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What do people think about the advantages of going to uni? Im supposed to be starting a music technology degree in september but lately i've been thinking if it will be worth it, i mean like £10,000 debt and where the fuck will a degree in music technology get you when you leave? haha thoughts?

You'll make some good connections, but realisticaly that's it.

Better off doing a college course, bascially same connections with a more friendly price tag.

Yeahh im doing a college course at the moment so uni seemed the next logical step. I reckon maybe having a degree in anything though might give you a better chance at getting a job in the future, even a shit one. But dunno weather thats worth all the debt.

£10,000 for a degree, that cheap compared to most... student loan and that, normally people are looking at twice that, if not more.

i did an apprenticeship, getting a fully paid scholarship for my degree through my company and im earning money the whole time that im getting my degree (albeit working 40 hours a week at the same time as studying..)

from my point of view, uni is not worth it unless youre going into a job in which you need the degree (i.e. submarine-scientologism-law-person)
otherwise its a waste of time and money. I was going to study photography, but in most things these days its all about experience, you learn just as much
and earn money while youre doing it! Find a job which can give you connections into what you really want to do!

for example ive just picked up a fulltime job setting up for conference meetings, while that has nothing to do with photography, as a conference centre
they host weddings, and offer wedding packages...and theyre looking to maybe throw in a photographer with their packages, bang.
But if i dont get that i'll still be earning the p to buy equipment and look for a job more closely related to what i want to do.

people look down on those not going to uni far too often, but after a 3 year course when they come out with -£20,000 and no job, i'll be the one laughing.
(hopefully )

Yeah not sure that's the greatest idea. Safe bet is probably something IT based.

Just do music in your own time. You'd learn more experimenting yourself over those 3/4 years in the evenings than you would in 3/4 years doing music at uni

i was looking for an apprenticeship for a while but couldn't find one near birmingham to do with music & @mortal going out and getting experience and finding connections would be great but finding a job is so hard these days let alone one anything closely related to music or graphic design (also studied graphic design for 2 years at college).

It sucks to say it, but its basically a stupid idea to go to university if either 1) the course isn't directly vocational (engineering, chemistry, physics, medicine, dentistry are basically the only serious choices) or 2) the university has a pretty decent reputation.

Anything else and you'll have an awesome three years, expand your mind, indulge your passion, etc but the debt at the other end isn't worth the negligable difference a degree in something fun like music tech will make to your CV compared with someone spent their 3 years getting experience in the field.


On the other hand, I followed my own advice and spent my time depressed while my friends did fun things. So you should probably ignore me

Krew wrote:i was looking for an apprenticeship for a while but couldn't find one near birmingham to do with music & @mortal going out and getting experience and finding connections would be great but finding a job is so hard these days let alone one anything closely related to music or graphic design (also studied graphic design for 2 years at college).

i know its not easy out there, ive been lucky enough to have my last 2 jobs pretty much handed to me...but just get any job you possibly can, theres plenty of full time work out there, just as a space filler while you look for something more closely related. hell even if youre a teaboy at an office which is linked with graphic design, its a step on the ladder.

Depends on what you want.

Realistically I don't know why you'd want to do music at a Uni. It's like art - something which is doable outside of any institution. Of course, you'll learn theory etc but for £10k it seems pricey and may be laughed out of any 'serious' job. However, as someone said - you'll gain contacts which in this day and age is a big plus. For me university has been more than an academic education however - I have 'changed' as a person slightly and have a different out look. Of course, don't go 'for the experience', but it is new and different.

If I where you I'd think about doing something else with music, at least one year of something random like history to entertain you!

It's fun and you learn shit,

that's why I'm doing my degree.

I'm doing a degree in music tech and I'd say it's worth the money as though the course isn't AMAZING, the uni lifestyle gives you so much free time to make music, chill, meet people and have lots of fun before you have to start working full time. Also depending where you are from, It's definitely worth moving away from home if you go to uni or not cos it gives you that extra motivation of doing something with your life and of coarse independence, that's just my opinion though

Surely there would be a good few jobs out there for someone with a music tech degree? I have looked into it and there a lot of different fields of work you could go into with one, there's more to it than just being sound engineer.

I was meant to be going to uni in a few months to study music tech but fucked up my a level year. So college now and then unbelievably high fee's after.

wolf89 wrote:It's fun and you learn shit

What did you ninjas study at tech/university/whatever higher learning institution you attended? Curiousity question.

Just do what you want to do everyones experiences are different

there are benefits to both sides but ultimately you wont gain any of those benefits you dont earn by working towards a goal

think about what you want to do, if you know pursue it...

Shum wrote:

wolf89 wrote:It's fun and you learn shit

What did you ninjas study at tech/university/whatever higher learning institution you attended? Curiousity question.

what wolf said x1000, getting a degree has been teaching me invaluable life lessons as well as academic lessons... classic saying- "dont let classes get in the way of your education".

and shum- environmental analysis and policy + international relations... kinda broad...

edit: i guess the life lessons could easily be learnt out of uni but its a nice/safe/fun environment to do so.

Hopefully gonna be doing geography this year, really hope I get in coz fuck paying 9k fees. Luckily i'm gonna get the max amount of maintenance grant / loan because my parents are losers

If you want to go to uni then do so, im sure you'll have a good time and learn something. It is true what people are saying though, a lot of jobs go off experience gained rather than just degree's nowadays.

Know one can tell you if it's a good idea or not, you only really find out if it was worth it when it's over, that's the gamble, pretty much the same with anything that involves making an investment.

It's also something people are really bias about. People at uni will usually big it up. Some people who don't go are really bitter about it for no reason. I've got friends who seem to be under the impression that because they work 9-5 instead of going to uni their life is more "real" than mine, even though I have two jobs, and study, and pay rent, tax, bills etc.

go to uni. Delay getting ajob for as long as possible. Uni is a brilliant experience of learning and partying. Just make sure you are interested in your course and then it is worth it. With the fees that you will have it will hardly be noticiable when you are paying it back. And will be well worth it. We are going to have to work till we are 70+ so put it off now while you have the chance to do something that will still better your life and will be enjoyable.
(if applying 2012 then maybe this isn't the advice to take)