and an insistence on political correctness while half the tutors will be on zero-hours contracts and the Vice Chancellor pockets well over half a mill every couple of years.

Welcome to the pleasure dome - let's hope your parents can afford to pay the VC's salary.

It's certainly become a money spinning industry in itself. If tuition fees and the new payment system have done anything it's to remind us just how much it costs, and therefore how much the general taxpayer was subsidising it before.

The argument about whether that's right or not has taken the spotlight from the education system itself, which is having the pants of the poor students down around their ankles.

One day there'll be some scrutiny, and a mini scandal will be uncovered IMHO.

UTB

 

[vorpal blade]

I wouldn't be surprised if the University of, didn't own all West Street & Portobello.

They play silly, let's pretend to be grownup games like charging rent for floorspace to departments in the accounts even though the University has always owned the property - of course no money changes hands. (this is probably used as an expense/loss in their accounts for income tax despite it being make-believe)

I wouldn't be at all surprised if the top floors of the Arts Tower weren't NOMINALLY the highest rent real estate in the city.

This means they can pretend that said department is making a multi-million pound loss and they can trim the staff to try to save money that they never spent in the first place!

Look at the disaster caused by allowing a 'market' in tuition fees.....every fcuking one went for the £9000/year max. All of which allows the best paid staff to pocket salaries which would make many a BBC presenter blush.


Hey-Ho

 

[Bartyblade]

And what they don't mention when they say "you don't pay anything until you're earning £21K/annum" is that the interest on the loan is quietly clocking up in the background.
When the Govt sell the debt on to a Hedge Fund, the interest rate can easily be raised to whatever rate the Hedge Fund wants.
God knows what will happen in 30 years when only a tiny proportion of students have repaid their loans

 

[Highbury_Blade]

Nope. 3 years wasted for me. A lost kid who acted like he liked what and where he was studying, when in fact, he fucking hated both but didn't have the stones to speak up and change anything for fear of letting people down. All resulted in mental illness and no graduation.

This was only 3 years or so ago. Luckily doing much better now and actively looking for a way back into education, but mine isn't an unfamiliar story. Telling kids that they need to pick a direction which will affect the course of their careers for the rest of their lives at 18/19 is stupid. I didn't know what I wanted for fucking tea the same evening, never mind what I wanted to study for the next 3 years.

Pretty similar story to me. I went back to university p/t when I was 27 to do it right.

 

[bladeinspaceandtime]

I wouldn't be surprised if the University of, didn't own all West Street & Portobello.

They play silly, let's pretend to be grownup games like charging rent for floorspace to departments in the accounts even though the University has always owned the property - of course no money changes hands. (this is probably used as an expense/loss in their accounts for income tax despite it being make-believe)

I wouldn't be at all surprised if the top floors of the Arts Tower weren't NOMINALLY the highest rent real estate in the city.

This means they can pretend that said department is making a multi-million pound loss and they can trim the staff to try to save money that they never spent in the first place!

Look at the disaster caused by allowing a 'market' in tuition fees.....every fcuking one went for the £9000/year max. All of which allows the best paid staff to pocket salaries which would make many a BBC presenter blush.


Hey-Ho

In Durham the University own everything. Although it describes itself as collegiate the colleges themselves are all owned by the University. Many years ago the University demanded that colleges build facilities to allow them to host conferences and other business functions. The colleges then borrowed money from the University (for which they were charged interest) which was paid back (partially using money from student fees) to the University for an assest which actually belongs to the University. Another stunt the University pulled is that it sold it's old adminstrative building to the North East RDA for a significant sum of money. Shortly afterward the RDAs were abolished by the coalition government; somehow the University was gifted the building for nowt.

 

[vorpal blade]

this one, Old Shire Hall on Old Elvet, was this is admin. building? I drew it for a bloke who bought it from the University a year back, its a fantastic building inside btw. Durham University got a few mill for it.

