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AIBU?

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Original poster

All degrees are the same?

57 replies

thebluehen · 22/09/2014 21:52

I don't have a degree, my dp has an HND. We have teen kids who are aspiring to go to Uni.

He keeps telling them that a degree is a degree and they should stay at home and go to the nearest ex poly.

I disagree and think that they should go to the best university they can, wherever that may be.

After all, surely no one would aspire to Oxbridge if all degrees were the same?

But I don't have a degree, so maybe I don't understand. Sigh.

OP posts:
Delphiniumsblue · 22/09/2014 21:56

You are quite right- they are not all the same. They need to decide what to do and choose the best university for their course, or the course that suits them.

formerbabe · 22/09/2014 21:56

They are not all the same. My personal belief is a degree from a lower end university in a non traditional subject is a waste of time and money.

Unless my children are going to go to a decent university to do a solid subject then I would rather they get straight into the workplace.

Lonecatwithkitten · 22/09/2014 21:57

The important thing is the employability. There are surveys that show mean earnings six months post graduation.
The range is £18K to £29k as is dependent on Uni.

LadyLuck10 · 22/09/2014 21:57

In some fields, it is about where the degree is obtained.

formerbabe · 22/09/2014 21:58

Oh and a first in English from Oxford is not the same as a third in media studies from an ex poly!

HesterShaw · 22/09/2014 21:58

There is no way they are all the same. Sorry. As an employer for example I would look on a 2:1 from a "good" university than a first from an ex poly.

HesterShaw · 22/09/2014 21:59

And I didn't finish that sentence. I would look on a 2:1 from a "good" university far more favourably than a first from a former poly.

HoraceGoesSkiing · 22/09/2014 21:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ItsNotEasyBeingGreen · 22/09/2014 21:59

You are right, your DH is wrong. HTH. Having said that it isn't just a case if going to the 'best' university. It has to be the best university for you and for your course. IYSWIM?

fairylightsintheloft · 22/09/2014 22:00

Your dh is wrong. It does matter, assuming they are going into a traditional "graduate" profession and not looking for a more vocational, directly relevant professional qualification. University courses are independent, you don't sit the same syllabus and exams if you study history at Durham than if you sat it at Nottingham or wherever and employers know which ones are better for which subjects.

Original poster
thebluehen · 22/09/2014 22:01

It's like he has such low expectations for the kids. Hmm

He says any jobs they go for, it won't matter what degree they have. It's only "super top employers" that care about where the degree comes from.

OP posts:
andsmile · 22/09/2014 22:04

HND is not a degree either.

I have a degree and an HND so I know!

What is your DH scared of? Its a very narrow, old fashioned view to take. Is it funding or fear that they may fail if away at a big uni - which he has not been to.

Fight him on this for your kids right to choose.

missymayhemsmum · 22/09/2014 22:05

Another factor is that while lots of people want their kids to study and live at home because of cost, actually, if you are on a lowish income, the best universities offer the best bursary and access deals.
If they live at home they will miss out on the whole uni experience (and you'll still have them under your feet being overgrown kids until they're mid twenties)
Worth encouraging them not to go to uni until they're sure of where they want to go and what they want to do, though.

KeemaNaanAndCurryOn · 22/09/2014 22:06

It really depends on what they want to study. Some outstanding nursing courses, for example, happen at smaller institutions, so bigger isn't better IYSWIM. Other courses, then yes, the institution can make a difference.

These days I'd be looking at employability.

Molio · 22/09/2014 22:06

No degrees are very different indeed, and employers know it.

ChasedByBees · 22/09/2014 22:10

Well it depends what they want to do. They would need a law degree to be a lawyer and a physics/engineering degree to be a rocket scientist.

All degree are not the same though, certainly.

Marmiteandjamislush · 22/09/2014 22:10

I'll be a lone voice here I suspect, but nothing matters other than them being happy at and fulfilled by the opportunities at the institution THEY choose I went to what you would call a 'good' uni, for my first degree, I was pretty meh about it. I went to less regarded uni for my masters and loved it! I great friend when to Cambridge and hated it and he says it only made a slight difference when getting his first grad. job. A friend who went to what was considered an 'arse end' poly by most, is now a multi millionaire.

Marmiteandjamislush · 22/09/2014 22:11

I'll be a lone voice here I suspect, but nothing matters other than them being happy at and fulfilled by the opportunities at the institution THEY choose I went to what you would call a 'good' uni, for my first degree, I was pretty meh about it. I went to less regarded uni for my masters and loved it! I great friend when to Cambridge and hated it and he says it only made a slight difference when getting his first grad. job. A friend who went to what was considered an 'arse end' poly by most, is now a multi millionaire.

Nomama · 22/09/2014 22:13

Are your teen kids girls?

Does your DH understand the funding, the reality of it rather than the DM hype of it?

What do your kids think?

Me? They need to choose the Uni that they like the feel of, the one that combines the right course and the right campus for them as individuals. Anything else is just wrong.

Their UCAS tutor will be telling them to a) choose the course and then b) go and visit a few campuses and c) choose based on a combination of the two.

We had a kid here, a few years ago, who was torn between/fixated on Warwick and Cardiff... eventually went somewhere else entirely because, when he visited the campus, he really liked the feel of the place.

BackforGood · 22/09/2014 22:17

Actually Chased - you don't need a law degree to be a lawyer.....

Agree with many on this thread that not all universities are the same, but I don't agree with those who dismiss ex-poly's out of hand. You have to look at the best place to study what you want to study - for vocational degrees in particular, they may well be at ex-poly's.

Also thing living away from home and all that entails is a HUGE part of university.

Southeastdweller · 22/09/2014 22:17

I agree with Keema about it depending on what they want to do. For example, according to the latest Times Good University guide, business studies is better at Aston than at a lot of 'good' universities, including Bristol, York, Newcastle and U.C.L. But many people would prefer having the cachet of 'good' universities on their CVs.

NerfHerder · 22/09/2014 22:23

There are 'League Tables' for universities, just as there are for schools.
Or does he really think all Secondary schools are the same, too?

Alisvolatpropiis · 22/09/2014 22:24

Yanbu - because of employers just like Hester

Original poster
thebluehen · 22/09/2014 22:38

I want the kids to go to the best university for them, dependent on the course they want to do. I also want them to feel happy at Uni.

Dp just wants them to stay at home and get any old degree.

I'm finding his attitude incredibly frustrating. He doesn't really understand the funding issues, he got his HND locally. He went to the local school that was failing. He's done ok but surely you want better than you had for your kids?

It's like he's frightened they will achieve more than him.

OP posts:
Mrsjayy · 22/09/2014 22:43

Depends what they want to do dd is doing a vocational honours in an ex college infact it still does college courses its a centre for university for highland and islands the course is best in scotland and people are requesting her to work for them freelance already.