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Going to Uni vs Not going to Uni
I am seriously starting to question whether or not I would like to go to University. Sure, I would have a great time, but is it really worth it?
There have been quite a few people in my year at school (which usually has the overwhelming majority going to university) who are turning away from uni in favour of employment.
I know there are stats that say that a degree is worth 40% more over a lifetime or something, but how true is this? (Surely it could just be that clever people go to university, and also do well in their careers because they are clever, not because they went to university).
Advantages of uni:
Enjoyment (for most people)
Degree (of differing values)
Self discovery (dubious)
Advantages of Employement/Not going to uni:
No debt
Three years headstart in career (+ earnings)
Save three years of life (less binging, takeaways - health benifits?)
What does everyone think?
There have been quite a few people in my year at school (which usually has the overwhelming majority going to university) who are turning away from uni in favour of employment.
I know there are stats that say that a degree is worth 40% more over a lifetime or something, but how true is this? (Surely it could just be that clever people go to university, and also do well in their careers because they are clever, not because they went to university).
Advantages of uni:
Enjoyment (for most people)
Degree (of differing values)
Self discovery (dubious)
Advantages of Employement/Not going to uni:
No debt
Three years headstart in career (+ earnings)
Save three years of life (less binging, takeaways - health benifits?)
What does everyone think?
Scroll to see replies
Do which ever you feel is right for you.
If you want to persue a career in which you don't need to go to university then there is no need to go.
If you are unsure what career you want to do then ask yourself what you love doing. If that turns out to be something that can be done at university then go for it. But if you love being a mechanic then there i no point wasting 3/4 years at uni.
Don't be dictated by a society which makes that only faliures don't go to university
If you want to persue a career in which you don't need to go to university then there is no need to go.
If you are unsure what career you want to do then ask yourself what you love doing. If that turns out to be something that can be done at university then go for it. But if you love being a mechanic then there i no point wasting 3/4 years at uni.
Don't be dictated by a society which makes that only faliures don't go to university
It's your decision. You don't have to go just because most other people are. If you'd rather get a job, then do so.
I would say that it is definitely worth going to university as you will have improved job prospects, and in most cases you will get a job which is higher paid etc. when you have a degree etc. Some employers do not even look at CVs now if they do not have a uni degree. However, there are obviously exceptions to this.
I just did a search on this & thought this article might help you:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/3653663.stm
Decisions like this shouldn't be taken lightly so you should definitely do lots of research on this before writing off university completely but make sure that whatever you do is what you want to do
I just did a search on this & thought this article might help you:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/3653663.stm
Decisions like this shouldn't be taken lightly so you should definitely do lots of research on this before writing off university completely but make sure that whatever you do is what you want to do
yeah don't go just because most people do. ultimately it comes down to whether there is employment out there that you are interested in persuing that you can get into. equally it would work the other way around if what you want requires a degree (i.e. medicine for me).
tbh i think most people are not sure they are ready to decide the direction their life is going to go in so they put off the decision by going to uni for three years.
on the other hand, so many people are goiing to uni these days that it may be hard to get decent employment in later life without a degree of some sort.
i know someone who is more than intelligent enough to go to uni, but instead is an apprentice on the Underground and he has far more earning potential than most people would even after they have a degree.
tbh i think most people are not sure they are ready to decide the direction their life is going to go in so they put off the decision by going to uni for three years.
on the other hand, so many people are goiing to uni these days that it may be hard to get decent employment in later life without a degree of some sort.
i know someone who is more than intelligent enough to go to uni, but instead is an apprentice on the Underground and he has far more earning potential than most people would even after they have a degree.
Going to University is over-rated as an experience. I'd advise anyone who has no idea what career they're interested in, or even what subject, to at least take a year out of education while they consider it. There's nothing wrong with not going to University though and ultimately there's absolutely nothing to stop you from applying for University at a later date if you change your mind.
Tomoli, take a gap year. You don't have to do the round-the-world thing if you don't want to, just do any old job.
There really is no rush. You might be at work and think it's great and want to carry on. Or you might hate it and long to have a bit more freedom and less structure, and embrace uni with open arms next year.
I loved my course at university and, having worked for several years, I would gladly go back tomorrow if I could - I think work, earning, mortgages etc are seriously overrated! But everyone's different. The main thing is, there is absolutely no need in the world to rush into anything.
Don't get hung up on either what everyone else is doing, or some notion that you might get ahead by not going to uni. Do what's right for you.
There really is no rush. You might be at work and think it's great and want to carry on. Or you might hate it and long to have a bit more freedom and less structure, and embrace uni with open arms next year.
I loved my course at university and, having worked for several years, I would gladly go back tomorrow if I could - I think work, earning, mortgages etc are seriously overrated! But everyone's different. The main thing is, there is absolutely no need in the world to rush into anything.
Don't get hung up on either what everyone else is doing, or some notion that you might get ahead by not going to uni. Do what's right for you.
tomoli
I am seriously starting to question whether or not I would like to go to University. Sure, I would have a great time, but is it really worth it?
