[Cougar]

Ooooh, so scathing Mezla. I agree though getting bodies through the door into Sheffield Hallam or De Montfort or (shudders) Manchester Metropolitan Uni just means there are loads of thick fuckers entering the job market at 21 in 15 grand of debt with worthless qualifications rather than going into the job market at 18 with no debt.

I genuinely believe if you don't get at least 3 C grades in your A levels you shouldn't go to University. Maybe for Arts subjects this should be even higher perhaps 3 Bs.

The polytechnics should never have been allowed University status, it's a waste of time, the degrees they give out are a waste of time. They should have been retained as a second tier to cater for specific vocational qualifications, Btec and national diplomas.

For instance I've no objection to Edghill or Man Met giving out teaching degrees as specific qualifications but I have friends who lecture in politics at both Man Met and De Montfort (both utterly shit universities) and some of their kids are 'functionally illiterate' and they have described the standard of the courses as 'sub-A level'

This post has been edited by Cougar: 06 July 2009 - 03:10 PM

[Menandore]

I agree with Mezla & Cougar, by pushing so many people through uni and insisting that 50% should get degrees just lowers the value of an undergraduate degree. I read an article in the paper this morning saying that on average, there are 50 candidates going for every graduate job. A 2:1 should be something special but it's become the norm now so if you want to get ahead and stand out from the masses you have to go one better and get a masters (delaying your entry to the job market even further and increasing student debt).

IMHO one of the biggest problems with the british education system is that there is too much emphasis placed on university qualifications and not enough on vocational courses/apprenticeships. When I was in high school I can remember the pressure put on us to go to university, you were made to think that if you didn't then you were a failure and your life would amount to nothing. I can only imagine it's worse now than it was then (10 years ago).

[Mezla PigDog]

Cougar, on Jul 6 2009, 04:09 PM, said:

I genuinely believe if you don't get at least 3 C grades in your A levels you shouldn't go to University. Maybe for Arts subjects this should be even higher perhaps 3 Bs.

In which case, I will have to give my 1st from UMIST back because I got B/C/D at A level in Chemistry/Biology/Maths Or does that even out as 3 C's? I naturally have an issue with the subject because I came close to not making it into uni at all (due to poor teaching, or so I like to think!) and have since done better than loads of public school kids I know. You have to hand it to good uni's for giving kids from shitty areas the opportunity to interview or I would have stood no chance in the selection process. You can't measure potential equally while kids in shitty areas get shitty teachers! I had to go to after-school clubs to be taught to a standard above a C at GCSE! I'm not sure how you would fix it but it is tragic to think of the lost potential in some parts of the country.

[Menandore]

D'rek, on Jul 6 2009, 04:42 PM, said:

THIS IS THE INN SO I CAN SPAM IN THE MIDDLE OF YOUR DB-WORTHY DEBATE! MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

It's times like these when I wish I was still a mod.

This post has been edited by Cougar: 06 July 2009 - 04:01 PM

[D'rek]

Menandore, on Jul 6 2009, 11:46 AM, said:

It's times like these when I wish I was still a mod.

I wish you still a mod too.

Seriously though, feel free to start a serious discussion about this on the DB (or split the topic to there). I feel 100% justified in spamming it because A: its in the inn and B: is no longer about the OP topic...

[Aptorian]

You go D'rek, stick it to the man!

[Cougar]

D'rek, on Jul 6 2009, 04:49 PM, said:

Seriously though, feel free to start a serious discussion about this on the DB (or split the topic to there). I feel 100% justified in spamming it because A: its in the inn and B: is no longer about the OP topic...

Well I'm glad we have D'reks permission

D'rek, on Jul 6 2009, 04:42 PM, said:

THIS IS THE INN SO I CAN SPAM IN THE MIDDLE OF YOUR DB-WORTHY DEBATE! MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Turns out not.

This post has been edited by Cougar: 06 July 2009 - 04:08 PM

[Cougar]

Mezla PigDog, on Jul 6 2009, 04:37 PM, said:

In which case, I will have to give my 1st from UMIST back because I got B/C/D at A level in Chemistry/Biology/Maths Or does that even out as 3 C's?

Doesn't BCD carry the same points rating as CCC? (18)

I suppose the Uni' would have to decide on the merits of each case (as they do anyway) but you got a B and a C in the most relevant subjects to your course.

But, yeah, basically I'd sacrifice you for the good of the many if I had to.

This post has been edited by Cougar: 06 July 2009 - 04:18 PM

[D'rek]

Fun fact - In Suriname, Panama and most other countries in this area, you have to be in school until you are 12.