I must say I find it so sad that many of today's job's require a degree to merely get a foot in the door. Long gone are the day's of people starting at the very bottom and working their way up. It's such a shame for those who don't excel academically, but do so in a working environment, and I include myself in that category. Now don't have the chance to follow their dreams, because employers stipulate a degree to be necessary.

I know that myself and many of my older colleagues, wouldn't be where we are now without having had the chance to start at the very bottom. That's of course no longer an optional path. A degree in Marine engineering is a must. But for me we exclude so many viable candidates purely because they didn't excel in an educational environment that may not have suited them in the first place, and it's wrong.

This is going to sound terribly biased but many of our recent recruits from university. Don't wish to get their hands dirty. Don't understand the very basics of the job, because they've never been exposed to it. Yet act as if they know it all. On the job training should be the way to go in in many cases, depending on the job of course. Unfortunately the opposite to that has happened in nearly every case, and we are far worse off for it. Certainly in my sector.

Ha. Ace. So your whole theory is based on the fact that your son is currently studying at Aberystwyth? Well my 3 years at the University of Sheffield painted a very different picture but you probably won't believe it so I won't go down that path.

However, note how The Video Ref mentions that it is very much prevalent in the first year, a key point as to why I agreed with him. In most cases, the first year counts for nothing and the pass mark is ridiculously low. Hence students are out on the lash a hell of a more frequently while being a student than they would be as a "normal" member of society.

I have seen people who come across during the day as extremely sensible and respectable descend into situations that you wouldn't believe at night. I go back to Sheffield occasionally and its a completely different atmosphere during the week when students are out compared to that at the weekend when it is mainly "locals".

I think you are pretty out of touch with the reality of the situation to be honest.

And my 7 years at the University of Bradford painted a completely different picture to yours. Maybe you just keep bad company? Or maybe you're just on a wind up. Again.

Nope. Plus that wasn't the company I kept, however I had eyes that reached beyond my own circle of friends and activities.

Maybe it is different at smaller Universities and places that aren't so geared up for students. Hence very different experiences.

What the hell does it matter if students go out and get drunk on a night? As long as they do the work who cares in this context?

Yup.

Thanks mate, really appreciate you saying that.

Best of luck to everyone starting uni over the next week or two.