Big dilemma for DD - what would you do?

[Blackenedsoul]

DD has accepted an offer for her Uni of choice to study Media in September. She’s been looking forward to going, had planned to live at home and travel the 20 minutes in every day.

She had a part time job for a few months in a local office attached to a very small but very busy manufacturing company. She’s very well thought of and works in the office on a Saturday, doing admin, answering enquiries, emails, booking appointments etc.

Today they’ve offered her a full time, permanent post in the office and have offered to start training her up in the use of their accounts systems etc, give her more responsibility. The salary is 18k to start rising to around a max of 25k once fully trained.

This has come as a bolt from the blue, DD really enjoys the job and thinks she’d be happy doing it full time but at the same time was also happy to go off and have the Uni experience, make new friends and study and have fun.

She’s aware that lots of students leave Uni and end up falling into admin roles vey much like this and is now wondering whether bothering with Uni is worth it.

We’ve told her the decision is entirely hers but she’s really finding it hard to decide.

So, the great of mumsnet - what would you do?

[Lou573]

I would push my daughter to go to uni but rethink the media studies to be honest.

[LoveSleeping]

I work in media and would advise her to either to take the job or choose a different degree and pursue a media career.

Media degrees don't tend to be well regarded by employers- I'd pick a different degree or an apprenticeship tbh.

[Ninkanink]

Bear in mind that there’s nothing stopping her working for a few years and then taking up university if she decides on a career that needs a degree. My advice would always be only go to university if you know exactly what you want to do and you need a degree qualification for it. It is not wise now, as things stand, to use your one chance at university if you really don’t have a clear progression in mind, imo - many, many kids do not know what they want to do in life, or even what their strengths are, at 18,19,20.

[Saz12]

I’d take the job and defer for a year. It’s a different world from when I went to uni, the level of debt and the sheer number of graduates would put me off uni unless I had a real passion for the subject and could live away from home.

[MSQuinn]

What University is she thinking of? A media degree from a less well thought of university might not be worth the debt. The expense of university would make me consider whether it was worth it for my DD. You can re-enter education at any age. She could take the job, save the money and put some towards her studies. University is so expensive. I went to uni and thankfully have no debt as I worked through. I’m not sure the debt is worth it if you don’t have a clear idea of what you actually want to do. If she’s into marketing she might be better doing a CIM diploma in marketing or digital marketing.

[Rockmehardplace]

Uni uni uni. It’s an unmissable life experience.

But it’s a great idea to defer for a year and save some cash/get bored of the 9-5!

[Twolostsoulsswimminginafishbow]

Encourage her to take the job with a view to changing to a more practical degree.
This^

[Puffinhead]

Stay with the job, get proper work (and life) experience. She can always go to University later - I agree with Oddestsock, there’s so much pressure to make decisions young.

[serin]

To those recommending social work or nursing as alternatives, you really really need to be committed to those careers, its not something to choose as an alternative or on a whim.

Entering the workforce early can teach really valuable skills. Ive had 2 DC recently go through uni and one who chose employment/apprenticeship as an alternative, he has been far the happiest and has a starting salary of £32k when qualified.

[Silkiecats]

I'ld take the job and then if it doesn't work out she can apply for university again and may have a clearer idea what she wants. It will give her some money at least and some work experience. Some degrees aren't good value for money in terms of career enhancement - maybe see if you can get stats on where people from her course end up and salaries.

[amarya]

In current Covid circumstances definitely take the job and defer uni for a year. If the job doesn't suit her after a year, she'll have a year's employment under her belt, and the uni experience starting 2022 is more likely to be "normal".

[DachshundDerby]

Between Media at university and a job I would choose the job.

Defer for a year. See how she feels. Apprenticeships a really good option in business admin or accounting-type subject. She can learn while she earns and still attend college.

[dropthedeadhorse]

What would her career prospects be like once she’s reached the 25k position? Would there be opportunities for further progression? If not, I wouldn’t hesitate to go to university to improve her earning potential.

[bedtimeshoes]

Get degree

[amarya]

@Rockmehardplace

Uni uni uni. It’s an unmissable life experience.

But it’s a great idea to defer for a year and save some cash/get bored of the 9-5!

Not this year. Most students have spent a year in their bedrooms!

[lemonsyellow]

I work in media. In my area, most people have a degree, but not all. You can work your way up. 25k is a decent salary. People with with degrees earn that where I work. I would take a year out and defer the degree.

[Babyroobs]

I would take the job. She can always study for a degree later or part time.

[Inastatus]

Take the job. The market will be flooded with graduates looking for work where jobs will be scarce.

[Whatalottachocca]

The "Uni experience" has not been possible for students this year. It was interrupted by Covid during the previous year and it's blooming good for this September either. I would advise her to take the job.

[BlessedDD]

Year out - defer ‘a’ degree - take some advice/do some careers research - what does she want to do? Do the job see how she finds it - save - do another degree!

[Whatalottachocca]

Not looking good NOT blooming good 😮

[Lemoncheesecake20]

Defer uni for a year (who knows if the pandemic will still be rumbling on with new variants?!), save up and bank as much cash as possible, then attend uni (either full time or part time, keeping the job going on a part time basis).

[BlessedDD]

Basically don’t waste time on a media degree

[Erkrie]

I'd take the job and defer for a year. We don't know what the unis will look like in September anyway. So much is online at the moment anyway and it's likely that will continue for some time yet.

[HerRoyalNotness]

Take the job for a year. It will help her see what other sort of roles are available and work out if she enjoys them and what type of degree she’d need. I’d also encourage her to look at what type of jobs have been recession and pandemic proof over the past decade and lean towards those fields rather than media.