[Bubbles~]

I am really in 2 minds about whether I want a degree or not or whether I just want one just for the sake of it.

I am debating about studying at the open university , before I do though I am currently getting a better insight into how it all works, learning what tuition fee's are and how they are to be paid back, what credits are and so on.



I am 25 yrs old and starting to feel to old to be wasting time over silly decisions like these, if I want a good career with decent pay , to buy a house, flash car, plenty of holidays and be able to have loads of kids I can support , I feel I'd need a degree of some kind.
Is this true? Is it possible for me to get all of the above without a degree, can I still earn a bomb are are the majority of degree's pointless?


EDIT: This thread is really for people who don't want or have a degree and are doing other things instead, how do they feel about not having a degree and why? what are they planning to do and do they think a degree = success ?

[Kage]

I'm in two minds. I think a degree can give you a direction, but only if you know what you want to do.
Not everyone who has a degree actually manages to get a job with the qualifications but someone with a degree is more likely to be hired than someone who hasn't.

I think as an artist, as myself, a degree is pretty useless, as you can learn and build up portfolios from home. It should be the substance, not the grades that matter.

That said, some jobs need a degree, and you won't get into the higher paid jobs without them if you are aiming towards those kinds.

I have no real clue what I want to do though, and I'm 24 now. I would probably be better off studying though to become an electrician or similar, and at least getting some good money.
I'm not going to be a high paid person that is for sure, even though I would like to be.
I certainly don't see myself getting more than an average salery of around 30k.

I would love to know what I wanted to do though, and go for a degree, as it would give me something to aim for.
I think though, to be learning entirely new things, it's a bit too late for me.

[thunder_chunky]

I'm degree-less because I didn't go to uni. Perhaps I might in the future but at the moment I am degreeless and not particuarly bothered about it.

[Bubbles~]

(Original post by Kage)
I'm in two minds. I think a degree can give you a direction, but only if you know what you want to do.
Not everyone who has a degree actually manages to get a job with the qualifications but someone with a degree is more likely to be hired than someone who hasn't.

I think as an artist, as myself, a degree is pretty useless, as you can learn and build up portfolios from home. It should be the substance, not the grades that matter.

That said, some jobs need a degree, and you won't get into the higher paid jobs without them if you are aiming towards those kinds.

I have no real clue what I want to do though, and I'm 24 now. I would probably be better off studying though to become an electrician or similar, and at least getting some good money.
I'm not going to be a high paid person that is for sure, even though I would like to be.
I certainly don't see myself getting more than an average salery of around 30k.


I would love to know what I wanted to do though, and go for a degree, as it would give me something to aim for.
I think though, to be learning entirely new things, it's a bit too late for me.

I'm in the same position, I don't know what to do either, I'm 25, I have never really ever had a job either and my G.C.S.E. or poorly graded.
I'm thinking of studying at the open University as most courses have no entry requirements, I'm not to sure what degree I'd go for though but the OU is good because you do all studying at home except for the occasional exams.

Where have you worked in the past, > just curious?

(Original post by thunder_chunky)
I'm degree-less because I didn't go to uni. Perhaps I might in the future but at the moment I am degreeless and not particuarly bothered about it.

How old are you? where do you work?

[thunder_chunky]

(Original post by Bubbles~)

How old are you? where do you work?

Twenty-six and I work in IT and admin support in Hertfordshire.

[Bubbles~]

(Original post by thunder_chunky)
Twenty-six and I work in IT and admin support in Hertfordshire.

What is your monthly wage?

[Schleigg]

I'm degree-less and didn't go to University and don't really intend to. I have a well paid career which I love. Not for everyone though!

[Bubbles~]

(Original post by Schleigg)
I'm degree-less and didn't go to University and don't really intend to. I have a well paid career which I love. Not for everyone though!

What is your career ?

[thunder_chunky]

(Original post by Bubbles~)
What is your monthly wage?

I'm afraid that's none of your business. And it's irrelevant.

[Bubbles~]

(Original post by thunder_chunky)
I'm afraid that's none of your business. And it's irrelevant.

I was only asking, I didn't mean to offend you

(Original post by mangoh)
No need to be rude

If you don't want to say just say so...

-rep

Thanks mate

[PinkMobilePhone]

To answer your original question, I don't have a degree. It isn't that I don't want one necessarily, but rather that I can't go back to uni to finish the degree I started. I'm a full time mum right now anyway.

Having a degree is certainly not the be-all and end-all. Look at Richard Branson. My uncle has a very good job earning a considerable amount and he doesn't have a degree at all. My mother left school at 15 and a few years later she managed to get a well paid job in the OECD where she worked for 11 years. My dad was a police detective in Paris for many years, later he owned his own driving school, and now he is a security guard, and he doesn't have a degree. My husband is a computer technician by trade (currently not working due to mobility problems) and he was previously in a decent job doing first line support, and he doesn't even have any A levels. The list goes on and on....

