[Closed] Did you go to University?

Yes I did. Didn't want to go but parents kind of pushed/persuaded me to and I'm glad they did. I studied Psycholinguistics (study of the brain, how it works, how you learn languages, 2nd languages, brain trauma etc brilliant and fantastically interesting course) at Essex. Essex was a fantastic place. I matured hugely, did drink lots and played lots of sport. However I learnt a lot about maturity, money, I became very independant and I made some brilliant friends. The only thing I would change is not trying a little harder in my 4th year, still came out with a good degree but could've had a brilliant one (splitting up with long term boyfriend and beer upset it). I would think long and hard about what course you are interested in and where it wouldl/could potentially lead you eventually.

The degree I did I haven't used since (as I've ended up in the police) however I am still looking at doing a masters in forensic linguistics now. I could've gone into speech therapy however I wasn't ready for another 2 years of study.

Good luck.

Yes, went to Uni of Bristol to do Mech Eng which was enough to put me off ever doing it as a profession 🙂

Had a great time, spent lots of time doing sport (and that was where I really got into mtbing), met my wife, made some great friends and grew up a lot.

That said, I do often wonder whether I'd have actually been better off professionally just going straight into a job from school and working my way up. I reckon that I'd have moved up most companies reasonably quickly and after a few years in many jobs (eg the ones where you don't need a specific degree to do it), what degree you did or didn't do is irrelevant. As it was, I went to a school where everyone just expected to go to uni ( I'm pretty sure that everyone did ) and the same for my family so it wasn't really something that I consdered at the time.

With the costs that are now applied in increasing amounts, I'd serious consider whether uni is right for many who otherwise it would have made sense to go.

Yes. Bristol. Good. Just before they started charging tuition fees. Did engineering, didn't use it for my job for years but I do now. Didn't do much work, spent most of my time doing the clichéd drinking and smoking, and also being in a band. Not sure the time I spent working would justify the fees now! No mountain biking - it was nicked on the first day of lectures...

clubber, when were you there?

A little while before you by the sounds of it 94-98

Yes, however I started at Plymouth Poly, which changed its name just before I got my Ba then for my Post Grad it became a Uni, then I studied at Uni in the US, then I ended up at Uni in London for my Professional Practice course. The most recent of which was in 1997 so none of its any use to you really. I am thinking of doing a MSc next year based partly in a hippy quarry in Wales and somewhere in East London, and I'm unlikely to visit either of them because its a distance learning course.
Obviously none of this is of any help to you, but then you haven't said what course your looking at so it's all pretty meaningless.

clubber's just a lad 🙂

Yes, '96-'00 here. Mech Eng too - and they put me off it too! A good friend (who I appear to have mislaid recently) was in your year but ended up dropping back twice and ended up in mine - he used to organise the Beer Festival, which might have had something to do with his less than stellar academic performance...

Munqe, when were you there? I was there doing Economics/Econometrics in 84-87.

As to why I went there, it was 300 miles from home, which suited me at the time, plus it had a good reputation. It was absolutely necessary for me to get a degree so that I could get a professional qualification, which I need for my job.

I'd still do it now (a) because professionally I'd need to (b) I had an absolute blast. No way I'd be earning what I am now unless I'd done it.

University of York, 'kin ace 🙂

I did - i dont use it at work but at the same time I'm not sure I would have my job without degree.

My Mrs didnt but now wishes she did as she is doing a role where she is a teacher on the cheap. If she had degree the school have said they would have made her into a teacher but without it she cant become one.

However my increased salary from a job with a degree is hammered by student load at 140 per month which I could do with now a baby is on the way.

In all honesty if I had my time again I would probably become an Electrician with a trade or something like that.

Salford, did audio and video system design. Liked it.

i went to brighton and did product design, with a year in industry.

after 2 years (before going into industry) i was going to jack it in as it seemed to me it was a bit mismanaged. the final year was awful - for one term we were working in a building site illegally as they had forgotten to organise us a work space; the next term it was a condemned building which had damp and was rotting at the edges.

