carolina212

I thought about this while reading Gozit’s questions on UK schools (please excuse me being a copycat Gozit) – what’s it like to go to uni in the UK

What were your experiences like? What were good things you recall from your uni days and not so good? What’s it like to go to uni in the UK? What was it like for you?

Would you do it again and why yes or why not? I’m interested what’s it like going to uni in the UK, so whatever you might like to share (practical, pros and cons, memories with profs/mates, cool and/or annoying things) would be nice to read

Thank you

Bnet36

University for me was great and compared to other countries a bargain and good quality. I like the structure of education in the UK - more evenly distributed.

Gozit

No worries Carolina
Following this thread to see what people say.

Sally Redux

I had a great time but it was a long time ago.

My daughter is going to start at a Uk university on Wednesday

My nephews both had a positive experience though and so did all the children of friends. I only heard of one, the daughter of one of my husband's friends from work, who didn't like it and left. I don't know the details, I think the whole set-up didn't suit her.

If you look on the university websites, a lot have videos about studying, accommodation etc which give you a good flavour.

Bnet36

Oh I should add it was a long time ago for me too.

Vexcore

Never went to uni, a complete utter waste of time i think.

Did School and College, that's enough for me.

I know one guy who got a PHD and guess what? he works in ASDA LOL

so... going to uni is god damn pointless.

Sally Redux

There is a personal development aspect, from the point of view of jobs you are probably right, unless it's for medicine, law and so on.

Vexcore

Well half of my mates, have gone to UNI they have Masters/phd's etc and they're all in supermarket jobs retail clothing jobs etc...

Only one of my friend is a manager at British Gas (and he never went to UNI)

Just shows you...

SDDep

It depends on what you study I would imagine. There seem to be a fair amount of "underwater basket weaving" type majors out there. But if you are goal oriented, try not to change your major too often, and stick with it, it seems to open more and more doors here.

I did it for two years at home and dropped, too soon after sixth form for me. My brother loved it.

rebs

I went to university 20 years ago, so not too sure how relevant my experience is today.

I went to university as a mature student, graduating when I was 30.

Without a doubt, it was the best thing I have ever done. It took me from working in relatively low paid general administration type jobs (including junior management in retail) into a decent paying career in technology. I would never have been able to get a job in that arena without being able to 'tick the box' of having a degree.

I think I was very lucky with the timing - 20 years ago was just about the time of the explosion of higher education, so I was able to get a place with exam results which would not have got me a place immediately when I had left school 10 years previously. On the other hand, it was not so far into that explosion, so employers still valued a degree and even though my degree is just an average grade from a crappy ex-polytechnic it hadn't been totally devalued.

Sally Redux

Just an aside, but I bumped into a woman in the university car park outside our new house, it was a mum from when I lived in Solihull. While I've been away she's done a BA and MA here and was back for an alumni event.

I was going to say, the value of a degree is not as high now because the sector has expanded so much.

rebs

Very true, and with the amount of fees etc it's a tough decision for the youngsters these days.

I think, in the years to come, alternatives such as apprenticeships etc will mature and become even more attractive as career paths. Not quite sure we are there yet, though.

Sally Redux

My BIL works for City & Guilds and I think that sector is expanding.

christmasoompa

Depends what you do though, my husband wouldn't be where he is today without having worked three jobs to put himself through university. He's now about as high up the ladder as he can get, so to get to the next rung is starting a MBA in March, without that he wouldn't be able to progress his career.

Having a decent degree (not a Media Studies degree from a little uni somewhere!) seems to be a filter now for most jobs (I'm a PA and even I see lots of ads saying a degree is essential - !!), without one I'm not sure most people would ever even get to interview stage.

I'm sure lots of people can have a job they love without a degree, and even have high flying six figure job without one, but it seems to be much harder these days with it being a pre-requisite for most decent jobs.

mikelincs

Never went to Uni, but at the time I started work a degree wasn't necessary, in fact with an acceptable degree you could start one step up the adder, but the ladder was only in one aspect of the job. I did vocational qualifications instead, although the qualifications I got were classed as equilivalent to an honours degree. Now there is a specific degree course for the job I had, and without that you can forget getting a job.