What subject did you study at University, same again ?
Discussion
Did a maths degree here.
No particular regrets and as long as she does well keeps a lot of options open upon graduation.
It’s naturally a heavy subject to study and university mathematics can be quite different to anything which she would be used to at school. So I can see how someone who enjoys maths at school may progress to degree level and not enjoy it.
If she is good at it but doesn’t enjoy it as such then maybe that would lessen the chances of disappointment?
No particular regrets and as long as she does well keeps a lot of options open upon graduation.
It’s naturally a heavy subject to study and university mathematics can be quite different to anything which she would be used to at school. So I can see how someone who enjoys maths at school may progress to degree level and not enjoy it.
If she is good at it but doesn’t enjoy it as such then maybe that would lessen the chances of disappointment?
Physics (or to be precise Engineering Physics - 3 years of pure physics with 1 year of engineering tacked on - in my case telecomms) and yes I'd do it again.
Of course it contained a lot of maths which I have to say is not my first love but I loved the physics and the maths was a means to an end so I just got on with it.
My wife did electrical engineering (unusual for young ladies in the '80's). Ended up on a similar career path to me (that's how we met). She didn't enjoy her course but the maths element allowed her to retrain as a maths teacher in the '00's and she thoroughly enjoyed her teaching career. With hindsight she would have chosen maths as her degree.
Just trying to underline that maths is a very useful and flexible subject to get a degree in
Of course it contained a lot of maths which I have to say is not my first love but I loved the physics and the maths was a means to an end so I just got on with it.
My wife did electrical engineering (unusual for young ladies in the '80's). Ended up on a similar career path to me (that's how we met). She didn't enjoy her course but the maths element allowed her to retrain as a maths teacher in the '00's and she thoroughly enjoyed her teaching career. With hindsight she would have chosen maths as her degree.
Just trying to underline that maths is a very useful and flexible subject to get a degree in
I did a degree in Business Computing (which basically took me down the software development route.) I'd not do it now for a couple of reasons. Firstly, you don't need a degree to work in IT these days. Back in the 90's, it was pretty difficulty to get into a good developers role without one. Secondly, I have no passion for it and never did. I did it because I knew IT was a good way to make better money than the usual jobs that were the norm in my working class northern home town.
Following the dream didn't really work for me. I wasn't into the things I love and are passionate about now and the things I was passionate about then, are no longer that important to me now. Also any work is still work. It takes time away from relaxing, hobbies and interests. You do what you need to earn enough money to live and hopefully, that job will still allow enough time to hopefully enjoy some of the things you love doing.
Following the dream didn't really work for me. I wasn't into the things I love and are passionate about now and the things I was passionate about then, are no longer that important to me now. Also any work is still work. It takes time away from relaxing, hobbies and interests. You do what you need to earn enough money to live and hopefully, that job will still allow enough time to hopefully enjoy some of the things you love doing.
After an apprenticeship / HNC in Electrical/Electronic Engineering I studied Business Administration, Master thereof. Fortunately sponsored as was an MSc in Aero Eng. The latter, due to work pressures, I sadly didn't finish.
Loved doing both but intense doing part time whilst still working.
Would do again in a heartbeat! I miss the academic process.
Loved doing both but intense doing part time whilst still working.
Would do again in a heartbeat! I miss the academic process.
Edited by ian in lancs on Friday 14th February 07:32
nuyorican said:
Music. Utterly pointless. But it enabled a few more years of council-tax avoidance.
Also music (and drama !).Not at all pointless, been full time in the music industry for 40+ years ... not because of the degree, but the contacts I made. Something that is always overlooked. So often it's the like minded people you meet at Uni that you end up working with or for later in life.
Aero engineering. I wanted to engineering and I was interested in aircraft, so was a good choice and I'd probably do the same again despite no longer working in that field. I'm now in operational analysis, which I got in to from testing and analysis work I was doing from working in aero engineering so it's been a continuous progression.
As above maths keeps a lot of options open (pretty much any science/engineering field) so is a pretty good degree to chose, although university level maths is quite a bit different from A-level. One option might be to do maths and something else. My wife did maths and computing and worked in IT for several years before deciding to do a PGCE and teach maths.
As above maths keeps a lot of options open (pretty much any science/engineering field) so is a pretty good degree to chose, although university level maths is quite a bit different from A-level. One option might be to do maths and something else. My wife did maths and computing and worked in IT for several years before deciding to do a PGCE and teach maths.
Beng (hons) electronic engineering, Manchester 1996
yes I would except they reduced the length of the course, removed the requirement for a project and lost the IEE accreditation.
Never needed it though...
It was fun though and quite easy. Did it one full day a week for 5 years while working. Meant a six day week for those 5 years as I had to work the time back but I am glad I did it.
yes I would except they reduced the length of the course, removed the requirement for a project and lost the IEE accreditation.
Never needed it though...
