Re: FN-FORUM design/degree check - now something else...but related + anyone know WapTV?

date posted 1st July 2002 15:39

Shaf,

I have a under- and post-graduate degrees which are in a subject unrelated
to my work but have taught me things that I use day-to-day. They gave me a
lot of valuable experiences and I think differently than before I started
either - though whether the experience I would have gained from working for
those five years would have been more or less valuable is something I
couldn't answer. I'm now studying for an Open University degree in something
more related (though not by much) and I take your point about the points
system and the very basic Level 1 courses. On the other hand my first degree
was graded on my final year's work only but that doesn't mean the first two
years were a waste of time. The point, I suppose, is that the later courses
build on the knowledge of the first two years.

You should be able to short-circuit the OU process though: as far as I
understand it you have to have 360 points but that doesn't force you into
doing 120 points of Level 1 - if you want to go for the harder courses
instead I'm sure no-one will stop you! I'm in my fourth year now and I've
only done 30 points at Level 1. I also know that the degree mark is assessed
on the 240 points at level 2 and 3 only as well so if you're interested I'll
try and scan the grading chart in and send it to you.

On a "what's the point anyway" note - I've interviewed 3 people today and
haven't even thought to ask if any of them have a degree.

And another thing: does anyone know any WapTV? I'm likely to need someone
with recent Sky Active experience. E-mail offlist if there's anyone out
there please.

Karl

----- Original Message -----
From: "Shaf Cangil" [EMAIL REMOVED]
To: [EMAIL REMOVED]
Sent: Monday, July 01, 2002 2:44 PM
Subject: Re: FN-FORUM design/degree check - now something else...but related


Interesting for those of us that do not have a degree, and are working
towards one.

Must say however- there are a lot of naff stupid courses that you have to
take to make up your 'points' on a particular level (I am talking the Open
University system I have no idea about others. here they have 3 levels that
you have to get 120 on each to quality for a degree) and some of the juicer
courses like AI which I would love to get into require a min. of 60 points.

So far if I finish my second course I will have a grand total of 10 points
in level 1 and 10 in level 2 so that's 20 all in all.(ok ok ) Considering
level one courses cost money and time and are on things like 'basic algebra'
or 'how to turn on a computer', its a bit annoying.

Thing is when you get kicked out of a job that you worked up to a position
with dedication hard grafting and solid experience, then find to get back in
at exactly the same point, everyone specifies a degree (in plant arranging
if necessary) then it seems you have to try and get one yourself.

Conversely, most of my friends that hold very good jobs in programming
/managerial and networking do not have one, and insist to me that it is not
important, but so far to me it seems that I will never get a look in for
anything otherwise, permanent or not.

Maybe I am being a wet blanket.

Yours confusedly:

Shaf