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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

...To think a degree is worthwhile at 23?

28 replies

Gannicusthemannicus · 12/08/2018 22:32

Posting here for traffic, hope that's ok.

Boyfriend went to uni at 19 and left after a couple of months as he didn't like the course (business) and was going through some personal issues. He then went into a retail job, where he has been for the past 3 years. He has always felt 'ashamed' for not having his degree and 'giving up' and wants to get his degree now at 23, but feels it is too late, doesn't know if it is worthwhile, and thinks no university would want him when he's been in retail for 3 years. I am very biased as I feel a degree is valuable for the experience as well as the qualification, and I think he would continue to beat himself up if he doesn't go now, so I wanted to get more opinions.

He would like to do accounting, or other financial degree, is this an area a degree is really needed, or would he be better served using the 3 years he would be studying to try and find a way in without a degree? And would his first attempt at uni be counted against him if he applied?

Thank you very much for any replies.

OP posts:

TittyGolightly · 12/08/2018 22:33

I’ll be about 43 when I get mine.......

No point doing it for the sake of it, but it’s never too late.

LemonysSnicket · 12/08/2018 22:35

There were loads of older students when I did my degree. Many being 22-30 and quite a few being 40+. I think he's afraid.

LemonysSnicket · 12/08/2018 22:37

And you could find a way in otherwise but you'll be on a much better pay grade if you already have one (30+) DP did finance and found it difficult but doable but also absolutely hates it now he has the job. It is A LOT of work, bad hours etc

Sparklesocks · 12/08/2018 22:37

Of course it is, there’s not really much in it when you think most grads are 21-22. And even those who went to uni at 18 could still be studying at 23 if they did something like medicine, or followed up with a Masters etc.

Mummymummums · 12/08/2018 22:38

I got my degree at 29. It's never too late.
I'm now in a professional position but even if I hadn't used it for my chosen career (which in fact I only decided to do when I was almost finished), then as long as you pick something you're interested in, it's not a waste of time and will probably open doors.

Pippylou · 12/08/2018 22:40

I would be looking at apprenticeships. I have relations connected with financial education & the companies are putting a lot of levy money that way.

Nothing wrong with going to Uni as a mature student, I loved it but he might be happier earning as he's used to it. Apprentice can take him to degree level, I think depends on level. Have a look.

DisplayPurposesOnly · 12/08/2018 22:40

I was 22 when I went to university and it was perfect timing for me (but in fairness that was 25+ years ago).

For accountancy he should have a look at apprenticeships (jobs with training). Apprenticeships go up to degree level in many subjects, accountancy is one.

Merryoldgoat · 12/08/2018 22:42

A) a degree is not essential for accounting

B) a degree is not worthlessness and at 23 he is very young.

However, given the cost of HE, I’d want to choose the most cost effective and efficient way of getting into my chosen career so would only do a degree that facilitates that.

9amTrain · 12/08/2018 22:42

Bizarre way of thinking that 23 is too late for anything...

Hooleywhipper · 12/08/2018 22:43

I’ve just completed mine at 48.

BlueBug45 · 12/08/2018 22:44

If he did a degree now he would be 26/27 when he finished. As he would have some work experience and hopefully get more during the degree then he would be employable.

I should add I've worked for companies that wouldn't promote people into more senior positions unless they were degree qualified. Some people in these companies didn't get their degrees until they were in their 40s.

GlitterGlassEye · 12/08/2018 22:44

Well I’m 34 and going into my last year of Accounting diploma, and fingers crossed, straight into my 3rd year of university next year to get my degree. So not too late at all imo.

theymademejoin · 12/08/2018 22:46

I'm a university lecturer and we generally love mature students. They are there for the right reasons and will usually work hard and help to build a really good class dynamic.

coffee88 · 12/08/2018 22:50

If he wants do accountancy a degree is a waste of time, he should et started on ACCA or CIMA.A degree won't exempt him from much of their qualification

LegallyBrunet · 12/08/2018 22:50

I’m 23 and about to start the second year of my law degree. Definitely not too late

OftenHangry · 12/08/2018 22:51

I am over 30 and starting a degree.
Not late. He can do it

RJnomore1 · 12/08/2018 22:52

I was 29 when I graduated with my first degree.

I'm now a senior manager for a local authority abd about to embark on a PhD at 42.

23 is nothing.

Johnnyfinland · 12/08/2018 22:55

Of course it isn’t too late! But he needn’t be confined to a life working in retail just because he doesn’t have a degree. I quit mine and now work in a professional industry where 99% of my colleagues have degrees, I got in by a combination of being pushy and networking, looking for jobs that were sort of related and working my way across, and in the very beginning using recruitment agents to help me get out of retail and into an office job

Logistria · 12/08/2018 23:30

Does he actually want to work in accountancy afterwards? Because if so, no, do not do a degree first. All it will do is delay him qualifying and being able to do the job he wants to do and leave him with a shed load of debt.

