I wouldn't recommend people waste their time going unless they are serious about getting a professional job in a technical discipline. A media studies degree is a one way trip to McDonald's.
Really? This disheartens me. This was one of the degrees thst interested me. I would only do it as a joint honours though.
The thing is, I don't know what I want to do with a degree? All I know is that I don't see myself progressing without one. I'd like to work in some sort of media work, anything to do with TV radio, also writing and journalism interests me.
Up to now I want to do English language, possibly combined with media studies, but not if it's going to be pointless.
The thing is, I don't know what I want to do with a degree? All I know is that I don't see myself progressing without one. I'd like to work in some sort of media work, anything to do with TV radio, also writing and journalism interests me.
Is there a community radio station local to you? If there is, I would recommend volunteering there. (Forget hospital radio, that's a 70s kind of thing).
I know of several people who have ended up at the BBC through stuff they have done and contacts they have made at community radio. I think this kind of experience beats sitting behind a desk and theorising.
Really? This disheartens me. This was one of the degrees thst interested me. I would only do it as a joint honours though.
The thing is, I don't know what I want to do with a degree? All I know is that I don't see myself progressing without one. I'd like to work in some sort of media work, anything to do with TV radio, also writing and journalism interests me.
Up to now I want to do English language, possibly combined with media studies, but not if it's going to be pointless.
Seriously do not bother with a media studies degree, it's not worth the paper it's printed on when it comes to the actual industry UNLESS you do a course at one of the few universities which is associated with the National Council for the Training of Journalists.
The other thing I'd say is that journalism is a vocation, not just a career. You have to have a passion for it because the hours are long, the wages are shit (outside of some magazines and some BBC careers) and you get little to no thanks from the general public who lump you in with the ***** who work for the red top tabloids
Is there a community radio station local to you? If there is, I would recommend volunteering there. (Forget hospital radio, that's a 70s kind of thing).
I know of several people who have ended up at the BBC through stuff they have done and contacts they have made at community radio. I think this kind of experience beats sitting behind a desk and theorising.
Yep, practical experience will be more useful and interesting to an employer than a degree. It's been a while since I left journalism to have my son but throughout my career, every single person we took on as a trainee had to go through an industry recognised course to get an industry recognised qualification (either Westminster Press' own in house training scheme or the NCTJ) irrespective of their degree subject.
I started writing things for my local paper when I was still at school, articles about our students, sports teams etc, I bugged the editor for work experience back in the days when they didn't do organised work experience and I got my job after an hour long interview talking about sport with the Sports Editor who was acting editor while he was recovering from an operation.
I learnt more in the first three years on the job shadowing fellow senior reporters than I did in the six months I spent getting my Diploma in Journalism from the Westminster Press Editorial Centre.
Really? This disheartens me. This was one of the degrees thst interested me. I would only do it as a joint honours though.
The thing is, I don't know what I want to do with a degree? All I know is that I don't see myself progressing without one. I'd like to work in some sort of media work, anything to do with TV radio, also writing and journalism interests me.
Up to now I want to do English language, possibly combined with media studies, but not if it's going to be pointless.
None of my kids went to Uni, all of them have good jobs with great prospects. The thing is they all pursued what they were really interested in and its that what makes the difference.
You have to have a skill that employers are willing to pay for, which means you need to specialise.
My degree was electronics engineering (from the mighty Warwick university!).
I'm a semiconductor engineer, so yes, it was kind of necessary. I had to pick my career when I was picking my A-levels - the school careers officer kinda made it mandatory so that you knew what A-levels to do so that you could get onto the right degree course.
I had to pick my career when I was picking my A-levels - the school careers officer kinda made it mandatory so that you knew what A-levels to do so that you could get onto the right degree course.
Yeah, that's pretty much how it was for us too. Although, to be honest, I already knew what direction I wanted to go in, both University and career wise, and had planned my A-levels long before I had to choose.
If you have an interest in English, either as a living, evolving language or because of the great works written in the language, go for it. The final three months of my degree were quite stressful as there was so much to do in a limited time, but for anyone who has worked long hours in freezing factories and other shit holes, and who doesn't have to work during study time, that stress is really pretty piffling. Three years of reading, handing in a few essays and generally having a cushy life is a rare privilege.
