Which Degrees are pretty 'pointless'?

[DreadLock]

Just starting to look at courses with DS. So many choices. BUT I am sure there are some which are not particularly going to lead to much. Employers - what do you look for on a CV and what would you avoid?
And any other 'views' are welcome.
DS not even sure if he wants to go to UNI so we are having a good look into stuff.

[mathanxiety]

Want2b there should be more people (especially women) like you allowing teens to shadow. What a great thing to do.

IMO someone doing say History with no clue what they want to do after or ambition is far worse/more pointless than someone doing Disney Studies with plans to go on and be a manager/designer/marketing at Disney world!
Amen to that -- you need a plan and the get up and go to make it happen no matter what you do.

[lljkk]

Some of the best paid people I know are electricians. Uni not the only good path. Agree something one enjoys should be first priority.

[greyvix]

I do not think that any degrees are pointless; they show an aptitude for learning. Ironically, DD did a media degree, at a Russell group university that was very challenging, yet others would deem it to be pointless.
I agree that the university is important. In my experience, however, motivation from the student is the key to success, whatever subject they studied, or uni they attended.
When I interview people, personality and commitment are key attributes, but I would not employ them without a degree.

[bruffin]

I think your very shortsighted grevix.
There will be a lot more going down the apprenticeship route nowadays. When I left school in 1979 university was a privilege for a tiny minority. Having 5 o'level passes put you in the top 15% let alone having any A'levels. I have know someone who got turned down for a job because when she got to the interview they asked where she got her degree, because it wasn't mentioned in her CV.
She was a fully qualified accountant and had 30+ years experience, but they said the interview was terminated because they only employed university graduates.
DH is an Incorporated engineer. He left school at 15 (august baby) and did a proper apprenticeship. He said in those days you could tell the engineers who came through the degree route. They could tell you all about the internal workings of an oscilloscope but wouldn't know how to turn it on He might have left school at 15 but carried on learning for many many years afterwards.

[greyvix]

I agree. I should have added that I interview for places on secondary teacher training courses, so a degree is essential. I should have been more specific.

[tb]

Don't know if anyone else has commented Poledra, but to train as a Chartered Accountant, you need at least a 2:1.

If you weren't clever enough to get that class of degree, you'd never pass the professional exams.

[Poledra]

tb, I had to scrol back as I'd forgotten what I'd written

Anyway, my friend has an ordinary degree and did pass his professional exams . But all that was some time ago and I am no doubt out of date.

[alreadytaken]

at Cambridge the history students are, I'm told, wined and dined almost as much by law firms as are law students (who claim never to have to pay for lunch in later years). This is third hand so reliability not guaranteed but indicates a history degree may not be poorly regarded.

Urely the best guide to what employers think is the employment statistics for different courses, providing you look at the detail as some degrees have a lot going on to do further degrees.

It's possible, although getting harder all the time, to get a job in accountancy with a 2.2 as I know a recent graduate who did so. He's now taking his professional exams.

Employers want to see evidence that he'll work hard, manage time well, meet deadlines and get along with people. Voluntary work or work experience looks good on a CV.