Who here went to University?

[walsufnir]

Soleron said:

the2real4mafol said:

...

Because of my grades i was quite limited to what universities i could pick. I'm on B's and C's and due to the huge grade inflation recently that meant the University of Essex was sort of an aspirational choice for me (Plymouth University is my insurance choice). The amount of universities that want an A now is just rediculous! and i actually visited there and i loved it. The environment was perfect for me (i love the greenery), everyone is very helpful and welcoming. There is a huge range of topics in history that you can pick and huge flexibility here (i can do a joint degree if i wanted despite applying for a single degree) and there is a lot around. And the accomodation is cheap and very good (starts at £70 a week and goes up to £115 a week)

And to be honest i have no idea what job i want to do, still! all i know is love history and that's that (always have). i just hope the economy is fixed by 2017, so i can get a job. I mean right now, people are graduating and can't a job or are underemployed, it's quite bad. But at least, university will give me something to do for at least 3 years, that's how i see it right now. Better than being unemployed.

A girl at my university doing History (and this is supposed to be the joint hardest university in the country right?) said to me that all lectures are optional and in fact there's no exams until the end of the third year, so she could spend the first 2.5 years just reading books when she felt like it. Then she'll get a 2.1, because everyone in History gets a 2.1 regardless. I don't see how that's preparing you for a job?

 

Perhaps my point of view is different because in Germany the situation is a little bit different (at least it was): We have two competing ways of studying: One is university and one is called "fachhochschule" which I don't know how to translate properly.

The difference is (was): University was for people to achieve theoretical knowledge mostly. The whole process of studying was of course to get knowledge but you also learned "for life". To get self-organized, to get the possibility to ask the right questions, to question "given" things and so on. "fachhochschule" meant "we tell you what you have to know in exams. nothing more nothing less" and was targetted at preparing the studends to "function" when they get a job. This was never intended at universities. Sadly this changed with bologna process and the introduction of bachelor/master also in universities.