Full time students
Author
Discussion

hunton69

Original Poster:

674 posts

166 months

Friday 30th May 2014
quotequote all
Can anyone explain to me how 16 hours a week and nearly 5 months holiday constitutes full time education. I understand that there supposed to study but how many do.

I feel that it's turning teanage children lazy.

The Boosh

116 posts

203 months

Friday 30th May 2014
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My first two years at uni were a bit of a doss. When things got serious and I realised I needed a decent qualification out of this, I treat it like a full time job in my final year. Got into the library at 8 and left at 5 or 6.

You only get out what you put in. Was worth it in the end.

I think 'full time education' covers a broad range of courses. You also can't account for people's mind sets or attitudes!

Grumfutock

5,274 posts

194 months

Friday 30th May 2014
quotequote all
Completely agree and the post above confirms my thoughts.

Whatever uni course he took could of been done Mon-Fri 8-5 in 1 year!

Degree's are very over rated in my book.

The Boosh

116 posts

203 months

Friday 30th May 2014
quotequote all
Grumfutock said:
Degree's are very over rated in my book.
I would agree with that, but they demonstrate a capacity to learn at a higher level, and many employers these days won't give you a look in without that particular piece of paper.

hunton69

Original Poster:

674 posts

166 months

Friday 30th May 2014
quotequote all
I understand about uni my brother did pretty much the same.(35 years ago)
My issue is with the local college most kids don't even want to go but don't have many other options as there arn't many jobs about.


james_gt3rs

4,816 posts

220 months

Friday 30th May 2014
quotequote all
Depends on the degree. Mine was probably harder than average, but not the hardest. I did about 20 hours a week throughout (first year mostly lectures, final year mostly independent work). Then plenty of students get a part time job to fill the rest of the week. So some students spend 40 hours a week working one way or another.

Personally I did 20 hours work, 20 hours pissing around...

Grumfutock

5,274 posts

194 months

Friday 30th May 2014
quotequote all
The Boosh said:
Grumfutock said:
Degree's are very over rated in my book.
I would agree with that, but they demonstrate a capacity to learn at a higher level, and many employers these days won't give you a look in without that particular piece of paper.
Yea I agree with that. Sadly it doesn't demonstrate common sense or ability to do a job, both of which are far more important outside of the heart surgeon type world.

Grumfutock

5,274 posts

194 months

Friday 30th May 2014
quotequote all
james_gt3rs said:
Depends on the degree. Mine was probably harder than average, but not the hardest. I did about 20 hours a week throughout (first year mostly lectures, final year mostly independent work). Then plenty of students get a part time job to fill the rest of the week. So some students spend 40 hours a week working one way or another.

Personally I did 20 hours work, 20 hours pissing around...
My point entirely.

Harder than average and it was still only 20 hours a week. Condense the courses and it can be done in half the time.

Oh and don't even get me started on gap years!

RealSquirrels

11,327 posts

221 months

Friday 30th May 2014
quotequote all
Grumfutock said:
Completely agree and the post above confirms my thoughts.

Whatever uni course he took could of been done Mon-Fri 8-5 in 1 year!

Degree's are very over rated in my book.
a degree is more than just the timetabled hours. if all you do is go to the timetabled classes you will fail. or at least, should. you would where i work.

as an undergrad i had about 30 hours contact time a week, sometimes more. reading and other work to be done on top of that.

Grumfutock

5,274 posts

194 months

Friday 30th May 2014
quotequote all
RealSquirrels said:
a degree is more than just the timetabled hours. if all you do is go to the timetabled classes you will fail. or at least, should. you would where i work.

as an undergrad i had about 30 hours contact time a week, sometimes more. reading and other work to be done on top of that.
Who is saying they are only timetabled classes? Not I.

I am only basing my figures on what the people say. "first 2 years a bit of a doss, I did about 20 hours a week throughout (first year mostly lectures, final year mostly independent work)".


Otispunkmeyer

13,764 posts

184 months

Friday 30th May 2014
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I did MEng Engineering and I don't remember having a lot of free time at all. I managed to maintain my swim training to an extent and made sure I always got a good nights sleep, but really that just about consumed any remaining free time I had left.


If you wanted a first you really had to get your head down when out of lectures or labs. Including weekends. I'm not one of these super smart people who just "got" things right away. I needed to spend considerable effort and time understanding things!

Even my PhD didn't require so many hours a week, Though there were time where long hours were needed.

In the working world its almost bliss... I get free evenings and weekends!!!

Grumfutock

5,274 posts

194 months

Friday 30th May 2014
quotequote all
Otispunkmeyer said:
I did MEng Engineering and I don't remember having a lot of free time at all. I managed to maintain my swim training to an extent and made sure I always got a good nights sleep, but really that just about consumed any remaining free time I had left.


