StefanAVFC Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 The youth of today. Can't commit to anything for more than a few minutes I hardly think living abroad, not speaking the language and wanting to come home after 10 months isn't committing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingman Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 Anyone in the VT forums have a role in Marketing? I'm 18 and unsure as of yet which area of business to look into specialising in at uni but marketing does interest me but I'd like the opinion of any seasoned professionals. Any other thoughts or suggestions are welcome. My mate had a Pet stall on Dudley market before moving onto seasoned fruit & veg in Camden! Me… I used to put the hairs on the coconuts. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baselayers Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 Bro so happy for you. You can now start to try and enjoy work. It will make a big positive difference in your life if you do! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hycus-flange Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 I damaged my shoulder a few months back and being a self employed sparky it was killing me, couldn't afford to take the time off the doctor advised to rest it and get it better, and working all the time meant it was getting worse. Anyway, long story short, I've changed my career direction, and am now the proud owner of a LGV category C licence as of 12 noon today. Soon be trucking up n down this country and resting my shoulder at the same time, win win for me, earning and getting better 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
choffer Posted April 22, 2015 VT Supporter Share Posted April 22, 2015 The youth of today. Can't commit to anything for more than a few minutes I hardly think living abroad, not speaking the language and wanting to come home after 10 months isn't committing. Aye, I guess your overseas sojourn lasted longer than your teaching career Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisp65 Posted April 23, 2015 Share Posted April 23, 2015 hmmmm, my nipper is in sixth form and has been heading towards some sort of music / english university place. Doing well, expected / projected to get decent grades across the board (sorry Tony). Criteria for Uni entry was to be studying towards grade 7 in an instrument, well, already on 6 in guitar with a little over a year to go, plus self taught to 3 or 4 on piano, self taught violin to grade 'meh' and just sat theory for the first time and passed scoring 'distinction' at grade 5. So all going swimmingly.... Except of course, apparently we now want to drop music and start afresh to study.... media studies. I need a strategy that's more sophisticated than my current plan of shouting threats of extreme violence. Or, I need convincing (and I'd genuinely be happy to be put right on this) that 'media studies' is legit and isn't that shit course you do if you're no good at other subjects but like writing reviews of marvel films in just 140 characters. I am fully aware that music based subjects ain't exactly chemistry and engineering, but it has been 'the plan' (not my plan I hasten to add - my original brief was 'be happy') for the last 5 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chindie Posted April 23, 2015 VT Supporter Share Posted April 23, 2015 From a career/uni point of view, IMO, unless media studies or music is vocational, I'd assume they aren't much different from a further prospects point of view, purely academically. The music might be viewed as more... Culturally 'rounded' or intellectual, perhaps, but I don't think one or the other is going to ruin the path through life of the average person. Media studies itself isn't that bad of a degree. I'm lead to believe by some who've taken it is not that far removed from an English course, analysing things in a variety of ways and understanding what they are and what they intend to do and techniques behind them, etc. Though having never done it they could be spinning me a tale. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eames Posted April 23, 2015 Share Posted April 23, 2015 hmmmm, my nipper is in sixth form and has been heading towards some sort of music / english university place. Doing well, expected / projected to get decent grades across the board (sorry Tony). Criteria for Uni entry was to be studying towards grade 7 in an instrument, well, already on 6 in guitar with a little over a year to go, plus self taught to 3 or 4 on piano, self taught violin to grade 'meh' and just sat theory for the first time and passed scoring 'distinction' at grade 5. So all going swimmingly.... Except of course, apparently we now want to drop music and start afresh to study.... media studies. I need a strategy that's more sophisticated than my current plan of shouting threats of extreme violence. Or, I need convincing (and I'd genuinely be happy to be put right on this) that 'media studies' is legit and isn't that shit course you do if you're no good at other subjects but like writing reviews of marvel films in just 140 characters. I am fully aware that music based subjects ain't exactly chemistry and engineering, but it has been 'the plan' (not my plan I hasten to add - my original brief was 'be happy') for the last 5 years. The only thing I can offer is from my own experience. I had two choices. Law Degree or History. Law had been the thing for 3/4 years before and then changed at the last minute to do history because I knew I'd enjoy it - even if it wasn't as valuable. Media studies is a bit of a wanky waste of time IMO. If he is interested in media Journalism would be more useful I suppose. That said - its all nonsense really. A mate of mine got a 3rd in Electronic Music from Aber.....wyth(?!) uni and is currently earning a small fortune as a Senior Programmer for the Royal Mint.....so..... yeah. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo985 Posted April 23, 2015 VT Supporter Share Posted April 23, 2015 (edited) If I could go back and do uni again, I'd do a degree in something I enjoyed a bit more. Not saying I'd do colouring in or anything. But I did Accounting and Finance, and whilst I've stayed in that field for a job, my degree wasn't really necessary. The job I got coming out of uni, and the ones I applied for, didn't require a specific degree, just A degree. In fact, employers seemed more interested in the grade of the degree than the subject (I got a 2:2 in Accounting and Finance. KPMG turned me down because I didn't get a 2:1, but hired a guy for the same job who did get a 2:1... in French) At the end of the day, my degree was pretty dull, and I found it pretty difficult to motivate myself to study as much as I should have, hence the 2:2. Looking back I'm positive if I'd done something more interesting or enjoyable I'd have done much better. The only benefit I got from studying Accounting was one exemption in my professional qualifications (which actually turned out to be a bad thing, because I failed the following module as the course assumed you knew everything from the one I was exempted from so I was constantly playing catchup) That being said, it requires a bit of research I guess into future careers. I'm sure some are a lot more specific in degree requirements. Engineering, for example, at my company requires an engineering degree AFAIK. But I think these days employers probably wouldn't distinguish too much between Media Studies and Music when it comes to employing someone. The fact that they had a degree from a decent uni and achieved a decent grade would matter more than the subject. But as I said, that excludes the situation that the person in question wants to go into something very specific that would require the one degree over another. Edited April 23, 2015 by Stevo985 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StefanAVFC Posted April 23, 2015 Share Posted April 23, 2015 (edited) Music and media aren't comparable in the slightest. Music is a hell of a lot of analysis which is heavily theory based. I believe a music degree (if you do classical rather than popular which IS a waste of time) is considered one of the hardest at Oxford as it's treated as a science. I did a music degree without those criteria needed Chris. I didn't need a grade 7/8 but I still did a good course at a good uni. If he wants to do uni but doesn't have a grade 7/8, tell him to look at Sheffield/Bristol/Bangor which are all good music departments without that requirement. But saying that, a distinction at grade 5 theory will be easily enough. The first semester of a music degree is the same as A level music anyway so even if his theory wasn't up to scratch (which it clearly is) he'd have time to catch up and uni.s do this on purpose. Saying that, unless he's going into something that is specifically music related as a career, then actually getting the degree from a good uni (as Ben said) is probably more important. Edited April 23, 2015 by StefanAVFC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisp65 Posted April 23, 2015 Share Posted April 23, 2015 cheers chaps all good info Agree Stef, what I've seen of music, from composing, software, theory, history and playing, it's a heavy duty very technical subject - maybe not instantly obviously useful outside of music circles, but tough. 'she' doesn't have a clue what she wants to do - other than two vague plans: First, she likes the idea of knocking around the BBC as a runner / tea maker and then being discovered as a kick ass writer / composer / producer / general dogs body (hence this new media studies thing). Second, she wants to get across to the States and just generally chance her arm seeing what turns up. We've invested a lot of time determined not to tell the kids to be accountants or lawyers but to do what will make them happy. My idea of 'success' ranks a poor but happy poet as being preferable to a legal aid lawyer working 60 hours a week to get a moderate house on a twee new build estate. But trying to work out if this change of plan is genuine or a wobble, is almost impossible. Trying not to be either a hippy parent or a bossy helicopter parent, dead easy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_Pangloss Posted April 23, 2015 Share Posted April 23, 2015 With degrees costing £9k a year nowadays I'd really think twice about going without knowing what you want to do. Softer degrees in the past may have still had a decent payoff as they were only like £9k a pop, but at at least £27k you're going to be saddled with a shit load of debt. I didn't know what I wanted to do so I did Economics, it's served me pretty well to be fair but if I'd have go to uni with the new fees I'd think twice about even doing that course. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rodders Posted April 23, 2015 Share Posted April 23, 2015 is the media studies thing for 6th form or Uni? Why not arrange an open day at a university that offers those courses - and take her along so she can see what is on offer as a rough guide for those courses - it might help her place those interests in a more visible career path setting, although to be honest I never had a sodding clue what I wanted to do then, I changed my mind often - such is the choice on offer it is hard to consider one choice as "the right one". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StefanAVFC Posted April 23, 2015 Share Posted April 23, 2015 I'm looking at various jobs right now and it's actually a pretty exciting time for me. I have absolutely no restrictions and no preference so I'm seeing a huge variety of jobs that look interesting. This freedom is so new to me as teaching was IT for me since I was 16. Any advice fellas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rodders Posted April 23, 2015 Share Posted April 23, 2015 Also as per Dr. Pangloss I'd definitely not rush to Uni, if she's unsure either, taking time off to have some work experience / part time jobs in those areas might be worth it more. Assuming she enjoys the music she's likely to keep that going, she can always apply a year or two down the line. I always wished I had taken more time, I did a generic humanities course - which I enjoyed in part but was a short term sense of " me good at this, me do that, me have no clue what job ancient history and French gets me, but hell let's do this". Cue post uni crisis in twenties. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StefanAVFC Posted April 23, 2015 Share Posted April 23, 2015 Agree with the above. I wish I'd thought about what I wanted to do rather than thinking teaching was the only job for me. Although, I'm relieved I didn't do teaching as my undergraduate. Then I'd be screwed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milfner Posted April 23, 2015 Share Posted April 23, 2015 I've got three weeks left as uni student. When I'm not doing my dissertation I'm shitting myself at the prospect of what lies ahead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StefanAVFC Posted April 23, 2015 Share Posted April 23, 2015 Are you going to stay in London or come back? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisp65 Posted April 23, 2015 Share Posted April 23, 2015 aye, cheers chaps, all good points, I'll go away now and mull it over. For info., her latest plan is apparently to keep going with the A Levels as at present - but chuck an additional one in next year to get some media studies qual at A level to help get that sort of course at Uni - nothing like putting pressure on yourself! We have suggested the whole year out thing - with the caveat she would have to do 'something' and not just be the xbox queen. Something could be an Asda job, volunteering, or other non Uni qualification. We've certainly offered to taxi her around as many campus as she wants in the summer - but I won't physically hand hold her around the site - that's her own job and I don't like seeing parents getting too involved in 'the tour'. I think part of the problem we have here, is that she did an open day at Cardiff Campus and they were filming Casualty or Holby or something in one of the halls whilst she was there and she got a bit star struck by how cool it all was. I know, I know, star struck by Casualty. But its a massive industry around here with the new studios, so its not a ridiculous thing to want to get involved in. It'll all work out in the end, I didn't know where I was heading until I was 25, so it can't be easy at 17. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_Pangloss Posted April 23, 2015 Share Posted April 23, 2015 (edited) Also as per Dr. Pangloss I'd definitely not rush to Uni, if she's unsure either, taking time off to have some work experience / part time jobs in those areas might be worth it more. Assuming she enjoys the music she's likely to keep that going, she can always apply a year or two down the line. I always wished I had taken more time, I did a generic humanities course - which I enjoyed in part but was a short term sense of " me good at this, me do that, me have no clue what job ancient history and French gets me, but hell let's do this". Cue post uni crisis in twenties. I think this is great advice, in the grand scheme of things, postponing a year is no big deal, there's absolutely no universal force dragging anyone to go to uni straight after A-levels. A year or two out to get some real life perspective could do the world of good. In this day and age, with retirement ages increasingly shifting upwards, there really isn't the rush to get into a job that there perhaps once was. Edited April 23, 2015 by Dr_Pangloss Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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