This is aimed mostly at potential students who have worked long hours in crap jobs. It's like being reborn.
MikeySaint859 Can I ask what you have gone on to do with your English degree?
I think, with the background I come from, some sort of broadcasting/media work would be something I would be good at and enjoy. Maybe contacting community radio is a good way to start. I always choose paths that aren't straightforward :rolleyes:
Non-vocational degrees - such as English, Psychology, History, Media studies etc.. aren't without their worth. Any degree will allow you to apply for graduate management training schemes which often involve placements and often lead to jobs in the placement companies.... Although competition can be tough to get into those scheme... I believe without a 2:1 you're unlikely to get in.. heres a list of some schemes available.
I did a degree in Religious Studies. Comparative religion really - I did Buddhism, HInduism, Altered States of Consciousness and Arthurian Myth - with some Music and Archeology on the side.
That sounds fascinating. I couldn't possibly afford to do a degree now - I did look at some Open University modules but they cost the earth! - but if I could I would like to do that kind of thing.
It really does seem reasonable to me to say that a degree teaches critical thinking. I'm sure there are bad degrees, but learning to brush up your critical thinking skills really is the point of a good one.
Really? This disheartens me. This was one of the degrees thst interested me. I would only do it as a joint honours though.
I remember reading an article about the BBC graduate training scheme, and they were really saying offer anything but media studies.
I have a very vocational degree, the kind of thing where you find that 98% of graduates are doing the same job. So it was not so much useful as essential.
People have a right to study what they're actually interested in.
I find the notion peddled by the tabloids (and too many of the public) that students should only study vocational or STEM subjects at uni really tiresome.
Sure, if you find engineering fascinating (and wish to pursue a career related to it), then that's all well and good. But the same thing applies to subjects far too often derided as being 'soft'.
Some people have strong inclinations towards maths and physics, and others have great linguistic and artistic skills instead (to say nothing of those who have a great interest and aptitude for the humanities/social sciences). All these subject areas are equally valid.
Why should everyone study subjects like maths and engineering? We all have different strengths and interests and that's what makes us unique. And going to uni shouldn't only be about getting a job at the end of it anyway.
Yes, Linguistics and English Literature, no - not relevent to what I'm doing now, but it will help me when I want to advance job wise, and I think it was a great decision. I loved studying for my degree
I did Law with Criminology LLB and then went on to pass the Bar with the hope of becoming a high flying barrister.
I now work F/T in HR as a HR Advisor - Fell in to it by accident but I enjoy what I do. Would say it's relevant to some degree - My Current boss feels it's relevant and has said on more than one occasion it was one of the factors as to why she hired me...since then we've steered more towards the Employee Relations side which is where the legislation comes in to a degree and I have an understanding of it.
I don't feel it was a waste of time - if anything it's allowed me to forge a good career in HR - I would definitely recommend going to Uni although if I could I'd go back and do a History Degree...maybe one day
I've often fancied doing that or one of the other Astronomy based degrees...
OU....although the degree itself is no longer available for new entrants, it's now IIRC wrapped up as part of the BSc 'Natural Sciences' degree via the OU in which you pick your chosen specialized path (ie Biology, Geology, Astrophysics, Planetary Science etc) but do a bit of everything else. I think the aim was to create a degree that'll open more prospective doors. A lot of people sneer at the OU (people outside the academic world) but the qualifications are just as valid and they're heavily involved in research and it's a great team to get in with. My current tutor has some of his finest work currently orbiting Saturn (ie Cassini) as we speak and there's some important planetary research carried out there.
You can also do an astronomy or astrophysics degree via UCLAN but they can take longer, I remember one of the tutors telling me around 12 years for a distance learning student.
One thing I'd recommend for someone seriously considering doing anything astro related, is to make sure your maths is to an excellent standard. We see many people who think they're one exam away from being an astrophysicist as they watch all the space docu's on the BBC, a few weeks later we see them dropping off modules as they thought it was all pretty pictures and animations, it's a lot of grind and maths work. It makes the tv science docu's look like they're aimed at people with an iq of 50. I know I sound very snooty there, but I think people sometimes underestimate how complex it can be if their only experience is a few shows they found interesting on TV.
Gneiss if you need any specific info, drop me a pm.