Bottom line - you don't need a degree to get by in life. Maybe if you want to be something like a doctor or a lawyer,, then yes, you do, but there are many other fields out there.

[thunder_chunky]

(Original post by mangoh)
No need to be rude

If you don't want to say just say so...

That wasn't being rude that was me just stating it as it is, hence why I started it with "im afraid," so as to tone done any suggestion of hostility. I could have said "none of your damn business" and then what would you have done?

-rep

Oh shucks, I guess I'll be crying myself to sleep tonight.

(Original post by Bubbles~)
I was only asking, I didn't mean to offend you

You didn't offend me at all. You asked a frank question and I gave you a frank question.

[Schleigg]

(Original post by Bubbles~)
What is your career ?

I'm in the Royal Air Force

[PinkMobilePhone]

(Original post by mangoh)
I think the words you are looking for are 'frank answer'.

Tbh I think you're a bit confused so I'll just leave you to it.

Still stand by my comments.

crikey, petty much? Obviously thunder_chunky just made a typo.

[Bubbles~]

(Original post by thunder_chunky)
That wasn't being rude that was me just stating it as it is, hence why I started it with "im afraid," so as to tone done any suggestion of hostility. I could have said "none of your damn business" and then what would you have done?



Oh shucks, I guess I'll be crying myself to sleep tonight.




You didn't offend me at all. You asked a frank question and I gave you a frank question.

No harm in asking, fair do's

(Original post by Schleigg)
I'm in the Royal Air Force

What is your monthly wage?

[CherryCherryBoomBoom]

I'm 20 and haven't gone to uni because education had been causing me some stress so I've decided to take a break from it for now. I also don't really know what subject to study anyway, as I turned out to be pretty **** at all my A Level subjects that I tried . I don't have a job at the moment though because the recession is a bitch .

I'm not too sure what I'm going to do, but I know I'm into writing and art a bit, and I also have some admin and retail skills, so any interesting job or career I can get into with those skills in mind would be cool for me

I made a similar thread last year if you'd like to look: http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/show....php?t=1508712

[philistine]

I don't have a degree. I matriculated once when I was twenty, though a series of personal issues, finances and other such obstacles forced me to drop out after just a few months.

I'm now twenty-two, and feel a degree is something that I just don't need. Like many, there is always that irritating little voice in the small of my mind, which says 'you need a degree if you want to earn some decent money'. It comes and goes all the time.

I'm on my way to being an author, though I've always considered a career as an editor just in case. For that, of course, I would need a degree.

It's a thinker.

It doesn't need to be said that one can become very successful without a degree. That much is obvious.

[Bubbles~]

(Original post by CherryCherryBoomBoom)
I'm 20 and haven't gone to uni because education had been causing me some stress so I've decided to take a break from it for now. I also don't really know what subject to study anyway, as I turned out to be pretty **** at all my A Level subjects that I tried . I don't have a job at the moment though because the recession is a bitch .

I'm not too sure what I'm going to do, but I know I'm into writing and art a bit, and I also have some admin and retail skills, so any interesting job or career I can get into with those skills in mind would be cool for me

I made a similar thread last year if you'd like to look: http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/show....php?t=1508712

Ha, yes I see, sorry I didn't know you did a similar post, sorry once again.

[alexlduffy]

I don't think you need university for success in life, mainly because we each have our own personal idea of success. I've met people (some of them friends) who look down on those without degrees or those working in places like supermarkets to the point where I've seen a friend make multiple negative comments to someone in a shop because they think that you must lead a terrible life to work in retail. The problem with many people like this is that they don't have a proper grasp on what life's actually like. Some people think that as soon as they get out of uni they'll have people lining up to offer them jobs, when in reality they could be jobless for years.

Meanwhile, I've met a woman who didn't go to university and has spent her life going from job to job, and she's happy with her life. She has a wonderful family, many close friends, has loads of life experience (especially with jobs), and has accomplished a lot in her life. I've met a few people like this who have felt that university isn't for them and they've done pretty well for themselves.

I'm not saying that everyone is like this, because they're not. Some people go to university and get good jobs quickly, or don't go and end up jobless or even homeless. I'm just saying that not going to university and getting a degree is the end of the world. It's a fantastic experience, sure, but you can be just as happy with few holidays, a small house, a decent car, etc. And there's still a chance of getting a good job without a degree, although a degree can help in that case.

[PinkMobilePhone]

(Original post by mangoh)
If you are going to criticise me at least post something on topic.

OP: I think people forget that even if you have a degree, it doesn't guarantee you a place into employment.

oh gee I'm sorry I didn't post anything on topic did I




http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/show...687&highlight=