How to approach this

Fire_Fox

mountainofdebt wrote: »

He's doing a science course and it's not a sandwich course (I could understand the benefit of doing that if it was) ...the 3rd year is literally a year in a foreign university which has no bearing at all on the degree he (hopefully) will get.

Shegirl it would have to be Junior that I talked about this and I know he's abit of a traveller at heart, which is what attracted him to the
course in the first place.

I guess that having found out that there is no 'added value' to this extra year (in fact I've been told that the only 'advatage' is that the student comes back fluent in the language they've been taught in - not really applicable as he's going to an english speaking country - and can enjoy the local culture) then I can't see the point in him doing it.

I don't have an issue with him studying abroad per se ....if he wants to go and do a post graduate course abroad I wouldn't mind.

1. Stands out on the CV
2. Eexperience of a different culture (even if English speaking)
3. Makes him more self reliant/ independent/ mature
4. He is a traveller!
5. Talking point in interviews
6. Networking/ make new friends
7. He will have studied/ learned stuff his peers won't have

There are many more, you have a very blinkered view of this. Key and transferable skills are increasingly important in the workplace, especially in a competitive job market or recession.

mountainofdebt wrote: »

Sorry guys I know I'm not explaining myself very well (bit of an emotional week) so can't really explain myself.

I do understand its his decision but I can't help but feel that the extra costs involved (regardless of who finances it) don't justify the experience....I would have totally a different attitude if there was a qualification at the end of it

The other thing (in my mind at least!) against going is that if he did go then he would be coming back to do his 4th year practically on his own - apparently its very rare (I know!) that a student chooses to do this year abroad - and effectively would be studying with the next year's freshers (the final year of both the 3yr and 4th are the same)

If it's all about the money and the piece of paper at the end, why isn't he living at home whilst he studies? Why not working full time and studying part time or day release? Because university is not all about the money or the piece of paper.

So what? He will have to make a whole new circle of friends in his year overseas, and a whole new group of friends if he moves to another part of the country for work after graduation. That is what adults do, that is what professionals do. Students don't all stick to socialising or studying with their own cohort for the entire three years anyway.

floss2

mountainofdebt wrote: »

Sorry guys I know I'm not explaining myself very well (bit of an emotional week) so can't really explain myself.

I do understand its his decision but I can't help but feel that the extra costs involved (regardless of who finances it) don't justify the experience....I would have totally a different attitude if there was a qualification at the end of it

The other thing (in my mind at least!) against going is that if he did go then he would be coming back to do his 4th year practically on his own - apparently its very rare (I know!) that a student chooses to do this year abroad - and effectively would be studying with the next year's freshers (the final year of both the 3yr and 4th are the same)

Uni isn't like school where the individual years don't mix - it is likely that he will know people an academic year ahead AND behind him so why is that an issue?

Is it the cost to you and the need to plan for this year away that is concerning you? I would guess that most student environments whether here or abroad will have a part time job economy driven by the numbers needing to fund their studies.

StaffieTerrier

I've got a science degree and as part of it chose to do a sandwich year. This meant I came back to a different year group. It didn't impact on me in any way, other than gaining a new set of friends. It did however give me an advantage in my job applications.

As someone who works in science, and recruits people into science, I really think in this climate any additional experience is a huge bonus. For a basic technical grade we receive +50 applications from new graduates (who have done 3 year degree courses) through to people with 10 years post-doctoral experience. If your son wants to work in science any opportunities to gain additional experience, in science and in life, will help to make his job applications stand out.

He does need to decide what's best for his future career, and make the most of opportunities presented to him.

Dunroamin

lika_86 wrote: »

Only sadly from the point of view that the emphasis now is on the additional stuff, so as a student I spent a lot of time doing things I wasn't that interested in to appear 'well-rounded' so I could tick off the requisite boxes on application forms - sport (Ski Club - tick), meaningless society (AIESEC - tick), position of responsibility (Union Committee - tick), travel/languages (semester abroad - tick), relevant work experience (tick) etc etc.

