If you could go to university now, what would you study?

jmayo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118076469#Comment_118076469

Ehh there are pilot training courses rolled in with degree programs in some countries like US and Canada.

BTW aviation is a very fragile industry.

Not every pilot gets to work for BA, Emirates, Aer Lingus back in the day, etc.

The 80k doesn't even guarantee an interview.

I did engineering degree 30 odd years ago.

Never really used it as always worked with computers where every Tom Dick and Mary with a 6 month course can work.

Would go back to do some simple, no major projects, no full afternoons with labs, etc.

And just instead practice being a bullsh**er and end up as a manager somewhere.

Yeah I'm cynical.🙄

Outkast_IRE

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118084454#Comment_118084454

You mean the USA where you pays 10s of thousands of dollars per year of education ? No free ride to college or university over there you will be paying for every hour of training. Not sure on the Canadian system but there are courses globally that include pilot training but in general you pay for all your flight hours, its not covered by the government,

DublinWriter

I've BSc and two MSc degrees, all IT related. Probably wish I had studied law in hindsight as only about 25% of the content of my third-level qualifications is relevant today.

The Floyd p

Studied Finance but hated it, left and worked for a few years. I knew I'd regret not going back so I'm 2 years into studying Law. Much more rewarding and suited to my abilities.

jmayo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118084765#Comment_118084765

You pay for your flight hours everywhere.

The old days of people joining airlines with no training at all and getting trained has almost disappeared AFAIK.

Oh and even if you join the military, even a proper one like US or UK where you get trained and chance to fly some real heavy duty sh**, you still need to get some civil training out of your own pocket before you are considered for most civil jobs.

Potential-Monke

I'm waiting for that lotto win so I can go back. Can't afford it right now, and not the attendance, but who will pay my bills? I'm 38 so not a hope of full time education and part time work. Nope, my time off is my time off, too many people overwork themselves, I'm not one.

But, if I did manage to get back, I'd do Video Game Design. It's something that is basically future proof and my main interest (gaming) in life. Why not. And if I get to a stage where I can afford it, ie: I won the lotto, I won't be too disappointed if it doesn't live up to my standards, because I'll have enough money to not care.

Oranage2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118087685#Comment_118087685

Could start by learning a coding language in your free time then try a part time course. Wouldn't be easy but if you've the passion for it there's no reason you couldn't succeed

Potential-Monke

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118088312#Comment_118088312

Yeah, I've thought about that. But again, I work full time and my off time is my off time, not more work time. I decided that years ago, and i'm better for it tbh. I've tried a lot of things, failed at most, and including other life failures I'm pretty sick of failing. So if one doesn't try, one cannot fail. Maybe I'll change some day, but for the foreseeable I doubt it. If you include 8 hours work, and 8 hours sleep, then you've to spend some of your 8 hours rest/rec doing more "work". And those 8 hours rest/rec have a fair chunk taken up with house chores/work. And I don't even have kids or a partner! Nah. If the working week is reduced to 32 hours for full time, I would use those other 8 hours then for that kinda craic. But no, my rest time is my rest time.

Edit: I forgot, I signed up for a 12 week/1 day/3 hour course at a local VR place. The owner lectures in game design and started his own intro course. 3 weeks in and Covid hit so was put off for the last couple years. Starting up again next week so I'll do that. Because I paid for it. I'm hoping it's the kick I need to do more. With a hopeful eventual output of a self developed game that makes enough for me to go full time at a sequel/second. Dream that I make the next Minecraft and sell it for a few billion to MS. So I do have some aspirations, albeit most likely unrealistic. If I fail at this, I'll probably give up trying for a good while.

Oranage2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118088314#Comment_118088314

There's no shame in taking care of your health/mental health by prioritizing your self time at the moment.

Have you ever read or listened to motivational books? Sounds like nonsense but they really changed my life. There's a lot of nonsense in them but lots of good stuff too. I used to listen to audio books while walking or going to work, the best two I found were "You Are a Badass" by Jen Sincero and "The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck" by Mark Manson.

They probably don't work for everyone but it helped a lot with my anxiety

Mister Vain

Graphic Design. It's about the only thing I could do as I'm shíte at maths.

beveragelady

Zoology, particularly animal behaviour. I find it very easy to remember things about animals and I find even the most ordinary ones endlessly interesting. I would love to be the world's leading expert in crow behaviour or fox territorialism or something. The idea of hours spent crouched in some undergrowth with a clipboard really appeals to me.

