Degree Education? Worth it??

motorguy

my son is coming 18 this year and is very intelligent, articulate, etc, etc.

He has done very well in his AS level exams and is probably heading for 'possibly' three A's at A level - or maybe ABB or something like that.

Now, the problem is, he wants to go to university. He wants to study Politics as his degree course. He is very interested in the subject but has no real idea what he wants to do as a career.

The issue i have is that i think a course like this could be four years wasted - both in terms of time and in terms of costing a lot of money.

My wife and i have both worked in management positions in call centres and the amount of degree qualified people who have taken jobs there is crazy - yet they're working alongside people with no third level education - or even second level.

I went to university to study Computing as that was the job i wanted to do - and subsequently got.

However i am struggling to get my head around the 'well i'd like to do the course' mentality when its not a means to an end - particularly as a massive amount of the cost will fall to me and i'm going to struggle to afford it.

Anyone offer any advise?

j.e.j.

Unfortunately you are right about the fact that many graduates end up (initially at least) working in call centres.

It sounds like your son wants to go to university to gain a higher level of understanding and to study a subject he is interested in. I guess it's down to you as parents as to whether or not you are willing to fund him to enable him to do that.

somethingcorporate

The eternal debate about university education. Do something that genuinely interests you and end up with no particular direction or do something specific (or broad) but generally more useful in terms of getting a job.

I did the latter in terms of a business management degree that I didn't particularly enjoy but helped me get on in terms of a job afterwards. Looking back I would have rather done something I could have enjoyed and got engrossed in as you only live once!

It really does matter where he does his degree as to the doors that it will open - for instance loads of city lawyers do humanities at Oxbridge. My wife was actually one of only a handful that had done a law degree before becoming a lawyer.

Good luck, as long as your child is happy you should support their decisions as an adult. If politics floats their boat then great - it could lead to something in the civil service such as the fast track grad scheme - very highly regarded!

Crazy_Larry

After some thought, all I can advie is mind your own business and let HIM decide his future.

girleight@

If he can get involved in extra curricular stuff at uni e.g. president of a society, internships then he might be able to get a place on a graduate scheme. You need to be pretty career minded while at uni these days.

Oldernotwiser

pgilc1 wrote: »

However i am struggling to get my head around the 'well i'd like to do the course' mentality when its not a means to an end - particularly as a massive amount of the cost will fall to me and i'm going to struggle to afford it.

Actually, going to university for the love of s subject is probably the best reason there is.

There's no reason that his education should cost you a massive amount either, hasn't your son investigated the student finance package?

Annisele

I think that what you can afford to give him is entirely separate to the course he wants to do. You need to have a conversation with him about funding, but please think carefully before putting any conditions on giving him money.

I was at school with a girl who wanted to do a politics degree. Her parents told her they'd only give her any money if she chose a degree in a science, engineering, law, or a few other subjects they felt were acceptable. The result was that she did politics anyway, now has a very good job, and hasn't spoken to her parents in nearly 15 years.

My first degree ended up pretty useless to me, and I did a graduate conversion course later on. Sure, it would have cost less money to have done the right subject to begin with - but at 18 I had no idea what that was.

Uncertain

I have seen several situations where well meaning parents have forced a child into doing something "sensible" (in the parents opinion) rather than following their dream.

None have ended well.......

Oldernotwiser

Actually, studying Politics at a reputable university is a perfectly sensible choice and shouldn't be compared with something like Media. Most graduates don't use their degree vocationally any way.

OP, why do you say that he'll be studying for 4 years, are you in Scotland?

Uncertain

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Actually, studying Politics at a reputable university is a perfectly sensible choice.......

I agree...

lkmc01

Well I'm a MSc Environmental Management (Business) graduate with 12 different voluntary experience roles under my belt. I left school 10 years ago and have not had a full time job yet. I earn nothing. I spent 3 years at college as I changed courses after the first year, spent 4 years studying for my BSc and a year as a new mother. I have a 6 year old son. I have then spent 18 months studying for my MSc and 6 months unemployed. I have debts at over 20 grand.

I wouldn't let my son go anywhere need University. Its a waste of time and money.