Should I discourage my kids from going to Uni?

ellay864

Back in the early 80s I wanted to be a vet, realised I wouldnt get the grades but looked at other uni courses in various sciences. My mum then calmly announced that I could forget about that as there was no way they could afford for me to go- we lived in a council house, they both had poorly paid jobs, my father due to the fact he had very poor health (he actually died when I was 18). That feeling of having all choice taken from me never left me. I left school and got a decent job in the pharmaceutical business and went on to do HNC then BSc on a day release basis funded by my employer. That worked great for me but those sort of opportunities don't exist in the same way today - maybe we'll see them come back if students are put off uni.
But I always swore that I'd never tell my kids they couldn't go. DS1 is in his first year at uni, so got in before the fees rise. He has his loan for course and accommodation and fully expects to pay that back himself. He gets an allowance from his dad (we split up when he was 7) but I can't give him much myself, but he knows he has to sort himself out and even though he doesn't have a part-time job he isn't overdrawn - he lives carefully knowing it's his responsibility. He's doing maths and really would have no option other than a degree
DS2 is going to start 6th form college in September and wants to do music technology. We've already talked about the fact that for him there may be other options, maybe a vocational course, or part-time study while working in the industry. He really does want to go to uni but is also taking on board the fact that if he goes, he'll be the one with the debt afterwards.
I'm not intending to cut off any choices for them, they're young adults and ultimately it's their life, their future money and their choice. I'm just doing what I can to make them aware of what options will be available and hope they get it right!

milliebear00001

I would be really disappointed if my kids didn't choose to go to uni. In my day (admittedly many moons ago now) a university education was not simply a means to an end in terms of getting a job. Yes, some degrees are linked to a specific career, but plenty are not. This doesn't make them worthless - what happened to loving one's subject and wanting to pursue it?! A degree (and leaving home to go to university come to that) conveys far more benefits, both socially and in terms of life skills, than simply equipping them to do a particular job.

It should be the place where new adults find their way to deciding what they want to do for the rest of their lives, and broaden their horizons, not narrow them to a single option at barely eighteen.

My degree is in philosophy and politics by the way. I worked in the City and am now a teacher. I couldn't have done either of those jobs without my degree - a good degree is always of value and equips you with skills for life.

JoJoB

ellay - why on earth couldn't you go in the early 80s? Your parents wouldn't have had to pay and it was the era of student grants - you paid no course fees and received a grant for living expenses. I lived in a council house and my parents were poor too - going to uni was a way of getting out of that environment and experiencing something completely different. It was a great coming of age rite that will be denied to so many now.

And if my children decide they would rather do accountancy than Spanish poetry I will consider myself a complete failure as a parent.

purplerose

I would try not to discourage kids who particularly want to go to university but I would certainly look into the funding situation along with them and help them to consider what it will mean to be in that amount of debt/how long it would take to pay back/how much would be deducted from their salaries etc.

In my own experience the type of course you do really doesn't matter so much unless it's a course that leads to a very specific career such as becoming a doctor/nurse/engineer/accountant etc.

I personally done a business degree and at the end of the course it seemed my options amounted to - go for a graduate management scheme, start own business, do a post grad qualification or look for admin type jobs in my local area. The majority of my class ended up in admin jobs that were at the same level of pay/responsibility as someone who had worked for several years since leaving school. So that might present a question of whether it's worth it, however, lots of these companies only employ graduates now as they are so easy to get. When I worked for the civil service as an admin officer, the majority of my colleagues had degree and master level qualifications in all types of subjects from molecular biology to business studies to metal work.

I have a friend who has worked for a large utilities company for about 7 years, he never went to university but he's one of the highest achievers in his team. He is continually overlooked for promotions and instead they are promoting graduates who have only worked there for a few years, even just a few months in some cases.

I would say a degree can open a few more doors for you and I'd say if it's graduate schemes or admin jobs the person wants to go for upon completion then I'd tell them to study whatever subject they are interested in. This is because most graduate management schemes will take any degree with a 2:1 grade or above. For example, a friend of mine did a degree in textiles and is now an HR Manager for a large mobile phone company - the textiles stuff she learned is a brilliant hobby for her. She also met her husband at university. So yes, I'd encourage them to study whatever they wanted because if they are interested in the subject, and possibly even passionate about it then they are more inclined to complete the course.

So no, I wouldn't advise discouraging them but if you were asked for your advice then it might be a good idea to look at the reality of the amount of debt incurred plus taking a realistic look at the jobs it might lead to in the future and whether or not it seems worth it.

Oldernotwiser

pigpen wrote: »

apparently for the police force it is..


.

That's what universities with Criminology degrees will tell you - that doesn't make it true!;)

patchwork_cat

rachbc wrote: »

I will activity encourage my kids to go - I think the fees are wrong and totally suck but I will do everything I possibly can to help out. Currently DS wants to do architecture (7 yrs!!!!) so has not alternative but uni.

And if he decided to do spanish poetry then do be it - there is time enough to do the 9-5 so I wouldn't begrude him 3 years not doing it. I have a philosophy degree which bears no relation to the job I do now but i still think taught me valuable skills.

Isn't Architecture 4 years?

I am encouraging my children to go to Uni - although oldest, all being well, will go up before fees do! However I have always had the opinion that you don't go to do a Mickey Mouse course - my DS is hoping to do Pharmacy and is in the process of deciding which to firm and insure and my DD currently wants to do Medicine ( although that will no doubt change). However if they weren't academic I wouldn't push them.

I really worry about where our next generation of teachers and other public sector graduates ( not including the higher paid ones in this) are going to come from. I believe that nurses get bursaries and I assume these will continue - this country is going to have to help those graduates that go into the public sector.

rachbc

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

That's what universities with Criminology degrees will tell you - that doesn't make it true!;)

Absolutely - there are no specific academic requirements for entry to the police - spending the time getting fit and doing some community work would be just as valuable - a graduate still has to sit the same assessments as anyone else

shell_girl

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?

:T If I could thank you twice for this I would :T

I think far too many people go to University just to put off getting a job for three years, but if you're passionate about a subject and have a real flair for it (no matter how niche) then you should be able to pursue it.

I also disagree with the level of fees being talked about now. The only thing that should go up is the entry criteria for most degrees. This would reduce the amount of graduates who try to enter the labour market with a frankly mediocre degree, and then bleat about how its not fair that they can't get a job...

Any

JoJoB wrote:

And if my children decide they would rather do accountancy than Spanish poetry I will consider myself a complete failure as a parent.

I am not normally touchy but as an accountant I find this post nearly offensive. I love my job, I worked bloody hard for my title (while at f/t job) and for someone to say something sounding so degrading??...

Anyway, back to subject - OP I know what you mean - I would certainly not encourage kids to go and dp Mickey Mouse degree-but I think people who do,do them for the sake of "having a uni". No matter what in. Then the uni won't give them anything, no life experience etc. Just loads of drunken nights.
I would still encourage any other subject (incl psychology and criminology) if that is a subject they are interested in and take it seriously.
Not spanish poetry though (unless taken with another subject). Spanish as such absolutely yes.

patchwork_cat

shell_girl wrote: »

:T The only thing that should go up is the entry criteria for most degrees. This would reduce the amount of graduates who try to enter the labour market with a frankly mediocre degree, and then bleat about how its not fair that they can't get a job...

Crikey, entry requirment go up! You need 2A's and a B to study Pharmacy at Manchester they can't go up anymore, surely! Believe me 25 years ago the entry requirement was nothing like that.