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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think going to Uni isn't the be all and end all?

92 replies

CatThiefKeith · 06/02/2015 22:38

And that it is perfectly possible to have a decent life, get a good job and a reasonable standard of living without having gained a degree?

Obviously for some jobs a degree is essential, but Aibu to think that it's not for everyone, and not being academic enough to go to Uni doesn't mean you are doomed to never do well in life?

OP posts:
RufusTheReindeer · 07/02/2015 10:34

YANBU

I think there are some jobs that need a degree but if you don't want that job or can figure a way round it then all power to you

What annoys me is when friends go on about the life experience of university, having fun with their mates, being independent...all of which I get but you can still do that if you don't go to university

I think Mine are all capable of going to university but I also think sometimes you reach your academic level...not that you can't get any higher but just that it's not right for you at that age

Bellsnwhistles · 07/02/2015 10:37

I know I know I know going to uni is not the be-all and end all etc but if I am honest I am secretly a bit disappointed that dd (22) didn't go. Her social life was always way more important to her than studying. She got very low grade A levels, happily went out to work and has had a variety of jobs ..... and is doing ok'ish. I think. She's now working in an office job in Australia and there seems to be some career structure to the current job .....but I am still hoping that one day she will decide she wants to train as a teacher or social worker or..... something.

Please tell me to get a grip. I know I should be really proud of all that she has achieved.

Mrsjayy · 07/02/2015 10:48

When I was at school a million years ago university was for the clever kids we were a working class village you left school and you had to do something no gap years no going to university to study history cos that wouldn't lead to a job iyswim so university for the majority just wasn't a thing people managed just fine.now ime uni is pushed on children from schools dd is doing a vocational degree most of her friends went to university and some have stayed some dropped out so I really don't think a degree is the b all but employers do look for them.

Mrsjayy · 07/02/2015 10:50

She is working in Australia did she move to work or are you Australian?

Mrsjayy · 07/02/2015 10:53

I don't understand the life experience having fun etc etc you can do that anywhere at anytime

TwoOddSocks · 07/02/2015 10:57

YANBU but I think if you want a decent income without a university degree (and I should specify an employable degree from a decent uni) you have to be a bit more canny about planning your career, and it will probably involve training of some kind, or a lot of innovation and self promotion. I know successful plumbers/tree surgeons etc who do fairly well (and could do very well if they manage to set up their own business etc).

I would say that those of us who went to a good university have found it easier to kind of drift into a good career without much thought. They also tend to be careers that have the potential for progression if you work hard and are successful. While people without degrees can certainly also have successful careers they've had to think much more carefully about their choices and how to ensure they progress.

TwoOddSocks · 07/02/2015 10:59

Rufus

In my case university was a great life experience in terms of being lots of fun, making very close friends (most of my best friends are still those I met at university even 12 years later) and having free time to pursue hobbies etc BUT I don't think I can claim to have learnt any life skills I couldn't learn elsewhere. In terms of Independence it's more like a set of training wheels - plenty of people just move out without having a whole support structure there to hep them.

Flingmoo · 07/02/2015 11:01

It is the be all and end all for many careers at not having a degree closes a lot of doors these days. Having said that, even if you do have a degree you also need a certain amount of luck, business savvy and self-promotion skills to land a well paid job. But I guess the same could be said for any job...

RufusTheReindeer · 07/02/2015 11:02

two

I agree that that's probably the case now but I left college in 1987, not going to university really wasn't a big deal and plenty of people got very good jobs with progression with just their A levels and did exams/degrees if they needed to within their jobs

Now I think you are right, you seem to need a degree to do loads of professional jobs before you even get through an interview

TwoOddSocks · 07/02/2015 11:02

MrsJay

I would say university is unique in that you have a load of young people the same age all living together who have a lot of free time on their hands, the potential to pursue hobbies (acting, sport, politics, all kid of weird obscure hobbies) that are difficult to find (and fit around work) at a casual level elsewhere. We also had giant holidays with enough time to do a bit of travelling together etc.

RufusTheReindeer · 07/02/2015 11:03

Oooh sorry two

Just saw your second post Smile

I agree with you again!!

Theoretician · 07/02/2015 11:04

That's why, when someone talks about how much more money their DC in their 20s has compared to their uni-attending friends, I always wonder if that will remain the case when they are all 40.

Surely with most careers where a degree isn't a requirement, having one mainly influences which job you get first, and thereafter your previous work experience is more important than your degree?

