If your DC didn't go to Uni, what do they do?

[Okki]

My DD isn't sure about Uni. Just finished yr 12. Is currently predicted ABB in humanities subjects. She doesn't know what she wants to do and doesn't want to get into huge student debt for no reason. Is currently planning a year out and thinking about joining the armed forces as a musician. If you/your DC didn't go to uni, what have you/ they done?

I didn't go to uni, DH did, so we both have different views. However, things have changed hugely since we were her age, plus neither of us grew up in the UK, so our experiences are different anyway.

I still think university its important. All my family (parents and 2 brother) all went to uni and we all got very good job with salary £100k. Even one of my brother reached £300k.

In my opinion you still can have decent high paying jobs without degree but i dont think you can reached £100k+ without degree.

It's harder to achieve if you are wanting to earn 100k+ in a corporate system but not if you are self employed.

My DHs colleagues in investment banking are a mixed bag.

Of those earning £500k plus I'd say 2/3 uni 1/3 no uni

Both of mine left school before A levels

Dd set up a business (she now has 3) and took agency work which she was quickly promoted to management in charge of those people who had been to university to do the job she was doing
She can earn anything from £28 per hour in her agency work and £250-£1600 per day in her main business.

Ds did try for a trade but had to give up despite passing his course top of his class with a 97.5% average score as the rules changed. Ds has dyslexia and couldn’t pass the English GCSE needed for him to progress to the next level.

He now does some agency work and taught himself to be an online trader. He also studies languages. He can pass any language exam he turns his hand to except English. He also has a business

If you plan to live abroad at some point a degree may be helpful as most countries have a degree or at least higher education requirement for “skilled migrant” visas. Another joy of Brexit.

Those talking about their own situations have to keep in mind how much things have changed.

DSis didn’t go and now earns 200k as an HR director. But she’s 48 and most people didn’t go to university in the mud 90s. It’s very different now.

You don't need a degree to progress at my work even now.

I’m surprised at the numbers doing apprenticeships. My DS tried to find one in IT for after A’levels and they were few and far between unless you had 4 A*.
Ended up having to go to uni. I think it very much depends where you live tbh. It also seems like a lot of the junior IT roles that would have been suitable have been turned into apprenticeships which are less well paid and are closed to those with CS degrees.

I’ve always found having money and a business plan is less restrictive than having a degree in one particular subject

Maybe, but if a degree is a visa requirement, then you may have made it harder - if you don't have one - to achieve living in X country, if that is something you'd want to do.

My DD works full time as a receptionist in a golf club. She has no qualifications at all, didn’t even sit her GCSE’s due to mental health issues. Since leaving school her mental health has never been better and she is really enjoying her job. She’s only 18 so plenty of time for her to work her way up or change paths completely but for now she is happy and that’s all I care about.

I can’t think of a single country that would turn away a business that is bringing 7 figures + into the country and is going to be employing its citizens

Agree. But “not getting a degree” isn’t mutually exclusive with “a 7 figure business”.

The fact still remains that some visas in some countries require a degree or equivalent certification. Of course there are investment visas and other types of visas, but by not having a degree the fact also still remains that you may preclude yourself from being eligible from those visas that do require a degree.

My daughter worked in retail for year deciding what she wanted to do then did an nhs apprenticeship.

Not DC but DH. He joined the military, best thing that has happened to him. Provided him with training, direction and a career. There are lots of jobs in the military, worth having a look

Not my dc but my siblings.

Older brother did an apprenticeship. He’s now a self employed electrician. Good money, lots of work, in demand etc. He’s skilled at other trade stuff too, even fit our kitchen for us!

My other brother is a PT. He went to college, did something to do with sport but didn’t want to go to uni. He started working in a gym, they paid for him to do various courses over the years. He worked hard & built himself a good reputation, as well as client base. He’s doing well for himself, decent money and is never short of clients.

DD dropped out of 6th form and worked in a number of jobs until she settled on doing an OU degree in her early 20's that suits her style of learning. On course for high 2:1 or 1st if she continues the way she's been doing. DS didn't go to Uni and is hoping to get investment for a piece of equipment he had designed, which we are keeping our fingers crossed for.
I think unless you have a particular career in mind university leaves you with a ton of debt you might regret.

my daughter did her uni degree but at the local college... can't remember the name of it!