Useless Degrees

Echelle · 15-02-2008 10:41PM #1

Having read about the English college with links to All Hallows in Dublin awarding what amounts to useless degrees it make me think about all those colleges around the country who are now awarding all sorts of diplomas and certs with big lavish conferring ceremonies with Caps and Gowns. Recently an institution in the midlands held such a ceremony. Some "graduates" had at least spent a few years doing their courses but amongst them was a large group who had spent a total of 5 days in the college and they too were conferred in the full cap and gown regalia. Certainly demeans the whole idea of the cap mand gown ceremony in traditional universities. I bet photographers are minting it at these ceremonies. How impressive it must be to have your photo on the wall in full cap and gown,even if you only attended "college" for 5 days.

helimachoptor · 15-02-2008 11:00PM

A guy i worked with came top of his class in biblical/theological* studies in trinity. When i knew him he was earning good money despite having not having a background of the industry he was working in.

But IMHO pointless degree unless your going to go on and get a doctorate and teach, thus perpetuating the stupid degree cycle.

It may have been philosophy.

FunkZ · 15-02-2008 11:15PM

Philosophy is a stupid degree!

Dave! · 15-02-2008 11:15PM

What's the purpose of a degree? What ever happened to education for education's sake? I'm studying Computer Science and History for my degree... Comp Sci I guess is a useful degree in that it gives me a practical skill. Same for engineering, medicine, law, etc. But sure we're not robots who just develop skills and then go into industry. I'm studying History because I like history and enjoy learning about it..... Pretty pointless I suppose when you compare it to Comp Sci! But good stuff none the less.

eoin5 · 15-02-2008 11:17PM

Echelle wrote: »

Having read about the English college with links to All Hallows in Dublin awarding what amounts to useless degrees it make me think about all those colleges around the country who are now awarding all sorts of diplomas and certs with big lavish conferring ceremonies with Caps and Gowns. Recently an institution in the midlands held such a ceremony. Some "graduates" had at least spent a few years doing their courses but amongst them was a large group who had spent a total of 5 days in the college and they too were conferred in the full cap and gown regalia. Certainly demeans the whole idea of the cap mand gown ceremony in traditional universities. I bet photographers are minting it at these ceremonies. How impressive it must be to have your photo on the wall in full cap and gown,even if you only attended "college" for 5 days.

I donno about you but I felt the cap and gown ment precisely zilch. I spent 5 years in college and a classmate took my graduation photos with a cheap digital camera.

Eero New · 15-02-2008 11:36PM

Echelle wrote: »

Having read about the English college with links to All Hallows in Dublin awarding what amounts to useless degrees it make me think about all those colleges around the country who are now awarding all sorts of diplomas and certs with big lavish conferring ceremonies with Caps and Gowns. Recently an institution in the midlands held such a ceremony. Some "graduates" had at least spent a few years doing their courses but amongst them was a large group who had spent a total of 5 days in the college and they too were conferred in the full cap and gown regalia. Certainly demeans the whole idea of the cap mand gown ceremony in traditional universities. I bet photographers are minting it at these ceremonies. How impressive it must be to have your photo on the wall in full cap and gown,even if you only attended "college" for 5 days.

Whats with you love of the mortar board and gown??

Do you understand the meaning of such regallia?

witnessmenow · 16-02-2008 12:10AM

what does someone with an arts degree say to you?
"Do you want fries with that?"

NUIG recently replaced toilet paper with roll of arts degrees as there less useful

Hellm0 · 16-02-2008 12:15AM

All degrees are useless by themselves, its what you do with them that counts. I dont even have a college degree yet I earn more than most people who do.

Jack Sheehan · 16-02-2008 12:19AM

45.

Eero New · 16-02-2008 12:20AM

Hellm0 wrote: »

All degrees are useless by themselves, its what you do with them that counts. I dont even have a college degree yet I earn more than most people who do.

Theres more to life than money.

Do you measure a persons success on their paycheque?

King John V · 16-02-2008 12:33AM

I suppose that's the problem with western education. It's more degrees geared towards jobs rather than degrees in things that interest the person. Whether a person has a degree or not isn't the most important thing. It's also the life skills you acquire that earn you a living.

Pherekydes · 16-02-2008 12:34AM

witnessmenow wrote: »

what does someone with an arts degree say to you?
"Do you want fries with that?"

NUIG recently replaced toilet paper with roll of arts degrees as there less useful

Ah, we must have a Science grad in our midst. Superior intelligence, but less intelligible.

embee · 16-02-2008 12:36AM

I'm doing a degree in Midwifery - very specific career path afterwards. I started an Arts degree donkeys years ago but it was a load of old shyte so I left it.

When I worked in a call centre, half the people working there had Arts Degrees.

Orizio · 16-02-2008 12:40AM

I'm doing Arts in UCC now. So should I just kill myself rigth away or wait until they give me the degree?