Even if you have a degree you still have to spend 3 years training and studying and doing professional exams to qualify as an accountant. Having a degree first is incredibly pointless unless you're hoping to get your first job in the a big 4. Even so, once you've qualified and proven your ability nobody cares whether you have a degree as long as you have an accountancy qualification and relevant experience. You can only work as a book keeper without one. Degree or not.

If he wants to do accountancy, then just get a training position. Employers will train you and give you time off to attend college and sit your exams (and pay for the courses). So after 3 years you qualify without any debt (unless you leave the job early, most require you to stay 12 months after your last exam) and experienced in the career path.

ACCA, ICAEW, ICAS, and CIMA are the routes to being a qualified accountant. If he wants to work in industry, then CIMA. If he wants to work in practice, then any of the first three. If he thinks he might want to do both/move between industry and practice or set up on his own, then ACCA.

Don't waste time on AAT unless he doesn't meet the entry requirements for ACCA/ICAEW/CIMA. I know ACCA have a mature student entry route but I can't remember the age. Check the website. AAT only gets you technician status - if you want to be a qualified accountant (able to call yourself a chartered accountant) you still have to do ACCA/ICAEW afterwards. It just extends the number of exams and length of time to qualify.

If he does ACCA he can start studying for it before he finds a job. Getting a few exams under his belt would strengthen his position when looking for a training contract and would confirm it was the right path for him. Although obviously he'd have to finance his own studies and exams. But it's basically pay as you go for whatever you study for. The fees are nothing like as high as for a degree. (BPP and Kaplan provide training and study materials.)

Advantage of doing ACCA is that he could do a degree at the same time, so by the end of it all he would be a qualified accountant and have a degree. Accountancy qualifications are reasonably marketable, and there are lots of different specialist paths you can go down after you qualify, if you so wish.

If this is what he wants to do he needs to do his own research. Employers will expect him to know about the qualification he's proposing to do, the exams required, the practical experience requirements, and the field he wants to work in, what the sector is like, that it's more than just number crunching, etc.

The people who want training contracts but don't even know the name of the institute their potential qualification is from, who've never been on the website, don't have a clue how to register as a student, or what the requirements are to attain membership... Well, they don't impress employers.

YaLoVeras · 12/08/2018 23:32

I'm going to do a philosophy degree in my early 50s. ( 48 right now)

So of course it's worth it!

Logistria · 12/08/2018 23:36

Re reading and I'm not sure how clear that was. ACCA have a partnership with Oxford Brookes so that part of your ACCA exams count towards a BSc, and if you do certain additional work and pass you also obtain the BSc. The extra fees are pretty minimal for completing the degree pathway.

But you can read about it on the ACCA website. I just wanted to clarify that it was a combined pathway, not two separate things you'd do at the same time.

They also have a masters programme with a different university.

NotTheQueen · 12/08/2018 23:49

Plenty of good advice on here, especially from logistria If he does ACCA, he can also apply to Oxford Brooke’s for a BSc in Applied Accounting afterwards. It’s a dissertation after ACCA so he’ll have two qualifications, not just one.

I did my Business degree in my 30s My boss at a tech company toldl me he wasn’t sure how I’d got the job without a degree, but he thought I should hurry up and do a degree as I wasn’t stupid, but people would dismiss me professionally until I did. I’m starting my Masters next month, not for career reasons really, but for the mental stretch and pride in myself.

If he wants to do it, he’ll find a way to do it, but there’s are lots of mature students who succeed for exactly that reason - their maturity.

LellyMcKelly · 12/08/2018 23:57

He already has the grades if he got in the first time so he’d likely be accepted. I’m a lecturer and we have lots of slightly more mature students. 23 is a great age to go. They’re a little bit more mature and having been out in the world for a bit they value their education more, but are still young enough to get involved in student life if they want to. Most mature students do very well on our courses. He could look into degree apprenticeships. If his employer pays the apprenticeship levy he might be able to do it part time and it would be paid for by the levy. That way he could continue to work. His HR department should be able to help

Rebecca36 · 13/08/2018 00:52

It's not too late. Lots of young people drop out of courses because they are just not ready for uni.

The fact that your bf has held down a steady job for three years will look good to any uni he approaches, shows he has matured and is reliable. He will also have learned quite a lot at work.

I hope he does well - but makes sure he has the finances sorted before he starts.

BlueBug45 · 13/08/2018 01:05

@NotTheQueen unfortunately your boss's attitude isn't rare.

I've met very experienced people without degrees but they can only go so far in their field so to get more senior they do a degree. Some actually just do Masters and not a undergraduate.

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