More than likely my research would be derided because I would anthropomorphise their little faces and because I have no stomach for the 'red in tooth and claw' aspect of nature. My house would quickly fill up with wild animals 'rescued' from the wild.

I wouldn't go to University I don't think but I could still see myself moving to a particular country for a number of years to learn a specific language and experience a different outlook on life.

Universities don't hold a monopoly on further education.

rainagain

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118076422#Comment_118076422

maybe a part time course at some stage? like https://www.bimm.ie/courses/foundation-diploma-music-audio-production/

I'd love to do English and history, without the exams and memorising dates. I've done some evening courses in TCD, Russian and Polish languages - not a hope of actually talking to someone in either language, but took in enough to make travel easier. Having good teachers made a huge difference. too.

I went to college after school, then started working at something completely unrelated. I can retire from my job in 8 years, currently studying law, might do a masters in something related, before I retire.

If I was doing it all again, I would probably go into something animal/agricultural related.

nj27

I’d like to take a course in exercise physiology I think. I’ve been training for marathons and triathlons for a while and I have found it pretty interesting to read into various training methods and the science behind them. I had a vo2 max test a few years ago and I was talking to the doctor for a while, he started out as an gp and went back to college to get into exercise physiology after he started running, now he’s full time in sports science and loving it.

To be honest I regret this year not doing a history and geography course that I applied for instead I decided to continue my job in hospitality, but I suppose at least one good thing is I have money to pursue other interests such as motorbikes and upgrading my PC.

@storker

Environmental Science or Agriculture

@storker My friends Father went back and did a Classics degree on retirement just for the enjoyment. He went straight from school into the family business. He does live near a university and he loved it.

Goldengirl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118088461#Comment_118088461

But good at Art!

I am close to retirement hopefully. Have a load of nursing certificates diplomas and MScs all work related, having gone into my choice of career thinking it would be easier than going to college after school.

Now I just want to something for me, probably useless but not if I like it. This may be my only chance if I can afford it.

Would like to study either History or Art, can't decide which.

Deja Boo

Structural Engineering.

New Home

Art.

Nigel Fairservice

I have a degree in politics and a masters in international politics. My interest in politics has waned quite a bit over the years. I'd would probably study English and History if I had my time over again, my second choice at the time.

ofcork

I would do something to get into the pharma industry work around guys everyday,pay and perks are off the scale.

Black Swan

Upon continued reflection, majoring in AI programming (emphasis within computer science) would have been my back to the future choice.

grassmoon

I remember when everyone in secondary school wanted to study medicine for some reason.

Markus Antonius

University is a waste of time. Better to go to a technical college (if there even is such a thing after Joan Burtons tyrade) or alternatively learn a trade

vriesmays

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118127831#Comment_118127831

Did you get a job in that area.

GlobalSun

I'd say Business. I've always enjoyed corporate law/corporate finance law related modules and did really well without studying much. However, I particularly disliked all other areas of law (tort, EU law, equity, property, human rights etc..) - utter torture. They were all too "theoretical" and boring for me. I remember when I did this two week placement at some law firm and worked on two different assignments: one was some legal research/jurisprudence assignment and the other was a numerical Excel spreadsheet I had to figure out. I did really well on the numerical assignment and struggled with the legal research one (hated it). That's when I realized law was not for me because it lacked the "numerical" component. I'm not a maths genius by any means, but law is too theoretical for me. Hence, Business would have been a better fit because it encompasses various areas. I wouldn't have ended up in Ireland if I hadn't studied law though, so I'm grateful for that. I now work in financial services.

Nigel Fairservice

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118131116#Comment_118131116

Civil service, along with a few others from my class. There was a large public administration component to our degree. People I studied with mainly went into business/finance. A handful went into teaching and law.

AckwelFoley

Law

Investigative reports

French language and live in France afterwards.

Honestly I wouldn't go back to university or anything like that. Nothing stopping you from learning what you want to these days unless youre looking for recognition for it or you need a qualification to do what it exactly it is you want....

I might learn a language or maybe start brushing up on my history

Dramatik

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118088461#Comment_118088461

Couldn't pay me enough to go back and do graphic design in college again. That $hit is tough going, we were actually told at the start of every term that if we had a part time job to quit it because of how demanding the course is and they weren't wrong.

