[ipoop]

(Original post by Astronomical)
So you earn £50000 p.a. on an apprenticeship? Seems legit. What is it you do exactly to make so much for 4 days a week?

Anyhow, I would actually agree with most of what the post I've quoted says. University is worth it if you want some serious academic study, not if you want a 3-year "holiday" so to speak.

I finished the apprenticeship last year. I never said I made £50 a year. 1k + AT does not = 50k a year. Me thinks uni is teaching you a lie in Maths. I'm now an assistant to the accounts department. I do a whole lot of work, most of which they will not teach you at uni. Also I work 4 days a week as I'm also taking a AAT course. This again highlights why I think the alternatives should also be emphasised upon. Like I said, I don't think you should go to uni if for example you want a job in marketing, although the reality is you have to if you want to make some good dosh, you should not, as this profession requires more working experience you would get from actually working rather than listening to Prof [insert name] talking about the marketing mix and whatnot. Then again I am only basing this on my personal experience(s), and what has worked for me. Take what you will from it.

[tpxvs]

In my own opinion, it depends completely on the degree and/or institution. I'd say though, that more than 50% of students going into high education at university are just wasting a lot of their own money as well as the tax payer's and the government's.

[Mr Dangermouse]

(Original post by aurao2003)
Just out of curiosity, what is this 'once in a lifetime' experience?

The whole experience of being a student.

[lex25288]

I think it all comes down to what you actually hope to accomplish from the experience both socially and academically. If your goal is to become a physician or an engineer of some sort, you are NOT going to be able to make your dream come true unless you work hard in university.
If however you are not really that certain about what you want to do with your life, it might be a good idea to take some time and think about it.
I do generally think that, in a world like ours, a degree is essential if that degree can actually make you stand out amongst others when trying to get your dream job.
I do get your point though, 9000 pounds each year is massive!
So I guess my advice to you is: if your future career can actually benefit from this experience then go to university, otherwise don't.
If your dream is to someday become a writer (don't really know, just saying), get to work and start writing 'cause nobody is gonna be able to teach you creativity!
If you wanna be a mathematician, now that's a whole different story!

Good luck with whatever you end up choosing!

[wanderlust.xx]

People often forget precisely where this 'once in a lifetime university experience' leaves you. If you go to university hoping that it will magically make you popular, then the more than likely scenario will be that you'll grow to resent your peers and hate your three years there.

Conversely, if you go in with an open mind and keep the degree and employability at the forefront of your mind, everything else can be a bonus. This is the attitude that one "should" take according to parents and graduates, but I don't know about anyone else but I'd rather strive for happiness in those three years rather than work towards something I hate.

[CherryCherryBoomBoom]

(Original post by xoxAngel_Kxox)
If you're just thinking about the education, then unless you're doing a degree which leads you straight to a job, then chances are it's not worth it. But you have to think about the experience with regards to your development as a person rather than just thinking about getting money from a job. It's the perfect chance to experience living on your own without being completely alone.. there are always other students there to talk to, and you still get to go home in the holidays. It's like a trial run of adult life, but with more alcohol.

So you're saying that uni is more about the personal development and social aspects than the education? Interesting, because many people like to say the complete opposite

[L_Vieru]

(Original post by theking1)
When asked how much tuitions fees would be from September - Vegetta responded with the statistic of being over £9000.

Is the University experience worth it?

My brothers leaving university this year, I'm sure he can be smugly satisfied with paying £16,000 in contrast to our future fees of £32,000.

Eventually I would like to do a degree when I'm 18, hopefully. However I think the higher tier professions job market is quite saturated, so is a degree worth it?

There are times when you attend university virtually for free. This is when the NHS pays for your education for example. In that case it would be worth it, but if you're not looking to be in medicine and want to study something else that requires you to pay out of your own pocket then I wouldn't recommend it. £32,000 is a huge figure and what's worse is that people aren't guaranteed a job straight afterwards so you'll be stuck with that £32,000 for a long time.
One person has been attending university for 5 years studying psychology, 15,000 ££ each year. That's just crazy money.

[Bettypratchit]

(Original post by theking1)
When asked how much tuitions fees would be from September - Vegetta responded with the statistic of being over £9000.

Is the University experience worth it?

My brothers leaving university this year, I'm sure he can be smugly satisfied with paying £16,000 in contrast to our future fees of £32,000.

Eventually I would like to do a degree when I'm 18, hopefully. However I think the higher tier professions job market is quite saturated, so is a degree worth it?

To be honest I think it still is worth is because when you think about it most of the 'professional' jobs people have they have degrees alongside their experience. Not only does a degree help you, but at university on the chosen course it further allows you to generate contacts that may just help you in the future. In today's job market people get a position more likely in my opinion via contacts and people they know over qualifications sometimes.

Also what most people don't seem to realise is that the student loan that you will get from university doesn't really affect you negatively, in my opinion a student loan is not a real loan. Simply because it doesn't affect you getting morgages or your credit rating, you only pay off what you can afford per month- I think I saw some where that if you earned £21,000 - £25,000 per year you would only pay £30 per month- which you can see is hardly anything! Plus the loan gets wiped off after so many years completely so you won't be paying it off all your life. Basically you don't pay back anything until you earn over £21,000 and if you lose your job etc for any reason you don't pay anything back until you can afford to again!

Sorry for going off the point slightly and good luck!!