I came out with a 2:1. the degree has been useful - I still use design in my job - alebeit in a much more mech eng type of way - but having it on paper has got me the last job.

However the year in industry is what has worked well for me, the company i worked for employed me through my final year a day a week (and were kind enough for me to work extra days and then take a month off before final hand in) i was then offered a job after graduation, which meant after 1 year graduation i had three years experience. i had a lot to talk about in the interview for the next place.

I also had a lot of fun and met a lot of good friends; i was quite independent when i got there but i certainly grew up a bit.

I ended up drinking and smoking at cornell. wonderful place for someone more motivated, but wasted on me. o well.

Thomthumb - actually now you mention it most useful thing about my degree was the 3rd year placement year. Kept job and finished off part time. Meaning degree took longer but I had 3 years in industry by the end.

I was not clever enough!

If I could do my time again, PlopNofear, I would love to go to one.

Just find one which is as far away from your home as possible, somewhere hilly would be a bonus 😉

I went to Glasgow in 1989 to study Statistics and then did a postgraduate course in Business and IT Systems at Strathyclyde.

You could get into my line of work without a degree, but it would be difficult and you would need a 5 to 10 years relevant work experience.

I enjoyed my time whilst there both academically and socially.

However, the cost of it nowadays would really make me think twice about going.

currently at portsmouth, doing diagnostic radiography, 2nd year.
Not keen, haven't really settled in yet ha :/
hate it, want to quit but there are no alternatives so ..
fees are paid for by the NHS though!

B.Eng Mechanical Engineering at Huddersfield Poly 1988 - 1992

Didn't work very hard. Played for the Rugby League team. Pissed 3 or 4 times a week. Shared a house with a famous mountainbike designer from Todmorden. Ate a lot of samosas. Learned how to cook fluffy rice.

But I did it when there were no fees and grants. I wouldn't be happy paying £20k+ for my lad to do the same.

i don't think the cost have to be as high as the media like to make out.

I came out with around half the debts plenty of people on my course graduated with.

mix of part time/ summer jobs. being careful and not opting for the 'as much as possible' option every time.

B.Eng Chemical & Process Engineering Sheffield Uni 2001-2004
Msc Process Safety & Loss Prevention Same as above 2004-2005

Didn't work hard, drank lots, partied, went riding rather than to lectures, wouldn't change it for the world.

Good point about the year in industry - not something I did but especially nowadays, it's a huge advantage in trying to get a job once finished - companies always prefer to hire someone they know so there's less risk of hiring a numpty who's just good at interview (and there are lots of them about...)

No, was too much of a dosser at 'a' levels

If I had my time over again I'd love to go.

Not going, hasn't held me back though and maybe I earn more now because I didn't go to Uni, who knows?

BA Archaeology & Anthropology at Oxford University 1995-1998.

Not sure if it did me any good, but glad I experienced it. Couldn't afford it now, mind.

I graduated in '83. Spent too long indulging in bacchanalian pleasures to get a decent degree. I'd go again if I could and this time I'd probably do some work too. I really fancy Computer Forensics or Computer Security but at my age I'd be on the scrap heap before I got through the course.

Where was it? I think it is called St Mary's University now, somewhere in Twickenham. I got a Uni of London degree but it changed to Uni of Surrey a couple of years after they got rid of me!

I owed about £2,400 when I finished... which was actually quite a bit then.

St Andrews for me. It was excellent. Nice, small friendly place and great mountain biking believe it or not. Drank a lot in first year, played a lot of golf and made some incredible friends and developed myself in ways I didn't know possible. I did a masters in Maths.

Now doing a PhD with the University of the Highlands and Islands at SAMS. Have a gander if you're after something different.

A few people doing mech eng

I did it at Liverpool Poly, which became LJMU. Not exactly rich in prestige, but not done me any harm. Hard and very boring course, but served me well getting jobs etc.