 

[super_pig]

Two weekends on the trot now,takes forever to get into Aldi carpark at bottom of London Rd,dread what it will be like when that tower block at the bottom of Bramall lane is finished on student invasion weekends,whats the opposite of exodus well that what i wanted to say.

it's a tower block? i thought it was going to be like one of the Berlin AA gun towers.. disappointed

 

[super_pig]

Nope. 3 years wasted for me. A lost kid who acted like he liked what and where he was studying, when in fact, he fucking hated both but didn't have the stones to speak up and change anything for fear of letting people down. All resulted in mental illness and no graduation.

This was only 3 years or so ago. Luckily doing much better now and actively looking for a way back into education, but mine isn't an unfamiliar story. Telling kids that they need to pick a direction which will affect the course of their careers for the rest of their lives at 18/19 is stupid. I didn't know what I wanted for fucking tea the same evening, never mind what I wanted to study for the next 3 years.

heh. i found it embarrassing. .that i didn't have a proper job.. i used to sneak in and out of the side entrance. maybe i'm a bit weird

 

[sitwell]

Be honest 90% of students go to Uni for beer and sex. I know that was the only regret I had about not going.

 

[Bladeloyal]

Be honest 90% of students go to Uni for beer and sex. I know that was the only regret I had about not going.

I'm sure beer and sex was on offer else ware, '

 

[Northyorksblade]

Be honest 90% of students go to Uni for beer and sex. I know that was the only regret I had about not going.

Possibly the ones you are talking about who go for the social scene and are taking modern degrees, which are unlikely to get them a job once they have completed them may be like that. As Poshblade mentioned though, Sheffield is very well thought of for students wanting to become doctors. A friend of mine had two daughters, both went to Sheffield for their degrees and are both now very successful doctors. I suspect 90% is a tad high. Trouble is, you only hear about the beer and sex students.

 

[BushBlade]

Be honest 90% of students go to Uni for beer and sex. I know that was the only regret I had about not going.

Isn't that what all eighteen year olds want? I know I did. If I'd invested everything I spent in the pub between 17 and 22 I'd be retired now.

 

[Revolution]

Be honest 90% of students go to Uni for beer and sex. I know that was the only regret I had about not going.

Was it not possible for you to get these things without going to University? Unlucky!

 

[Deadbat]

I did an English degree (stop sniggering - re: my reports) which has been little use really to my so called career. For me sadly Uni was just something I fell into at the end of A Levels. I did not know what I want to do and still don't 15 years after graduating!

As for the rest of Uni life I was there just before grants stopped so did ok in terms of not losing lots of money and had a good time socially (is that the Beer and Sex referred to?) but I will be honest if I knew what I wanted to do and had a trade to go into it would not have bothered me not going. I just kind of did it as all my mates were going and it seemed like a good thing to kill a few years.

Really i got far more out of the fact I was simply leaving home and it did help me grow up. Going from having my washing done, no expenses, meals on the table to doing it all myself was a bit of a culture shock but to me that was the biggest plus of going to Uni; even more so than the studying/degree (that was just something you had to do not to get chucked off the course!). I kind of had to grow up and be independent. Now I am married, I have everything done again for me.

 

[super_pig]

Be honest 90% of students go to Uni for beer and sex. I know that was the only regret I had about not going.

a few years ago now a mate of mine who worked for Hallam organised a survey to find out why people had chosen SHU (clearing was not included as an option interestingly).. guess what came top??


Gatecrasher

i was watching them on saturday unload behind the old NXP offices (now also SHU).. proud parents mincing around with IKEA accessories and sibling five paces behind wishing they would fuck off. the standard of women seems to have dropped since my time they all seem to be dumpy birds with huge arses these days

 

[Posh Blade]

I did an English degree (stop sniggering - re: my reports) which has been little use really to my so called career. For me sadly Uni was just something I fell into at the end of A Levels. I did not know what I want to do and still don't 15 years after graduating!

Join the club, it hasn't changed much unless you are lucky/spawny enough to get onto a grad scheme have a degree that opens doors into the financial services sector, Politics just didn't quite cut it in my case. I had a year unemployed (had work experience in that period) when I finished university so just happy to have had A job for the last 3 years.

