Should I discourage my kids from going to Uni?

rachbc

wintersunshine wrote: »

I would think OK to spanish poetry if they were really really really enthusiastic. But honestly what does one do with a degree in a subject like that?

Teach, interpret, translate, diplomatic service, intelligence service...languages are hugely in demand.

I'm a believe in the value of education in and of its self - not what it can be used for - and really really don't want to live in a world where all that matters is what job you get, how much you earn. Where does that leave creativity, ideas, innovation?

shop-to-drop

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

I sincerely hope that your son will be the one weighing up options as it's his career, his future and his money.

Ofcourse he will but not alone!

shop-to-drop

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

I can see you're not big on academic education but to suggest that Psychology and Criminology is a useful degree is just laughable.

I think pigpen was joking about psychology and criminology being useful for primary school teaching. Thanks how I read it anyway.

pigpen

dmg24 wrote: »

She needs to rethink - her first degree will need a good amount of a primary subject in order for her to get a PGCE place.

I know.. I am working on directing her somewhere useful..

pigpen

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

I can see you're not big on academic education but to suggest that Psychology and Criminology is a useful degree is just laughable.

apparently for the police force it is..

wintersunshine wrote: »

I would think OK to spanish poetry if they were really really really enthusiastic. But honestly what does one do with a degree in a subject like that?

They do nothing.. they sign on for a coupe of years, work in a take away for another year and then go so Law so they can be considered for a real job.

wintersunshine

rachbc wrote: »

I'm a believe in the value of education in and of its self - not what it can be used for - and really really don't want to live in a world where all that matters is what job you get, how much you earn. Where does that leave creativity, ideas, innovation?

Well that's all well and good but it doesn't put food on the table or a roof over your head as my Mam used to say

mountainofdebt

If nothing else, perhaps the £9K in course fees will make potential students actually think about the usefulness of their course and hopefully will make students who do get to Uni work that little bit harder and not see it as a 3 year drinking session.

As for whether you should encourage your children to go, tbh I think's should be a case of whether they actually want to go. I can't see the point in forcing someone to go (and to study a subject that they don't want to) just because they will earn more money at the end of the course becuase chances are they won't even finish the course.

wintersunshine

mountainofdebt wrote: »

As for whether you should encourage your children to go, tbh I think's should be a case of whether they actually want to go. I can't see the point in forcing someone to go (and to study a subject that they don't want to) just because they will earn more money at the end of the course becuase chances are they won't even finish the course.

On the other hand what's the point in lying to kids? My friend's son worked hard to get into Oxford to do English Lit, got a good degree and couldn't get a job (he doesn't want to teach). She found him crying in his bedroom and he said he'd worked really hard and all he had to show for it was a pile of debt. Her heart is broken for him.

My niece graduated last year and works as a waitress still as she can't find work. Her sister has a great job as a hairdresser and she doesn't have one single GCSE.

Surely there is no point in letting kids drift through uni thinking it's all gonna turn out fine?

gingin_2

You also dont need to pay back the debt until you are earning over £21k, which I think is fair.

I will be encouraging my children to take a gap year before university ( despite the fact that I will spend the entire year worrying), the most mature and dedicated students I met were those that had taken the time to travel and do voluntary work abroad.

rachbc

wintersunshine wrote: »

On the other hand what's the point in lying to kids? My friend's son worked hard to get into Oxford to do English Lit, got a good degree and couldn't get a job (he doesn't want to teach). She found him crying in his bedroom and he said he'd worked really hard and all he had to show for it was a pile of debt. Her heart is broken for him.

My niece graduated last year and works as a waitress still as she can't find work. Her sister has a great job as a hairdresser and she doesn't have one single GCSE.

Surely there is no point in letting kids drift through uni thinking it's all gonna turn out fine?

And plenty of kids leaving hairdressing courses won't get jobs either...yes doing a degree doesn't guarantee you a job but neither does doing a vocational course, or an apprenticeship...