If you wanted a first you really had to get your head down when out of lectures or labs. Including weekends. I'm not one of these super smart people who just "got" things right away. I needed to spend considerable effort and time understanding things!

Even my PhD didn't require so many hours a week, Though there were time where long hours were needed.

In the working world its almost bliss... I get free evenings and weekends!!!
You also get paid but don't get 5 months holiday per year!!!

Gargamel

16,350 posts

290 months

Friday 30th May 2014
quotequote all
Grumfutock said:
My point entirely.

Harder than average and it was still only 20 hours a week. Condense the courses and it can be done in half the time.

Oh and don't even get me started on gap years!

Gargamel

16,350 posts

290 months

Friday 30th May 2014
quotequote all
Grumfutock said:
My point entirely.

Harder than average and it was still only 20 hours a week. Condense the courses and it can be done in half the time.

Oh and don't even get me started on gap years!
Grum by name and nature it would seem. Those bloody students enjoying learning and taking some time out to travel whilst they can.

Should be working already, tied to a fking great mortgage and trying to climb the corporate ladder at 17.

A good degree and a traditional university allows time to mature, yes to play too, make some life long friends, have casual attitudes and generally learn about yourself, BEFORE making any really important life choices.

Yes some will come out confused about what to do with themselves, but they probably were before uni anyway.

For most it is an enriching life experience, where you have the luxury of some head space before you start working for forty odd years.

Hoofy

80,006 posts

311 months

Friday 30th May 2014
quotequote all
hunton69 said:
Can anyone explain to me how 16 hours a week and nearly 5 months holiday constitutes full time education. I understand that there supposed to study but how many do.

I feel that it's turning teanage children lazy.
Arts subject? I had 25 hours a week (maths) - not quite full time but certainly meant more time in lectures. I know some students who did 5 hours a week.

Grumfutock

5,274 posts

194 months

Friday 30th May 2014
quotequote all
Gargamel said:
Grum by name and nature it would seem. Those bloody students enjoying learning and taking some time out to travel whilst they can.

Should be working already, tied to a fking great mortgage and trying to climb the corporate ladder at 17.

A good degree and a traditional university allows time to mature, yes to play too, make some life long friends, have casual attitudes and generally learn about yourself, BEFORE making any really important life choices.

Yes some will come out confused about what to do with themselves, but they probably were before uni anyway.

For most it is an enriching life experience, where you have the luxury of some head space before you start working for forty odd years.
Which is all fine and dandy until they start bleating about their debt and how they shouldn't be working in McDonalds when they have a PHD in fking astro physics!

You will also get similar, if not better results in friendship, maturing, playing and learning about yourself by getting a job. I am utterly baffled as to how you think going to university has a monopoly on any of the above. Are you in some way suggesting that the average working man is some sort of immature, debt ridden, lonely dullard?

By the way at 19 I joined the army, did all of the above and a hell of a lot more. I am now 47, no mortgage, no debts and have climbed the ladder twice! Life really doesn't have to be the negative way you are trying to describe it.

To be clear, I have no problem with Uni or students. What I do not get is why the courses cannot be more condensed. If I was paying 10k year I would want to get in and out as fast a s possible.

RealSquirrels

11,327 posts

221 months

Friday 30th May 2014
quotequote all
the courses can't be condensed because if you're doing them properly you will work most days.

the courses can't be condensed because the university lecturers need time to focus on research as well as just teaching.

the course shouldn't be condensed because you can use the spare time to learn other stuff. whether extra curricularly or just study other things.

university is fun. most people want to lengthen their time there, not shorten it.

Mr E

23,036 posts

288 months

Friday 30th May 2014
quotequote all
There's an awful lot of generalising about degree courses going on here...

Depends on the subject. Depends on the university. Depends on the student.

Grumfutock

5,274 posts

194 months

Friday 30th May 2014
quotequote all
RealSquirrels said:
the courses can't be condensed because if you're doing them properly you will work most days.

the courses can't be condensed because the university lecturers need time to focus on research as well as just teaching.

the course shouldn't be condensed because you can use the spare time to learn other stuff. whether extra curricularly or just study other things.

university is fun. most people want to lengthen their time there, not shorten it.
Well not according to the first to grads on here. According to what hey wrote nothing could be further from all of the above.

Gargamel

16,350 posts

290 months

Friday 30th May 2014
quotequote all
Grumfutock said:
To be clear, I have no problem with Uni or students. .
Yes that is coming across loud and clear.....

I haven' t suggested that any alternative choices aren't equally valid, and I would think for some the forces is an excellent choice.

I just don't think that 'hard work' is the be all and end all of uni, I learnt many other things in my time there. I found useful not to be totally under pressure to attend, be there etc, I valued the experience of learning to think for myself and pace my own work.