[ubuntu-uk] Advice for the future

[Alan Pope]

Hi Matthew,

On Wed, 2007-10-17 at 09:30 +0100, Matthew Larsen wrote:
> Yes. There absolutely is. It is well worth spending those few years to
> get the A levels to go to a good university.

Is it _really_ ?

I never went to uni, at all, neither red brick or otherwise. I don't
seem to be doing to badly as a result. I'm sure there are skills and
assets I'm missing by not having been to uni, but it's not held me back
(that I'm aware of).

What I'm getting at is that each person is an individual, and as such
different paths are appropriate for different people. Some go to
red-brick unis, then get great jobs and have a successful (however you
measure it) life. Some don't go to Uni at all and are equally (or more)
successful. 

> I am currently on a placement year and have met other CS students at
> other universities. The level some of these students are at really
> appalls me.

This happens in every walk of life and I would not put it singularly
down to the Uni they attended. Some don't have the aptitude to get on,
others have personal issues in their life which make learning difficult.
Maybe they have different priorities.

I've worked in large blue-chip FSTE100 companies with complete fools
with good degrees who but couldn't perform simple problem diagnosis.

> These people will never be taken
> seriously, i'd say 90% of them are doing 'bid' work (photocopying,
> printing CD labels etc)
> 

So as someone who has never been to Uni, let alone going to a crap one
does that mean I should not be taken seriously?

I understand what you're saying, but it's a bit harsh. 

>  Example: Would you rather take someone
> with a degree in mathematics from Cambridge University or from Essex
> Polytechnic? (no offense to anyone from Essex Polytechnic)
> 

I'd employ the person who showed they had the necessary requirements to
do the job I was interviewing for.

Cheers,
Al.

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