Why are so many YP going to uni, when uni isn't right for so many YP? AIBU to think fewer YP should go to uni as it's only giving them a huge debt?

Is there any reason you're unable to type the words 'young people'?

YNBU. My eldest wants to do A levels but is unsure about Uni for this exact reason. I think the problem is it’s hard for them to get jobs so Uni is what people do. Also it’s a life experience. I think if she does go to Uni she will live at home to save some money. We are lucky that we live near Manchester so she has plenty of localish options.

What's a YP?

Given the context, obviously a Yellow Prawn.

Uni is still promoted as the correct path to take to go for the experience etc. I disagree I’ve told my son Uni is pointless unless you are going to study medical or law or have another career in mind that does require a specific degree. It’s a waste of money otherwise. IMO it’s best to study to get some transferable skills.

Absolutely. I think its been very harmful to young people because we now have a culture of two options, uni or failure. Which pushes people to strive for uni, sometimes any course they can get on, even though their skills and aptitude might be better suited in another direction. Unless a young person has a career goal that requires a degree, there should be alternative options that are just as highly valued as uni.

It’s a waste of money otherwise.

Yes. I pleaded with my children not to go to university as neither were interested in academic work but they wanted to do what their friends were doing.
A waste of time and money (though they enjoyed themselves and made lots of friends).

University definitely doesn't make long term sense for some students. It really depends which course at which university, but I agree that some degrees are just not worth the cost any more. I wish there were more degree apprenticeships available, and that schools would stop pushing university as a next step quite so automatically.

That said, I don't think it's all going to hell in a handbasket. Getting a good degree from a good university, coupled with the networking and experience of living independently still makes uni a sensible investment for many.

This isn't new. I've worked in the university sector on and off since 2014 and this has been a problem for years. I agree it's great life experience for them, but many universities just see the fee income and let them in regardless if they are totally unsuited to the course. Or reduce the entry requirements way below the normal threshold to attract those who aren't as academic. It sets them up to fail and then they drop out with no degree and huge debt, having exhausted their student funding entitlement. Very sad.

Sadly, it is still something to aspire to, even if it is a 3rd rate university doing a pointless course that doesn't lead to some related career.

I think it was Tony Blair who said everyone should have the opportunity to go to university.
He has clearly never worked at the bleeding edge of education to see there are many, many children who shouldn't bother.

I mostly agree. Unless someone is either very academic or wants to pursue a vocational degree, university is not of career value. It can be a fantastic life experience, bridging the gap between childhood and independence, but there are other ways and all the older generations managed without it.

My age (36) was when everyone was expected to go to uni if they could and I agree with op* look back and think it was just a money-making scheme. However, I find a shift amongst the younger generation in my family. My 18-year-old nephew is doing an apprenticeship. His girlfriend is doing T levels.

*ETA which means eddited to add...

Ok but what else can they do? There's a real lack of apprenticeships, not everyone wants to do a trade, and most desirable jobs require a degree.

There are ways to do a degree more cheaply, working during a degree, or for a gap year, living at home if you can.

I do agree though that some degrees are not good value and I do expect a lot will shut down.

I think for a lot of kids though, there’s no real alternative. No jobs, hardly any apprenticeships and no training opportunities so if they don’t go to uni what else will they do? Uni has turned into the Plan B for many, sadly a very expensive Plan B.

FYI, universities have always accepted low A Level grades. My father got CDE in his A Levels in the 80s but was still got accepted onto a prestigious course at a red brick university simply because there was less competition for places. Whereas I got BBB in the 2010s, missed my target (ABB) by two marks and had to go through clearing to get into a very average institution! So please don’t use that as a basis to de-value degrees. Students are no less intelligent or hard-working these days than they were before (in fact, I would argue that the fierce competition means students work much harder than the previous generations who knew their degree would guarantee them a foot in the door and a decent career path!)

My son who went to university has said with hindsight he should have aimed for a technical apprenticeship instead. He was offered one but chose uni instead. Now in his 30s only earning national average wage in an office job.
Other son and daughter didn't go that route, and earning similar to their brother.

Who are you calling a twat? Paddington stare

I don’t think we have that at all - uni or failure

Increasing, I think Parents are delighted if their kids don’t go to university. But it’s hard for us to say that because we’re not supposed to kill their dreams or something.

@MerryAquaKoala yeah it’s a total waste of money people have been getting wise for awhile now I think

If they enjoyed themselves, obtained their degrees and made lots of friends it is categorically not a waste of time. All we have in life is time and how we spend it. If we spend it happily, we have spent it well.

Money is a separate question - the student finance wheeze has got completely out of control.

Applying for uni is considerably easier than securing a full time job or apprenticeship.

You can apply to 5 courses and be pretty much guaranteed a place by completing one form. Whereas each job and apprenticeship has a different form and multiple stages in the recruitment process.

Well said