And it's becoming that now even to get into university school pupils need to do similar things, it only seeks to widen the gap between those who are able to afford opportunities and those who can't. It's no longer enough to be bright, able and interested, a meaningless list of interests (all quickly dropped) are needed.

None of this is new.

You've always been expected to be fully involved in your school and academic community - what seems to be new is people doing it cynically to gain advantage.

Noctu

I know you are only wanting the best for your son but if you push this point, he may end up resenting you for a long time...

This is a fantastic opportunity and one which will set him apart from all the other bog-standard graduates. I work in research at a top 5 university and none of the applicants with just a 3 year degree and not much else to speak of even get to interview. Harsh but that's the way it is sadly.

findingmyownway

3 year bog standard degree courses are commonplace now I'm afraid. It's rarely enough to get you an interview, never mind a job.

As everyone else has said, something 'extra', such as this year living / studying abroad, has become more and more important over recent years and will continue to be so.

Moving abroad, on your own, takes maturity & courage - something that employers value. As they get more and more applications from the namby-pamby spoon-fed graduates who have never left the safety of the classroom/campus and find the step into the working world very hard, it would definitely count in his favour.

(I have taught in a Uni science dept and now work for a pharma company)

Acc72

Does your son go to a local Uni and still live at home full time ?

JimmyTheWig

mountainofdebt wrote: »

I guess that having found out that there is no 'added value' to this extra year

Ok, so the advantages may be minimal. (Though others on this thread - who appear to know what they are talking about - disagree.) But that's not a reason, per-se, not to do it.
What are the disadvantages? The cost, mainly? Then it depends on who is to be funding this, how much it is, how it is to be paid off, etc. Assuming that your son will be paying for it through a loan then it is up to him. By all means discuss it with him (I agree with an earlier poster that a stressful week isn't the right time to discuss it with him) but it's his choice.

I think if it is you who is paying for this, and you have already committed to paying for it, then you are in a slightly difficult situation.
But having committed to it I don't think you can pull out now, unless money is very tight.
Obviously if you see that there is something better that the money could be used towards (e.g. deposit on a flat in a few years time) then no reason not to give your son the choice.


I chose to do a four year MMath rather than a three year BSc. So far the additional qualification hasn't helped me at all. I graduated in 1998.
With hindsight if I had graduated in 1997 (i.e. done the three year course) then I would have had money to invest during the "dot.com bubble". I "played on paper", at the time, when I would have invested (early enough) and when I would have pulled out (early, as it happens, but better than too late) and would have made a fortune.
But that's hindsight. Doesn't mean a four year course is wrong for others.

valk_scot

Crikey, if it was my son I'd be helping him pack. What a fantastic life experience for him! It will be something for him to look back when he's in the usual 9-5 daily grind + mortgage + responsibilities that most of us end up with, if we're lucky that is. I'd have killed for something like that in my early twnties.

Anyhow, if that's why he applied for this particular course and you supported him at the time you've not really got a leg to stand on. You're only going to drive a wedge between you on this one and goodness knows uni is hard enough without feeling your parents disapprove of what you've chosen to do. Parental support is worth more than just money, it's feeling they're supporting you and encouraging you too.

Mojisola

Fire_Fox wrote: »

1. Stands out on the CV
2. Experience of a different culture (even if English speaking)
3. Makes him more self reliant/ independent/ mature
4. He is a traveller!
5. Talking point in interviews
6. Networking/ make new friends
7. He will have studied/ learned stuff his peers won't have

There are many more, you have a very blinkered view of this. Key and transferable skills are increasingly important in the workplace, especially in a competitive job market or recession.

Got to agree with all these points, especially the networking. It's always been useful to know the right people and widening your connections can be very important when it comes to getting work.

Also, if he's very keen on travelling, wouldn't it be better for him to get away as part of the uni experience, rather than finishing a 3 year degree and then deciding to go back-packing for a year? Job-wise, the former would look much better on job applications.