To wonder if it's worth going to university?

[SirJamesTalbotAndHisSpeculum]

I think a lot of people think that going to university is the be-all and end-all of life.

In fact, having a degree doesn't always mean that you're more likely to find employment. It also means that you start off life with a huge debt.

What do others think? AIBU to say that there are many other routes into employment?

DH is tearing his hair out at the thought of my pursuing a degree course for the next three years.

He reminds me that I had promised to write a comic novel and make our fortune.

Write a comic novel about a retired midwife uncovering a criminal network run by her wonderful new university tutor.

University made me depressed and anxious but I did a degree in history.

I need both my degrees to do the job I do. Plus, it's more than a qualification. It challenges you, pushes you and polishes you. Depends on the mindset of the kid though. If they just want to go to party then no. If they want to go to study hard and do their best, then yes.

Labassecour you could be the most qualified person on paper for a job but if the company want someone who needs to be able to speak to other people, clients etc then they will go with the lesser qualified person who can interact with people.

OTOH you might not be qualified at all but have a knack for something that on paper requires a degree and you are very confident.
It is amazing how many jobs you can talk your way into. I have done stuff in the past that I haven't got any of the qualifications they were asking for but I was presentable, with a modicum of common sense and could talk to interviewers.
Equally DD in one job where she trains the graduates to do her type of job which for 70% of the time she is talking to the public she is amazed that people coming out of university having studied for a career in this industry request that they are put in areas where they don't talk to anyone as they don't like that part of the job.

I don't think DD is the exception. A few friends are doing the same as DD.

But those at university most went to party

@QuaterMiss

I shall dedicate it to you.

Hmm, I do sometimes wonder about this. I had an electrician round the other day; he charged me £40 for a simple, 5 minute job. Makes me think that I'm in the wrong job, and that more young people should be encouraged to take up a trade.

I agree it depends on your strengths and career aspirations. I have a first class honours degree and masters but earn less than my friend who left school with two highers. That being said I work for the NHS and love my job, he is a manager at a large retailer and hates it.

I climbed the NHS ladder after gaining my A-levels and never went to uni. That was until I got to the band 8a level, and you're coming against degree-level applications for the band 8b posts. I realised if I didn't go to uni, I would climb no higher. So I did 10 years of climbing before I got stuck. I then undertook my degree through the open university, and have now continued to climb the ladder. So it depends how high you want to go in certain fields.

I spent four years at uni and then became a primary teacher. After 15 years the job had changed and I began to hate it. Now not using my degree as I am a SEN HLTA and far happier (but much poorer!) No intentions to ever return to class teaching again. I value my work-life balance too much.

So I guess for me uni was in some ways a waste of time?