AIBU to think DD is a bit silly to go to uni "for the experience"?

[Jinxis]

DD is going to uni in October. She has picked a degree that offers a lot of trips, etc.

She has no clue what career she wants.

She admits it's for the experience... Going on these trips, learning a new language, meeting new people, living away, etc.

She could have done all this without getting into 60k worth of dept though, couldn't she?

Madness IMO.

AIBU?

God, it really surprises me how unsupportive some parents are of their own children.

Ok, op. So you had it sorted at 18 and knew exactly what you wanted to do, your daughter doesn't and is like the vast majority of us. Maybe forgive her for not being as great as you. Very few degrees are vocational.What would you like her to do, forget the degree wnd get the first job she can?

The debt isn't your concern. It's a tax she only pays back when she earns over a certain level. So you can stand down on that one soldier.

She's continuing her education, she's picked a good degree, that hopefully she will enjoy. Good for her. A decent education is never s mistake. Try to be proud of her. If you can't then just back off.

Are you the OP who thinks her DD should study biological sciences instead of zoology?

I agree with contrary that Zoology sounds like it will be an intense, scientific course, but I also suggest you read up about how student finance works.

She will only pay back most or all of her debt if her degree leads to a well paid job. If it doesn't, she will pay back little or even nothing before it is written off and it will only cost her three years of lost earnings. Even if she starts a £30k job on graduation, her monthly repayments will be under £100 pm. Many people's mobile phone contracts are more than their student loan repayments, so hardly a huge burden.

But with the language and travel it could open all sorts of new career paths for her.

Well, what's the alternative? What are the job prospects where you live?

I think she should go, it's a good enough reason. Forget about the debt, it's not like a credit card debt where you get a bill every month and the interest is stacking up - it's like being put on a different tax code and you pay it off over a lifetime. Won't even notice it.

For what it's worth, I don't think most people have a clue what they want to do before they do their degree. I certainly didn't and I can only think of a handful of people I know who did. But there's little she could do without a degree ticked on her cv, so I think YABU.

Sounds amazing. The experience will be priceless.

I feel bad for today's kids

As I got all of the 'experience ' and fun trips difference was my parents helped and I had a very small debt of 10K

I don't think you are BU but it's very very sad

£60K

Absolutely no reason why a teenager should know what job they want to do for the next 50 years.

Leave her to it, it's her life she's living.

We've encouraged DS to go onto uni and study something that really interests him. From that, we hope he'll enjoy studying, achieve a decent grade, and eventually find a job.

It IS a big debt, but I do get why people are hesitant. I know several teens who are taking a year out to consider their options rather than just take up and offer to do a course they don't want to do, at a university they don't want to go to.

The rigid career path that we had has disappeared, and many young people these days will have several 'careers' in their life times.

I'm heartened by the fact that there are people who still say university, rather than uni - I thought I was the only one left

I have absolutely no qualms about student debt because it's repaid at an affordable rate and nobody will ever knock down your door to get it back, so in that respect I think YABU - there's so much unnecessary scaremongering about student debt. BUT I do think that most people only get one chance to go to uni (because they couldn't afford to self-fund and you only get one student loan) and if you suddenly discover at 22 that you want to be X but don't have the necessary degree, it's a bit gutting to think you wasted that shot on a degree you weren't that bothered about. So in that respect, YANBU. If she loves the subject and wants to work in the general field, that's great. But otherwise, she should wait and figure out what she wants to do first.

But either way it's her decision!

I do graduate interviews at my company and the majority of people have a degree that is no way related to what we do . We look to see the skills they have learnt etc so I don't think it's a bad thing .

University trained me in critical thinking as much as my specific subject. Zoology is a pretty academic subject which would allow access to a large range of well paid careers if that's what she chooses to do. It allows access to general graduate schemes too.

As someone said above, what are the alternatives for her employment now? It probably would be harder to access certain well paid careers without a degree (although not impossible).

Everyone saying 'it's her debt' - that isn't always the case. Over something like household of £50k it's a minimum loan which doesn't cover accommodation or living costs. So either they have to chance having a job which fits with the course and hope that materialises (and borrow part of the accommodation upfront) or parents have to fund.

