University degree not worth as much as touted

mitchaa

I left school at 16 and went straight into the workforce so 11 years ago now.

I never went to uni although my school qualifications (4 Scottish highers/A-Levels) were enough to get me in. I wanted to be an accountant, but gave up on that when I was offered a job as a scaffolders labourer:shhh: £160pw earnings tempted me and at 16yrs old back in 1999, it was a good deal of money back then. My parents went ape sh*t but it was my decision.

I stuck with that for a year and then got an apprenticeship as an Aircraft engineer and have never looked back since. It turned out well, I worked hard at it and my claim to fame would be that I was earning £50k at 25 years old. The magical 2x age salary that I had always 1 day hoped to achieve, I had managed.

Not many people earn £50k+ pa, even more so not as a 25yr old anyway so I am fortunate and lucky enough that my choice not to go to uni turned out well for me. I have seen a lot of my old school chums graduate from uni with £20k + worth of debts and not being able to get any degree relevant job afterwards so it is not the be all and end all.

I'll push my son into becoming a pilot if I can. No uni degree needed, just buckets of cash thrown towards flying lessons for his 18th birthday. The only way I will support him through uni is if he wanted to become a doctor.

However saying that when he's a teen, he'll probably tell me to ''Fu*k off dad, I want to be a dole dosser'' so we can only ever advise our brood, they'll do what they want.

DaddyBear

Shock horror. More people going to university so degrees are worth less than previously. The idea of half the population going to university is just rediculous. Most students now go to Uni, accumulate about £20k of debt and emerge with a 'degree' that isn't worth the card it's printed on and can't get a job. Higher education - another NuLabour bubble.
The recent response to Uni budget cuts made my blood boil. One gem was a claim that some students that 'wanted' to go to university now couldn't. That's life I'm afraid. Just because you want something doesn't mean you have a right to it. People in this country needs to realise this.
Government funded higher education needs to be rationed toncourses that will benefit society such as medicine, law, engineering etc.

Jonbvn

DaddyBear wrote: »

More people going to university so degrees are worth less than previously. The idea of half the population going to university is just rediculous.

As much as it pains me, I agree entirely. I went to University nearly 30 years ago, when only 2% of people went.

I couldn't possibly do my job without a degree and many years experience.

The only way I will support him through uni is if he wanted to become a doctor.

mitchaa, can't believe you would only support your kid in Uni for medical studies??? What about all the other professions?

lostinrates

mitchaa wrote: »

I left school at 16 and went straight into the workforce so 11 years ago now.

I never went to uni although my school qualifications (4 Scottish highers/A-Levels) were enough to get me in. I wanted to be an accountant, but gave up on that when I was offered a job as a scaffolders labourer:shhh: £160pw earnings tempted me and at 16yrs old back in 1999, it was a good deal of money back then. My parents went ape sh*t but it was my decision.

I stuck with that for a year and then got an apprenticeship as an Aircraft engineer and have never looked back since. It turned out well, I worked hard at it and my claim to fame would be that I was earning £50k at 25 years old. The magical 2x age salary that I had always 1 day hoped to achieve, I had managed.

Not many people earn £50k+ pa, even more so not as a 25yr old anyway so I am fortunate and lucky enough that my choice not to go to uni turned out well for me. I have seen a lot of my old school chums graduate from uni with £20k + worth of debts and not being able to get any degree relevant job afterwards so it is not the be all and end all.

I'll push my son into becoming a pilot if I can. No uni degree needed, just buckets of cash thrown towards flying lessons for his 18th birthday. The only way I will support him through uni is if he wanted to become a doctor.

However saying that when he's a teen, he'll probably tell me to ''Fu*k off dad, I want to be a dole dosser'' so we can only ever advise our brood, they'll do what they want.

Good for you: you chose the right route for you. at DH's place of employment, following a traditional route of degree, professional quals and no gap year one could be earning well over 90k at 25, (and 40k plus by 23 years old). I'm glad, however, DH didn't take a traditional route. He earned well before the conversion, and we are about to return to a better level of income. It seems despite being a little older than many at the same work level (but by no means all!) he has as much (or more) to show as some of those who went conventional route but weren't wise with it. Also, the benefit of a different life experience, fewer regrets (any regrets?) and more satisfaction by virtue of abilty to compare with the other options...so fewer ''what ifs''. Ultimately, life is less about the pay packet/rewards and more about satisfaction and being in a ''right'' place for the individual....I think.

carolt

mitchaa wrote: »

I left school at 16 and went straight into the workforce so 11 years ago now.

