mccool@csri.toronto.edu (Michael David McCool) (11/14/89)
It always seemed to me that Canadians put too much emphasis on degrees, although job experience seems to count for more, in my own experience. I'm in a Master's program now and will eventually try to get a PhD, but I could be doing EXACTLY the same thing in the field. But if I did, I would eventually close doors. This experience isn't the same for all fields; I'm an engineer, so... [e.g. warning, techie bias] Job experience varies though; so universities are seen as a kind of standard, but a MINIMAL standard for technical training. To what extent do employers consider the other supposed benefits of a univerisity training, e.g. enlarged experience, personal integration? How many employers would consider alternates to this, e.g. volunteer work and/or travel? Not many, I bet (I concede some would). Those that are in the habit of hiring university graduates get out of the habit of evaluating people on their own merit. So people who for some reason or another never get around to getting the piece of paper may find themselves disadvantaged, although they are competent. And taking a set of professional accreditation exams may not be feasible; I doubt most university graduates could pass them, but still be considered competent.