Page 13 | AIBU to feel that some parents just want their children at Uni even if its a BS degree

Original poster

DistinguishedSocialCommentator · 21/03/2024 13:22

Tiswa · 21/03/2024 13:14

Thing is that debt doesn’t actually start being paid off though until you earn a certain amount.

i imagine some do just go for the experience and to have fun - Universoty students days are amazing. Then you are looking for jobs as a graduate and a whole lot of jobs don’t require a specific degree and those that you initially did do give you certain skill sets in the working workd

So what is the "certain amount" ??
is it 50k, 60k 100k - what is it.

Please be aware the cost of living in London and cost of property and cost of rents

Even docs and nurses start out on relatively below avg wages

OP posts:

Original poster

DistinguishedSocialCommentator · 21/03/2024 13:20

Tahinii · 21/03/2024 09:02

I don’t have a supposed ‘BS degree’ and I am no wealthier than my friends who did the arts and politics. I’ve worked my way up through the ranks and I needed a degree to be a registered professional in my field. However, I don’t think it’s the be all and end all. I’m fortunate to have a decent income as I’m in management. It’s nothing enormous though. That said, I am passionate about what I do and I enjoy it, so it balances out.

I want my children to do what makes them happy, fulfilled, educated and keeps them employed. I have achieved that, despite not being one of those 6 figure salary earners that a not insignificant minority of MN claim to be!

You have done well and this is what I am saying, you don't need a degree and if you go for one, make sure its worth something

Sadly, just being "happy" does not pay the bills, especially if one lives in any part of London. Therefore, if you are spending 35/40/45 hours at work Mon to Friday even if working from home, why not get decent pay

2 of my three kids worked their way up like you did, left school with gcse's and then the co paid for their degree etc to take them over 80k and now they are earning more than double that

Not yu but many are are not understanding that there are good degrees, ok degrees and almost worthless degrees depending on uni you have been to and also need to consider job prospects

My point is in my culture, most parents older parents just wna the kid to go to uni but not really have an idea of what that entials. They are viewing through rose timted glasses as from my background many are docs/consults or other respected jobs in NHS, law, engineering etc but about hlef end up with a worthless degree or low level passes and cant get a job

OP posts:

HighLlamas · 21/03/2024 13:16

DistinguishedSocialCommentator · 21/03/2024 13:13

When they were 30, the two in IT and guess what, by then they had their own property, no uni debts and when they went to the next level, the company paid their time at their standard rate and paid for the degree courses and most of the costs towards books etc. Unlike many that go to uni, no work, end up with a degree that cant get them a job and a massive debt to burden them even before they have started out in life

Even if 2 of the three kids did not get a degree, they were being paid well over 80k and perks - , no uni debts and working from the age f 16 and first propties bought in London aged about 22, not bad, eh?

Show quote history

God, your mindset is depressingly small-minded, petty and materialistic.

Also, are you saying your children left school at sixteen to work? Of their own volition?

WillYouContribute · 21/03/2024 13:14

DistinguishedSocialCommentator · 20/03/2024 18:03

Don't take my word for it. People do have varying opinions re what is a decent degree and what is a bS degree.
Uni's are wanting to make money and IMO they are not doing everyone favour especially if someone ends up in massive debt and a degree that does not really help them into a job they really wanted as those jobs are few and far between

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12304961/PM-vows-curb-rip-degrees-Universities-face-cap-students-poor-career-prospects.html

Why do you disapprove of swearing and then keep repeating ‘BS’. You know what that stands for yes?

Pinkfluffypencilcase · 21/03/2024 13:14

DistinguishedSocialCommentator · 21/03/2024 13:09

So just for that you go to uni and possibly end up with an almost worthless degree as you cant get job and to add to the burden, possibly a massive debt of 30k - all for what

If you are going to uni, go for something you know can be utilised in other sectors and many jobs around with super pay scales

Show quote history

It’s an additional gain from going to uni.

It’s not just about the subject.
it’s so much more.

Did you go to uni? What did you study?

Tiswa · 21/03/2024 13:14

Thing is that debt doesn’t actually start being paid off though until you earn a certain amount.

i imagine some do just go for the experience and to have fun - Universoty students days are amazing. Then you are looking for jobs as a graduate and a whole lot of jobs don’t require a specific degree and those that you initially did do give you certain skill sets in the working workd

Original poster

DistinguishedSocialCommentator · 21/03/2024 13:13

Saschka · 20/03/2024 22:03

So what you are saying then is that all of your children do actually have degrees, and the two who didn’t go straight from school found their careers blocked in their early 20s due to the lack of degree, and had to go back to studying part time while also working?

And your take away from that is not that your kids should have just gone to uni and got the CompSci degree in the first place, but that other people’s children shouldn’t go either, and cross their fingers they find an employer willing to fund a £30k degree later on?

