to think my degree is as good as anyone elses?

[SecretSlattern]

I started off in 2004 doing a NVQ 3 in Early Years Care and Education, 3 months after having DD. I qualified 9 months later, with 2 level 3 qualifications and worked for a bit in day nurseries, pre-schools and after school clubs before studying a Foundation Degree in Early Years Childcare and Education.

At the start of the second year of my FD, I discovered I was pg with DS but continued on anyway and had him 2 weeks before the end of the course. I graduated from Uni in 2008, six weeks after having DS.

I finally went back to finish the last year of my BA (hons) in Early Childhood Studies. I now have 2 DCs, one of which is constantly in and out of hospital, and have now discovered I am pg with DC3. The timing is pretty shit, but there you go. DC3 is due in May, the same month that I am due to finish my degree (although will still have to write my dissertation, which I have done before so am confident I can do it again).

However, when telling a friend of mine what I was up to (hadn't spoken in a while), she sniffed, pulled a face and basically said it wouldn't matter if I didn't finish my degree because it isn't a proper degree anyway. "What can you do with a degree in kids?" was the question I was asked.

I actually intend to go on in the future and do a PGCE in primary, specialising in early years. AIBU to think that just because my degree is "in kids" it doesn't make it any less of a degree? I still go to uni, still have to do a mahoosive amount of work, same as any other undergrad.

YANBU. Out of curiosity, does your friend have a degree and if so what is it in?

Cannot believe she said that - for a course to be accepted as a degree, it has to have a certain level of difficulty and workload. Some course might require more hours e.g. medical degrees but they are all above a basic standard in the UK.

And of course there will be plenty you can "do" with a degree in "kids"....or not, you may, like many other graduates do, end up in a totally diffrent field. What your degree will do will show an employer that you have a certain set of transferable skills and the determination to succeed.

Jeep - put 5 historians in a room you will get 6 opinions, does this undermine History as a degree subject? No, it surely enhances it as you have to make a reasoned evaluation of various theories as you study it. Same with childcare as an academic subject, surely.....

How rude your "friend" was to belittle your achievements like that! Sounds like you've done a fantastic job to get your degree whilst bringing up children.

However I also totally disagree about amount of hours work being the same for each degree. I have a degree in English from Oxford and also the first year of a degree in Health Sciences with the OU. The amount of work I did for my OU year was a tiny fraction of the amount that I did in my first year at Oxford - there truly was no comparison.

Next year I am going to be studying Midwifery - from what I hear I'll be putting even more hours in there!

Sorry, display, but I doubt there are any 'top' law schools in the UK. I've just done the GDL and am currently doing the LPC, but other than needing an undergraduate degree (and they accept people with 2:2s and 3rds), there really isn't any academic criteria needed. The courses are there to make money!

[Completely different to law schools in the US where law is taken only as a postgraduate subject and very academically competitive].

But hope your sister is enjoying law!

"Let's just remember that the VAST majority of people with law degrees end up as conveyancers in provincial practices. And that what lawyers basically do is look things up in books and apply rules. Hardly rocket science"

Wilfsell, you are entirely right. Or they did before the credit crunch, now some have retrained into other areas of law (if they are lucky) and are on a low wage (considering how much they've shelled out on getting Solicitor status).

There are lots of excellent solicitors/legal execs doing great work and doing very well, but there are loads who just plod along as well. I am always far more impressed by those who have changed career/studied whilst they have DCs.

Surely it's not about all degrees being equal, it's about a degree that is pertinent to future work? I mean, a medicine degree is super but not much use for an accountant, or a hairdresser.

congratulations on your achievements.all that hard work

unsubstantiated comments are unkind. she isnt a friend to be so snippy

dont go down to her level arguing about respective merits of degrees.my degree is bigger/better/shinier than yours is pointless

you have a vocational degree and career satisfaction.good for you

www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEfKEzX9QLE

RockinSock
the law school my sister attended doesn't accept anything below a 2:2 but I didn't mention it to talk about my sister all thread, merely to show that if a degree in ECS is considered a UK degree for postgraduate study then there's no place for snide comments about what constitutes a "proper" degree or not.

The commitment required to complete a degree is worthy of some merit and so I don't think the OP is BU to expect her friend might accept her doing a degree as being something worthwhile rather than suggest there was no point continuiing with it as it wasn't worth anything.

FWIW I worked after leaving school and then later attained a degree and a PhD and before taking a career break to have my children, found that the jobs available were dwindling as once you get to a certain level in academia, there are more people than there are jobs. Which did make me think that after working so hard and for so many years in a specialised area of research I might have to rethink my career path in order to get a permanent position.
If pursuing her degree means the OP can enjoy the career of her choice and in doing so have a job for as long as she wants, then all power to her elbow!

AMerryScot, what an unpleasant piece of work you are

what a pity your education didn't make you a better person...

all staff at nursery i use are degree educated and clever people. i admire their vocational commitment and skills at working with children

well done ss all your achievements

Just seen AMerryScot's youtube link

is that really pertinent to the discussion?

Your friend is an arse.

Here are the skills which your degree will earn you:

requirements of an ACS bachelors honours degree

They are not given out like sweeties, trust me. There are plenty of mathematicians and chemists, I'll warrant, who would struggle with some of the requirements of your degree. And with everything going on outside your course, you deserve a pat on the back not a kick in the teeth.

I also think that there is an element of sexism frankly, that if it is about bridges etc. then it must be hard but if it is about children then it must be easy.

I also like the expression hag on hooves

I lecture on a Friday afternoon, and I almost always have full attendance. Perhaps students have changed though.

...or maybe they just go in on a Friday afternoon so they're closer to the SU for drinks later

i studied really hard at uni.put the hours in

I think I had compulsory labs on Friday afternoons for each of the four years I was at university.

And lectures first thing Monday morning. We had to attend everything. Nothing was optional.

LeQueen, I see nothing wrong with economy of effort.

English, Le Queen?

Almost as useful and vocational a course as Dance and Meeja, I'd say.

lol LeQueen

I had clinical placements outside of normal University hours.

(And my dad was bigger than your dad) lol

Degrees are many and varied.I think a lot of voational degrees encompass extra work in regard of placement and so on.None are less valid,except maybe Philosophy (joke),boy was I jealous of my mate who did 6 hrs a week,lol