Liverpool is a good place to be a student by the way - a bit too good at times 😉

BSc in Chemistry at Cardiff (1997 - 2001) which I loved. Great place to be, good course and I used my degree pretty much exclusively for about 8 years after leaving.

Current job has nothing to do with my degree!

I really liked it, had a fantastic time at uni, I'm really glad I went.

Went late did a BA Geography at 29 (2002) and then an MSc Environmental Planning 3 years ago. Stupid idiot resigned last year to come home (Liverpool) from Surrey and now can't get a job anywhere. Feel like it was waste of time and money at the moment though I'm sure things will turn around at some point.

Didn't partake in uni life whatsoever. Was just there for the qualification.

Yes i went to Sunderland Uni from 94-97. I did Environmental Engineering and currently work for a waste disposal company. As above i made some really good friends, some i'm still in touch with while i lost touch with some straight after.

Drank alot, lots of sport but also worked hard, our course had the 2nd longest hours of the whole uni, only civil engineering was longer. Made me independant, got my head round money (worked through hols to get money together for term time) and ended my 3 years about £2k in debt.

Didn't use my degree for my first couple of jobs but now do use bits of uni work. On the whole i'm glad i went. If our kids want to go (not got any but just about to start trying) i'll support them all i can.

I think people have a misconception of Uni and think you have to be intelligent, I am not thick but my point is i got 2 x D's and 2 x E's ( all proper courses) it ia just finding the Uni that is filling places doing 1st year in anything then changing degree. I got accepted to do European Studies I never had ANY intention of doing that degree so changed at end of 1st year.
I was at Essex 1997-2001.

Did chemistry at Oxford early 90s.

Academically it was superb, world class education. Away from the books it was a bit mixed, the college system there can be oppressive, can feel like you're at a tiny university rather than a massive one.

BSc in Chemistry at Manchester. 98-2002. Liked it so much I got a job here!

I did pretty badly with my degree because I "discovered" climbing and drinking and found these to be more exciting than my chosen subject.

I don't regret a second of it though, even though I only have a 3rd despite being much more capable, the friends, and experiences where amazing!

University of Reading - Animal Sciences (1986-1989)
(called Physiology, Biochemistry & Nutrition of Farm Animals at the time).
Dump of a place and although I enjoyed the degree I was bored most of the time. I was a keen kayaker but the Uni club was pants - so I paddled with a local club or with my home-town poly club instead.

Then I did a PhD in the arse-end of nowhere (Ayr) - which I really enjoyed. Then I did a post-doc in the arse-end of nowhere (Wooster, Ohio, US of A). Now I work on the Stirling Uni campus for a private company.

Student life is wasted on students.

If I had my time again I'd probably do physiotherapy, or train to be a fire engine.

Yes. UWE... (B)ull (S)hit (C)ertificate in Quantity Surveying with Hons 🙂

I prefered Bristol Poly or Brunel Tech College.

Biomedical Chemistry at Sheffield Hallam 1999 - 2003.
Course was good, and I [i]kind of[/i] use what I learned in my current job. I wouldn't swap the time at uni for anything. It was amazing. Met some amazing friends, saw some amazing places, drank some amazing beers, learned some amazing things. And it's where I met my wife.
Still paying off student loans though 🙁

I went to Aberdeen, studied French. ( i use the word studied very loosely) Aberdeen is a good uni and I enjoyed the social life alot, some might say too much and I probably should have done something other than go to uni straight after school. Went Back last year and did a PGCE primary qualification which I wouldn't have been able to do without m first degree.

Biology at nottingham, 1998-2001

If I had my time again I wouldn't go to university. Sure I had some good times but my overriding memory is of being very poor.

Haven't used my degree since and my job does not require a degree

BEng (Hons) in Mech Eng from Staffs Uni.
Day release from work, 1 day/week for 4 years.
Loved uni. Highly recomended. (Especially if your being paid & funded to go).:-)

Currently a Project Engineer earning an absolute fortune.
Alright, slight exageration, I'm earning.

