University is absolutely useless, go travel instead.

Stats show stem grads do better in employment prospects and have higher lifetime earnings than non-stem subjects.

I believe everyone is misunderstanding the OP post. If you read the first line of the OP post she mentions it may not be for everybody. In the 5th paragraph she mentions people should travel from 2021 (where hopefully it should be back to normal-ish) to gain perspective of the world and how different systems work, learn about different cultures and find your true propose in life.

I believe the post is aimed at those who unsure about life and their future prospects. Instead of rushing to do a degree and making an un-informed decision, it's best if you take a gap year to figure out what it is you want before making such a commitment.

They're not wrong though. Studying some twaddle like history of art may be interesting but as contribution to the economy/society goes there isn't one

That is definitely a lie. Universities teach critical thinking to undergraduate students. so I'm not sure where you get this 'conform academically' narrative from.

You seem quite bitter, maybe you couldn't get into university to begin with so envy may play a part in exposing your lack of understanding on the matter. Either way, not our problem.

Hmmm in a global pandemic travelling sounds like the best idea. Think ill stick with uni.

not reading that love x

I literally specified that you should wait until things have cooled down.

Sorry but it was too much to read haha, i must have skipped that part.

Well gee, are you gonna pay for my travels? Because the government sure ain't!

Maybe you could make some advice that is actually relevant to more people than those who are economically privileged enough to choose whether to go "travelling" for an indeterminate amount of time instead of either being in full time employment or education - because the latter options are normally the only ones available to people who live in the real world.

They're not wrong though. Studying some twaddle like history of art may be interesting but as contribution to the economy/society goes there isn't one

I'd be wondering if students that are too inexperienced and immature to proceed directly to uni are also too inexperienced and immature to take a gap year...

We still need fruit serfs right?, and those train tracks won't weed themselves.

Seriously? How many politicans make the same mistake over and over again for want of a historical context?

And without art we would all live in Soviet style flats and houses, there would be no cinema and TV would simply be a series of new infomercials.

Nothing like a bit of ignorance to inform a debate.

You're looking at an extreme, there's plenty of non-STEM degrees which are useful. Art History might not be, same with many subjects - and exists mostly for cultural preservation, but to say economics, law, business etc aren't useful because they're jobs you can get without the degree is ridiculous. The academic and practical world of business / econ and law are completely different, and knowing both makes you more valuable to businesses - it increases your range of thinking. You will be a better problem solver with practical AND academic knowledge than you would be if you're just practically smart. Stem or not.

to become a teacher, no matter the age being taught, you HAVE to have a degree so...
and university is not just to give us skills specific to work, but to develop our academic skills, critical thinking etc. Apart from teaching, there are lots of jobs which are not STEM which would not even consider an applicant if they did not have a degree. Travel is great, and I want to do it but a degree is also a part of my life which I want for myself, so I can undertake a degree I am passionate and excited about.

Are you aware most people don't use what they learned on their degrees once they have gotten a job in their field? The majority of these law, business, finance, accounting jobs require you to take professional qualifications, that you could do without doing a degree and be professionally qualified and capable of doing the job.

Degrees are nothing more than entry to a job. Employers advertise for degrees as a way to filter out candidates and it makes the company look good if they have X grads from X Russel group unis working for them. Most of these professional services jobs don't require a degree they are semi-skilled jobs not highly skilled jobs. These professional services jobs you learn on the job how to do your job and follow the company training program where they teach you.

Degrees become irrelevant once you have gotten a job and built experience for yourself, employers care more about experiences than your degree at that point.

No, because you can make mistakes when you're young whilst on a gap year and not have it be detrimental to your future. I don't understand this whole British obsession with going to uni as soon as possible. In Scandinavia, most people go to university in their mid-20s because we spend time volunteering, travelling to Australia, backpacking, getting real work experience or doing other pursuits which is literally making our country wealthier and better. You'd only go to university if you are absolutely sure you need a degree for your specific job and the only way to get it is through uni. You aren't considered wise enough at 18 to make hard decisions regarding your future (brain is fully developed at 25) so you aren't forced to either. University will still be there when the financial crisis is over and when you're done living your best life in your 20s.