Show quote history

When they were 30, the two in IT and guess what, by then they had their own property, no uni debts and when they went to the next level, the company paid their time at their standard rate and paid for the degree courses and most of the costs towards books etc. Unlike many that go to uni, no work, end up with a degree that cant get them a job and a massive debt to burden them even before they have started out in life

Even if 2 of the three kids did not get a degree, they were being paid well over 80k and perks - , no uni debts and working from the age f 16 and first propties bought in London aged about 22, not bad, eh?

OP posts:

Pinkfluffypencilcase · 21/03/2024 13:12

In your opinion op what is a worthwhile degree and career?

How would you measure success?

Am I success as I studied a stem degree? Or a failure for not going into stem? (Even though I use the skills I gained in my degree in my job)

Original poster

DistinguishedSocialCommentator · 21/03/2024 13:09

Pinkfluffypencilcase · 21/03/2024 10:13

Not in the same way you don’t Due to catchments for schools.

University students can come from all backgrounds, international students, other types of education. This should absolutely be encouraged.

Show quote history

So just for that you go to uni and possibly end up with an almost worthless degree as you cant get job and to add to the burden, possibly a massive debt of 30k - all for what

If you are going to uni, go for something you know can be utilised in other sectors and many jobs around with super pay scales

OP posts:

HighLlamas · 21/03/2024 12:31

enchantedsquirrelwood · 21/03/2024 11:56

The GDR used to require this. If you wanted eg to study (their version of) history, you had to do a vocational course too like bricklaying.

It would have been useless for me, because I am completely impractical and would have made a hash of the bricklaying, so probably wouldn't have been allowed to do the degree unless I was the child of a very high up Party person, I suppose.

Show quote history

I have four degrees but have always fancied learning plastering and am learning drystone walling.

Concannon88 · 21/03/2024 12:25

DistinguishedSocialCommentator · 19/03/2024 20:57

Hello
I come from a background/culture where education is seen as very important and going to a university is a must (My parents came to England in 1962)

Yes, more and more jobs are seeking degrees and often even when not necessary. There are many professions where you must have a degree to join the course training

However, what I and my family call BS degrees, to name but a few

Arts
Studio Fine arts
Arth History
Business studies
Exercise Science
Fashion

I cant see what jobs they will get as there must be other routes, less intensive and extensive to get the job they want

When I've talked about mickey-mouse degrees at parties etc and not be aware that some parents children or they may have studied them, they start to defend the indefensible.
The biggest bS degree is 'Politics' - WTH!! Sadly, we know a few people whose children have done that and ended up running the family shop/business - total waste of a degree

There are other degrees just as crappy - they should be banned IMO

AIBU to think these degrees are a waste of time and often do not aid the person into a job in that field?

You are beyond rude and arrogant. To study anything at degree level takes a lot of effort, and you are just a snob.

enchantedsquirrelwood · 21/03/2024 11:56

ElaineMBenes · 21/03/2024 10:22

The thought had occurred to me too!

Show quote history

The GDR used to require this. If you wanted eg to study (their version of) history, you had to do a vocational course too like bricklaying.

It would have been useless for me, because I am completely impractical and would have made a hash of the bricklaying, so probably wouldn't have been allowed to do the degree unless I was the child of a very high up Party person, I suppose.

enchantedsquirrelwood · 21/03/2024 11:54

I think the importance of the arts and humanities is actually underestimated in modern society. As we progress, technology, AI and automation are going to change our social and economic landscape permanently. As well as people qualified in the ‘traditional’ professions, we will desperately need highly educated creative minds and critical thinkers. And far from being ‘useless’ many of the skills attained from those subjects are extremely flexible and valuable for many industries, rather than being restricted to a particular vocation or field

It's worth noting that the creative sector employs more people in London than the financial services sector does. I was really surprised by that.

Employers need people with creative skills and find them difficult to recruit and retain.

enchantedsquirrelwood · 21/03/2024 11:53

Not read the thread, but what is a BS degree is in the eye of the beholder.

People like to slag off things like media studies and politics degrees, but we'd be in a better state if we had more people with a better understanding of both.

If I had my time again I would study geography or data science, or both. But I imagine other people would have different ideas of what is useful.

ElaineMBenes · 21/03/2024 11:52

So at 17 or 18 kids should not only know the career that they plan on doing for the rest of their lives, so they can plan a degree that matches this perfectly, they should also be planning said career based only on the industries in their home towns? Your world must be very small.

Totally agree. We put too much pressure on young people to make a career decision at 16/17 and we frame not knowing as a bad thing. The reality is that being open minded and willing to engage in a wide range of opportunities is actually the best thing you can do. Hardly anyone is in a career they had thought of at 16 but lots of people discover their passion and a whole range of careers they hadn't even heard of at university.

3luckystars · 21/03/2024 11:36

stoptryingtomakefetchhappen · 21/03/2024 10:42

I think the importance of the arts and humanities is actually underestimated in modern society. As we progress, technology, AI and automation are going to change our social and economic landscape permanently. As well as people qualified in the ‘traditional’ professions, we will desperately need highly educated creative minds and critical thinkers. And far from being ‘useless’ many of the skills attained from those subjects are extremely flexible and valuable for many industries, rather than being restricted to a particular vocation or field.