I never went to uni although my school qualifications (4 Scottish highers/A-Levels) were enough to get me in. I wanted to be an accountant, but gave up on that when I was offered a job as a scaffolders labourer:shhh: £160pw earnings tempted me and at 16yrs old back in 1999, it was a good deal of money back then. My parents went ape sh*t but it was my decision.

I stuck with that for a year and then got an apprenticeship as an Aircraft engineer and have never looked back since. It turned out well, I worked hard at it and my claim to fame would be that I was earning £50k at 25 years old. The magical 2x age salary that I had always 1 day hoped to achieve, I had managed.

Not many people earn £50k+ pa, even more so not as a 25yr old anyway so I am fortunate and lucky enough that my choice not to go to uni turned out well for me. I have seen a lot of my old school chums graduate from uni with £20k + worth of debts and not being able to get any degree relevant job afterwards so it is not the be all and end all.

I'll push my son into becoming a pilot if I can. No uni degree needed, just buckets of cash thrown towards flying lessons for his 18th birthday. The only way I will support him through uni is if he wanted to become a doctor.

However saying that when he's a teen, he'll probably tell me to ''Fu*k off dad, I want to be a dole dosser'' so we can only ever advise our brood, they'll do what they want.

Hope it works out for you.

OH's cousin was exactly the same as you, trained in his job, good pay - made redundant last year. Company closed down UK production. Not trained for anything else - what else can he do?

Just bought a house recently, got married, wife won't let him move elsewhere - not a good situation to be in.

Just to point out, university/broader education can be good when your lifeplan doesn't work out quite as smoothly as you hoped.

mitchaa

Jonbvn wrote: »

mitchaa, can't believe you would only support your kid in Uni for medical studies??? What about all the other professions?

Of course there are other professions that stand out but the doctor route is structured and guarantees a high salary.

Accountancy and even a law degree does not. It's a dog eat dog world and they are not all highly paid. Infact, many solicitors/accountants earn ordinary £30-£35k salaries so nothing earth shattering. When I was at school, all the girls wanted to become psychologists and all the guys wanted to become graphic designers. They are 10 a penny now though and there are at least 20 people fighting for every job available in those professions.

Medical is a safe guaranteed route is all that I was getting at.

chucky

this going to university and giving you a broader education is a bit of a red herring...

i've worked with people and know people who are doing jobs completely unrelated to what they studied at university.

i agree that it prepares and gives you a discipline but giving you a broader education is not really that relevant. surely it depends on the individual?.

misskool

mitchaa wrote: »

Of course there are other professions that stand out but the doctor route is structured and guarantees a high salary.

Accountancy and even a law degree does not. It's a dog eat dog world and they are not all highly paid. Infact, many solicitors/accountants earn ordinary £30-£35k salaries so nothing earth shattering. When I was at school, all the girls wanted to become psychologists and all the guys wanted to become graphic designers. They are 10 a penny now though and there are at least 20 people fighting for every job available in those professions.

Medical is a safe guaranteed route is all that I was getting at.

Wow, 30-35k is an ordinary salary?

So many things to say but so little time (especially on this thread). There's the whole idea that people who go to university because they will earn more. However, there are a number (believe it or not), who go to learn and enjoy broadening their minds and stretching it. We get a whole range of them and I can tell within 5 minutes of teaching a class which is which.

Not everything is about the money btw, university lecturers don't earn 35k

[Deleted User]

I left school in '79 with 3 o'levels. I worked for years as an Administrative Officer in the Civil Service. In the mid 90's I decided to do an HNC in Computer Applications so that I could perhaps get a slightly more interesting job. Surprisingly (to me) I did well and discovered a love of programming. I stayed on another year to do an HND in computing. From there I went to Uni for two years and graduated in 1999 with a first class honours degree in computing. I walked into a great job with great money and later went on to start my own business. So it really can change your life.....even if, like me, you think you're not the academic type.

But I think more important than the job and increased income is the fact that it opens up your mind. Even if I hadn't got a better job and income out of it I wouldn't have missed the opportunity for the world. I've gone on to do so many things that I wouldn't have done had I not had that education as a mature student. I would always recommend people to take the opportunity to receive a higher education - not just for work/money reasons.

teddy_ruckspin

Jonbvn wrote: »

A Desmond in Journalism from any old Poly just does not cut it with employers I am afraid.

I agree.

Any blue chip worth it's salt simply looks to the UK's top ten universities and then selects those who have done a 'proper' subject.

I'd also put forward the point that if your not joining a blue chip graduate scheme (with associated salary and career path) then gambling £20k on going to university looks rather misguided these days.