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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

do you (or your dcs) have a degree? what subject and what's your occupation?

103 replies

out2lunch · 17/03/2013 00:08

and is your (or your dcs) degree relevant to said occupation?

trying to figure out dds future here Smile

thanks

OP posts:
BestIsWest · 17/03/2013 17:24

Economics - from a poly - work in IT.

MaryAnnSingleton · 17/03/2013 17:27

Degree in Graphic Design and am an illustrator
dh has a degree in Ancient History and is a systems developer

rockinhippy · 17/03/2013 17:47

Degree in Graphic Design & Business Studies - Career in Fashion design & technology - so not really related, bar I specialised in print/embellishment - I did learn my trade from my Grandmother though so probably counts as 1-1 tuition Grin

DH - Degree in Photography & also Fine Arts - he did work as a music photographer for a while & also in advertising, but now runs a printing dept, so not that related

Original poster
out2lunch · 17/03/2013 19:57

wow Smile

thank you so much for all your responses - a really interesting read.

i agree with whoever said the job market is constantly evolving - i have been out of it for ten years so am a bit out of touch.it is really great to see there are so many options out there.

OP posts:
BendyBusBuggy · 17/03/2013 20:16

When I was in my last year at school I bought a book that listed all the degrees that were available. I crossed out all the ones I wasn't interested in. Then I crossed out all the ones where I didn't think I'd like the "obvious" job that followed that degree. Then I crossed out all the ones where I thought I'd find it hard to find a job with that degree. In the end two were left: food chemistry and statistics. I wrote to the unis and after looking through the material they sent me, I chose statistics.

Re-reading this confirms what I have always suspected: i'm a nerd

Bearcat · 17/03/2013 20:27

DH - Civil Engineering, he's a civil engineer.
DS1 - Civil Engineering, he's gone to work in an investment bank.
DS2 - Economics, he's got a graduate job in October with Deloitte as long as he gets a 2:1!!!!
I didn't do a degree but did a diploma and work as a health care professional for which you now need to do a degree to qualify.

Original poster
out2lunch · 17/03/2013 20:31

bendy - thats exactly how we picked ds a levels Grin

OP posts:
BendyBusBuggy · 17/03/2013 20:37

Thanks, out2lunch, feel much better now Smile

motherinferior · 17/03/2013 20:43

I have a first degree from Oxford and an MA from Warwick, both on English. I am now a magazine journalist specialising in health and mental health.

serin · 24/03/2013 20:16

Degree in Occupational Therapy, Work as an Occupational Therapist.

DH degree in Zoology, PhD in something biological, worked as an embryologist for almost 20years then quit to teach.

ginmakesitallok · 24/03/2013 20:19

Law degree and masters in healthcare management. Work in NHS.

DP, degree in chemistry, PhD, senior lecturer and researcher

MrsSalvoMontalbano · 24/03/2013 20:37

Degree in French, trained as Chartered Accountant, then worked for years in IT sales, now career change to be MFL and Latin teacher... Like a previous posege, I love learning and will keep learning till the day I die - DH finds it odd that I just keep learning new stufff..Grin. DC - who knows.. I hope they will go for engineering as seems like the best degree to keep options open. DC at very academic school where the leavers' destinations balance has now shifted to US Ivy league from Oxbridge..

wilsonbelle · 28/03/2013 14:24

BSc Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence - 1st class, RG uni
Msc Finance & Information Technology - RG uni (not the same one)

I've spent most of my career as a software engineer (interesting, very well-paid, lots of opportunity across a huge variety of sectors), mostly in healthcare/finance industries, BUT five years ago stepped up into project management - was a scary move at first due to the pressure/responsibility, but love it.

Personally, I'm encouraging DD to look at the longer term prospects of any careers she's interested in. Clearly, doing something you love is key, but (for example) when I pointed out the disparity between childcare salaries vs. teaching salaries, she didn't believe me at first.

I think she'll end up doing something childcare related, still - as long as she's aware of what she's getting into, she has my 100% backing no matter what she decides to do.

(DH was hoping for her to follow in our footsteps - DH runs his own IT consultancy - but alas she's just not interested at all.)

EllenParsons · 28/03/2013 16:26

I studied German and French, then I did the GDL (law conversion) and my career is as a solicitor at a City law firm.

Luela · 28/03/2013 18:34

I did anthropology then worked in finance for about 7 years now retraining as a primary teacher - all very different areas :)

paintyourbox · 28/03/2013 18:45

Me- Masters degree in Pharmacy then post-grad in Clinical Pharmacy. I divide my time between being a pharmacist and lecturing in pharmacy.

DP- medicine degree. Now a cardiologist.

Primrose123 · 28/03/2013 18:46

My degree was in German and French. Worked in the manufacturing industry for a few years, being responsible for French and German speaking clients.

Gave it up to be a SAHM.

I have recently retrained as an ESOL teacher. Just need a job vacancy to come up.

Oh, and I am a part-time piano teacher.

outtolunchagain · 28/03/2013 19:52

Politics and economics degree , Chartered Accountant , now working in the third sector .

Ds1 now doing politics degree , no idea what he wants to do.

tenlittlebuns · 28/03/2013 20:03

I did a degree in history; have always worked in publishing, mostly children's or educational.
DH did maths, then PhD in physics, now an engineer

I have always thought that if I was to do it all again I would go for something more vocational, so interesting to read recruiters on this thread saying they still look for good degrees in traditional subjects.

msbossy · 28/03/2013 20:06

BA in American Studies (Lit) at UKC. Included 1 yr at Mount Holyoke Massachusetts.

MA in publishing at Oxford Brookes.

I work in IT! I'm a Business Analyst for a publishing company.

Jellykat · 28/03/2013 20:09

Me- degree in Fashion/Textiles and sew for a living (amongst other things)

DS1 - degree in Professional Musicianship, but although getting a first, he was so disillusioned by the music industry in the end, hes now a well paid Web designer.

TinyDiamond · 28/03/2013 20:14

DP has Bsc in computer science, msc in financial economics and CIMA. He is a finance manager

I have a foundation degree in shoe design and 2/3 of a sociology degree that I am hoping to take through to Phd level.

ArabellaBeaumaris · 28/03/2013 20:16

Interesting thread.

English Lit. Am now a stay at home mum considering a degree in social work, previously was a writer. Friends from my course are now lawyer, publisher, journalist, artist, doctor.

DP did chemical engineering, & went into the city. Then he did medicine & is now a doctor.

Lindyhopper29 · 28/03/2013 20:18

DD has a degree in zoology and is currently working in Next. Sorry that's no help but no jobs relevant to her degree in this area and she's applied for some further afield without success.

YorkshireTeaDrinker · 28/03/2013 20:19

BA English Lit, MSc Information Management, both RG unis. Worked as a librarian (for which my MSc qualified me), now an IT programme manager in the NHS.