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If you could go to university now, what would you study?

  • 26-10-2021 12:56pm
    #1
    Posts: 17,381


    At age 34 and with one completely pointless and largely unused degree under my belt, I have a hankering to go back to university to study Computer Science. I've taught myself how to code as a means to an end over the last six or seven years, and had a moderately successful company for a while, and I'm studying hard to move into that field properly as an employee in the next year or two, but I'd love to actually go and do the full shebang. The more theoretical stuff. I consume so much information about this that I can never put into practice, simply because it's fascinating.

    Of course it's kind of impossible to actually do it without the means to do so, and I'm in the wrong country, but it's nice to think about.

    What would ye like to study? Or would you like to study again at all?



«134

Comments

  • Registered Users Posts: 1,454 ✭✭✭bogwalrus


    At 29 I went and did a 4 year degree in software development. Now 36 with almost 3.5 years working in the industry i have a very high salary with a very comfortable standard of living

    I am terrible at maths and have lots of weaknesses that many would assume are critical to be a good software engineer. The industry needs a mix of engineers with all sorts of skills to have well functioning teams.

    For people who already have a degree i think it is worth doing a higher diploma in computer science which I believe can be completed in a year. Only do this if you genuinely have an interest and willing to put the work in.

    You will struggle otherwise but at least you can maybe take a shortcut.



  • Registered Users Posts: 16,459 ✭✭✭✭banie01


    I went straight into work post leaving cert. Did ok in the Security and Hospitality industries. Returned to Ireland in 2003 went working for a MN who also put through my BBS. Finished with them in 2009 and have worked a variety of roles since, primarily consulting in BPI and lean before moving into Telco and working primarily in compliance and regulatory.

    That led to an interest in the law. Medical issues forced retirement upon me in my late 30's. So I took that as an opportunity to head back to Uni and am now in my 3rd year of Criminal Justice in UL but will hopefully follow it up with a master's and gain an LLB.



  • Registered Users Posts: 10,526 ✭✭✭✭EmmetSpiceland


    Now? I’d probably do some “wishy-washy” Arts type degree. Something interesting but utterly useless like English Literature, Classical Studies, Film Studies or History.

    Would be nice to take a “course”, like that, with very few hours and one you wouldn’t have to work too hard for. One that facilitates enjoying the more sociable side of the college “experience”.

    The tide is turning…



  • Registered Users Posts: 2,326 ✭✭✭Scuid Mhór


    Comparative mythology.



  • Registered Users Posts: 8,912 ✭✭✭pgj2015


    psychology.



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  • Registered Users Posts: 16,109 ✭✭✭✭Pherekydes


    Mathematics. I'm 61 so it's not going to happen.



  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    Accountancy. Easiest way to make big bucks without having any particular talent or entrepreneurial spirit. An utterly joyless profession, but that’s why they hire in graduates.



  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    I studied economics and I work in a job that I like, so I don't think I'd be interested in studying right now.

    But when I retire I think I'll go back and study something like philosophy as a hobby.



  • Registered Users Posts: 16,003 ✭✭✭✭Loafing Oaf


    Ancient History/Classics



  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    First, a full time course that did NOT rely on me having to do a project with anybody else on the course.


    A C++ Games course with a specialisation in Physics



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  • Registered Users Posts: 5,644 ✭✭✭storker


    Classics. Especially classical history. I'm fascinated by ancient history, Rome's in particular. I've even starting learning Latin during the additional time working from home has given me.

    I'm 55 and I never got round to getting a degree and I do regret it. Regarding subjects, I believe picking in something you like, not just because it might get you a good job. Of course, if you can do both, then fantastic. Unless looking to get into a particular area, I get the impression that the subject isn't necessarily all that important. Many job ads only specify a degree, not the subject. I've also noticed that the alumni who compete in the special Christmas seasons of University Challenge are often in good careers that seem unrelated or merely tangential to the degree they studied at university.



  • Registered Users Posts: 7,697 ✭✭✭StupidLikeAFox


    I don't know your circumstances but don't let age be a factor- in 4 years time you are going to be 65 anyway, whether you do the degree or not!



  • Registered Users Posts: 26 generallyjack


    Do you mind me asking where you were studying? What were the dropout rates like?



  • Registered Users Posts: 28,795 ✭✭✭✭Wanderer78


    im not sure i would go back to third level, after spending years in and out of it, a lot of the material is completely out of date, pointless in the real world of work, and im only recently figuring out, my brain just isnt designed for rote learning, and trying to make it fit is very pointless. since walking away from it, im actually far more productive and im learning at an astonishing rate, so maybe third level just isnt for me



  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    I'm not sure what course you took, but rote learning in my degree was a direct route to a 2.2. grade.



  • Registered Users Posts: 28,795 ✭✭✭✭Wanderer78


    most of our system is based on it, primarily stem based



  • Registered Users Posts: 1,454 ✭✭✭bogwalrus


    Cit. Drop out rate very high. I would say 25% of my year that started actually finished the 4 years.

    All the mature students finished though and there was around 10 or so out of 100.



  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    Make sure your fingers and palms don’t chafe, pal.



  • Registered Users Posts: 865 ✭✭✭DarkJager21


    Music Production/Audio Engineering - I kick myself every day that I went down the IT rabbit hole without trying to do something I have a love for.



  • Registered Users Posts: 5,733 ✭✭✭Duckworth_Luas


    Why not?

    I did a BSc in Maths at night at DIT.

    Lots of folks were in their 50s and 60s.



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  • Registered Users Posts: 7,515 ✭✭✭Outkast_IRE


    Would not bother with university , Pilot training . An industry that you need approx 80k or so to get going in and it must be paid , no college can sling out thousands of graduates.



  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    Law or psychology.

    Or a combination of elements of the above: criminology.

    Post edited by [Deleted User] on


  • Posts: 6,192 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    I couldnt afford to go when i left school (glad now i didnt)


    But if i was to go back id like to do something along lines of history or teaching......though gendar studies would be interesting to just see what they do be banging on about/taught behind it,but i doubt id sustain interest to see out several years of it



  • Registered Users Posts: 6,065 ✭✭✭Trigger Happy


    I did electronic engineering and have never worked in that field. Would have liked to have done architecture.



  • Registered Users Posts: 16,109 ✭✭✭✭Pherekydes




  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    Not my system. Not in my experience. Those who regurgitate got poor grades in my experience.



  • Posts: 2,799 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Classics and archaeology



  • Registered Users Posts: 3,193 ✭✭✭TomSweeney


    I shoulda stuck with the Physics !!

    I was in Applied Physics in DCU and transferred to computer science... Computer Science is a degree that goes out of date ... should have stuck with the Physics!



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  • Registered Users Posts: 7,697 ✭✭✭StupidLikeAFox


    I once had a barber with a degree in applied physics.



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