Hmm Uni stuffs

[Jeros]

Well having started year 3 of 4 of my Degree I have come to the decision of wanting to switch over to a different subject.

Now with the fees increase its not ideal, but at the end of the day it seems like a bad idea to spend time and money finishing a degree i'm not going to use.

The time does not bother me, my age and the fact I will be 32 when I graduate does not bother me and money is a non-issue........Its telling my family....

They have all been very supportive, infact adamant that I get a degree to ensure a good future for myself, my "modern apprenticeship" (read: "we want you to work 10 hours a day 6 days a week for £80 and never train you) I had when I was younger and later working a variety of low paid jobs predictably turned out to be dead ends with little to no chance of advancement, or if you did manage to get promoted you ended up being fired as a sacrificial lamb if something went wrong.

So I eventually went to uni at 25 after my little stint in Oz, however I really don't think I have picked the right degree for me, telling them i'm changing now will be hard....I have to do what's right for me, but I don't want them to think i'm just doing this to avoid returning to the world of work (not that I have really spent much time unemployed in the last 10 years even when in education). I don't really know how to go about it, what would you do?

 

[rynnor]

You want to change from Earth Science to what? And why?

 

[old.Tohtori]

How long do you have left? If it's something menial, just finish it as it's a good thing to have a backup. If you've basically just started, just outright tell them that it's not for you and you're switching. You're an adult, you make your life choices and hold the responsibility.

If they are paying, have been paying, for your education then you do have a bit of a moral responsibility to finish it.

On telling in itself; just do it. There might be some rabble, but keep to simple points; your choice, your responsibility, what you want out of life and such. Don't get dragged into a fight about it as it solves nothing and only makes things worse. If needed, give them time to think about it and do listen to valid points if presented.

 

[Ch3tan]

Can you not finish your degree and then just do a masters in a totally different subject?

 

[Jeros]

Year and a half left, however if I graduate, I Would not get funding for a second degree, It may be JUST ABOUT doable to fund it working part time but only just. The University of Edinburgh is being very generous with burserys for students like me who come from lower social-economic backrounds.

I want to switch over to computer science which is actually what I was going to do originally, but the maths scared me off and I ended up doing chemistry and biology on my access course and the onto geology and undergrad, turns out we got taught the rough equivalent of A-level maths in my geology degree ANYWAY despite it not being an entry requirement (lol).

Now it may not even be possible for me to transfer, but being a mature student and having a fair few IT qualifications and now the maths it may just be possible for me to get entry, I need to sit down and have a chat with them about it. First year of Scottish degrees is designed for people with normal higher's, which are less than an A-Level, hence English students with good A-Level grades can often go right into 2nd year. So first year comp sci may be possible.

 

[old.Tohtori]

In the end it's year and a half, but the funding indeed is an issue.

If you can fix the funding, finish this(it's just a year and a half, past 30 you won't care ) and then start another.
If you can't fix the funding(or see a viable wy to fund it), explain this to appropriate peeps(like family) AFTER checking if it's possible, then switch. Only explain it after you know for a fact you can and want to do it.

Worst case; finish this, get a job, save up and get your dream degree. Might delay it a year or two, but as said, it's not the worst that can happen. Also finishing this will give you more tools on next round.

 

[Vae]

Bear in mind what you actually want to do with the degree when you finish it.

A lot of jobs don't require a specific degree so the question is whether the job you want to get into would require a specific subject.

It sounds like you want to move into the IT job market so the question is whether there is an advantage in 4 years time to having studyied IT for 4 years from now vs staying with the Earth Sciences for another 1.5 years (and maybe trying to pick courses as linked with IT as possible) then having 2-3 years of trying to get into the IT job market (at a lower level) and any experience you gain in the process.

While I'm Head of Finance and IT for my company the IT is a side job and so I can't advise you on that but there are plenty of other people on here who could advise you on your job prospects.

 

[rynnor]

You just need a generic degree and some aptitude to work in IT - I would stick to your original plan and complete your current degree. Against the enormous tidal wave of cheap Indian Comp Sci graduates you might as well have some differentiating points?

Wouldn't you rather work for the Oil companies or someone like Anglo American?

 

[TdC]

Worst case; finish this, get a job, save up and get your dream degree. Might delay it a year or two, but as said, it's not the worst that can happen. Also finishing this will give you more tools on next round.

imo this. with the emphasis on the latter part. I went back to school at 35 after yonks of faffing about. my natural aptitude had got me a decent job, decent earnings, house, etc, but going back to get my bachelor -I'm in year 2 btw- is hands down the best thing I have ever done in my life. I'm only half way and already the (for want of a better word) empowerment is just silly. Fwiw, I'm going to be 39 when I get the paper.

anyway, what I mean is that you're still young. stick with it, don't change. you're nearly there. keep at it and things will be ok.

 

[Chilly]

Unless you are already a programmer and know a lot about computers you will do terribly at comp sci. I skipped the first year of my comp sci degree (having changed from physics after finishing two years of that) but only got through because I had spent most of my time at uni programming on the side. First year comp sci covers a shitload of basics you really need and unless you've got 30 hours in the day to catch up and pay for the new course, you're going to have a very hard time.

 

[Chilly]

imo this. with the emphasis on the latter part. I went back to school at 35 after yonks of faffing about. my natural aptitude had got me a decent job, decent earnings, house, etc, but going back to get my bachelor -I'm in year 2 btw- is hands down the best thing I have ever done in my life. I'm only half way and already the (for want of a better word) empowerment is just silly. Fwiw, I'm going to be 39 when I get the paper.

anyway, what I mean is that you're still young. stick with it, don't change. you're nearly there. keep at it and things will be ok.

