Your thoughts on university

debtfreeby30:S

adindas wrote: »

Again I echo opinion of other people. It completely depends what they want to do.
If you just want to become shop assistant, manager in a supermarket, receptionist, electrician, plumber, mechanics, builders, politicians or working for your relative's/parent's business then degree might not be necessary.

Sorry but this bit caught my eye - my friend is "just" a supermarket manager and earns £49k a year, I know bar and restaurant managers on £40k+ and as far as I know builders, plumbers etc make a very pretty penny! I don't see why these aren't considered as doing well for themselves?!

Going back to the original point - I went to university because school said I should, I wish I'd taken a bit of time out to decide what I wanted to do. Unless there's a specific degree needed for a specific job then you could encourage your kids to pick a subject they really enjoy so they stay motivated and come out with good results. Gives them chance to enjoy the "experience" but still get a decent grade at the end of it all! There are lots of other opportunities to consider - apprenticeships etc pay you to train, you get experience along the way and often have a guaranteed job at the end. Wish I'd known all that 10 years ago!!

Valli

@ notanewuser

So you're extrapolating then?

I doubt one could pass GCSE maths if one were innumerate or GCSE English if one were illiterate. And, given you would have to read questions in exams...

An illiterate person cannot read or write. At all. Do you honestly believe that an illiterate person could pass a written exam, or complete coursework, in ANY subject?

CruisingSaver

notanewuser wrote: »

About 10 years managing the recruitment for a major international hotel chain....?

You can easily pass GCSEs and A levels without basic neracy or literacy. Why would a degree be any different?

Errr no you can't easily pass GCSEs and A levels without basic numeracy and literacy. Therefore your assertion about degrees is also totally off kilter!

AlexLK

When I was 18, I had my sights set on an academic career so couldn't wait to go to university. My time there did not disappoint, I stayed on to do a Masters qualification and the reasons I got no further are complicated. These days I run a small business that does not require a degree of any sort, yet I plan to go back to study for a PhD in 2015 just for my own interest. Suppose I'm the sort that wished school could go on forever though never did very well in the "real world".

I expect my son to attend university. However, I would not push the issue if he chose not to (in many years time). So far as your child's future is concerned I do not think attending university is the be all and end all, it all depends on what they have their eyes set on. That said it does not do any harm, so long as they choose to attend a traditional university studying a traditional discipline and not some ex-Poly to study "Media" or "Forensic Science".

cazziebo

Person_one wrote: »

I think it's a real shame that so many people now view university and education in general as just a means to an end..

I do, too. I could only go to university because I got a full grant, travel expenses paid, and worked in bars and restaurants. I got a 100% mortgage on my first flat at the age of 23, not long after I started my first job.

According to Martin a lot of graduates will still be paying off their student debts in their fifties. Degrees are greatly devalued - they are no longer a passport to anything. Graduate jobs no longer get paid at such a premium. Housing is now ridiculously expensive. As I said, it's different now and that's sad. We have tainted education by making it a commodity.

When I look at my friends' children, the smart ones aren't going to university unless they are set on medical or legal careers. The smart ones are working in accountancy firms, setting up their own businesses, or working in the media.

Buzzybee90

theoretica wrote: »

Some of us do love studying more than land rovers...

Odd. I've never found study to be particularly enjoyable, in fact it was down right difficult! The enjoyable bit was the achievement. Maybe my study will help me buy that Land rover one day

AlexLK

Person_one wrote: »

I think it's a real shame that so many people now view university and education in general as just a means to an end. As though all that matters is whether it leads to a 'good' job. Personally, I think education is worthwhile for both the individual and wider society even if it never earns you a penny.

I'll second that.

Bennifred

Valli wrote: »

@ notanewuser

So you're extrapolating then?

I doubt one could pass GCSE maths if one were innumerate or GCSE English if one were illiterate. And, given you would have to read questions in exams...

An illiterate person cannot read or write. At all. Do you honestly believe that an illiterate person could pass a written exam, or complete coursework, in ANY subject?

Sadly I think you'd be surprised.........:(

Valli

Bennifred wrote: »

Sadly I think you'd be surprised.........:(

I don't think so. I could quite accept that one could pass a GCSE with POOR literacy skills. I doubt one could pass ANY GCSE if one were illiterate.

An illiterate person cannot read and write his or her own name...so that's the first hurdle failed!

notanewuser

CruisingSaver wrote: »

Errr no you can't easily pass GCSEs and A levels without basic numeracy and literacy. Therefore your assertion about degrees is also totally off kilter!

Really? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-20525914