[xoxAngel_Kxox]

(Original post by CherryCherryBoomBoom)
So you're saying that uni is more about the personal development and social aspects than the education? Interesting, because many people like to say the complete opposite

No I'm not saying it's COMPLETELY about that, of course a large part is the education, I'm just saying that if you don't get a world class job at the end of it you'll still have got a lot out of it.

[poony]

It depends on which course and what university. Don't have the illusion that you can graduate from any uni. and get a good job. Networking is very important during the uni. lif. If you go to a good uni. graduate tends to get employment easier. It might not be politically correct but old boys network still exist.

Of course, other people can make it without going to uni. but I will be frank with myself and ask if I have the same apittude as Sugar & Benson.

I was average at school, went into a not very good uni. Woke up at my fianl year, worked hard, went into a reputable uni. for master, did my professional exam. afterwards. If I didn't go into uni. I don't think I will be where I am now. I wish I had put more effort into my A level.

[08rbut]

(Original post by Giant)
I would say a degree opens up a whole world of new opportunities and job prospects that may have been previously unavailable, and therefore it is worth it in my opinion.

But then again, many of the really successful people you see nowadays didn't bother with University or dropped out (Richard Branson, Alan Sugar, etc.) So a University degree is by no means necessary in order to be successful in life, but it can help.

Hope that helped

Yes, but be realistic, this only happens to very few people, most won't be as successful as Sir Richard Branson or Lord Sugar.

However, I do agree with your previous statement entirely that a degree opens up a whole world of new opportunities and job prospects.

[squeakysquirrel]

(Original post by theking1)
When asked how much tuitions fees would be from September - Vegetta responded with the statistic of being over £9000.

Is the University experience worth it?

My brothers leaving university this year, I'm sure he can be smugly satisfied with paying £16,000 in contrast to our future fees of £32,000.

Eventually I would like to do a degree when I'm 18, hopefully. However I think the higher tier professions job market is quite saturated, so is a degree worth it?

I read somewhere that if you are doing a science your income will be more as a result of a degree and if you do an Arts subject it won't be.

However, I think this would depend on where you go - because an arts degree from say Oxford is a licence to print money.

So if I were you, I would not consider doing a crap subject like criminology at the University of Lower Down the League Table - rather aim high and if you can't get there then don't go.

[Mason4city]

not really... in the current economic state... setting up your own business would be the best option

[poony]

(Original post by Mason4city)
not really... in the current economic state... setting up your own business would be the best option

Are you serious saying starting up your own business is a better option !!!!

[SpicyStrawberry]

It depends on what you want to go to university for and where you're aiming to go afterwards. If you're wanting 3 years of partying or not having to find a proper job, uni is probably for you, as is wishing to study a subject you love in more depth while making new friends and enjoying new experiences. A degree is becoming devalued because of the sheer amount of people leaving uni with degrees nowadays, but that shouldn't put you off, it just means you need to work harder to set yourself apart from the rest.

I would definitely say uni was worth it, you only pay back a relatively small percentage of your earnings over 21k when you graduate anyway, so even if it doesn't get you your dream job you can say that the experience was (hopefully) a positive one.

[Astronomical]

(Original post by ipoop)
I finished the apprenticeship last year. I never said I made £50 a year. 1k + AT does not = 50k a year. Me thinks uni is teaching you a lie in Maths. I'm now an assistant to the accounts department. I do a whole lot of work, most of which they will not teach you at uni. Also I work 4 days a week as I'm also taking a AAT course. This again highlights why I think the alternatives should also be emphasised upon. Like I said, I don't think you should go to uni if for example you want a job in marketing, although the reality is you have to if you want to make some good dosh, you should not, as this profession requires more working experience you would get from actually working rather than listening to Prof [insert name] talking about the marketing mix and whatnot. Then again I am only basing this on my personal experience(s), and what has worked for me. Take what you will from it.

Ah well your phrasing led me to believe you were earning £1k every week, hence the £50k.

[Mason4city]

(Original post by poony)


Are you serious saying starting up your own business is a better option !!!!

say why it isnt?

[poony]

Funding from where at a start ? Where to get funding for an 18 yr old school leaver starting his/her own business ?

[Toneeh]

I think it's worth it.
This is why (For me anyways)
I'll pay just over 8k a year for my course, plus loans for living. All in all, it comes up around 30k debt afterwards.
If I get a 20k a year job, I never need to pay back that money. If I got a 25k a year job, I pay it back around £6 a week until it's done, or as much as I want until it's done. Then it increases up to £14 a week when you get over 25k a year. (If I remember, I'll find the table for it)
So, 20k is about £1,600 a month(Ish) and no debt? Fair enough. Yet if I get over that I pay? I don't think I'll miss a tenner a week when I'm on that money? A degree could help me gain a job like that, and if not, I don't pay anything. Win either way imo.

You also get an experience, meet friends, live alone and basically do something you'll only get one chance to do (Usually)
If you do something like me, something that interests you and you're passionate about, it's worth it.

I looked into it and the feild I want need degrees and those without get stuck on minimun wage in kennels with a diploma. The degree will get me into Zoos (Or a better chance!)

Uni isn't a fool proof plan. You could go, fail and end up in mcdonalds for ever, but atleast you don't have to pay

[combbrah]

If you study

Medicine
Dentistry
Pharmacy/Optometry
Engineering
Law
Economics
Maths/Physics/Chem/Bio

then its worth it

otherwise, no