Should I discourage my kids from going to Uni?

downcdebt

For me, going to Uni was probably the wrong thing looking back tbh. I have a couple of friends who also agree with me, that if they knew then what they know now, they wouldn't have gone. The debt that gets racked up simply isn't worth it - unless that is, you have a very clear idea of why you want to study a certain subject and it has fairly direct relevance to a career at the end of it. I was 30 before I managed to pay off my student loans/ overdraft general debt due to Uni.
Obviously it is different for everyone, but unless you have a burning desire to study a particular subject I would give it a miss. There are other ways to get a degree without spending 3 years full time not earning!!

abby1234519

pigpen wrote: »

I hate the idea of a waste of time course.. spanish poetry.. !!!!!! is that about?? what good could that possibly be to man or beast? and other such rhubarb... they are a complete waste of money.

If someone has a passion for a subject then surely they should be able to study it? Thats like saying we shouldn't spread knowledge around and the like. If we didn't we'd be a pretty stagnant world.

I'm doing English Literature, I plan to do a Phd, you could argue of what use is my module on Bildungsroman to the world. Well. Someone has to study it for it to be passed on.

southoftheriver

I don't know if I would have gone with the new fees now if I wanted to do something non vocational. I'm doing medicine so I knew I had to go to uni but I wouldn't go and so something with no clear career path. That is not a slight on other people, I have always been the sort of person who needed career stabilty (and even medicine is not safe anymore).

My sister wanted to study drama but after talking things through with ther and her taking a gap year she has decided against it and is working for a theatre company getting valuable experience that way instead. I would worry about her taking on so much debt at such a young age when she could follow the same career path without a degree.

wannabeasupersaver

I've thought about this long and hard since I was at uni. Regardless of actual fees I don't think Im going to encourge my son down the uni path unless its needed for his chosen career. Both my husband an I went to uni, but where I needed it for my job (teaching) he didn't. He ended up with a degree he doesn't use and would have been more financially secure if he had started work earlier as he could have worked up through the ranks faster and wouldn't have accrued the debt he did. My actual degree was in Fine Art and used this to do a PGCE after it. Most of my friends that did the art degree with me now have jobs which didnt require a degree at all so it all seemed a bit pointless. There's only 3 of us using it and we're all teachers. I will support his choices but I won't push uni on him at all.

mountainofdebt

In my experience, schools only seemed geared up to sending pupils who stay onto A levels to University; they don't seem to know what to do with anyone expressing a preference not to go to Uni.

If people are not going to be encouring their children to go to University then the Careers Service needs to up its game as well for these very people.

*Robin*

I have followed this thread with interest, being in a similar position with my son. He has been offered a university place to study Fine Arts, on the strength of his diploma course work. He is now preparing for his third exhibition, and has been offered a commission to produce a piece of public art; a sculpture which will be installed at the local hospital.

Sadly I am not in a position to support him through three years at uni, and am desperately worried about the debt he would be taking on as he seems very unclear about a definite career path, post degree. We have spoken about it, but he seems quite flippant:
"Don't worry, I'll be a starving artist - it won't be hard for me to keep my earnings below the limit where the loan has to be repaid!"

I just don't know how to react to this. Obviously I want to support my son, and it would appear he has some talent - I'm very proud of what he's already achieved - but I really am not certain whether I should encourage him to take up his university place. I definitely am not happy about his attitude towards this potential debt.

I suggested a year out, which he'd like to do - he's already very involved with several charities and could easily travel and work with his uncle - but unfortunately the university will not hold over his place.

Having read the comments posted so far, it does seem that my son may be in the group for whom uni might not be the right choice. So far I have kept my misgivings to myself, just trying to encourage him to think more about the direction he wants his life to take (he is certain that he does not want to go into teaching).

Like the OP, I hope for inspiration! :idea:

Oldernotwiser

mountainofdebt wrote: »

If people are not going to be encouring their children to go to University then the Careers Service needs to up its game as well for these very people.

You may not have noticed but the last government demolished the Careers Service, replacing it with the Connexions Service which has quite different aims and priorities. Many of us employed in this area at the time decried the changes but they were pushed through regardless. Now we have a situation where young people are being denied the information, advice and guidance that are vital if they are to make informed choices about their futures.

Oldernotwiser

*Robin* wrote: »

I have followed this thread with interest, being in a similar position with my son. He has been offered a university place to study Fine Arts, on the strength of his diploma course work. He is now preparing for his third exhibition, and has been offered a commission to produce a piece of public art; a sculpture which will be installed at the local hospital.

Sadly I am not in a position to support him through three years at uni, and am desperately worried about the debt he would be taking on as he seems very unclear about a definite career path, post degree. We have spoken about it, but he seems quite flippant:
"Don't worry, I'll be a starving artist - it won't be hard for me to keep my earnings below the limit where the loan has to be repaid!"

I just don't know how to react to this. Obviously I want to support my son, and it would appear he has some talent - I'm very proud of what he's already achieved - but I really am not certain whether I should encourage him to take up his university place. I definitely am not happy about his attitude towards this potential debt.

I suggested a year out, which he'd like to do - he's already very involved with several charities and could easily travel and work with his uncle - but unfortunately the university will not hold over his place.

Having read the comments posted so far, it does seem that my son may be in the group for whom uni might not be the right choice. So far I have kept my misgivings to myself, just trying to encourage him to think more about the direction he wants his life to take (he is certain that he does not want to go into teaching).

Like the OP, I hope for inspiration! :idea:

Actually, although I understand your worries, your son has the right attitude to this. If he is a talented artist he may be able to make a living from his art but it's unlikely that he'll earn over the £15,000 threshold on a regular basis, unless he supports his own work with some teaching and even then he's not likely to need to repay much from his loans.

If he's been offered a place for this September, a gap year would be absolute madness, leaving him with far greater debt because of the increased course fees starting in 2012.

For an artist, he seems to have his head well screwed on; be proud of this.

pinkshoes

Can't find the relevant article at the moment (it was a few years ago), but it listed the subject a graduate studied, and the average extra income they earned over a lifetime compared to someone who left school at 18.

Those studying science, medicine and engineering did well, but those with arts degrees often ended up earning no more than if they'd left school at 18.

With £9k tuition fees, I'd certainly think twice about university if I was 18 again, and instead would look for an apprenticeship, which more companies are starting to offer again.

The whole bursary for poor students thing makes me really angry, as it should be about one's academic potential, not how much your parents have earned!!

pigpen

abby1234519 wrote: »

If someone has a passion for a subject then surely they should be able to study it? Thats like saying we shouldn't spread knowledge around and the like. If we didn't we'd be a pretty stagnant world.

I'm doing English Literature, I plan to do a Phd, you could argue of what use is my module on Bildungsroman to the world. Well. Someone has to study it for it to be passed on.

They can study it.. and then when it is found to have been completely useless and they have racked up huge debts they have to pay again for a second degree so they can actually get a proper job. The guy I know is doing Law as his second degree after the spanish poetry was completely useless.

They definitely shouldn't be whining about having the debts associated with such a waste of time degree that they chose to waste their time doing.

On the whole English Lit is a fairly useful subject I'd have thought. My cousin did maths and physics and works in pharmaceuticals sounds mindbogglingly boring but he has a vey good standard of living from it. My OH however did computer engineering.. he has £20k of debt and has been out of work for 2 years.. he wishes he'd done accountancy they are crying out for them here.