Uni standards
I wish I was getting some tat submitted, there are those who think they are bright enough to go to uni who submit work that I wouldn't have even dreamed of doing at the age of 12 let alone 21, they can't even realise that what they submit is total and utter shite. Using comic sans in anything design related is as we all are aware never to be employed, but oh I get stuff that not even a retard would produce in all the glorious effects that Word could offer, rainbow 3d text?

To top this all they complain the course is too hard...now the obvious thing would be to stop letting any old idiot think they can go to uni...no, the course is dumbed down, class sizes are due to increase again this year and there will not be an increase in resources so 25 computers 36 students in a class...still half of them can't even write their own names so I'm having very high expectations of getting even more crap submitted this year which due to 'targets' I'm not allowed to fail.

They deny that degrees are getting easier, if you can post up something for qotw you'll get a degree these days.

Sorry it's not funny and more of a rant but it's true.
(bluehamster, Mon 17 Aug 2009, 12:19, 15 replies)

It's true
Which is why I'm having to consider a Masters to set me apart from the other 2:1 goons. Probably a waste of money and effort when experience is more sought-after...
( whenanimalsattackhumans clad in global hypercolour, Mon 17 Aug 2009, 12:46, closed)

Urgh - drives me mad
People submit work they only did the night before, having done no reading - just looked a few little bits up on the internet. Despite having extensive lessons on using journal articles, they only lose about 2% for it!

As much as I love my boyfriend - I really don't think he any many other people should be at uni - failed a BTEC in business twice because he messed up his GCSEs, and is currently doing retakes for a foundation year.

I would much rather universities were elitist by talent rather than money - but that seems not to be the case!
(deadly_sinners, Mon 17 Aug 2009, 13:05, closed)

When I left sixth form
Which was 8 years ago this summer, I was one of only two people that didn't apply to go to University. Out of 208.

Then, as is now, it's seen as the next natural step after sixth form to go straight on to University. It doesn't matter that the person might not be up to the job academically, they're coerced - maybe even forced into it. Indeed, I was called up before the head of sixth to explain why I wasn't applying, and asked if I realised what this meant for my future.

Strangely, I'm now working in a University getting a not inconsiderable sum of money each year for doing so, and have some damn good working conditions.
( shadyron, Mon 17 Aug 2009, 13:23, closed)

This
I am a victim of this nazi-like co-ercion.

Some of my friends are now 30k/year electricians...
( whenanimalsattackhumans clad in global hypercolour, Mon 17 Aug 2009, 13:58, closed)

.
Is that good or bad?
( browser still relating boring anecdotes into a void on, Mon 17 Aug 2009, 14:05, closed)

Well as a graduate
Looking at 13-15k/year jobs, it is certainly good!
( whenanimalsattackhumans clad in global hypercolour, Mon 17 Aug 2009, 14:15, closed)

I went to uni
But didn't enjoy it, ended up dropping out and now find myself without any real idea of what I want to do or where I want to go in life.

I have to say I agree completely with you.
Which is not to say that in my case I was not academically capable, merely that no-one ever discussed any other options with me (save one talk given to us about gap years, after the deadline for UCAS offers to be accepted), meaning that when I worked out the hard way that uni was not for me, I was stumped.

Furthermore, since dropping out I have sought career advice from places like the 'Opportunity Centre' (think the Job Centre, only less useful and with fewer work-shy layabouts hanging around) and when I make them aware of my qualifications from school, they tell me I should go to uni.

I'm not blaming anyone else for the fact that I didn't enjoy my degree but I do think it's dreadful that there seems to be little to no help for academically-capable individuals who are not suited to a university education.
(Pope Jamiroquai III, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 1:45, closed)

I'm from Australia and...
... it's unbelievable how much secondary schools drum into their students that going to uni is the be all and end all of life and that it affects absolutely everything work-related in your life thereafter. I utterly LOATHED high school and was totally unmotivated. I ended up totally bombing on pretty much all of my subjects and wouldn't have it any other way: After high school I went and taught English in Kagoshima, Japan* when I was 18 years old with "Blockbuster" as work experience on my resume. I made heaps of friends and will most likely end up living there. I'm now 24 and living in Toronto, having a great time. When I return home in 2011, I'll be 26 and THEN I will be going to university. I'll be ready, at that point, and I'll WANT to study.

I hated school.

*One of the most beautiful and easily-liveable places on Earth.
(kyouraku, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 19:21, closed)

more elitism would be good
I now work at a decent art college in the Southwest and there was some amazing stuff in the end of year graduation show, utterly beautuful stuff with excellent presentation and great concepts.

there was also some utter pap. Sometimes it just requires an over the top bullshitted supporting essay to convince the lecturers it is not mimsy-snot. And they fall for it
(cornishbob is going to hell on, Mon 17 Aug 2009, 15:33, closed)

.
As far as I can tell

Degree + No experience = No job
No degree + Experience = No job
Degree + Experience = maybe a job..

I've been working for a while and found that not having a degree (subject appears to be irrelevant) is a big stumbling block now ...it wasn't when I started working, ho-hum!
(cmouse is pondering about life in other jobs, Mon 17 Aug 2009, 15:42, closed)

it's because all the wankers who are in position to employ people
have degrees and think it makes them special.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Mon 17 Aug 2009, 15:51, closed)

it's impossible to fail unless
it gets harder and harder to fail the little bastards each year, the only way is for them to not actually submit anything at all, I've received a piece of a4 with a couple of crap sketches in that is supposed to be a 2 minute flash animation with character development, due to there being something submitted it cannot be a 'u' which is ungraded but an 'f' for which there are varying percentages from about 10% up to 35%, therefore it means that even if they fuck other modules up there is a combined score which can now technically allow them to get a 3rd, this also comes from students with 0% attendance records!

Still the pay is good
(bluehamster, Mon 17 Aug 2009, 16:07, closed)

I know what you mean
I've just marked the latest 2nd year efforts. They have to be word processed at the least so there's no chance of recognizing handwriting,or not being able to read the content, but the cover slips they have to fill in are handwritten. It's a given that if a student uses an 'o' as the point over the 'i' then they will not be getting a first. What amazes me is the ones I get each year (usually 2 or 3 from 60 odd students each year for the last 8 years) that use a heart. My God, and I'm at a proper Uni too. God help those that are at Unitechnics.
( no longer a user, Mon 17 Aug 2009, 18:46, closed)

it's all gone to pot
And I thought it was just us ex polys that had substandard students.

If the ones that use a heart are like some of mine do they burst in to tears when you suggest they use a colour other than pink and care bears aren't quite the style they should go for.
(bluehamster, Mon 17 Aug 2009, 20:04, closed)

A proposition
How about you just give me a degree and I don't bother submitting any tat?
I mean, I'd pass anyway no matter what crap I passed off as course work, so by just letting me pass you're not doing anything that wouldn't have happened anyway but at least with this arrangement, you'd be saved having to read yet more will-sappingly atrocious shite(!)

Or, at the very least, this suggestion should get me a 2:1 in Business Management ;-)
(Pope Jamiroquai III, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 1:48, closed)