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University degrees: what’s the difference?

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Deedaa Mon 21-Jan-19 23:09:20

DD avoided a lot of problems by staying on at her university and doing a PhD. She then stayed on to do research and it's now 26 years since she first walked on to the campus. I suppose she could have got a job elsewhere, but she's done a very good job of making herself indispensable!

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FountainPen Mon 21-Jan-19 22:57:51

You might find this interesting as it refers to a backlash from employers against elite universities.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-38015829

I would deter your niece from the assumption that it would have been easier to get a better class of degree from a less prestigious university. Better she focuses her attention on creative ways to persuade potential employers that she is worthy of an interview by highlighting her skills and potential. Employers want to see initiative which means finding a way around online application processes or avoid altogether the employers who use them.

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dragonfly46 Mon 21-Jan-19 22:52:57

The problem is that so many young people have degrees now that employers weed them out by their grades. Can she maybe do an internship or work for an agency to get experience. Failing that maybe do a masters.

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SueDonim Mon 21-Jan-19 22:46:23

Unless it's Oxbridge, I don't think which university your degree is from makes much difference to employers.

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vickymeldrew Mon 21-Jan-19 22:37:14

My niece worked hard and was accepted on to a physics degree course at a Russell Group University. The entrance requirements were higher than at some other universities and it was generally accepted that this university is a centre of excellence for physics. Fast forward three/four years and she obtained a 2:2. She was disappointed not to get a first or a 2:1 but took solace in the fact that the course had ben demanding and the teaching inspiring. Now applying for jobs and/or other courses she finds the online application processes often automatically exclude applications with any result lower than a 2:1. It is not even possible to say where this degree was obtained to show any merit in the university or level of challenge. It is hard to disagree with my niece when she says she would have been better to go to a local college with low entrance requirements and patchy tuition where she might well have obtained a first. Surely the university you attend should make a difference?

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