secondary schooling

[return to the red]

Oops, I meant post-secondary schooling

So after reading through the homework thread and posts relating to difficulties in University I started wondering which form of post-secondary education people find most "beneficial"?

Graduating from both SAIT and University I must say that the way they approach things is vastly different. I can honestly say that I found my two years spent at SAIT FAR more beneficial then the three years spent in University.

Difference being I found SAIT to be more hands on and practical rather then the University approach of "here is a text book, learn the concepts and I will test you on it"

Thoughts?

[STeeLy]

Well.. here's what a lot of people out there say: If you want a job, fast, go to sait, if u wanna keep learning and learning, hit the U.

Because SAIT is more hands on and practical, u do more, experience in doing something counts... and more experience, the better chance of a job... Uni doesn't usually give you something like exp.

[MattyK]

Simple. SAIT tells you "step 1, step 2, step 3, that's how it's done." University tells you "Here's the general concepts. Learn how it's done for yourself."

My sister and I took the Uni route, my brother took the NAIT route (hey, we're from Edmonton). I'm building a career as a programmer and she's a Jr. High music teacher. He's taking jobs through the local 488. Personally, I think the career paths of my sister and I will be better in the long run...but right now he's raking in the cash because of the oilsands.

I think there's always going to be computers and there's always going to be kids to educate, but will there always be a booming oilsands market? I'm not sure. However...you never know. There's no absolutes. Best choice is to do what you think you're going to enjoy. Don't want to spend 45 years hating what you do for a living, do you?

[the_only_turek_fan]

Originally Posted by return to the red

Oops, I meant post-secondary schooling

So after reading through the homework thread and posts relating to difficulties in University I started wondering which form of post-secondary education people find most "beneficial"?

Graduating from both SAIT and University I must say that the way they approach things is vastly different. I can honestly say that I found my two years spent at SAIT FAR more beneficial then the three years spent in University.

Difference being I found SAIT to be more hands on and practical rather then the University approach of "here is a text book, learn the concepts and I will test you on it"

Thoughts?

University is the biggest waste of time ever. Especially from an Engineering standpoint. They teach you stupid equations, and theories that you don't need to know in real life. At SAIT they teach you what you have to know. In my experience techs and field guys are the most knowledgable people out there. They are the ones that do the hands on work and figure out how things really work unlike us University dummies who know nothing except how to simulate things in Matlab.

However, having a University degree does help getting promotions and stuff. It has its perks. Still though, I really have a big problem with how Universities teach compared to tech schools.

[Jake]

It depends on what you want to do. UofC has alot of programs SAIT doesn't have and the same is true vice versa.

I disagree with the people who are saying that U of C is not hands on. Some programs may be, but not all. Making true general statements on a university so big is difficult to do.

I have four labs this year and 3 are very hands on. I use fruit flies to show some genetic theories, synthesize and purify various chemicals, and dissect animals. The fourth is an ecology lab, which is a big waste of time.

[Kerplunk]

I have...ummm...mixed thoughts about which is better or more useful. I graduated from SAIT (computer programming) and found that many of the skills taught there were better for immediate integration into the workforce. I am also taking University courses (Athabasca), and while the stuff is interesting there is little to no real work place application for some of the stuff.

My brother went through U of C (also computer programming), and he says he learned more practical skills in the first three months of work than he did at school.

A lot of it probably depends on the programming you’re taking.

[Flames2007FIRE IT UP]

After you graduate, from whatever option you pick, employers are generally going to take the University grad and your opportunities for promotion are also better. This is a very broad statement and their are always exceptions to the rule but it is generally the case and something you should consider.

[jonesy]

Originally Posted by the_only_turek_fan

University is the biggest waste of time ever. Especially from an Engineering standpoint. They teach you stupid equations, and theories that you don't need to know in real life. At SAIT they teach you what you have to know. In my experience techs and field guys are the most knowledgable people out there. They are the ones that do the hands on work and figure out how things really work unlike us University dummies who know nothing except how to simulate things in Matlab.

However, having a University degree does help getting promotions and stuff. It has its perks. Still though, I really have a big problem with how Universities teach compared to tech schools.

What the blue blazes are you talking about? Yes, the guys in the field are better at being in the field. I'll wager they wouldn't have a clue how to design any of the stuff they install or service. That is a big difference. They are totally different jobs. As an engineer, I respect field guys and know that they can work magic with getting the 'black box' to keep running, but I know they couldn't design the 'black box'

[jonesy]

You know, this is a big problem I have seen in the past 15 years or so. If you want to design something, then by and large you need some theory. University gives you this theory. Like it or not, SAIT is based on practical application of existing technology, not creation of new technology.