Doing a degree is not for everyone, and that’s fair enough, but it’s not really about the subject and more about the quality of the degree itself and the individual’s suitability for that area of study. To say that arts/humanities degrees are ‘BS’ is just plain ignorant and shows a deep lack of understanding of social and economic dynamics.

(From a ‘BS’ Politics & Sociology graduate and a ‘BS’ Business Studies graduate DH who have both benefitted from having flexible degrees to become high achievers in our chosen careers)

I agree.

PinkArt · 21/03/2024 11:00

DistinguishedSocialCommentator · 21/03/2024 09:36

As I said, there are crappy degrees and I'm standing by that
For many that go to uni and end up I debt, no job then no job I what they went to uni for, they'd been better off not going

Yes, some parents still want kids to go to uni and have little understanding of the subject their kids have chosen or what the job opps are where they live as most cant afford to move

There are jobs that are very limited.

The gov had to step in and consider putting a cap on certain degrees, why is that?

Show quote history

So at 17 or 18 kids should not only know the career that they plan on doing for the rest of their lives, so they can plan a degree that matches this perfectly, they should also be planning said career based only on the industries in their home towns? Your world must be very small.

stoptryingtomakefetchhappen · 21/03/2024 10:42

I think the importance of the arts and humanities is actually underestimated in modern society. As we progress, technology, AI and automation are going to change our social and economic landscape permanently. As well as people qualified in the ‘traditional’ professions, we will desperately need highly educated creative minds and critical thinkers. And far from being ‘useless’ many of the skills attained from those subjects are extremely flexible and valuable for many industries, rather than being restricted to a particular vocation or field.

Doing a degree is not for everyone, and that’s fair enough, but it’s not really about the subject and more about the quality of the degree itself and the individual’s suitability for that area of study. To say that arts/humanities degrees are ‘BS’ is just plain ignorant and shows a deep lack of understanding of social and economic dynamics.

(From a ‘BS’ Politics & Sociology graduate and a ‘BS’ Business Studies graduate DH who have both benefitted from having flexible degrees to become high achievers in our chosen careers)

Hro01 · 21/03/2024 10:26

I work for a teacher training company. If you want to be a Secondary School teacher, we are specifically looking for degrees related to the subject you want to teach - including but not limited to Arts, Business Studies, and Sport & Exercise Sciences.

University is also about a lot more than what you learn academically.

Your horse is awfully high.

ElaineMBenes · 21/03/2024 10:22

DigitalDust · 21/03/2024 10:07

I’m starting to wonder if OP is related to the poster who comes on here occasionally to argue that academic children should be made to do vocational qualifucations. There’s about the same level of reasoned thought to the arguments.

The thought had occurred to me too!

DigitalDust · 21/03/2024 10:20

Pinkfluffypencilcase · 21/03/2024 10:17

There are some BS apprenticeships...

Definitely. Particularly the ones that allegedly train you to do a job that you can actually learn to be reasonably competent in over a couple of weeks - just an excuse to pay lower wages.

Pinkfluffypencilcase · 21/03/2024 10:17

There are some BS apprenticeships...

Pinkfluffypencilcase · 21/03/2024 10:13

DistinguishedSocialCommentator · 21/03/2024 09:30

You do that at school, parties, when out, at work etc or even college for further educ/training/apprenticeship

Show quote history

Not in the same way you don’t Due to catchments for schools.

University students can come from all backgrounds, international students, other types of education. This should absolutely be encouraged.

ElaineMBenes · 21/03/2024 10:12

As I said, there are crappy degrees and I'm standing by that

Evidence please!!!

For many that go to uni and end up I debt, no job then no job I what they went to uni for, they'd been better off not going

This doesn't even make sense. I can't even work out what you are tryign to say here.

Yes, some parents still want kids to go to uni and have little understanding of the subject their kids have chosen or what the job opps are where they live as most cant afford to move

And? The parents aren't studying the subject. I have a degree, masters and PhD and my dad couldn't tell you anything about what I've studied!
All the research shows us that parents knowledge of the job market is out of date. That's why there are professionals.

There are jobs that are very limited.

Again, this doesn't make sense. Yes, there are jobs that are competitive but we also have a very buoyant graduate labour market. There are more job vacancies then there are graduates. This is sector dependant but some of those sectors might surprise you. For example, marketing.

The gov had to step in and consider putting a cap on certain degrees, why is that?
hahaha you got this information from the Daily Mail and clearly have no idea of the wider policy reforms that this misleading headline was taken from. The Government haven't stepped in and done anything!

Ruthdpl · 21/03/2024 10:09

HighLlamas · 21/03/2024 10:03

Maybe there’s a peer-reviewed JSTOR resource called ‘Sage Sayings of My Family At Parties’ of which those of us who teach at universities are unaware.

Show quote history

🤣🤣 I’m still laughing!!