I took Law at UCL - I hated the second year subjects, but got a First for an essay on fishery protection in the international law course in the third year. The class had a 50% w*nker element and was taught by a bunch of lecturers, who were intent on proving some obscure theory.:yawn: It did give me a doss year at the College of Law, where I realised that I was cleverer than most people planning on a career in the subject. I worked for a couple of years in the City, but discovered that that was even more full of w*nkers - still, the cash was good and paid for a 3 1/2 month trip to South America, while the mugs got mortgages on overpriced cupboards and were duly chucked out in the 92 crash!
Although I still get asked for advice (!!) I have never gone near it since, although I did some specialist work when working in shipping, dealing with more w*nker City lawyers.
I now also hold an MBA, Zertifikat Deutsch fuer den Beruf, financial and shipping exams, plus a some VBA programming, all of which are far more interesting than most law.
My advice is to think very carefully. Don't take law unless you are devoted to it, as it is a lot of work and it doesn't matter if you are clever, if some rec con is looking at a First in History from another candidate - you will lose! However, a lot of students with generic degrees now seem to have to take an expensive MSc to stand out from the crowd. I recently saw that Bristol teach a BSc in Finance and Investment, from which 75% got a 2:1 or First. It was 25% when I was at university, when only 12% of the population went anyway. So, many undergrad degrees are really not going to make you stand out, so take something, which allows you time to play sport, join a uni military unit etc. Always worth asking yourself "why would I employ me?" to fix any CV.
Comments
Really? This disheartens me. This was one of the degrees thst interested me. I would only do it as a joint honours though.
The thing is, I don't know what I want to do with a degree? All I know is that I don't see myself progressing without one. I'd like to work in some sort of media work, anything to do with TV radio, also writing and journalism interests me.
Up to now I want to do English language, possibly combined with media studies, but not if it's going to be pointless.
EngD - Molecular Modelling and Materials Science.
Yes, I am in a job that where they are useful.
Is there a community radio station local to you? If there is, I would recommend volunteering there. (Forget hospital radio, that's a 70s kind of thing).
I know of several people who have ended up at the BBC through stuff they have done and contacts they have made at community radio. I think this kind of experience beats sitting behind a desk and theorising.
Seriously do not bother with a media studies degree, it's not worth the paper it's printed on when it comes to the actual industry UNLESS you do a course at one of the few universities which is associated with the National Council for the Training of Journalists.
The other thing I'd say is that journalism is a vocation, not just a career. You have to have a passion for it because the hours are long, the wages are shit (outside of some magazines and some BBC careers) and you get little to no thanks from the general public who lump you in with the ***** who work for the red top tabloids
Yep, practical experience will be more useful and interesting to an employer than a degree. It's been a while since I left journalism to have my son but throughout my career, every single person we took on as a trainee had to go through an industry recognised course to get an industry recognised qualification (either Westminster Press' own in house training scheme or the NCTJ) irrespective of their degree subject.
I started writing things for my local paper when I was still at school, articles about our students, sports teams etc, I bugged the editor for work experience back in the days when they didn't do organised work experience and I got my job after an hour long interview talking about sport with the Sports Editor who was acting editor while he was recovering from an operation.
I learnt more in the first three years on the job shadowing fellow senior reporters than I did in the six months I spent getting my Diploma in Journalism from the Westminster Press Editorial Centre.
None of my kids went to Uni, all of them have good jobs with great prospects. The thing is they all pursued what they were really interested in and its that what makes the difference.
You have to have a skill that employers are willing to pay for, which means you need to specialise.
I'm a semiconductor engineer, so yes, it was kind of necessary. I had to pick my career when I was picking my A-levels - the school careers officer kinda made it mandatory so that you knew what A-levels to do so that you could get onto the right degree course.
Yeah, that's pretty much how it was for us too. Although, to be honest, I already knew what direction I wanted to go in, both University and career wise, and had planned my A-levels long before I had to choose.
I've worked as a software engineer for 15 years, typically doing the most maths heavy bits of code.
I've often fancied doing that or one of the other Astronomy based degrees...
If you have an interest in English, either as a living, evolving language or because of the great works written in the language, go for it. The final three months of my degree were quite stressful as there was so much to do in a limited time, but for anyone who has worked long hours in freezing factories and other shit holes, and who doesn't have to work during study time, that stress is really pretty piffling. Three years of reading, handing in a few essays and generally having a cushy life is a rare privilege.
