To go to University or not?

Kiko4564

I'm in a situation where I will soon need to decide where to head to University, or not. In this current climate I'm having mixed feelings. On one hand, I imagine that heading to University would be a good idea. On the other, I don't think it would be. How should I decide?

Voyager2002

It is impossible to respond to this without knowing a lot more about you and your ambitions. For example, if your ambition is to be a medical doctor then the only way to achieve that is to go to university and study medicine -- there is no way to start as a hospital cleaner and work your way up! On the other hand, if you want to run your own business then university might or might not be helpful. And there is also the question of your abilities: you need to get some honest opinions from your teachers about how good you are at your chosen subject.

Cash-Cows

Mickey666 said:

 The purely financial one is that it’s only worth studying for a degree that will enhance your earning potential so that you’ll recover the £50k-ish the degree certificate will cost you, 

This is complete rubbish. You have no idea how student finance works. The OP could obtain a degree and unless they earn more than £26575 they pay nothing back on their student fee and maintenance loans. 

MalMonroe

Kiko4564 said:

I'm in a situation where I will soon need to decide where to head to University, or not. In this current climate I'm having mixed feelings. On one hand, I imagine that heading to University would be a good idea. On the other, I don't think it would be. How should I decide?

First of all, do not overthink!!

Then, GO. Of course I mean when it is safe to do so - students all over the UK right now are suffering the effects of coronavirus, being isolated and generally having a miserable time - but because of the pandemic, not because of uni.

I went to study for an undergraduate degree when I was 48. It was absolutely the very best time of my life and I came out of it with a 2.1 BA Hons degree. I would not swap that experience for anything. I also gained three very good friends in the process. I wish I could have gone when I was 18 but it was not to be then. Even though I was a 'mature student' I was never made to feel anything but welcome.

In my opinion, when it's safe to do so, you must GO, GO, GO!!!  You will regret it later if you have the opportunity and you don't go. Forget about the cost, or any loan repayments - you only have to pay back when you are earning enough go be able to afford it anyway. And you only have one life. 

Ignore the naysayers on here who are probably people without degrees who wish they could have had such an opportunity and are therefore a tad envious.

DO IT!!  Is my advice. Sorry to sound over-enthusiastic but it's fabulous!!

MalMonroe

Voyager2002 said:

It is impossible to respond to this without knowing a lot more about you and your ambitions. For example, if your ambition is to be a medical doctor then the only way to achieve that is to go to university and study medicine -- there is no way to start as a hospital cleaner and work your way up! On the other hand, if you want to run your own business then university might or might not be helpful. And there is also the question of your abilities: you need to get some honest opinions from your teachers about how good you are at your chosen subject.

Nonsense. You don't need to know any more at all. 

And I have to contradict you too because my friend at uni did exactly what you say a hospital cleaner cannot do. She worked as a hospital cleaner to earn some money while she studied to be a doctor. So, anything absolutely is possible!!

Don't try to discourage those who wish to better themselves. You don't know everything.

Kiko4564

MalMonroe said:

Voyager2002 said:

It is impossible to respond to this without knowing a lot more about you and your ambitions. For example, if your ambition is to be a medical doctor then the only way to achieve that is to go to university and study medicine -- there is no way to start as a hospital cleaner and work your way up! On the other hand, if you want to run your own business then university might or might not be helpful. And there is also the question of your abilities: you need to get some honest opinions from your teachers about how good you are at your chosen subject.

Nonsense. You don't need to know any more at all. 

And I have to contradict you too because my friend at uni did exactly what you say a hospital cleaner cannot do. She worked as a hospital cleaner to earn some money while she studied to be a doctor. So, anything absolutely is possible!!

Don't try to discourage those who wish to better themselves. You don't know everything.

How did she study?

sheramber

Kiko4564 said:

MalMonroe said:

Voyager2002 said:

It is impossible to respond to this without knowing a lot more about you and your ambitions. For example, if your ambition is to be a medical doctor then the only way to achieve that is to go to university and study medicine -- there is no way to start as a hospital cleaner and work your way up! On the other hand, if you want to run your own business then university might or might not be helpful. And there is also the question of your abilities: you need to get some honest opinions from your teachers about how good you are at your chosen subject.

Nonsense. You don't need to know any more at all. 

And I have to contradict you too because my friend at uni did exactly what you say a hospital cleaner cannot do. She worked as a hospital cleaner to earn some money while she studied to be a doctor. So, anything absolutely is possible!!

Don't try to discourage those who wish to better themselves. You don't know everything.

How did she study?

Probably the same way as all the students who have a part time job while studying at UNI.

Stenwold

MalMonroe said:

Voyager2002 said:

It is impossible to respond to this without knowing a lot more about you and your ambitions. For example, if your ambition is to be a medical doctor then the only way to achieve that is to go to university and study medicine -- there is no way to start as a hospital cleaner and work your way up! On the other hand, if you want to run your own business then university might or might not be helpful. And there is also the question of your abilities: you need to get some honest opinions from your teachers about how good you are at your chosen subject.

Nonsense. You don't need to know any more at all. 

And I have to contradict you too because my friend at uni did exactly what you say a hospital cleaner cannot do. She worked as a hospital cleaner to earn some money while she studied to be a doctor. So, anything absolutely is possible!!

Don't try to discourage those who wish to better themselves. You don't know everything.

While she studied...

Saying the only way people can better themselves is by going to uni is absolute nonsense. It depends entirely on what the OP wants to do in the future - there's no substitute for apprenticeships and getting real work experience in some circumstances.   

Voyager2002

MalMonroe said:

Voyager2002 said:

It is impossible to respond to this without knowing a lot more about you and your ambitions. For example, if your ambition is to be a medical doctor then the only way to achieve that is to go to university and study medicine -- there is no way to start as a hospital cleaner and work your way up! On the other hand, if you want to run your own business then university might or might not be helpful. And there is also the question of your abilities: you need to get some honest opinions from your teachers about how good you are at your chosen subject.

Nonsense. You don't need to know any more at all. 

And I have to contradict you too because my friend at uni did exactly what you say a hospital cleaner cannot do. She worked as a hospital cleaner to earn some money while she studied to be a doctor. So, anything absolutely is possible!!

Don't try to discourage those who wish to better themselves. You don't know everything.

Your friend was a medical student with a part-time job (as it happens as a hospital cleaner). That is totally different from someone working in a hospital and hoping for promotion leading to becoming a doctor -- that is obviiously not going to happen!

And I don't appreciate your opening "Nonsense". There are plenty of people around who are doing jobs that do not require a degree and could do without the student loan payments they are making each month. And of course there are many others who greatly value the experience of university and believe it to have been worthwhile.

silvercar

If you have a career in mind that doesn’t come with a professional qualification, I would rather be in a tough job market with a certificate in my pocket than without.

mrsS_2

It could be argued that the job market for young people is going to be even more difficult than usual for the next few years so delaying the job hunting until things have hopefully improved , while having a university experience is worth consideration.   If you were my child I would be encouraging you to go but study something fairly academically rigorous so you benefit from the degree in the future and dont just end up with £50k debt for having a great time!