Mister Vain

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118136903#Comment_118136903

I did it online this year after been laid off work last Christmas. The online courses only really teach you how to use the software though. I'm learning the rest from books and youtube. Do you still do graphic design or are you doing something else now?

knipex

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118074747#Comment_118074747

Why not ? Look at springboard + Fully funded.

McGinniesta

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118074747#Comment_118074747

Why not?

Sunny_Arms

culinary. i like to see people's reactions when they eat my food. even if it's terrible. i also like to learn baking. my grandmother liked to bake and made banana bread and bread pudding when she had the chance. but now that she's gone, i don't remember her recipes anymore. maybe if i was more attentive to cooking then maybe i can recreate her recipes.

cj maxx

Women

cj maxx

Following, that Astrometry

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118074499#Comment_118074499

Got accepted into a software engineering diploma today. And it came about because of this post letting me know it was even possible. The very first reply in the thread. Cheers :)

put_the_kettle_on

I'd love to do the full degree course in jewellery and design including learning how to be a goldsmith.

I've had an abiding interest in gemstones and diamonds for decades. I'm an absolute stone nerd, they all fascinate me on a molecular level upwards. I do use the knowledge I've accrued to deal occasionally in jewellery but that's mostly to make sure my friends get the absolute maximum bang for their buck. And I do enjoy that but to be able to design and create pieces myself either hand made or cast would be amazing.

Mad_maxx

Law

Sugar_Rush

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058214808/if-you-could-go-to-university-now-what-would-you-study

Similar circumstance.

Been all consumed by human physiology.

I've written papers I can't even get reviewed cause I have no academic standing in health science (aside from a certificate in manual PT), and no one's going to take seriously the charlatan'eqse claims on biological-morphology from a decade old engineering post-grad.

AckwelFoley

Archeology. So I could become as proficient at digging up the past as my wife is

Ekerot

When I was younger I was obsessed with Ancient Egypt. I hated school but it was one of those things that they talked about in History class for a week and I never lost interest. I read everything I could find about it at the library, bought Ancient Egypt Books at the school fair, watched The Mummy thousands of times and even went to go see the Tutakhanum exhibit in Dublin a few years back.

So I suppose it would probably be an Egyptology course. I'm 22 now and only recently started working on an IT Springboard+ course after working odd jobs and collecting welfare since Secondary School, but only recently did I ponder back to what I wanted to be as a kid that I'm seriously considering given it a shot.

I have to say though the Career Prospects for Egyptology (almost any arts degree really) are dire - either spend 10 years trying to have a small chance of becoming a lecturer or a museum curator, or end up working in something unrelated like Law or Librarianship. If I were 17 again with the points (and the money!) I would never have realized that going into College.

Fiyatoe

Nice to see not everyone on the thread is beating the “software development/ computer science” drum. While it can be highly lucrative, the technical side of it would bore you to tears, coding and programming, takes a certain type of person from what my friends say who’ve tried it.

id do psychology and become a psychotherapist / counsellor , helping people talk out their problems, addictions and trauma.

actually looked at doing it over 4 years but it takes a lot of time , you have to have supervised trainee therapy and do your own hours of therapy at the end.

not sure if it’s as lucrative as it seems, most therapists charge anywhere from €50-80 private and probably more in some cases.

if they don’t have to rent a room out are they pocketing the full fee per hour?

storker

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118989930#Comment_118989930

Funny you should say that. While my university choice would be Classical History, I work in IT (systems administration) but during the pandemic I learned some HTML, CSS and Python, because I like those thigs too. 😀

Whatdoesitmatter

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118989374#Comment_118989374

@Sugar_Rush Been all consumed by trolling more like

SuperBowserWorld

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118989930#Comment_118989930

Design and programming is fun.

But there is a ton of other crap in software development that would drive you crazy.

Not least the whole drive to make everyone a battery hen fungible resource. It's called "agile" development and it's a pointy haired business guy's wet dream.

sam t smith

I might go back to lecture. Depends on the remuneration on offer.

Andrewf20

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118074786#Comment_118074786

I dunno. I did a semester of it while doing Engineering back in the day. Its tricky enough, way harder than I anticipated.

Just on the topic at hand...

I enjoyed the engineering, would probably do again although my final year was exhausting with the stress towards the end.

Would be interested in studying Psychology now also.