It was fun though and quite easy. Did it one full day a week for 5 years while working. Meant a six day week for those 5 years as I had to work the time back but I am glad I did it.
I studied Russian. No way in hell I'd do that again. I've absolutely no idea what I would choose were I 18 now, but in hindsight I wish I'd taken computer studies at school in the 80s when teachers were telling me it was only for "remedial" pupils, and that being a reasonably gifted pupil I should study proper academic subjects. And then studied a computer discipline at University and made hay out of the 90s/00s computer boom instead of fannying around in dead end administrative jobs, never having any real idea of what I'd like to do.
The range and scope of available University subjects has broadened widely since I went in the 80s, perhaps I'd do something like International Relations and think about going into the Diplomatic Service.
I've got a 20 year old in University who wanted to do Medicine but failed to meet the grades at 18, so has, much to my relief (I really didn't think he was cut out for a life in Medicine), taken a degree in Economics and Banking. And I have a daughter who is about to start UCAS applications this summer, so it'll be interesting to see which way she goes, having chosen Humanities for A Levels. Hopefully she'll be fortunate to guess correctly and chose something which will turn out to be productive for her and provide a satisfying career.
It's a big problem for children to choose right now, nobody knows what the future is about to bring in terms of tech coming to dominate human roles in society. It's a lottery.
The range and scope of available University subjects has broadened widely since I went in the 80s, perhaps I'd do something like International Relations and think about going into the Diplomatic Service.
I've got a 20 year old in University who wanted to do Medicine but failed to meet the grades at 18, so has, much to my relief (I really didn't think he was cut out for a life in Medicine), taken a degree in Economics and Banking. And I have a daughter who is about to start UCAS applications this summer, so it'll be interesting to see which way she goes, having chosen Humanities for A Levels. Hopefully she'll be fortunate to guess correctly and chose something which will turn out to be productive for her and provide a satisfying career.
It's a big problem for children to choose right now, nobody knows what the future is about to bring in terms of tech coming to dominate human roles in society. It's a lottery.
Quantity Surveying - a subject/career most people have to look up !
If I had my time again, would I do it again - Yes, have to say I would. And if I was 18 now it would be a Yes (probably...), lots of opportunities, interesting work and the pay has certainly improved in the constriction industry (but that's only due to the low numbers taking up....).
Have to say it was not my first choice of career but I (as most 18 yr olds) struggled to know what to do, my daughter turns 16 this year and I'm still not sure school careers advice is that good as she has no ideas on a future career either!
If I had my time again, would I do it again - Yes, have to say I would. And if I was 18 now it would be a Yes (probably...), lots of opportunities, interesting work and the pay has certainly improved in the constriction industry (but that's only due to the low numbers taking up....).
Have to say it was not my first choice of career but I (as most 18 yr olds) struggled to know what to do, my daughter turns 16 this year and I'm still not sure school careers advice is that good as she has no ideas on a future career either!
toon10 said:
I did a degree in Business Computing (which basically took me down the software development route.) I'd not do it now for a couple of reasons. Firstly, you don't need a degree to work in IT these days. Back in the 90's, it was pretty difficulty to get into a good developers role without one. Secondly, I have no passion for it and never did. I did it because I knew IT was a good way to make better money than the usual jobs that were the norm in my working class northern home town.
Following the dream didn't really work for me. I wasn't into the things I love and are passionate about now and the things I was passionate about then, are no longer that important to me now. Also any work is still work. It takes time away from relaxing, hobbies and interests. You do what you need to earn enough money to live and hopefully, that job will still allow enough time to hopefully enjoy some of the things you love doing.
Almost the same as me. Loved computers as a kid. Loved gaming and had my first PC in 96. I did Computing and Information Systems. Was very general and lot of it was out of date, even then but did it in the hope I'd find a bit I really liked that could earn me more. Took ages to get in anywhere. Ended up running ecommerce for a shop before I became an IT tech somewhere. I've moved up a bit but not enough but will do for now. Earn just enough that I'm comfortable and work life balance is OK for now. Everyone younger than me we hire doesn't even have an IT degree. As long as they are willing to learn (since some of it is specialised software for my industry) then they do well.Following the dream didn't really work for me. I wasn't into the things I love and are passionate about now and the things I was passionate about then, are no longer that important to me now. Also any work is still work. It takes time away from relaxing, hobbies and interests. You do what you need to earn enough money to live and hopefully, that job will still allow enough time to hopefully enjoy some of the things you love doing.
I wouldn't have bothered even going to Uni in hindsight. Majority of my mates earn more and either didn't go or really aggressively job hopped to get more with their degrees. My brother 3yrs younger did college but saw the Uni course wouldn't gain him much so never bothered. Now earns a lot more than me working in Amazon after a few promotions. Uni loans will be done this year though. If I went back I'd do something motorsport or aero related. Didn't realise it was a thing until I went to Uni and saw the motorsport section and Formula car.
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