^^ Good points above, especially regarding how Asian parents have this single-minded focus on how the only way for their kids to be successful is to go through university and become a "professional". Not everyone is interested in becoming doctors, lawyers, accountants, etc., nor is everyone capable of doing so. In the end, this single-minded focus from Asian parents is only leading to a over abundance of people trained to perform your typical white collar / clerical type of work and absolutely nothing else. And then when they can only find that $12 - $15/hr type of white collar / clerical job, they consider themselves over-qualified and don't really pay much attention nor interest in properly doing their job.

On your side note, I'd have to disagree that university degree is a prerequisite to landing yourself a computer science type of job. It is certainly one of the easiest ways to do so, and the formal training you get as a result of your CS degree goes hand-in-hand with the work CS professionals do, but I wouldn't say it is the only way. From what I can tell, proven track record is what employers are looking for. If you have the project experience, you can convince them to hire you. Professional certification (and I am not talking about the A+ stuff) will also get you to places.

Yup. I'm headed back to school to do my Heavy Duty Mechanics and C-ticket for welding. As cushy it would be to have a desk job, I just can't do it. I did it at my last job and I hated it. I'd rather get my hands dirty and physically see the work I've accomplished, instead of just spending the day typing into a computer and emailing all my reports at the end of the day.

Dual ticket holders in the interior can make some serious coin, even without having to go up North to the oil fields. Guess no one wants to work in the snow up here. :lol

I agree and disagree. A degree, when combined with personal projects and connections, shows employers you are able to finish something and work with others. It shows you have an basic understanding of the fundamentals of computer science: OO design principles, algorithms, data structures and design patterns. A fresh faced 23 year old just out of SFU isn't exactly going to have project experience. If anything, a degree makes it easier to get your foot in the door and get past employers' screening and interviews, though GPA is less of a concern (unless you're applying for co op or an internship).

Also, I'm lazy af and if I tried to teach myself, I'd go nowhere. Some people need deadlines and professors up their asses to get motivated.

There's a big anti college backlash, which is good, but sometimes it swings too far in the other direction.

You are wearing rose-coloured glasses, my friend.

And, although I do agree and believe that higher learning equips people with critical thinking and helps with exposure to a more "worldly" view, these qualities do not pay to bills.

I would probably leave this off you C.V.

Yeah, maybe I am a wide eyed enthusiast, but it doesn't matter. I'm at peace with the decisions I've made.

I think it is rather dishonest for them to state that they are targeting students from Vietnam, Brazil and Turkey, when we all know that 85% of students will be coming from Mainland China. That must be why the ad is in Chinese. I don't know that many students from those 3 countries that can afford the tuition.

Seriously, I'm rather pissed that UBC is diluting the value of my degree with substandard applicants.

Chants about underage rape are doing a pretty good job of that. I wouldn't worry too much about 30 or 40 more chinese kids.

Substandard? All the requirements to get into UBC Vantage are the exact same as getting into a standard UBC program. The only thing that's different is that instead of wasting a year or two (re)learning English, it incorporates ESL teachings into the existing program. The rest of the program is the exact same as the one taught to native English speakers.

If you want to get angry at UBC for letting in substandard students, bitch to the government about doing away with the standardized grade 12 provincial exams and high schools not allowing students to fail a course, even if they don't do a single piece of work.

This "diluting" theory is bullshit.

It is no different than a transfer student from Douglas/Kwantlen/Capilano, etc.

This is just a way for UBC to capitalize from international students who can't speak English but want their fucking money. Just because you can not speak a language fluently it doesn't mean you are dumb.

This is going to stop all the frustrations of all 100-level professors who have a kids fresh off the plane from China submitting a papers full of syntax errors. Do you fail the kid because he doesn't know the difference between "there" and "their", or does the kid pass because he understands the content?


And fuck all y'all that think your UBC degree is your ticket to life above the rest. For all we know you skimmed by with a 2.0 GPA and barely graduated. Just because your piece of paper says "UBC", it doesn't mean you were gifted with brains. I can name a handful of people who received their degree from UBC and literally have shit for brains.

too bad no one gives a fuck about your degree. anyone with half a brain and a coupla g's can get a degree fairly easily from ubc or wherever.

stem degrees are perhaps a bit more difficult

I'm referring to the fact that Vantage students can't pass the basic language qualification. And Vantage college enrolment sounds like more than 30 or 40 individuals.

They had 18 years to learn English to the level where they'd be able to pass the TOEFL.

Agree with this.

I think that's a joke too. As an employer, I'd hire someone who gets admitted to UBC right off the bat.

Which proves my point that they are diluting the value of a UBC degree.

It shall depend on the course. However, if they don't have a basic command of the language in a paper, their grades should reflect that.

These people likely transferred from a college and I'm guessing have a liberal arts degree.

I believe that UBC only accepts around 30-35% of its applicant pool.

I have one of those from UBC.

So hey everybody! Marco's back! :cool:

Everyone is now wrong. :moderated:

I GRADUATE UBC.
I STILL DO NOT UNDERSTAND ENGLISH