Don't get me started on degrees v no degrees. As a 51 year old in IT, I see so many graduates coming in at 22 to 23 thinking "I have an IT degree I know everything" and looking down at the 51 year old with 25 years in IT. As well as more experienced, the 51 year old is actually normally more technical and competent as well as less 'gung-ho' and has people skills. This isn't a "I am 51 and feeling past it" post, but more of a "I am 51, happy in what I do and confident in my knowledge and experience". Degrees show an aptitude, but experience is worth a lot more. I would rather we as a country went back to the apprentice days as you learn a trade and you become a better worker for it as you realise the world doesn't owe you a living. Full disclosure - I didn't get my degree, I dropped out (twice actually!) and then floated till I was in my mid 20s before I woke up. Also full disclosure I passed the official sit down Mensa test at 31 (151 on the Cattell scale - mainly UK, and Stanford-Binet 149 - mainly international) so maybe I am different to most. However, that doesn't make me 'clever' but again shows a certain type of person - ie logic and mathematical IMO. FWIW my lawyer brother was so pissed off I passed, he took the tests and came in at 131/127. Goes to prove how flawed an IQ test is as he is analytical to argue in a courtroom, whereas I allegedly have logic lol. Not a dig at those who have a degree, but you know what, a degree isn't the making of a person, but the starting of a person. Back on topic, Maradona didn't get a degree, but performed a Masters at football and deserves credit for what he did. Cream rises to the top, so may be his upbringing spurred him on to his greatness, rather than hindered him. ...and breathe.
I think it means a lot less than it did in years gone by, just having one in itself I mean, mainly due to the fact that there's so many pointless ones now. Certainly don't think it's a sign of intelligence in itself. You wouldn't believe how many uni graduates end up at the NHS doing something unrelated cos they've wasted years of their life getting a degree in something like media studies.
It's just so hard to like any modern-day football icons, when they look like this; PS - Nothing wrong with Seedorf, by the way. Just Pogba.
Yeah but it’s a sign of dedication or something. I went to a pretty well regarded traditional uni, spent 3 years playing football and getting pissed. Hardly ever actually went to uni (my attendance at the end was 9% over 3 years apparently) and got a 2:1 and some debt. I have mates who certainly aren’t thick who chose not to go to uni and spent those 3 years in a job moving up the career ladder and earning money, I wouldn’t swap my decision as ultimately I got to **** around for 3 more years and delay “growing up” but I certainly don’t see it as a sign of intelligence having a degree. I met plenty of idiots at uni
I for oñe admit to not being very wise in the decisions that I have taken. That was apparent when I worked as a postal worker for 4 years at the Delivery Office in Fareham where the guys may not have had degrees but had far more nous than I ever had.
I spent 21 years working for Royal Mail in North London. A finer body of men and women I could never hope to meet anywhere; the postmen were mostly Bolshie bastards hell bent on doing as little as they could get away with (while expecting overtime for their troubles), and the managers were all fast talking spivs and chancers, sycophants and backstabbing bastards, but I have never known such entertaining, colourful workmates in any other job, and I love and miss them all.
Not sure about this one - I'm 25 and consider anyone comparing the "struggles" of having to go to university to get a job with being born into extreme poverty in a favela to be pretty absurd - no matter what age they are! Uni is one of the easiest/best times of peoples lives - get smashed for a couple of years then work for 6 months at the end.
I will say that, in a lot of instances, what people talk about as pointless degrees aren't. If I need to hire someone for a position that requires a specific set of skills, like an accountant, I want someone with an accounting degree. But if I have to hire for a position that requires abstraction of thought, the ability to think quickly and formulate an argument, I'd hire someone with a philosophy degree over one with an accounting degree without a second thought. Now, that doesn't mean that someone who ground out a barely-passing grade in a degree in media studies or whatever is going to be terribly useful, but the same holds for any subject matter. The hard sciences are just a bit better at failing people out (or convincing them to leave of their own accord) before they get any paper to show for it.
Regarding the degree thing, I agree that with the majority it doesn't do much to separate the ability of people unless its in a specifically skilled role. I am like the stereotype, did a joint degree in History and Media and ended up being an Admin Manager, so not much relation there at all. However I did think it was a good life experience at the same time and have no regrets about going, beyond the whole 3 years of dicking around it throws you in at the deep end socially and makes you pick up independence fairly quickly! Which I think is helpful in the long run.