I think the current generation, myself included, have been led down the garden path whereas in reality the good jobs and careers are still only available to the small minority unless you leave the shores of the UK. In this vein, my biggest regret is ditching with Spanish and Modern Languages in general- I did Spanish and French at AS level and would have happily taken up Portuguese. Those 3 languages would have made South America, 3 european countries and about half of Africa my oyster. But that's another matter.

 

[Snowman]

Went to start a Law degree rather than tour european US Airforce bases on tour with a band because Dad said " you have to get a profession son", and law seemed to have a job guaranteed at the end of it. Managed one year of the degree before it being suggested I should leave due to it being unlikely I would trouble the examiners. I was Pinball Wizard and Table Footie King plus epic drunk.

I was too young and immature for it back then. I was still playing at life whilst some of my mates were grafting as apprentice electricians, miners, steelworkers and the like. Sometimes it is just the wrong option to expect kids at 17/18 to know what they want to do and to expect them to knuckle down and do it.

At least I got my mistakes paid for on a grant!

 

[Lane Ender]

Only time you used to see students in the 70s was rag week now the city revolves around them.
Bless em keep them coming in
More student accommodation kerching !

 

[stringjunior]

What happens when everybody has a degree? How do students differentiate themselves from others with a degree? They do a masters. But more and more people are doing masters, so what differentiates them? And all the while they're aren't gaining work experience, they are gaining debt, their chances of getting on the housing ladder diminish, so they end up living with mum and dad for 10 years longer than a generation ago and struggle to contribute to the economy in any meaningful way.

We'll, some do anyway.

 

[Pollingtonblade]

I didn't do Uni but did 3 years at Butlins and got all the beer and sex required.

I now comfortably earn more than most of my school friends who chose to go to Uni, also 3 of my colleagues are paying off student loans.

 

[Teddy]

Mr and Mrs Teddy senior live on Brocco Bank, the three houses next to them all used to be student houses when I was growing up, they are now all owned by families - some truth to this, even in Hunters Bar

 

[FlamingLip]

uni is such a broad institution it's no wonder why you have horror stories, success stories, folk that regret going and those that look back all glazed eyed. given the additional pressures and fear of near life long debt, no wonder mental health is an increased worry. based on my experience, if i had a young'n, i'd tell em this:

if you're not 75% sure what type of job/skill/workplace you'd like to explore at 18, totally fuck off the idea of uni. and forget the word career - get a job, any job, and find a bit of pleasure and self respect in earning and and making work mates. build ya confidence. pay board. maybe save a little and travel, or go on a lads holiday, or buy that double humbucker fat strat and totally unnecessary 40 Watt Fender amp that winks at ya every morning, whatever. do it. continue doing it for however long it takes until you get a warm fuzzy feeling about what you'd like to do next - this may involve a uni course or not. you're far more likely to succeed if it interests you and you're driving the idea yourself, regardless of how it's funded. and again, forget the word career - don't depress yourself with it. enjoy the learning, enjoy the independence and enjoy getting the correct balance.

then buy a gretsch electromatic and even bigger amp for no fucking reason - even if the gf/wife doesnt speak to you for days.

for the record i struggled like a bitch first time round, went too young. my older brother academically 'Brownlee'd' me, saved me from failing. I then went back when i knew what i wanted to do, worked out well and paid off the debt last year - great feeling.

