If you did a degree, how much can you remember??

[Timetheworldsaysicantafford]

I studied English Literature nearly twenty years ago and can hardly remember a thing (and have barely read a book cover to cover since!). Someone asked me my favourite author and I couldn't even think who it is really so just mumbled something about Jane Austen and Shakespeare. If you did a degree a while ago, can you actually remember much of what you learnt??

Ha very little, I did see my essays the other day clearing out files, and was impressed how smart I used to be!! That was pretty hardcore maths and I still work in the industry but dont use it.

I did a politics degree 40 years ago and can still remember a lot of principles and some details, but not all the facts. In addition obviously things have moved on a lot since then, then so many of the facts I learned have changed or are no longer relevant.

For A levels, I can still remember many of the shorter quotations and bits of poetry that I learned for English Literature. I can't recite the whole of 'to be or not to be' any more though! And I can remember some historical facts such as names and dates. In general I can remember things better if I was interested in them. So, I still remember quite a lot about The Russian revolutions, but the little I knew about Paradise Lost Book 2 has largely disappeared!

O levels were in 1977 and I can still remember a few facts from some of them (eg symbols and properties of some chemical elements) and can remember quite a bit of French and biology, but not much at all from from other subjects (maths and German).

Going further back, I can still remember the words to many of the hymns and songs that we sang at primary school in the 1960s.

Memory is an odd thing!

I think the point of literature degrees etc is not necessarily that you learn about particular books but that you learn how to think/analyse in a particular way and to research things on your own. You probably use those skills every day. Don't underestimate the value of education!

I studied English language and literature 12 years ago. During lockdown it became apparent that I couldn't remember a single thing as I struggled with year 2 literacy

Shockingly my DD asked me what my undergrad diss was on. And I couldn't remember!! Graduated 1987 in modern history

Not a lot tbh. The degree got me through the door for my role, but it was the training I received and experience gained I utilise.
When looking at future candidates, I choose experience over a degree every time.

Economics - is allocation of scarce resources, price / supply and demand and falling utility are main things. I did a lot of maths but can’t recall it.

Arts - feminism talking about sex as fixed, gender a spectrum divorced from that, talking about why wolf whistles aren’t good. Cultural criticism - hyper reality and postmodernism a lot - many French theorists

Mostly

Remember? That would be a no. Vaguely recall having some absolutely awesome nights out mind you. Emphasis on vague.

Business studies / languages, over 30 years ago.
Business studies - hardly anything, though when I think of group dynamics, I remember, Form, Storm, Norm and Perform !
Languages- I like to think I remember a lot, as they are my hobby, too (travel, etc).

I am a health care professional still practising. I learnt the foundations in my degree and have kept building on it every since.

Like others have said though, a degree is about challenging the way you think, getting you to critique, question and analyse. Those skills should still be there even if the texts you read have been forgotten.

Sometimes I can't even remember where my slippers are, but then I don't have a degree... or do I?

About a third of it. I did maths.

But I think the main thing is that I remember the approach, plus I have the confidence to know I could easily relearn whatever bits I might need.

So for example I applied for a job where I would be using some maths I had never encountered, but I knew I'd pick it up without difficulty and would enjoy it, and the employer could see I had the aptitude for it.

It was a similar story with my other undergraduate degree in the history of science. I don't remember much of the content, only that I enjoyed it, but I know I am able to tackle it afresh.

I did my BA dissertation entirely high on pot. When I picked it up after graduation, I didn't remember writing a word of it.
But, aside from that, from the course 16 years ago I remember a few facts, a few authors, the tone and style of essay writing. I've kept a few essays I was proud of from my masters and intend to rewrite my MA dissertation as now I think there are things I could have improved.

Almost nothing! But it got me into my career, which find interesting and fulfilling, so it's all good.

Graduated 52 years ago, Classics: Latin, Greek and Ancient History.

I remember very little as having had no need to practice any of it.

However it is still handy for quite a few questions when watching University Challenge, and I can easily decipher road signs when in Greece. Plus the odd inscription on tombstones.

I think I remember what I learnt in my degree. However, I find that I don't see the gaps in my knowledge until they're made obvious to me. I feel that I know a topic, can recite a few facts...and then I see a question in my 12-year-old DD's homework and know that 20 years ago I would have been able to answer it, but now I can't.