AIBU to discourage uni for daughter, I'm worried about debt without career plan?

What experience of Psychology does she already have, OP?

Is it a subject included as a component within her Bac?

My eldest two went to uni without any idea of what to do career wise. Their school completely pushed everyone into going and I now feel it was wrong. They have a ridiculous amount of debt and one has recently completed another degree that was fully sponsored by the company he works for. It also cost us a fortune as we earnt over the threshold. My youngest daughter was very academic and yet decided against it, due to the amount of debt that she end up with. She did an apprenticeship with the civil service and now at age 25 earns around £50k. She loves her job and has no loans to repay. My elder two regret having gone to university straight from school.

YABU

If you think about it there are very few degree subjects that are truly vocational - law, medicine, dentistry, vet med, architecture etc. Thetrfore the vast majority of graduates are studying courses not directly related to a career path.

Secondly, the harsh reality is that most professional jobs require a degree even if in fact they could be done by your average bright school leaver.

Thirdly as you will have experienced, being a student, likely living away from home and mixing with a wider variety of people, is incredibly valuable in terms of life skills, independence and resilience.

I have two kids who have been through Uni, studying generalist social science type degrees. They are both carving out good careers. The loan repayments are just not an issue amongst their cohort. It’s another line on the payslip alongside pension contribution and season ticket loans. They don’t see it as “debt” as such they really don’t.

I think you should encourage her to do a degree. Both subjects you have mentioned can lead to specific careers and are offered by many universities. You can perhaps guide her to universities that are up the rankings but not the most expensive in terms of accommodation.

DS graduated in biological sciences in the summer. He had no career plan at 17 and chose the subject he most enjoyed. He got a 2:1 and has been very lucky to get on to a technical grad scheme in the food sector - an industry that hadn't been on his radar at all.

DS has 2 friends who graduated in psychology. They have both gone on to do masters as anecdotally one is required for any professional role in that field.

I went to uni to do a subject enjoyed but with no career plans at all. I know the cost is much higher now but looking back asides from the academic degree I benefited from

• living in a new city away from family so had to learn independence
• budgeting
• year abroad (did a language)
• met life long friends who are now like family
• met my husband
• learnt a whole new way of living and working (my home town was quite rural)

I got a job in an entirely unrelated profession and because I had a bachelor’s degree I was able to undertake a (company sponsored) master’s degree in a subject specific to my job. I hadn’t a clue what I wanted to do and had no idea my profession even existed until I stumbled into it.

I would suggest maybe a gap year to build up some savings then if she still wants to go she goes.

Psychology is overcrowded but add the neuroscience twist and its stronger or get NHS work experience to add to the mix

I don’t think I would have been particularly encouraging if any of mine had wanted to do a degree just for the love of learning.
Ive paid an average of £10k a year for each of their rent, they have a loan and fees debt of around £50k each on top of that.
OP only you know if you’re wealthy enough to pay £80k for someone to enjoy learning for three years.
its very sad that this is the reality now, but I was clear that my DC needed to have a plan.
My DD went at 21 because she had worked out what she wanted to do as a career.
she had a great three years, loved learning, and now has a good strong career to help pay her student loan!
I am still paying mine - £200 a month.

It's not the approach I'll be taking with my DDs. I'm keen for them to experience higher education regardless of future earnings or career path. We're a family who value education for its own sake, and I've done degrees in later life with no career intentions, and we paid private school fees for our dcs.

But that’s very privileged to say. Everyone wants what’s best for their child, but that doesn’t mean they can all afford £6000+ a year, especially for something that is much more in the ‘nice to have’ camp. By that measure, should we all be sending our children to private school at severe financial detriment, because it’s arguable “best”?

Imagine a household of £80,000, over the threshold, might sounds like a lot but with a high rent/mortgage, other children, perhaps even childcare, they could have less disposable income than a family where the student will get full loans. They simply may not have £500 per month to give to their child, you seriously think they should just suck it up even if the student hasn’t demonstrated a clear and reasonable plan forward?

In this case OP is questioning if it is best for her child

which is quite fair enough

I’m grateful neither of mine is super academic!

DD is going to do a PT degree at a University just down the road so she’ll live at home. It’s also a health-related course so has an NHS bursary towards tuition fees. At one point she was talking about going to a Uni at the other end of the country to study Art. Whilst she is a very talented artist, I’m glad she’s chosen this other course.

Parents should want the best for their kids surely...that usually involves saving and financial sacrifice.

I am so glad I went to uni, and not necessarily just for the academic side of things (although I loved that too) but for the opportunities and personal growth it afforded me. I met some great friends who I'm still friends with nearly 10 years later. I got to live and work abroad for a year as part of my degree, and that was so formative for me. I became a lot more confident and independent and had great experiences that I never would have had had I not gone to university.
While I now have student debt, I don't feel burdened by it. I consider it a tax rather than a loan, as I never see the money I have to pay back. Unless something drastic happens with my job I am unlikely to ever pay it off but it gets written off eventually anyway. Don't let the financial aspect prevent you from encouraging your daughter to do what she wants.

What are the alternatives?
Higher level apprenticeships are great but very competitive the young person really needs to know what career they want.
Generic school leaver trainee jobs are very few and far between.
Without a plan to go to uni this year or next year (gap year and deferral) she’s going to end up in hospitality or retail isn’t she? Is that what and and she want for her?

honestly im not in the uni for everyone camp but for a bright student who loves learning but doesn’t have a particular career in mind I’d say it is the right route. Make sure the subject and institution have a wide appeal to employers and good employability stats.

Oh right.

Also the parental contribution required now IS a consideration & I guess parents are entitled to say 'No I'm not supporting this'

but it just sounds so sad not to support a young person who loves learning but just hasn't yet decided on their career path, rather than just wanting to go for the 'fun &
partying'

Has she thought about doing a degree on day release? My Stepdaughter did her degree through her employer and now has a fantastic career with no debt whatsoever.

Or kings in London

OP, does she have a specific career in mind? Is she keen to practise as a psychologist?

@HappyLemonChickenCurry she could defer a year and work to raise funds so wouldn’t have to borrow so much

Support her to go. She may not earn enough to pay back or she may. Will be for her to take on.

I agree… milk the resources at uni society wise, careers service, language lab, etc

Natural science at York ?