King John V · 16-02-2008 12:43AM

It's down to the subjects rather than the degree category. Mine is arts too but my subjects are more science like: maths and psychology.

daauneal · 16-02-2008 12:57AM

I want to do a psychology degree next year as a mature student, because I want to be . . (guess what) . . a psychologist . but I did hear that I'd need to do a postgrad in something like psychotherapy or psycho-analitical science as well just to get a good job.

ilovemybrick · 16-02-2008 01:03AM

I study philosophy. In itself the degree is worth little of practical value but it demonstrates my abilities with difficult concepts and various skills such as academic learning, presentation of thought and demonstration of understanding.
This with my extra curricular activities which are facilitated by my degree not being very intensive mean I am easily as employable as someone with a very vocational degree.

King John V · 16-02-2008 01:06AM

Go for it Daauneal. The road to the top of the pecking order is admittedly a long one but it is also a very enjoyable one. After your bachelors you could do an ABA course and work with autistic kids. You could work in research in just about any area (a lecturer in my college specialises in body image and sexuality) or you could work towards clinical, the area dealing with mental illness.

Feel free to PM me if you want any more info from my modest experience.

Jay P · 16-02-2008 01:06AM

A law degree is the biggest waste of time ever, it doesnt even mean anything, unless you do it with something else, even at that though...

unreggd · 16-02-2008 01:07AM

A girl I know just got a degree in Pharmacutical Science

she wasnt even hired to work in a chemist in Oz!

And she said Lab work will be borin and repetitive, and that the pay is crap

I think Philosophy is the most irrelevant course out there, as you just learn it to teach it!

"Hi, I'm hear to apply for the Philosopher position"

..............

someuser90 · 16-02-2008 01:13AM

theology is the most useless load of shjt i ever heard of... might as well study astrology or scientology

all my bosses care about is: what did i learn that can save us time and money, and can i explain it simply within 30 seconds?

+ if you have done nothing but learn jokes in college, thats time well spent

daauneal · 16-02-2008 01:23AM

someuser90 wrote: »

theology is the most useless load of shjt i ever heard of... might as well study astrology or scientology

all my bosses care about is: what did i learn that can save us time and money, and can i explain it simply within 30 seconds?

+ if you have done nothing but learn jokes in college, thats time well spent

Ha ! unless you have 250 thousand euro to waste you'll never be able to study $cientology . (not formally anyway, the teachings are free on the internet)

16-02-2008 01:57AM

I'm into the arts, so I've had a few "hard" science types say what I am taking is useless. I'm a drama & film major, I've had my parts and will again in the future. Why degree? Love stage and trying to break into film. Going to USC's School of Cinematic Arts (George Lucas's school*) teaches me new things, but also comes with connections to land parts. My agent likes the prep and network, so poo poo to the "hard" a*ses!

Lucas donated $175 million recently.

witnessmenow · 16-02-2008 02:13AM

Slow coach wrote: »

Ah, we must have a Science grad in our midst. Superior intelligence, but less intelligible.

ah come on , you got the meaning! "They're" there does that make you happy. Its too dear to buy two deer when you want by to cook by candle light for many. I can not bare to see three bears sitting by the tree thats near the sea. I pause to exam the paws of each bear. You were right, so i decided to write this.

mmm homophones are fantastic.

and don't insult me, science pifft!

[gets on my high horse]
engineering actually

Creature · 16-02-2008 02:19AM

unreggd wrote: »

A girl I know just got a degree in Pharmacutical Science

she wasnt even hired to work in a chemist in Oz!

And she said Lab work will be borin and repetitive, and that the pay is crap

Yeah I've got one in pharmaceutical chemistry. It's only really worth something if you've got the grades to do a postgrad.

What did you mean by "she wasnt even hired to work in a chemist in Oz!" though?

iFight · 16-02-2008 02:20AM

witnessmenow wrote: »

what does someone with an arts degree say to you?
"Do you want fries with that?"

NUIG recently replaced toilet paper with roll of arts degrees as there less useful

That they studied something that they enjoy? That they want more from life than to make money? That they are presumably skilled in their field?

16-02-2008 02:29AM

witnessmenow wrote: »

[gets on my high horse]
engineering actually

Your only jealous because you have 4 times the workload, a year longer in college and in the end you'll probably be paid less.

Rb · 16-02-2008 02:31AM

No degree is entirely useless.

witnessmenow · 16-02-2008 03:28AM

paid more? i'd imagine the average pay for someone with an arts degree is quite a considerable amount lower than that of a person with an engineering one. I'm sure theres exceptions, I'm just talking in general

As for the work load, i would be slightly envious of the the arts life style i'll give you that. Most art students do more than 3 years as unless you specialize in something (do a H DIP or something) 3 year art degree aint worth all that much.

@ifight: arts student perhaps?

Senna · 16-02-2008 04:44AM

rb_ie wrote: »

No degree is entirely useless.

Completely agree, just the experience you get from a few years of college is worth it.

Xavi6 · 16-02-2008 06:17AM

Did a journalism degree, now working as a journalist. My degree served its purpose, plus the three years of college were the best craic ever. All good really.

Useless Degrees

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