How to study without matric :)

Jack1446 said:
I just received an email yesterday which informs me that my application for admission for a PGCE (Senior Phase & FET) was unsuccessful...<snip>
Click to expand...

Really, don’t stress about this. It’s all a huge con. If you are interested (motivated) and visit a 2nd hand university bookshop, you will definitely learn more than any degree or diploma.

Short courses are also good (ultra dense). If you routinely work with complicated software (like SAP), courses by the manufacturer are extremely useful.
 
Friends of mine went the AS / A Levels route through Cambridge. Seriously a lot of work and not the easiest option.

I've finished English Reading & Writing, and will be done with Social Studies by tomorrow. Then I just have the last bit of math left as well as Science.

Need to book my tests for end of the month, will update this thread with all the costs and about being successfully accepted into the CA Program at Tuks :p

EDIT: @Packer - Sadly, without the paperwork, studying the material won't help you with employment.

@ice_cubes - I'll be sending in my application for NSFAS in August, any tips for getting approved?
 
Last edited:
Quentin Legend said:
Friends of mine went the AS / A Levels route through Cambridge. Seriously a lot of work and not the easiest option.

I've finished English Reading & Writing, and will be done with Social Studies by tomorrow. Then I just have the last bit of math left as well as Science.

Need to book my tests for end of the month, will update this thread with all the costs and about being successfully accepted into the CA Program at Tuks :p

EDIT: @Packer - Sadly, without the paperwork, studying the material won't help you with employment.

@ice_cubes - I'll be sending in my application for NSFAS in August, any tips for getting approved?
Click to expand...

How does Cambridge work? Had terrible matric planning to rewrite.
 
Quentin Legend said:
...<snip>EDIT: @Packer - Sadly, without the paperwork, studying the material won't help you with employment...<snip>
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, that’s true (most of the time). However, as an ex-boss of 15 degreed people (the crème ala crème of the degree pool as well) I determined how recruit selection took place because I was unhappy about the quality.

Degrees were used by human resources to obtain a short list of potential recruits before I sat-in on interviews. This was of the ‘tick the box’ nature. Many suitable recruits were excluded because they were forced into a highly structured, formal path to make the short list. Many talented people, without degrees (but with a buttload of relevant experience) were excluded.

It was unclear whether the OP wanted the paper or the training (they don’t necessarily go together).
 
Just a head up. For those that want to rewrite their matric on the old (6 subjects) carriculum will have to register by August 2014 to write the May/June 2015 exams.

After this point 7 subjects becomes compulsory and you have to re do grade 10 and 11.

Will take 3 years to get your Senior Certificate.
 
WaxLyrical said:
Just a head up. For those that want to rewrite their matric on the old (6 subjects) carriculum will have to register by August 2014 to write the May/June 2015 exams.

After this point 7 subjects becomes compulsory and you have to re do grade 10 and 11.

Will take 3 years to get your Senior Certificate.
Click to expand...

Are you sure it says old syllabus exams end May/June 2014?
 
Packer said:
I had the same (I also had Applied Mechanics). The infuriating irony is that it is way harder than a commercial Senior Certificate yet it is not recognised.
Click to expand...

Nope I've done it as well and its much easier.
 
TheGuy said:
Nope I've done it as well and its much easier.
Click to expand...

All subjects had a strong maths content (except English & Afrikaans). There was an extra subject to do. Schools let out later (3:00 instead of 2:30).

Maths = maths content
Science = maths content
Technical Drawing = maths content
Applied Mechanics = maths content
Electrical Trade Theory = maths content
 
Only have a little bit of Math left.

Almost time, will send an email today to find out about booking my exams towards the 20th of this month.
 
UPDATE: Scheduled and paid for my exams last night. Booking and payment process is done online via the GED.com website.

Comes to $50 (US) per subject, of which there are 5.

Writing the following on the 18th of June:
LARD - Language Arts, Reading
LAWR - Language Arts, Writing
SOCS - Social Studies

And the following on the 19th of June:
SCIE - Science
MATH - Mathematics

Total length for exams are around 8.5 hours.

Total cost so far:
G.E.D Academy - R1800
Exams - R2670

PS: Looks like only the US is using the new 2014 GED test, International & Canadian test takers still take the 2002 GED exams.

Will update once I've completed my exams.
 
Last edited:
Packer said:
Degrees are a waste of time (I have an inside track on academia and the curriculum development process will make your toes curl – and parents pay for this). If the paperwork is not important, do what I did (I dropped-out of 2 degrees before I devised a better scheme).

...
Click to expand...

LOL

You really believe that. Its obvious you don't understand the intentions and value of a degree.

Last time I got into a long winded debate about this topic the other party ended up studying after he also saw the value in doing so.

