University or not?

betrobakes

For the last two years my school has told us that university is they way to go, anyone who doesn't go will fail at life etc. So, even though there weren't any degrees which interested me I applied for Business Studies and got some offers from good universities.

Now that the university decision deadline is coming up I'm really starting to have doubts about my future. I'm sure university would be a great experience but doing a course which doesn't interest me and getting in significant debt in the process doesn't seem like a wise move at all.

Another problem is that because I am a high achiever the school and my parents expect me to go. Quite frankly the thought of more repetitive 'learning,' exams and coursework underwhelms me. Whenever I tell anyone that I don't want to go I'm looked at as if I am mad.

So, will I be limiting myself by not going on to higher education? Does anyone here regret not going to university, or going to university?

Blacksheep1979

You can earn good money even without a degree, a friend of mine is on almost 6 figures after dropping out (he's now 25). But in general if you want to earn more money or enter certain proffesions then yes you have to go to university, although not necessarily straight away. Why don't you go traveling for a year or work? You may find something that interests you. If you end up going to university and not enjoying your course you won't go and will drop out, so its best to do something that you enjoy. Having said that, business can be really interesting (there will be boring bits - there are in every degree).

dizzybint

Hi betrobakes,

I don't think that those are your only two options. Have you thought of maybe postponing Uni for a few years and then going? That way you could work for a few years and get a bit of life experience. I'm sure that whatever the job you get would also get you a bit nostalgic about homework, give you a good work ethic and buy you time to work out what you'd actually want to study.

I think if you outlined a plan and explained your reasons to your parents then they would support you (although you may have to start paying rent, etc if you intend to carry on living at home). Just make sure that it is a discussion and listen to their views too. You will only get the most out of Uni if you actually want to be there. Let us know how it turns out.

Glitterari

Hi,

I would suggest taking at least a year out to consider your options - either work or travel or both!

There is really no point in doing a degree because it's expected of you. Take your time ... it's only worth the debt if you're going to enjoy and stick out what you're doing.

C xx

kr15snw

I agree with the others in saying take a year or two out. Try and get a decent job and see what happens from there. If after a few years you want to go to uni then do! If your happy in your job then stay.

Dont worry about your parents. I was a high acheiver at school and shocked everyone when I dropped out after my GCSE's. But I got a job, which I hated, got another job which was better but still didnt like and eventually it helped me realise what I really wanted to do in life! So I went to my local art college, had a chat and enrolled on a 2 year btec. Now 3 years on I'm studying a degree My parents werent happy at first, but now realise that if I had stayed I would be stuck in a career I hate! But now I love what I'm doing

Years out are good things

Gingernutmeg

There's absolutely no shame in taking one (or more!) years out between university and going when you want to. University is such a huge investment now (in so many ways) that it's only sensible to make sure that you're going because you want to, and you're going to be studying something that you love and are really passionate about. You really do need to be enthusiastic about your course before you start ... hoping that the enthusiasm will grow from nothing is a REALLY bad idea.

I ended up taking seven years out between my A-Levels and my degree and looking back I can honestly say that if I'd have gone to uni straight from school I would have ended up doing the wrong course, and I'd probably be stuck in a job that I hate. Now I'm on course to do what I really want to do. I've done some interesting jobs and some rubbish ones, and there's nothing like a rubbish job for making you really think about where it is you want to be.

Don't worry about your parents. Show them how much uni costs, for a start lol. If you explain that you're only postponing uni, not ruling it out altogether, and you can show them a sensible plan for your time out, then I'm sure that they will be sympathetic towards you.

Milky_Mocha

The choice about going to uni is truly a personal one but the only people I know who went to uni and regretted it are those who either did the wrong course for them or took it too seriously. There's a lot more to uni than studying. Do the right course, by all means but its a great avenue for meeting people from all over the world, picking up some lifetime hobbies, having a whole lot of fun with your parents not around to check your every move and indeed getting some very good jobs generally.

