Should I discourage my kids from going to Uni?

monkeychops

Unless they want to be a doctor, solicitor etc I would discourage them. Waste of money and normally you do not end up with a better job than someone who did not go to uni

poet123

monkeychops wrote: »

Unless they want to be a doctor, solicitor etc I would discourage them. Waste of money and normally you do not end up with a better job than someone who did not go to uni

I think that is a sweeping generalisation.

Derivative

patchwork_cat wrote: »

Slightly off topic, but I am very concerned at how many Uni's are coming out with the £9K fees. I feared it, but hoped that it might remain Oxbridge that charged the full £9K.

Oxford for one have unveiled plans to charge lower income students lower fees, dropping to about £5k a year average.

Would you really want the 'best' (arguable) universities to be closed off while polytechnics are available to all? Sounds like going back to the old boys club to me.

On A-level requirements - the reason requirements are so high nowadays is that A-levels have been devalued into irrelevance. When was the last time you heard of someone getting a 100% grade at degree level?

gwhizz75

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

You have misread my point which was that a degree in Criminology and Psychology is pretty pointless, I wasn't talking about a full degree in Psychology.

But you know nothing about the course, if it is BPS approved (as the BSc at Coventry University is) then it's not pointless at all if someone wants a career in psychology. You don't know how much of the course is made up of psychology and how much is made up of criminology. Without knowing the facts, you can't just brand a degree as being pointless.

And as I said before, a degree in Criminology AND Psychology would be very relevant to a career in forensic psychology or social work or in probation services or the police or victim support...

I don't think I have jumped in heavily to attack a position that you haven't taken. I am attacking the position that you are taking. You are belittling people's choices without the knowledge to back it up.

All of this ignores the points that many others on this thread have already made. I don't really believe any degree is pointless if it is what an individual wants to do. All students learn something at university, if not academically speaking then they learn to be independent and they get some valuable life experience. It's their choice if they want to get into debt for that... there is more to life than work and money after all.

brook2jack

I did a highly difficult and vocational degree. Enjoyed it and my job afterwards. My very good friend threw himself out if a window after the first year , nearly killing himself, because he couldn't face the idea of years of doing a degree and career his parents wanted for him but he didn't.
After coming out of hospital he switched course and has had a happy and fulfilled life , just not the life his parents would have chosen for him.

My own children are now coming to an age when they are making choices. They are academically very bright and yes a part of me thinks they would be more fulfilled intellectually and personally following a profession but I am more concerned they make their own well informed choices. All I want is that they are well educated. In today's job Market education is key, but education is a broad definition. An educated person to me is someone driven, articulate, curious , hardworking and always open to learning. There are many paths to education... Not all graduates are educated but few people are educated who do not grasp whatever opportunities and experiences that are open to them.

laurel7172

I have pointed out to my dd, who wants to do a history degree, and has a Saturday job that would probably lead to decent-paying full time employment if she wanted, that living at home and studying with the OU is by far the most sensible option.

But she wants the university experience...and it's her life and her debt...I'm sure I would have made exactly the same decision at her age.

evespikey

mintymoneysaver wrote: »

Anyway, back to the question. I am encouraging her to go to University. She will probably do Religion and Theology as she absolutely loves the subject and seems to have a natural flair for it. She'll have to have at least an A and 2 B's though to do it. I'm not sure what she'll do with it, and it may well end up being useless, but she will have had the benefit of student life, learnt much more and will 'hopefully' earn a slightly higher wage than her contemporaries. And if she doesn't earn any more, but is in a job that she loves, then that will have been worthwhile too.

RE teacher! When I did secondary RE work experience last year most of the teachers had theology degrees. There's also the option, if she's very academic, of going on to a PhD and going into research and lecturing.
Also: being a current graduate student in the philosophy and theology department of a old university, there is a lot of current research being done into theology at the moment, so the interest is definitely there, so chances of a scholarship.

If a child is academically able, motivated, and enjoys their subject I would always encourage them to go to uni. Otherwise it's just a waste of their ability in that subject.
However obviously the financial situation is through the roof at the moment so I would encourage everyone to take a year out before uni (apart from this year! 2011/12! obviously get in before the fees go up if you can) to try to find some work to help them through uni. This year out will also give them some perspective. If they miss studying their subject- which I would have done, immensely- then studying it is obviously for them. If they don't, then it will help them re-evaluate.

also @*Robin* congrats on your son's work! that's a great achievement and you should be very proud I see where you're coming from. Art is a difficult one as they don't teach them a great deal- it's more of having a creative space among other artists that inspire and encourage them, and having a community. Anyone who's been a creative in any way knows the value of having a creative space and a creative community. I think art school is also about establishing contacts- if he goes to London, which is where the major galleries, art sponsers and contacts are, he could end up being successful- think Tracy Emin and Damien Hurst being picked up by Saatchi. Obviously that's very much a hope, but I guess that's what you've got to aim for as an artist.

mintymoneysaver

evespikey wrote: »

RE teacher! When I did secondary RE work experience last year most of the teachers had theology degrees. There's also the option, if she's very academic, of going on to a PhD and going into research and lecturing.
Also: being a current graduate student in the philosophy and theology department of a old university, there is a lot of current research being done into theology at the moment, so the interest is definitely there, so chances of a scholarship.

Thankyou for that. My problem, being a teacher myself, is that I really can't see her as one. She's not a big fan of children! I could, however, see her continuing with her studies and possibly lecturing or researching as you say. Can I ask where you are? ( send me a pm if you want to) She is currently looking at prospectuses and there are so many courses to choose from! Interested in what you were saying about chances of scholarships etc. We discussed money and loans the other day. As far as I can see, she's just going to have to take her £27,000 hit for her tuition fees and hopefully we will be able to help out with rent and living expenses... ( plus, she'll have to find a job!)

mumps

I have always wanted mine to do something but they need to choose what the something is. I left school at 15 but went back to study on day release so I sort of see it from both sides. I have two with degrees, one at uni and one going in September. One is doing a job he needed a degree for, one thinks it was a waste of time and the two youngest need a degree for their career choice. The son who thinks his degree was a waste is very highly paid, he earns three times what I earn and I am a senior manager with a decent wage, he might be more successful because of his studies but who knows? He doesn't think it is related.

A friends son did a degree in surfing, can't remember the exact title, everyone said it was a waste of time. Well he lives on a pacific island, designs surf boards, teaches surfing and has a very successful career and from what I hear a fabulous lifestyle. Sounds good to me for a Mickey Mouse degree.

WolfSong2000

laurel7172 wrote: »

I have pointed out to my dd, who wants to do a history degree, and has a Saturday job that would probably lead to decent-paying full time employment if she wanted, that living at home and studying with the OU is by far the most sensible option.

But she wants the university experience...and it's her life and her debt...I'm sure I would have made exactly the same decision at her age.

Speaking as someone with a history degree, as degrees go it's quite a worthwhile thing to have. Employers really appreciate the analytical and research skills which you're able to hone in this degree, so even if it doesn't have any direct relevence, it's still a good thing to have on your CV. There's also the option of staying on and doing a masters degree, PhD, etc, but for this you need languages (usually french, german and latin as standard). One of my wonderful lecturers told me he'd support me if I decided to stay and do a masters, and to be honest I was hugely, hugely tempted, but am hopeless at languages! Still, my degree has stood me in good stead and I would recommend doing history at Uni (as long as it's a good Uni, with a decent reputation for history!) to anyone with an interest in it. Firstly, you learn so many fascinating things, and secondly you come out with a lot of transferrable skills that employers like .