dont understand degrees anymore

lj876

I have a degree from the local 'ex-poly', in an allied health subject. There's a very low chance of getting into my field from an apprenticeship or the like, it's not really done. My salary won't ever be amazing, but I enjoy what I trained in, it's intellectually stimulating and I can see myself in healthcare for the rest of my working life. A third of my year group were mature students so it's not uncommon.

That said - it's not all or nothing. If a typical 3-year university doesn't appeal (either right now, or ever), there are other ways. he could try further education such as a foundation course or an HND with some kind of work placement element. For example: he could go down the FE route, work for a few years and uni is still an option if he finds it a barrier to progression. Your son can definitely keep his options open. School may be putting pressure on him to go to uni because 'it's just what you do' or their careers advisors aren't great at anything other than UCAS forms.

It can be difficult if all your friends are set on uni straight from school, especially if you're seemingly the only one doing something different. Don't panic!

Savvy_Sue

hello007007 wrote: »

My son is 15 years old this year. We have spoken about education before however I feel unexperienced in advising him what is the best route. My belief that UNIVERSITY = SUCCESS does add up anymore to me.

What I don't want to do is leave his future solely to him to decide on, he does even know what he wants to do. I feel their should be some guideness (not pressure) from parents.

I think when your child is 15, your job is to encourage them to do as well as they can at school / in their exams, so that they don't close down any options. And you can help them explore work in the things which interest them, and what the best routes in might be.

It may also be worth pointing out what the options are if they DON'T do well at school - I remember walking past a Christmas shop which was blaring out ghastly music from a tree, and suggesting that without GCSEs, they might end up working somewhere like that, and was that likely to appeal? :rotfl:

Just as an example, when DS1 was 15, he wanted nothing better than to work for the local model games shop. We found out (together) that you had to be 18 to work there. And we talked about what GCSEs might be useful.

DS1 could see no point in studying languages: I asked if he didn't think visitors from other countries might not appreciate staff who could speak a few words of greeting in a language other than English. DS1 thought that unlikely, but then, he was 15 and there was very little I could tell him. :rotfl:

He outgrew that ambition, and did go to University, and so did his brothers, but with none of them having a burning ambition to follow any particular profession, it's been a 'one step at a time' process.

And yes, there's no reason not to wait until he knows what he wants to do. Two of my siblings got their degrees as mature students, when they knew what they wanted to do.

clairec79

Personally unless they know what they want to do and it requires a degree I'd rather my children not go to uni at 18.

If they work for a year or so and decide they need/want one I'll support that for them - but so many people seem to go to uni as thats whats expected and it delays them having to decide what to d.

Had I gone to uni at 18 Id have then had to go back anyway when I decided what I wanted to do and it needed a specific degree so I'd have been faced with going back again in my midtwenties

Manxman_in_exile

TELLIT01 wrote: »

This all stems from some idiot in Government some years back having the bright idea that 50% of the population would benefit from having a university degree. The fact that nothing like 50% of jobs either require degrees, or would benefit from employing a person with a degree, was ignored. The result was dozens if not hundreds of 'degree' courses in subjects which didn't give the recipients any better chance of employment than had they gone straight into work when leaving school. It can even be argued that the degree makes them less employable as they are hitting the job market at a higher age, with elevated pay expectations but no experience.

Tony Blair, wasn't it?


I agree that the target of having 50% of school leavers going to university was bonkers and made no sense at all. I was fortunate enough to get two "free" degrees. Of course, if you want 50% of school leavers going to university, they can't be publically funded.


Another problem is that students complain they aren't "taught" - because now they are consumers and are buying a service that universities weren't designed for. When I went to university, I did most of the learning myself (under direction and advice of tutors).

xapprenticex

state of uni is represented by the state of uni students today and they are not known for working on their degrees.

hello007007

Manxman_in_exile wrote: »

Tony Blair, wasn't it?

Always hated him :mad:

[/QUOTE] I was fortunate enough to get two "free" degrees. Of course, if you want 50% of school leavers going to university, they can't be publically funded. [/QUOTE]




Did you get 'scholarship degrees' with a job waiting for you at the end - now they look very good!

Manxman_in_exile

hello007007 wrote: »

Always hated him :mad: So did I, but I'm "old labour".

I was fortunate enough to get two "free" degrees. Of course, if you want 50% of school leavers going to university, they can't be publically funded. [/QUOTE]


Did you get 'scholarship degrees' with a job waiting for you at the end - now they look very good![/QUOTE]


No. By "free" degrees I meant they were fully funded by the taxpayer. (Manx taxpayers in my case.)


Funnily enough, I've never been employed in any area relevant to my degrees and have gone through two relatively long periods of unemployment (but I blame Margaret Thatcher for that!). However, I got through that and was fortunate enough to end up with a satisfactory career.


EDIT: I've just reviewed this post and the quotes are in the wrong places. Hope others can still understand what I'm trying to say!

Manxman_in_exile

xapprenticex wrote: »

state of uni is represented by the state of uni students today and they are not known for working on their degrees.

Although I'm not 100% sure of what you are saying, I think I agree with you.

scoobydoothedog

I guess it depends on whether your son is likely to want to work in a graduate profession or a non-graduate profession. Some non-graduates earn very healthy incomes just as some graduates do. Some people leave University and end up in a job that pays a very average salary that you could have obtained without going to University, others obtain very well paid jobs. It all depends on the individual and, to some extent, market conditions.

if he wants to be in one of the professions then a degree is largely a must. If not, the job market beckons. Some people do a degree later in their life, although that takes rather more commitment and dedication I feel (something that can be valuable to, say, a future employer).

Really your son needs to obtain some careers advice and identify the areas that interest him most. Ultimately he will have to decide if he wants to go to University of course.

C_Mababejive

I would say to any parent, encourage and equip your child to seek out a worthwhile career and strive to suceed at university and get a worthwhile degree. Dont listen to all the recent hype about apprenticeships etc. A lot of the apprenticeships are rubbish and the bottom line in this country is that if you dont have a degree you are considered a rubbing rag. I know people with degrees who are recruited sideways into industry and getting jobs as supervisors/low grade managers etc well ahead of people who have worked there for years and have far more experience whilst the new recruit knows nothing and couldnt find his backside in the dark with both hands but what he does have is a magical degree.

As for student debt,i am sick to death of hearing their whinings. Truth is most will never pay off most of their debt and it will be written off.