Alternatively if you move straight into a job you love and work hard to impress the employer, they might even sponsor your uni education should you decide to study a degree later on. Some high flying jobs recruit high school leavers and then sponsor them to do a professional qualification, enabling them to earn upwards of 50k by the time they are 23.

Personally I think university gives more than an academic education. It broadens the mind in a way different from other avenues. It gives you an analytical mind which will help you in whatever you decide to go on to do. I would say unless you are more interested in developing a vocational talent with a view to becoming self-employed, find the right course for you and go to university. That is my opinion.

nifferwilko

If you are having serious doubts about whether or not you want to go to university, then don't go just because it's expected of you. You may then realise that your first instinct was right, and end up dropping out only to start all over again at a later stage.
Do have some plan as to what you want to do instead. Parents tend to like plans and are usually more supportive if you can show that you've thought it through. There is no rule that says you have to go to uni at 18/19. You qualify for student loans and the like at any age.
You can spend your whole life doing what is expected of you. But being that a degree is such a huge financial undertaking, you do have to be sure.

Good luck!

Tigger36

I dropped out of 6th Form at 17 and went to College instead. I did a Travel and Tourism course for 2 years and, at the end, my parents 'encouraged' me into Uni even though I didn't want to go. 2 months later I was doing a Degree in International Business Administration, specialising in Italian. A good course but my heart wasn't in it. I left after 6 months and got a good job in a travel company - terrible wages but good experience. I then joined the Civil Service and was' 'fast-tracked' through the grades. A lot of hard work but the training was phenomenal. I'm now a fully an Employment Training Manager on a hefty wage, no longer with the Civil Service but in a job with huge job satisfaction. There are so many ways to get on now. I deal with graduates every day who have student loans and can't get work. You need to consider all of your options. A College course may be a better alternative. Apprenticeships now offer a proper wage not £40 per week and you can train on the job. You could even do an Apprenticeship for a year or two, get some qualifications whilst working, grab the experience and STILL go to Uni if you want to.

kingmonkey

I imagine that this is a difficult situation for you.
It seems that you are capable enough to go to university but unsure in yourself what to do.

You have not mentioned your interests etc. I know a few people who have done Business Studies at university who have gone on to do various things such as advertising, law and computer science. Business studies seems to be one of those degrees where anything is possible afterwards.

Taking a gap year maybe or may not be beneficial to you. Depends really if you are any the wiser the following year.

If you find early on in your degree that you it’s not for you then you can easily drop out, or possibly change degree.

I’m afraid this really is a personal decision. Stats show that graduates do better (in terms of average wage) than non-graduates however this is only the average!

lellie

If you're not sure and you're rushing yourself into a decision STOP. Have a think about what you'd really like to do.. Have a look at the job market also and see if there is anything out there.

One thing you could consider is rejecting your degree choice if you don't think business is for you. Then have a look at what's available in clearing - if you get good grades there can be some fantastic courses at good universities available during clearing -for example if you had 3As you could go to cambridge to do maths with clearing as they still had places! So keep having a look to see what courses you might be interested in - something might pop up.

I personally would suggest you take at least a year out though if you're still not sure - if you wanna go to uni reapply next year - or even a year later.. Getting a job can give you an idea about what you want to do.

I kinda did what you did though - I was expected to go to uni. I actually wanted to go to uni, but didn't know what I wanted to do there. Ended up taking History because at A Level I was good at and enjoyed it. However since being at uni I realised it was the wrong course for me and I should have chosen something more practical.. Computer Science perhaps.

I made the decision during my second year to stay on with my degree despite really not enjoying it. I decided I can still get a good degree at the end of it and I can make the most of the other opportunities that university gives you, such as working on the student paper and getting work experience. The experience of uni has been worth the boredom of my degree - generally anyway. At the end of it I will have a set of good transferable skills and should be able to go onto do whatever takes my fancy really.. I can do a conversion course, or get a graduate job or whatever..