Tuesday 31 May 2011

Education Advice Needed

OK, it's a long time since I applied to university and I didn't do it in a very orthodox way (headmaster deliberately gave me an evil negative reference; arse up A-levels; get a place by audition on a prestigious Trinity College Dublin Drama and Theatre Studies course with 400 applicants and 10 places only for horrified parents to put their collective feet down; get a place on Clearing to do English; finally thrived once I actually got to Bangor), so I'd like some advice on behalf of my beloved aunt (a Vole reader, so be nice) and her daughter.

I'm not a parent so can only imagine rather than feel the pressures from that perspective, though I agree wholeheartedly with her assertion that a joint honours with a language would be both useful and wonderful. It's a bit easier to see my cousin's position, but really I'm too old and bitter to really empathise with her either! Additionally, fees didn't exist back in 1993 so the pressure of being £50,000 in debt didn't hover over my head. I didn't give a moment's thought to personal statements, course qualities, employment prospects or any of the stuff that the current generation have to consider. I was only good at things I liked: they came easily, whereas no amount of hard work made any difference to the subjects I hated.

So: listen to parents and be strategic about your degree choice? Or go with your instincts? How did you decide on courses and institutions? Did you change course, or consider it, once you got there? What are the things you wish you'd known when you applied? How much parental engagement did you allow? And anything else you think might be useful?

I had a fantastic time at Bangor, and would recommend it to anyone (which is why I stayed for an MA and only did my PhD elsewhere because I got a scholarship). However, if I'd known that I could have gone off to the Netherlands or Scandinavia to do a degree - more cheaply - I'd have been off like a shot. Now the UK has imposed this insane fee system, I'd be even more keen on going abroad.

Except of course, that The Hegemon is a wonderful institution to which you should all apply.   (That should save my job).

Meanwhile, my cousin's older sister is a student at Manchester University, which means it's actually my duty to post a relevant song by Manchester's premier grouch. It's The Fall, and the song is 'Hey Student' (based on an earlier track called 'Hey Fascist').




Ah-well I'm walking down the street,
It's always students that I meet,
Long hair down and sneakers on your feet.
Write your letters to the Evening News
I clench my fist and sing this tune:
I said Hey student, hey student, hey student,
You're gonna get it through the head,
I said Hey student, hey student, hey student,
You're gonna get it through the head, I said...
Well, walking to work,
It's always students that I meet
Henna in your hair, [...]
As you [...]
I clench my hand before I flip my lid.
CHORUS.
I'm walking down the street,
It's always students that I meet,
Long hair down and sneakers on your feet.
As you listen to Pearl Jam in your room.
I'm thinking like that when I sing this song:
CHORUS.
I said I walk some more, walk some more,
Walk some more, wah wah wah x2
I'm walking down the street,
It's always students that I meet,
Long hair down and sneakers on your feet.
As you stare in your room at Shaun Ryder's face
Down long long long long days
CHORUS.
I said I walk some more, walk some more, walk some more, wah wah
wah x2
The dead brains of class A-B
[...]
Twin swastikas
I'm thinking like this when I sing this tune:
CHORUS.
I said I walk some more, walk some more,
Walk some more, wah wah wah x2

8 comments:

oldgirlatuni said...

For what it's worth, I think that anyone planning to study for a degree (mature student or not), should choose a subject about which they're passionate. After all, it's going to be their constant companion for three years.

As for the employability aspect, I have to be honest, when I used to employ people to work in the IT department that I used to run, I didn't give a jot what the degree topic was (so long as it was reasonably 'respectable' - ie, unless it was an application for the post of Press Officer, media studies did not rate highly). In fact, I used to avoid people with degrees in computing. The best members of staff that I worked with had degrees in Classics, modern languages, Geography, English Literature and History - all areas of study that had taught the people concerned how to think, how to be critical and analytical. It wasn't about the facts that they had stuffed into their heads.

My advice would be for the young person concerned to do what they think will be right for them - do a degree for the pleasure of learning and studying as it might be the last opportunity that they get to study for the sheer hell of it.

The Plashing Vole said...

That's largely what I said: if you hate your degree, you'll never do well. Or you'll go mad.

As half my job is teaching media/cultural studies, I'm not going to bite the hand and all that. I will say that it's a better degree than the stereotypes allow.

Sue's Blog said...

Lots of people end up in jobs unrelated to their degrees anyway and no one can predict what the economic climate will be like in a few years time - probably best to do a degree in a subject she likes so that her time at university will be a positive experience.

The Plashing Vole said...

Thanks Sue - I think that's true. The insanity of the current fees plan is that teenagers are expected to be 'rational consumers' as the economists put it, by choosing a degree which will get them a high-paying job. Meanwhile, economists didn't see the crash coming, let alone anybody else. There's no point trying to second-guess the world in three or four years' time.

The beloved aunt said...

Sorry but think the arugument has been oversimplified. Nobody, not even boring parents, are going to argue against somebody following their passion. Many school leavers however don't have a passion for academic subjects and go to university to have a 'good time'. What influences them is what their peers are going to study, who their favourite teachers are, which subject will be the easiest to get a place at university etc. Unsurprisingly many don't want to go outside their comfort zones but the rewards can be great if you can bear to. What you want is for your children to look at the bigger picture and be open to new challenges after school. I like the suggestion of taking a risk and switching courses if it doesn't work out. Anyway as a parent I do realise my views will count for nothing with my little darling!

The Plashing Vole said...

Hello. I agree with all of that, especially the bit about taking risks - university's the very best place for it.

What will happen is you'll be ignored, then she'll end up discovering you're right, but never let on that it was your idea…

Anonymous said...

Let's get real, people. S/he should sign up for the law degree now rather than paying for the conversion course etc after an expensive three-year degree. Plenty of graduates end up as lawyers these days and you're guaranteed an income that's going to pay off the debts.

The Plashing Vole said...

A: Most people with law degrees don't become lawyers, or solicitors.
B. There's a glut of people with law degrees.
C. The fabled law salaries are restricted to a minority.