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.

[ChazzerChaser]

It's also worth thinking about what will suit your son. Those with good research ratings will be good at research. To do this the people who achieve these ratings might be locked away in offices generating research outputs whilst the phd students do all the teaching. Lower down the REF they might be more focused on good supportive teaching and getting the best out of students from all backgrounds. That's certainly my experience. Will your son work well independently or does he need a bit more support?

[exoticfruits]

I would say don't bother going and getting into all that debt if you have no clear idea of what you want to do. Have a year out and get a job while you think about it. At the moment there must be at least 60+ applicants after every graduate job and our restaurants and shops are staffed with graduates from very good universities with very good academic degrees.
It is no guarantee to say that an academic degree from a good university will open doors. You need to really research your subject and the institution. Find out how many are employed in graduate level jobs after 6 months. You can't just rule out places like Southampton Solent- yes they probably would be a mistake on most courses but they will have pockets of expertise. I wouldn't say that a history degree was a lot of use if you want a career immersed in history - unless you wish to teach it. You could however use it for other things.

[SouthernComforts]

Coldfeet that's nice to hear!

I've just chosen my next two modules, can't wait to get started.

My jobs are both crap but I keep thinking "this isn't forever"

[stemstitch]

Haha sorry! Could have been so much worse...

OK here's the proper one www.russellgroup.ac.uk/our-universities.aspx

[CatsWearingTutus]

Engineering, if he does well enough, would set him up for a good, solid career. Check the occupational shortage list from the uk border authority to see exactly what is in demand at the moment and you'll see engineers feature heavily. Dyson was on the news just yesterday stating they couldn't hire enough engineers as there just aren't enough available.

[AvonCallingBarksdale]

When I went (a zillion years ago), it was more important which uni you went to, rather than what you did there, although, I suppose the "good" unis offered the "good" courses. I did a traditional degree at a russell group uni - DH did a "new-fangled" degree at a new uni (aka old Poly). He feels he's had to prove himself more than me as a result.

[CatsWearingTutus]

Here is the shortage occupation list www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/workingintheuk/shortageoccupationlistnov11.pdf

[MelanieCheeks]

Ha! Dancers are on that list, and my daughter's college is named as well!

Thank you so much for that - useful comeback info next time I'm under attack for letting them do arsty farsty hobby degrees

[weebarra]

weegiemum - I was '95-'99. Knew a lot of people who did Canadian Studies as an outside subject! I did Classical Literature...

[morethanpotatoprints]

No Degree is pointless when an employer expects one for a particular job.

You could argue that many of the none academic subjects are useless but then try and get a job without one.
Media has had a lot of stick over the past 5 or so years, but if you want to go into this type of work you are disadvantaged without one.

[happybubblebrain]

My degree was a bit pointless, but I don't regret it, it was 3 years of my adult life not working, so totally worth it. Plus degrees were free in those days, I don't think I'd bother doing a pointless degree now, better to spend the money travelling, a deposit for a house or setting up a business.

[exoticfruits]

I wouldn't agree at all with that list CatsWearingTutus-my DS should have walked into a job in that case, not had triple figures for every application and most places wanting experience. He got there in the end -but only after a year of trying.

[ImperialBlether]

pyrrah, I was at a RG university in the 80s and we had 8 hours of lectures per week. My daughter's just been to a different one and had the same. I think you are guilty of mis-remembering if you think there was just one essay per term.

In any case, I was told and my daughter was told that we were there to learn not to be taught. I put in a lot of time outside lessons and my daughter (who did much better than I did) spent a hell of a lot of time - probably 60 hours pw - working on her own, particularly in the third year.

And for those saying History isn't worth studying - I am absolutely amazed!

[CatsWearingTutus]

Exotic it isn't my list, take it up with the uk government glad to hear your DS has found something

[happybubblebrain]

A degree shows a level of aptitude. No more no less.

I disagree, nowadays it just shows you have rich parents.

[exoticfruits]

So am I! It was hell at the time. Just utterly surprised it was a shortage-I realised when he went that it would be difficult, but he was single minded. To give him his due he did research it- he only had 3 places on his UCAS form and one he dropped before the interview as his heart wasn't in it.

[exoticfruits]

DS1 wasn't any better off having a science degree from a RG university.

[YouveCatToBeKittenMe]

I think I went to Southampton Solent

(it was so good I can't remember)

It wasn't called Southampton Solent then though

Or was Southampton Solent already the other bit with the boat building and stuff?
I went to the Arty bit in the City Centre, (East Park terrace)

[itried]

DS was not academic but was always technically minded. He attended a university that is very low rated. He chose a specialised engineering degree thus, I thought, really cutting down his chances of employment. How pleased I am to have been wrong. He has his dream career as a design engineer.

[HangingGardenofBabbysBum]

Any degree chosen soley on the basis of how it will look on a CV.

I used to recruit graduates; it was quite clear which ones had gone to University because they assumed it would give them the right to a job.

I went a million years ago, studied something I loved for the sheer interest, and haven't used the content. The ability to think, question, debate, research and work by and for myself has been invaluable.

I don't see those values quite so often now, but in my day it was a very small percentage who went, not an automatic 'well, I'm off to Uni. One of them. To do something.' Which a friend's DS announced this summer.

[LeGavrOrf]

It used to be Southampton Institute iirc kitten.

[YouveCatToBeKittenMe]

Yes
Southampton Institute of Higher Education

I still love Southampton
I would like to retire down that way
So it cant have been that bad!

[LeGavrOrf]

No, he absolutely loved Southampton, just wished that he had gone to Southampton uni and studied something else (he had the grades to have for in).

[Bue]

weegie that explains why you know about Canadian Studies!

Easy there, the study of my home and native land is no less relevant and important than the study of... football.

[Talkinpeace]

LeGavrof I liked the town so much I still live here!
I was at uni back when the government gave us grants not debts!

kitten Which pubs in Bevois valley did you frequent? - we have almost certainly met

Open University degrees are extremely well regarded in the right circumstances.
Various friends from Uni time ballsed up then and dropped out. Did lower tier jobs for 10 years then found their niche and did OU degree and then masters and are now as high flying if not more so than any of us.