Experience is most important... (Old vs New Universities...)

Member Name: gissing

Product:	Old vs New Universities...
Date:	27/10/00 (60 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Dont knock the newer universities - they offer something new and employer focused

Disadvantages: the redbricks might well not be your cup of tea..

Experience - that is, not just work experience, but the overall experience of being at a certain university is probably the most important when it comes to getting a decent well paid job.

When applying to university, I decided that I wanted to do computing, and had options of Sheffield or Sheffield Hallam university (needed to stay local at the time). Now, Sheffield has a big reputation as a redbrick, and has a decent computing course. However, although I was accepted by both institutions, I decided to go to Sheffield Hallam. I dont regret this at all, I am now in year 4 of my degree, and have already got an excellent 15 months of work experience through my course. This is surely valuable experience and will look great on the CV. Conversely, the course at Sheffield is very maths based, and mainly theoretical. I'd be very concerned going into a job from having no experience.

For me, the old-school university offers me nothing in terms of a career, except perhaps a slightly more illustrious degree which will matter not a jot after a few years in industry.

Certainly something to consider when choosing a university.

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