There have been quite a few people in my year at school (which usually has the overwhelming majority going to university) who are turning away from uni in favour of employment.
I know there are stats that say that a degree is worth 40% more over a lifetime or something, but how true is this? (Surely it could just be that clever people go to university, and also do well in their careers because they are clever, not because they went to university).
Advantages of uni:
Enjoyment (for most people)
Degree (of differing values)
Self discovery (dubious)
Advantages of Employement/Not going to uni:
No debt
Three years headstart in career (+ earnings)
Save three years of life (less binging, takeaways - health benifits?)
What does everyone think?
There have been quite a few people in my year at school (which usually has the overwhelming majority going to university) who are turning away from uni in favour of employment.
I know there are stats that say that a degree is worth 40% more over a lifetime or something, but how true is this? (Surely it could just be that clever people go to university, and also do well in their careers because they are clever, not because they went to university).
Advantages of uni:
Enjoyment (for most people)
Degree (of differing values)
Self discovery (dubious)
Advantages of Employement/Not going to uni:
No debt
Three years headstart in career (+ earnings)
Save three years of life (less binging, takeaways - health benifits?)
What does everyone think?
If you were going to do a degree, what field would it be in? Because honestly, unless you're doing a "useless" degree a 3 year "headstart" means nothing.
I'll be honest, at uni I've spent the last year doing nothing productive at all.
I've enjoyed it and met some cool people, and the break from living away has definately been worth it. I'm prepared to stick out the next two years doing work all for this first year of fun.
My answer is that both are appealing, but personally living away from parents straight away rather than having to save for a while whilst in a job has been worth it.
I've enjoyed it and met some cool people, and the break from living away has definately been worth it. I'm prepared to stick out the next two years doing work all for this first year of fun.
My answer is that both are appealing, but personally living away from parents straight away rather than having to save for a while whilst in a job has been worth it.
How do you "save" three years of life by not going to uni? 
You think you're going to live longer or something if you don't go?
You have at least 45 years to work after uni... Why would you want to add even MORE to that? Live a little - you have the rest of your life to sit in front of a desk forty hours a week.
You think you're going to live longer or something if you don't go?You have at least 45 years to work after uni... Why would you want to add even MORE to that? Live a little - you have the rest of your life to sit in front of a desk forty hours a week.
I do see your point and its a hard decision for me too. Lots of people have advised me to go and not to go uni. Hmm lately I've been thinking maybe I should not go to uni. if I could get a job of a suitable profession I'm chasing. I think uni is too costly but I would like to have the experience of going to uni. Some people just tell me to listen to my heart and do what I really want to do. hmm what do I want to do? I'm still not sure.
la fille danse
How do you "save" three years of life by not going to uni? You think you're going to live longer or something if you don't go?
You have at least 45 years to work after uni... Why would you want to add even MORE to that? Live a little - you have the rest of your life to sit in front of a desk forty hours a week.
You think you're going to live longer or something if you don't go?You have at least 45 years to work after uni... Why would you want to add even MORE to that? Live a little - you have the rest of your life to sit in front of a desk forty hours a week.
well i would have thought that not having large amounts of debt would also allow you to 'live a little'. you know, buy your own home at like 21 instead of 28 or so would have its advantages...
la fille danse
How do you "save" three years of life by not going to uni? You think you're going to live longer or something if you don't go?
You have at least 45 years to work after uni... Why would you want to add even MORE to that? Live a little - you have the rest of your life to sit in front of a desk forty hours a week.
You think you're going to live longer or something if you don't go?You have at least 45 years to work after uni... Why would you want to add even MORE to that? Live a little - you have the rest of your life to sit in front of a desk forty hours a week.
Well it was based on the (probably far too presumtuous) assumption that most students go out drinking a lot and live on unhealthy food. What I meant was that aside from getting a degree, it could be perceived that your years at uni are wasted (and you could argue that you would live longer if you didn't go because you may have a healthier lifestyle
)Also, who said every sits behind desks all day?
You got into Warwick for Management, so I would definitely go to University. All the prestigious companies recruit heavily from that university!
firesuite
What subject do you want to do?
If it's some crap subject like History or English then don't bother because it'll get you nowhere.
If it's some crap subject like History or English then don't bother because it'll get you nowhere.
Which is, of course, why every single one of the English/History graduates I know is now happily employed or in further study, with the majority being employed. Yes, anecdotal evidence only gets you so far on a larger scale; but at least that dispels the idea that such a degree would "get you nowhere".
tomoli: I would honestly take a gap year if I were you. There's no point in going if you're not happy about the idea - and I speak from experience.
Use your time to get plenty of work experience (and I mean real work experience! 
) - it will help you get a much better impression of what's best for you.nexttime
well i would have thought that not having large amounts of debt would also allow you to 'live a little'. you know, buy your own home at like 21 instead of 28 or so would have its advantages...
Yeah cause working for three years at a non-graduate job gets you the same salary as working for seven years at a graduate job...
Maybe you don't understand how student debt works, but it's not exactly likely to affect anyone's ability to buy a home.
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Russell Group universities are actually very good. We should stop dismissing them.