And I'm still doing your homework

 

[TdC]

you fancy doing my project? it uses an ultra modern graphical interface based on ncurses! ;-)

 

[Jeros]

Oh I would not skip the first year, even if offered. Edinburghs comp sci degrees are done in such a way as to cater for people who don't have a computing background, which is made easier by it being 4 years instead of 3.

Similar thing with my Geology degree, you can go into it from a bio,chem or various other qualifactions at A-level/higher.

Got an exam today, gonna go see if I can have a chat with with a member of staff about it after.

Being in Compsoc and having many friends in the department of infomatics means I have pre warning of what to expect and what courses I would be taking if i got in

 

[TdC]

you were a great help though

 

[Wazzerphuk]

I know a few people who never finish degrees. Do about 2 years then go "meehhh I don't like it" and then change to something else they inevitbly "don't like."

Most of these people are work-shy hippies. ARE YOU!?

 

[DaGaffer]

Madness. Finish your degree. It doesn't actually matter what's in. I know about a million electrical engineers in IT, someone with an anthropology degree who works on a travel website, fuck knows how many economists and political scientists working as project managers or City traders. I say again, finish your degree (I'm with Wazz on the workshy hippie thing otherwise).

 

[Gumbo]

I'd have gone more for lazy, sponging, cunt. Especially as he's North of the border so doesn't have to pay his own way.

Finish your degree and do a Masters if you want to further it, or go out and get a fucking job!

 

[Wazzerphuk]

Not finishing a free degree paid for by me?

You're a cunt.

 

[Bahumat]

What career do you want once qualified from a computer science degree?

 

[Garaen]

Finish your degree and make sure you get at least a 2:1. If you're serious about entering the world of IT, rather than attend a formal university course for 4 years, spend the next year and a half teaching yourself in your spare time. I work in IT and I know relatively few people with a specific IT related degree - the beauty of IT is that a lot of it can be self taught / taught in shorter courses. Imo changing back to the first year of a degree now would be crazy.

 

[ileks]

I'd stick with what you are doing if I were you Jeros. If you switch, you would need to be 100% sure you wouldn't not enjoy or struggle with the other course. Good luck.

 

[Scouse]

If they are paying, have been paying, for your education then you do have a bit of a moral responsibility to finish it.

Disagree completely. You have a moral responsibility to be honest.

Tell them you have found that it won't make you happy - i.e. the truth.


If they're not funding you, you've got no obligation to explain your actions at all.

 

[Scouse]

Don't need a degree for IT. You need professional qualifications if you want to be a techie, other than that any degree will do.

 

[Cadelin]

Stick with your current degree. You will be throwing away 2.5 years hard work if you switch for no gain.

Except in a few specific examples a degree doesn't teach you what you need to know about a job in that subject. A degree just proves to any potential employer that you are smart, able to work independently and problem solve. Your learning won't stop when you start a job and within 2-3 months you will be better at using whatever software package your company uses than if you spent another 4 years at university.

It sounds like you were very poorly advised when you started your course.

 

[Jeros]

Not finishing a free degree paid for by me?

You're a cunt.

I'm English so I pay fees at what is now the most expensive uni in the UK and spent ten years in the work place so kindly do one.

I pay for the fees myself and what not so its not about the money, its more of I don't want to disappoint, that said they did tell me I need to seriously consider what life is like doing a "real" job that I hate and to think of happy factor vs the money earnt ratio (I have a great family) so I guess they will be supportive.

I would like to work in programming, What little I have done I have enjoyed and I want to do something involving maths if I can. One things for sure, I don't want any more qualifications that might not exist in a few years......like my GNVQs

 

[Gumbo]

I'm English so I pay fees at what is now the most expensive uni in the UK and spent ten years in the work place so kindly do one.

I pay for the fees myself and what not so its not about the money, its more of I don't want to disappoint, that said they did tell me I need to seriously consider what life is like doing a "real" job that I hate and to think of happy factor vs the money earnt ratio (I have a great family) so I guess they will be supportive.

That conflicts with

Year and a half left, however if I graduate, I Would not get funding for a second degree, It may be JUST ABOUT doable to fund it working part time but only just. The University of Edinburgh is being very generous with burserys for students like me who come from lower social-economic backrounds.

 

[Chilly]

If you're wanting to get into scientific computing (you mentioned maths + programming) you need to man the fuck up and do the comp sci degree (or physics). Nothing else will teach you the very niche and specialist knowledge you need.

Having said that - do you actually know anything about scientific computing? It's ridiculously tedious. You spend your entire life doing error correction and hunting down bulllshit numerical bugs.

http://docs.oracle.com/cd/E19957-01/806-3568/ncg_goldberg.html

 

[Jeros]

That conflicts with

I pay the fees back the same way all students do who are poor, from income later on. Thats how it works, you take a loan, you pay it back.
My fees at the mo are £1820 per year, the new fees if I change degree will be £9000 per year, but such is life.

Scottish students don't pay any fees at all, which is fair enough, it is their country.

Yeah chilly I hang around with the comp sci peeps a lot, I know what they have to do. It does not bother me, infact I like the idea.

God knows why I never listened to everyone who tired to talk me out of doing geology and to redo the maths when I did come to uni (had been talking about doing comp sci from the moment I returned from Oz in 06 and wanting to do "something in computing" since 00). But if i'm honest the last ten years have been a blur of bad jobs, bad women, and moving home every 6 months or so. Oz was fun though.

 

[TdC]

I would like to work in programming

freak. nobody likes to do that. especially not programmers!

 

[rynnor]

Theres no jobs for newly graduated programmers but I guess you'll find that out if you go ahead with the switch.