No. Had no interest in University at the time and do not regret it at all. In some respects the abscence of a degree may be a hinderence - some jobs I have looked at recently, with large International bodies require a degree as a a minimum

"Munqe-chick - Member

I think people have a misconception of Uni and think you have to be intelligent..."

I've never thought that, in fact nowadays the vast majority of newer people in my work area are now graduates and a large amount appear to be thick as mince / lacking in common sense.

University of life. Does thet count.?

Camborne School of mines 1992-(barely 1993)

Nice course, lecturers were great. left as I couldn't deal with the public schoolboy 'rugga or die' attitude. Plus, Cornwall is great in the summer, but days of endless rain and cold and relative isolation left me a bit worn down.

Greenwich Uni 1993-1996 - Applied Geochemistry. Great little place, lots a campuses all spread out a bit, so you don't get that big campus feel, but it's OK. I was largely based in Medway anyhow. As with a lot of small Uni's little funding but lots of decent research going on and lots of pubs et al.

Newcastle Uni MSc Env. Biogeochem. What a great place. loads to do, decent riding, great staff. Lots of Rah's, Oxbridge flunker posh boys, but they're pretty harmless really. Found the ncl alternative scene rather cliquey though, which was odd as the locals tended to be really friendly.

UWS, PhD. The Uni is OK, again, small funding, good research, but you do get a sense of them scratching about a bit. Don't live in Paisley. Move to Glasgow. Much better place to be. The sheer quantity of home students annoyed me a little though. To me, half the point of going to Uni is the breaking free from familiarity and forcing yourself to make new mates and meet a more diverse population than those kids you grew up with and were mates with in school.

🙂

I did History undergraduate at Reading - loved it, met loads of brilliant people, had an amazing time, got into loads of debt, and don't remember going to many lectures.
MA in Medieval History at Kings College London, course was good but I was doing 3 days study and 4 days working a week so not much of a social life. I'm not sure I'd have liked studying in London as an undergrad - I liked the campus style at Reading.
Recently done an MA in Archaeology & Heritage from the University of Leicester distance learning and currently studying for a Postgrad diploma in Archives from the University of Dundee, also distance learning. I quite like the whole not having to go to lectures and learning at your own pace thing.
Despite these qualifications I am still possibly about to get made redundant so not sure in terms of job security etc they were worth it. But in terms of loving learning stuff and enjoying the subjects that you choose plus growing up a lot and meeting people, they definitely were. Good luck!

clubber - Member

Yes, went to Uni of Bristol to do Mech Eng which was enough to put me off ever doing it as a profession

Had a great time, spent lots of time doing sport (and that was where I really got into mtbing), met my wife, made some great friends and grew up a lot.

That said, I do often wonder whether I'd have actually been better off professionally just going straight into a job from school and working my way up. I reckon that I'd have moved up most companies reasonably quickly and after a few years in many jobs (eg the ones where you don't need a specific degree to do it), what degree you did or didn't do is irrelevant. As it was, I went to a school where everyone just expected to go to uni ( I'm pretty sure that everyone did ) and the same for my family so it wasn't really something that I consdered at the time.

With the costs that are now applied in increasing amounts, I'd serious consider whether uni is right for many who otherwise it would have made sense to go.

I agree with Clubber (last paragraph). I didn't go to Uni although I went to a good private school where pretty much everyone did. I was a lazy barsteward at school and scraped two A levels. Got a job while I decided what I wanted to do with my life (still deciding...), decided I liked earning money so never looked at going into further education.

It's never held me back (though I've never had particularly high aspirations) and I earn more than a fair few friends / peers with good degrees (not suggesting at all that is the be all and end all).

I know if I had have gone I'd have spent x years p*ssed out of my brains and come out with no / a poor degree, hence no regrets.

When my kids get to Uni age, if they want to go I'll certainly support them in doing so, but equally I will encourage then to look at getting into a decent company in a junior role as a school leaver with decent A levels, I'm fairly certain that with the way uni fees are going that may be the smart option.