He also came with the story of he can also read my university books and I agreed. I also commented that while he is anyway doing the 95% of the work he might as well write the exams.

And in real life graduates have it easier. The insurance and financing industry gives you a better rate as you are deemed low risk. Its hard to emigrate without a degree.

Also as you get older you start to find that not having degree has resulted in fewer opportunities than what graduates got. And you also have to work harder than graduates for the same rewards.

I'm graduating next year when I turn 40 so I have my reasons to disagree with you.


I'm finding the workplace cares less what you studied but more that you did study. So study what excites you because interesting people are more employable.
 
cbrunsdonza said:
LOL

You really believe that. Its obvious you don't understand the intentions and value of a degree.

Last time I got into a long winded debate about this topic the other party ended up studying after he also saw the value in doing so.

He also came with the story of he can also read my university books and I agreed. I also commented that while he is anyway doing the 95% of the work he might as well write the exams.

And in real life graduates have it easier. The insurance and financing industry gives you a better rate as you are deemed low risk. Its hard to emigrate without a degree.

Also as you get older you start to find that not having degree has resulted in fewer opportunities than what graduates got. And you also have to work harder than graduates for the same rewards.

I'm graduating next year when I turn 40 so I have my reasons to disagree with you.


I'm finding the workplace cares less what you studied but more that you did study. So study what excites you because interesting people are more employable.
Click to expand...

I “understand the intentions and value of a degree” too well.

I specifically said (post #164) that the ‘paper trail’ could be important if this concerns you – this is what you are banging on about. If you simply want to know stuff, a degree is irrelevant. Interest and motivation will serve you. Promotion, insurance, etc. require paper (that’s what impresses). The recruiting status quo (usually an HR person who compiles the short list) does not know your discipline and thus uses the tools available (degrees, diplomas, etc.). If you don’t fit into this box – tough. An enlightened discipline expert may not be fooled by a degree, but they are only brought into the recruiting process at the ‘short list’ stage (too late).

You said:
“...finding the workplace cares less what you studied but more that you did study.”

This is true but it serves to indicate to the employer that the potential employee has the self-discipline to finish a degree program (a good thing). There are other ways of doing this (demonstrating self-discipline).
 
cbrunsdonza said:
Degrees are a waste of time (I have an inside track on academia and the curriculum development process will make your toes curl – and parents pay for this). If the paperwork is not important, do what I did (I dropped-out of 2 degrees before I devised a better scheme).
Click to expand...

I have taken the liberty of bolding the relevant section in your own quote.
 
Packer said:
I have taken the liberty of bolding the relevant section in your own quote.
Click to expand...

You stated degrees are a waste of time and then discredit them. You then continue justify your lack of discipline and lack of understanding of what it is all about.

I could sit and argue with you all day and you will find a million excuses. Reality is you are going to wake up one day and realise that without a degree, diploma or any other equivalent education including trade certificates, you have limited opportunities in your life.

Sure, I know many school dropouts that are self made millionaires, but I know more graduates who did not have to work as hard to achieve the same financial rewards.

My uncle lost in everything in the recession as he entered retirement like many thousands of others. He is fortunate to have an education and this allows him the freedom to use it to earn an income and live a semi retired life. My dad is not so lucky and is working long hard hours whenever he can find work, he is 67.

I only started to take studying seriously when I was heading towards my mid 30's. I'm now getting a lot of friends heading towards that age asking me how they too can study. These same friends shared your opinions in the past.
 
cbrunsdonza said:
You stated degrees are a waste of time and then discredit them. You then continue justify your lack of discipline and lack of understanding of what it is all about.

I could sit and argue with you all day and you will find a million excuses. Reality is you are going to wake up one day and realise that without a degree, diploma or any other equivalent education including trade certificates, you have limited opportunities in your life.

Sure, I know many school dropouts that are self made millionaires, but I know more graduates who did not have to work as hard to achieve the same financial rewards.

My uncle lost in everything in the recession as he entered retirement like many thousands of others. He is fortunate to have an education and this allows him the freedom to use it to earn an income and live a semi retired life. My dad is not so lucky and is working long hard hours whenever he can find work, he is 67.

I only started to take studying seriously when I was heading towards my mid 30's. I'm now getting a lot of friends heading towards that age asking me how they too can study. These same friends shared your opinions in the past.
Click to expand...

Yeah, right. Whatevah.
 
WaxLyrical said:
Just a head up. For those that want to rewrite their matric on the old (6 subjects) carriculum will have to register by August 2014 to write the May/June 2015 exams.

After this point 7 subjects becomes compulsory and you have to re do grade 10 and 11.

Will take 3 years to get your Senior Certificate.
Click to expand...

This is incorrect. You will no longer be able to write the old senior certificate through the department of education but other assessment bodies will still offer it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X