 

[sitwell]

uni is such a broad institution it's no wonder why you have horror stories, success stories, folk that regret going and those that look back all glazed eyed. given the additional pressures and fear of near life long debt, no wonder mental health is an increased worry. based on my experience, if i had a young'n, i'd tell em this:

if you're not 75% sure what type of job/skill/workplace you'd like to explore at 18, totally fuck off the idea of uni. and forget the word career - get a job, any job, and find a bit of pleasure and self respect in earning and and making work mates. build ya confidence. pay board. maybe save a little and travel, or go on a lads holiday, or buy that double humbucker fat strat and totally unnecessary 40 Watt Fender amp that winks at ya every morning, whatever. do it. continue doing it for however long it takes until you get a warm fuzzy feeling about what you'd like to do next - this may involve a uni course or not. you're far more likely to succeed if it interests you and you're driving the idea yourself, regardless of how it's funded. and again, forget the word career - don't depress yourself with it. enjoy the learning, enjoy the independence and enjoy getting the correct balance.

then buy a gretsch electromatic and even bigger amp for no fucking reason - even if the gf/wife doesnt speak to you for days.

for the record i struggled like a bitch first time round, went too young. my older brother academically 'Brownlee'd' me, saved me from failing. I then went back when i knew what i wanted to do, worked out well and paid off the debt last year - great feeling.

I totally did what you recommend and I wouldn't swap it for the world. My first couple of years employed as a warehouseman and the tv engineer at Rackhams warehouse were some of the happiest days of my life. Mostly old men who worked there and loved listening to their stories ,gave me a great education and then of course all the women at the store gave me another education. Decent money ,self respect ,holidays , money to go out with ,I would recommend that path for anyone. Not many of my schoolmates went to Uni so cant compare ,but I do know a couple of girls who went ,and then became housewives in their mid 20s.
Brilliant post btw FL

 

[grafikhaus]

This city is WAY behind most other cities of its kind because of the parochial "village" attitude that has set us back decades.

Think it's more to do with cunts like Blunkett, Betts, Hattersley, Ashton etc. whose loony policies all those years ago saw us left behind and continue to drag us back.

 

[BushBlade]

What happens when everybody has a degree? How do students differentiate themselves from others with a degree? They do a masters. But more and more people are doing masters, so what differentiates them? And all the while they're aren't gaining work experience, they are gaining debt, their chances of getting on the housing ladder diminish, so they end up living with mum and dad for 10 years longer than a generation ago and struggle to contribute to the economy in any meaningful way.

We'll, some do anyway.

Very true. Thirty years ago only around 5% of people aged 18 went to Uni. If you had a degree you were part of a small elite. Now I believe it's over 30% and rising. (It may be a lot more now, I think it was at that level when I went 15 years ago).
What has also changed is that you could get a decent job without the need for a degree. It now seems that a degree is obligatory for most careers. I think the 'modern apprenticeship' is an attempt to address this as not everyone can afford to go to Uni. How successful it is or will be, I have no idea.
Things seem more complicated than when I went.

 

[FlamingLip]

I totally did what you recommend and I wouldn't swap it for the world. My first couple of years employed as a warehouseman and the tv engineer at Rackhams warehouse were some of the happiest days of my life. Mostly old men who worked there and loved listening to their stories ,gave me a great education and then of course all the women at the store gave me another education. Decent money ,self respect ,holidays , money to go out with ,I would recommend that path for anyone. Not many of my schoolmates went to Uni so cant compare ,but I do know a couple of girls who went ,and then became housewives in their mid 20s.
Brilliant post btw FL

cheers sitwell

after the car crash first attempt i had close to 2 years in a call centre in milton house and time in a concrete gnome making factory (the latter takes prize place on the CV, always sparks more questions than the Aerodynamics degree). i look back fondly. I was free!

Folk, understandably I guess, look down on call centres et all but the team spirit and social side was spot on. Great times with great people. A one size fits all paint by numbers career path which the late 90s onwards advertised to everyone was, and is, total rubbish.

 

[S5Blade]

cheers sitwell

after the car crash first attempt i had close to 2 years in a call centre in milton house and time in a concrete gnome making factory (the latter takes prize place on the CV, always sparks more questions than the Aerodynamics degree). i look back fondly. I was free!

Folk, understandably I guess, look down on call centres et all but the team spirit and social side was spot on. Great times with great people. A one size fits all paint by numbers career path which the late 90s onwards advertised to everyone was, and is, total rubbish.

William Hill? Thats where I started.....