Uni of Life v Uni Degree?

[Romeo]

You'll eventually reach a ceiling in any career path whereby you're unlikely to go any further unless you have a piece of paper from some institute.

Sad but true, there's 3x 40+ Y/O guys in my IT degree course who are experts in their trade, but need the piece of paper in order to get higher. Sucks for them, because the degree course wouldn't have taught them anything they didn't already know!

Some careers require practical experience, others theoretical experience - it's just the way things go.

[Robert Taylor]

If you have a degree it doesn't mean you're not a moron and conversely if you dont have one it doesnt mean you are fick. Both camps have their share of morons, but given the nature of a degree it is a good indicator that someone can work at something for a period of time and apply a level of thought.

the difference between morons with degrees and those without is:

• morons with degrees think they are intelligent but they arent
• morons without degrees think degrees are a waste of time and world-smarts are more important as they strum their banjo

most of the professional people i admire and respect did not get a degree [straight after school]. some did post-grad/masters study later in life though.

I think also its down to how much capacity of your brain you are prepared to unleash.

[Usarka]

and as far as im concerned.. i'm gonna LEARN you ALL!

Bollox I'll give you the LEARN. damn now i gone done gave it d'way.

[The Pastor]

No Mr Smarty pants I did not! My "education" is not relevant to this discussion however. How about you explain your definition of an educated person. Mine will follow never fear.



Those Student Loans are a bitch for sure. I am not knocking a Degree, we need Doctors and Dentists and God forbid, Lawyers and the like.......my problem is with the customer service people with Degrees and huge debt!

Educated doesnt = intelligence.

unis do make you educated, you know stuff they teach you (if you pay attention) but they cant make you intelligent.

[Usarka]

I think also its down to how much capacity of your brain you are prepared to unleash.

tis my point also, followed by

Educated doesnt = intelligence.

unis do make you educated, you know stuff they teach you (if you pay attention) but they cant make you intelligent.

some people dont need to be taught in order to learn

[BAD DAD]

My view is, get as much education as you can get if you have the means. I've met plenty of people, and I'm one of them, that have had reason to regret not having tertiary under their belt. I can't recall anyone seriously regreting having an education.
Everyone gets to attend the school of life for free, having a university education is no barrier to life experience.

[Toaster]

I have a degree (somewhere buried in my office at home..... somewhere.... old undies.. no.... someone's bra...hmmm.... ah here tis.... "Bachelor of Commerce").

My degree taught me two thirds of bugger all... yes I learned marketing and management theory, but the real learning is always when you start on the job. My current role as a commercial banking dude (3 years total) is truly hands on and is a role where the young bright sparks struggle with clients who are old enough to be their parents.

It was the same when I was a policeman (also 3 years on duty). 6 months at college and all the young recruits looked at me and said they were ready to take on anyone and could do anything.... (I was 31 at the time and they called me granddad!! ha!). Funnily enough once they got out there doing the practical stuff, that is when life experience really came to the fore. Domestics, trauma, suicides etc with people again old enough to be their parents.

After qualifications, pure experience and maturity go a long way.

[Toaster]

Yes going to university does make you more educated,but not more intelligent.

Very true.

To study something is an education,

To learn a trade is an education,

Gaining work experience is an education,

To ride motorbikes, is living.

[Luckylegs]

You'll eventually reach a ceiling in any career path whereby you're unlikely to go any further unless you have a piece of paper from some institute.

Sad but true, there's 3x 40+ Y/O guys in my IT degree course who are experts in their trade, but need the piece of paper in order to get higher. Sucks for them, because the degree course wouldn't have taught them anything they didn't already know!

Some careers require practical experience, others theoretical experience - it's just the way things go.

If you play your cards right (and have a little modicum) of luck you get you employer to pay for the education (piece of paper) because they know that someone with a proven track record for the company (earned through, hard work and the right attitude) with the degree (cert, whatever) is better than a recent grad with no experience.

This does rely on working for the right company, but thats part of planning your future, Its no longer enough to think of "what you wanna do" you should be giving consideration for who you want to do it for, and part of that is understanding what they can do for you....

blah, blah..... bloody blah

[Steam]

If you play your cards right (and have a little modicum) of luck you get you employer to pay for the education ...

I worked for Chubb, earning just a little more than minimum wage as a security guard, and they pay for university for employees working more than 20 hours a week. Amazing, such a shitty job, but such a nice company. I wondered if it was to take advantage of the tight labour market and attract students, who could go to uni during the day and guard and study at night.

[James Deuce]

All I see in this thread are people with chips on their shoulders and the misapprehension that a "career" is somehow important.

Err, how about the people who enjoy study, do it because it's fun and a personal challenge? Why does a degree have to be regarded as an open and shut experience? Why did we let Universities become corporate training institutions? They're supposed to be about people sharing ideas within frameworks that encourage openness. Ban MBAs and watch the calibre of universities go up.

The "University of life" thing is utter bullshit. The "University of life" is often used as an excuse for parochial ignorance, while anyone who claims that their university education makes them better than anyone else deserves to go to heaven when they die and be confined to socialising with CEOs.

[Magua]

Educated doesnt = intelligence.

unis do make you educated, you know stuff they teach you (if you pay attention) but they cant make you intelligent.

But what if a university was to teach you to think critically about the world around you? Why do things happen etc, rather than regurgitating facts and figures. Would that person not be more intelligent?

tis funny how everyone at uni hates it (except ba students) and how everyone at work says work sux and uni is awesome or how they'd be better in a trade.

BAs are boring, heh.

[R6_kid:Me]

Are you smarter than a 10 year old?

[Swoop]

I have never let my schooling interfere with my education.
Mark Twain (1835 - 1910)

Education is a method whereby one acquires a higher grade of prejudices.
Laurence J. Peter (1919 - 1988)

Bachelor's degrees make pretty good placemats if you get 'em laminated.
J. Jacques,

America believes in education: the average professor earns more money in a year than a professional athlete earns in a whole week. Evan Esar (1899 - 1995)

It is possible to store the mind with a million facts and still be entirely uneducated. Alec Bourne

[HenryDorsetCase]

.......my problem is with the customer service people with Degrees and huge debt!

Uh, why? surely thats their problem?