This is aimed mostly at potential students who have worked long hours in crap jobs. It's like being reborn.
MikeySaint859 Can I ask what you have gone on to do with your English degree?
I think, with the background I come from, some sort of broadcasting/media work would be something I would be good at and enjoy. Maybe contacting community radio is a good way to start. I always choose paths that aren't straightforward :rolleyes:
http://targetjobs.co.uk/graduate-schemes
That sounds fascinating.
I have a very vocational degree, the kind of thing where you find that 98% of graduates are doing the same job. So it was not so much useful as essential.
I find the notion peddled by the tabloids (and too many of the public) that students should only study vocational or STEM subjects at uni really tiresome.
Sure, if you find engineering fascinating (and wish to pursue a career related to it), then that's all well and good. But the same thing applies to subjects far too often derided as being 'soft'.
Some people have strong inclinations towards maths and physics, and others have great linguistic and artistic skills instead (to say nothing of those who have a great interest and aptitude for the humanities/social sciences). All these subject areas are equally valid.
Why should everyone study subjects like maths and engineering? We all have different strengths and interests and that's what makes us unique. And going to uni shouldn't only be about getting a job at the end of it anyway.
My job is in hotel management.
And never the twain shall meet.
They do now that they have to pay for their own tuition and no longer get grants.
Not necessarily when someone else was paying for them to indulge themselves.
I now work F/T in HR as a HR Advisor - Fell in to it by accident but I enjoy what I do. Would say it's relevant to some degree - My Current boss feels it's relevant and has said on more than one occasion it was one of the factors as to why she hired me...since then we've steered more towards the Employee Relations side which is where the legislation comes in to a degree and I have an understanding of it.
I don't feel it was a waste of time - if anything it's allowed me to forge a good career in HR - I would definitely recommend going to Uni although if I could I'd go back and do a History Degree...maybe one day
OU....although the degree itself is no longer available for new entrants, it's now IIRC wrapped up as part of the BSc 'Natural Sciences' degree via the OU in which you pick your chosen specialized path (ie Biology, Geology, Astrophysics, Planetary Science etc) but do a bit of everything else. I think the aim was to create a degree that'll open more prospective doors. A lot of people sneer at the OU (people outside the academic world) but the qualifications are just as valid and they're heavily involved in research and it's a great team to get in with. My current tutor has some of his finest work currently orbiting Saturn (ie Cassini) as we speak and there's some important planetary research carried out there.
You can also do an astronomy or astrophysics degree via UCLAN but they can take longer, I remember one of the tutors telling me around 12 years for a distance learning student.
One thing I'd recommend for someone seriously considering doing anything astro related, is to make sure your maths is to an excellent standard. We see many people who think they're one exam away from being an astrophysicist as they watch all the space docu's on the BBC, a few weeks later we see them dropping off modules as they thought it was all pretty pictures and animations, it's a lot of grind and maths work. It makes the tv science docu's look like they're aimed at people with an iq of 50. I know I sound very snooty there, but I think people sometimes underestimate how complex it can be if their only experience is a few shows they found interesting on TV.
Gneiss if you need any specific info, drop me a pm.
All were essential to my career in pharmacology research.
Although I still get asked for advice (!!) I have never gone near it since, although I did some specialist work when working in shipping, dealing with more w*nker City lawyers.
I now also hold an MBA, Zertifikat Deutsch fuer den Beruf, financial and shipping exams, plus a some VBA programming, all of which are far more interesting than most law.
My advice is to think very carefully. Don't take law unless you are devoted to it, as it is a lot of work and it doesn't matter if you are clever, if some rec con is looking at a First in History from another candidate - you will lose! However, a lot of students with generic degrees now seem to have to take an expensive MSc to stand out from the crowd. I recently saw that Bristol teach a BSc in Finance and Investment, from which 75% got a 2:1 or First. It was 25% when I was at university, when only 12% of the population went anyway. So, many undergrad degrees are really not going to make you stand out, so take something, which allows you time to play sport, join a uni military unit etc. Always worth asking yourself "why would I employ me?" to fix any CV.
Msc Telecommunications (Merit) also from Queens University Belfast.
I'm now (re)doing my a-levels (needing 2A*'s & 2A's!) and looking to get into Dentistry.