Jewels234 · 07/02/2015 11:06

Absolutely not the be all. Two people I know did accountancy apprenticeships, and are super successful n9w

RufusTheReindeer · 07/02/2015 11:06

Back in the day when uni was "free" I think taking a few years out to get your independence, have fun and hopefully get a degree was a good idea

Now I wouldn't blame any of my children if they felt that it was to expensive to live away and went to a local university or did on the job training to save money

KindleFancy · 07/02/2015 11:06

My honest opinion is that a lot of people with degrees nowadays just as well not have bothered.

My workplace (a bank call centre) is littered with people with degrees.

So you spend 3 years studying, £20k of debt and end up working in the same job as 18 year olds who've just done A Levels.

Even 'graduate positions' are negotiable. I've worked for my employer for 8 years and just got a promotion to management level which was advertised as a 'graduate' position. I have no degree but applied anyway (made it clear on the app that I was not a graduate) and still got it.

Unless you have a particular profession in mind, I don't see the point. Half of my group of friends have the standard 'English degree' and a few of them still struggle with basic grammar and letter writing. Much as I love them, a degree is hardly the stamp of the academic elite that it used to be.

bakingaddict · 07/02/2015 11:07

I think it depends on where you actually go/went to uni. It's a competitive market out there and if somebody has an esoteric degree from a second-rate university then they might struggle in the graduate job market.

In those instances I think it may have been better for those individuals to go straight into a suitable sector with their A-levels. A know a few people who went into finance with A-levels and got their professional qualifications whilst training on the job and now command good salaries.

SnowWhiteAteTheApple · 07/02/2015 11:09

I'd only encourage DS to go to uni if he needed a degree for his job.

Too many do degrees in subjects that simply don't lead to employment or end up not working anyway so the student loan never gets paid off and the degree was pretty pointless as never used.

BiscuitsAreMyDownfall · 07/02/2015 11:14

I went to Uni. I wasn't forced to go, but I did feel a bit pressured to go by my parents. I wish I never went so I could look to go now and do what I know I really want to do. When I was doing my A Levels I didn't really know what I wanted to do so picked a course I found vaguely interesting. Im not sure if my degree has helped my get anywhere. I certainly dont use it, unless potential employers have looked at my applications/CV and decided themselves it was worth interviewing me. Though I have never had any signs of that happening.

Id love to go to uni to do some nursing/therapist type degree. Too late now, have student loans from before and can't afford it.

Mrsjayy · 07/02/2015 11:15

twooddsocks I get what you are saying I can only go on my own dds experience she didn't want to move away her uni is the university of the highlands and islands so they hqve centres in colleges mostly her centre is local she drives her pt job is local her boyfriend is local she just wasn't fussed about the experience.

Alisvolatpropiis · 07/02/2015 11:15

I often wish I hadn't gone.

Sparklingbrook · 07/02/2015 11:20

What?! I thought unless you got all A*s and went to an RG University you may as well not bother doing anything at all.

Postchildrenpregranny · 07/02/2015 11:21

It was the 'making' of me . Left working class background , (it was possible even in the sixties) small village, met and made friends from all sorts of backgrounds, widened my horizons, learnt to hold my own in discussion, live independently etc .Have never really used the subject(s) of my degree though . My post grad diploma was a waste of time, but you had to have it.
DH didn't do a degree (in fact he doesn't really have A levels) He did very well in a very competitive creative field until the early 90s when he was competing with new Oxbridge graduates and his lack thereof was a distinct disadvantage
DD1 highly academic .Took a double first from a world class Uni , did a Masters at another. Even so, is competing against people with a PhD for jobs in her field . But wouldn't have a cat in hell's chance without a degree .
Dd2 Did a vocational (no choice)degree at a RG uni . Also got a First . More importantly, developed confidence etc , partly through the friends she has made.

It's horses for courses and I appreciate that these days you do need to consider where a degree might 'fit' in a life plan and the horrendous cost . Never occurred to the majority of my generation-but only 2% went to Uni then. No fees and I got a full grant for 4 years . You went off to study a subject you loved .We were so lucky.
You can always go back later in life

Postchildrenpregranny · 07/02/2015 11:24

Biscuitsaremydownfall
For a nursing degree you should get your fees paid
And depending on your circumstances you might well get bursary ( i think its currently about £5,000 pa) for living expenses

TheWordFactory · 07/02/2015 11:28

Well a degree is the be all and end all for quite a few jobs, isn't it?

And attending university still remains one of the best methods for spending several years in academic study.

So ...

TwoOddSocks · 07/02/2015 11:51

Oh I don't want to give the impression I think you should go to uni for that reason. There are lots of unique experiences in life and we're never going to experience them all. I don't think having fun with your mates is worth getting into 20k of debit for if you don't want to go anyway. Just that it was a fun unique time in my life. I have no doubt people who don't go to uni have plenty of other experiences during those years that I didn't.