I did languages at uni, studied abroad, had the time of my life! It's an extremely versatile degree, and the experience can be used to great effect on your cv (can adapt to pressure, new situations, communication with all sorts of people etc) Unless you then follow it up with an MA to get into a niche field that's mostly EU funded and have to rethink your whole career path when people vote to leave just as you start your diss

I went to university with one idea of what I wanted to do, realised I didn't enjoy my chosen field as much as I thought, changed degrees, and ended up in a different (although related) field. Plus, I was in my mid twenties when I went, so you should have thought I would have it all worked out by then! I think her reasoning is good, will give her lots of good training and experience, transferable skills, plus will help her discover (or at least narrow down) the direction in which she wants to go.

Whoops, just picked up on the language learning bit and not the zoology never mind...

Zoology is a great degree and she will get a lot of skills from it. My best friend at uni did it loved it. It's a hard degree and I don't remember lots of trips!

She did an MSC afterwards and became a writer and editor of science books for children. She's now retraining as a veterinary nurse. So her degree has been invaluable for her. I'm not sure why you would not think it's a good choice.

YABU.
I don't think many 18 year olds know what they want to do for a career. Zoology is a good degree and could lead to many things - she is keeping her options open.
Don't think of it as 'debt' in the normal sense. Think of it as a tax which she will have to pay when she starts earning a certain amount. The pay back is really no big deal.

I think lots of places require some sort of degree experience or grades.some not specifying so to go for one shes at least got an interest in isn't bad.if she wants to go to uni this is surely better than going into something she hates,will find difficult then not enjoy the time nor emotionly cope or be happy. this way shes still moving forward trying to find her way.
I think the debt can seem crippling.but try not to think of this huge lump some being taken from you or heaped on you.she will give back when shes earning and go from there. it is really crap but I think it can seem worse if you just think of uni being a debt.what if she gets a good job or future from this.finds something on the coure or meets someone in the job sector she wants because of it.she will get a job and then her earning will amount to how much she pays off.and if shes a hard workher then this will work out for her and she will be ok.
the people that struggle aren't just all who go to uni.they big up debt in other areas or fall down somewhere along the way.
it cant all be bad or no one would go.
id like to hold on to a belief she will be ok and find her feet.
isn't it better she has passion for dong this and not just thinking "shit I don't know what I'm doing with my life" not do anything and just fall down beasue of it.

I think it's a good idea to get her thinking about possible future careers.
I know lots of people who have graduated having done a degree in a subject and then floundered after uni because they were no closer to having ideas than they were at 18.
My DD has not enjoyed uni at all (apart from her degree) and is very grateful she doesn't need to do a second degree "to specialise"

I found it difficult, having done a science subject - few jobs and ended up on a grad training scheme, doing nothing I was interested in!

I am not going to comment on the debt but for me uni was a lot about 'the experience'. It was like a stepping stone to being an adult. I was responsible (for the first time really) for my finances, managing budgets, getting myself a degree; deadlines, prioritisation, independent research, sharing a house - learning the art of compromise and the rota - paying for damage and learning consequence, working with people from all different backgrounds and yes getting a degree out of it. I didn't have quite the 60k debt but I had around 15k to pay off through the SLC.

Did my degree help me get my job: no, did the fact I had one help: undoubtedly. Did all of the above contribute to my life experience, open my eyes and make me take responsibility for myself in a way I never had done before: absolutely. I wouldn't have swapped it for the world.

I hope your DD goes and I hope she has a ball. It's a once in a lifetime experience and I am sad governments make it harder for people to have that.

I went to uni with no idea of career. Chose my favourite subject. Chose a career in the last term of a 4 year course!!!
However loved uni. Great transition between school and work.
Yes I didn't have the debt but so glad I went.

I guess the question is is the uni/course respected. Sounds like she will be gaining lots of experiences she can talk about in interview.
I had a job in accountancy type role. Lots of English/languauage students so degree not necessarily need to be related.

Very few people truly know what profession will suit them at the age of 18. Some of the unhappiest people I know are those who thought they did and did vocational degrees, then got stuck in careers they hate. My own profession, medicine, is a case in point - many miserable doctors who went into it because their parents were doctors and got trapped.

Your DD is doing an excellent degree that will probably lead to an excellent job and - if it doesn't - she will never have to pay off the debt. Her open mind about her future is a good thing.