Do you assume your dc will go to uni? And will you be disappointed if they don't

[Vegetablespringrolls]

Just wondering as ds1 was adamant he wasn't going to university, then decided he was at the last minute. Ds2 was always planning to go. Dc3 doesn't want to go but he's only in year 11 so plenty of time to decide. Younger 2 probably not able to but you never know.

I've been talking to someone who is assuming their currently primary school aged dc will be going to university. I don't know, it just seems odd to me that you would even think about something that far in advance. I understand saving money for "the future" and we have done that too but university has always been something the dc have chosen or not, it's not something we ever expected them to choose.

This is simply not true. AI is taking up jobs, but those with higher qualifications will have more opportunities than those without.

I assumed all mine would, but as it turns out DS1 didn't fancy it and despite getting 3 A's at A Level took a basic warehouse job the summer he finished. They keep moving him up the ladder there and he is at the same stage as those on the graduate scheme now but with no debt. There is a lot to be said for starting at the bottom I think.

I think DS2 might go as he needs a degree for the career he wants, no idea about DD.

I wasn't disappointed, but my whole family have degrees so it was a new path for me. My mother was horrified I'm not forcing mine into Uni!

I’m married to a Greek and we live in Athens. We have four kids and as they were in the Greek state education system they could choose to sit Panhellenic exams and get a free university education if they passed their exams and met the required criteria. My daughter has a degree in European and International Studies at University of Piraeus, my eldest son has HFA (non verbal) and went to a special needs vocational school and specialised in Catering. My second son is in his last year of Tourism Studies at Univ of Piraeus and my youngest son completely tanked at his exams, as he just didn’t put the required work in. I think he now regrets it though, as he was very upset when he didn’t get through. He is now studying Web Design, Web Development and Computer Gaming at a state Technical College.

We’d always told the kids we would support them in their decisions either way and spent a lot on extra tuition for them to meet the requirements of passing the Panhellenics (that is the norm here!) It’s very stressful and demanding for the kids and expensive for the parents, but at least they haven’t ended up with huge debts due to student loans. As my husband always said, it’s more important that they are good human beings than them being university educated. I think they can be both! Why miss the chance of a free university education in this day and age? I never pushed them either way, but did encourage them to try. I obviously am glad they chose to get some formal qualifications, as it seems that they are necessary to get any decent job these days. Needless to say we are immensely proud of their achievements.

I used to think id be disappointed for them if they didn't as I'd want them to have the experience and fun. But now it's so expensive I think a bit of me would be relieved as the student debts are a huge worry.

They are both very academic and dead set on going and what I say (or don't) won't have any bearing on what they do!