To think you don’t go to University just for the University experience

[CovidSmart]

Many many discussions in our house on university atm.

Two dcs who are convinced (I imagine from what school is telling them) that what is important is to find the Uni where you will get the best experience. Somehow the rest doesn’t seem to matter as

• companies will train you
• you can do whatever you want after that as long as you have a degree/master.

I see university as a way to learn about a subject so you can work after so the subject is important (eg important to learn economic if you want to work in business related fields, engineering to be an engineer etc..).

Both dcs are so adamant I’m wrong that I’m starting to question myself. Not having the experience of the British system doesn’t help (went to uni and started to work in a different country).

Any experience?

It's not about learning about Henry VIII, it's about learning to think.

I would think, for most students, the 'university experience' is about parties, meeting new friends, gaining independent living skills. That could be anywhere. The only difference would be whether you continue to live at home

I find it bizarre that sixth forms talk about the experience as being so important almost neglecting the education - this approach has resulted in students almost seeing the 3 years as a chance to "have a great time" without a thought for the future. We have too many degree courses, too many universities , too many students - all funding themselves. We should have fully funded courses for a smaller number of students who are going to university for the education

Having a degree 2.1 or 1st from a good university regardless of what is studied is always a benefit. For example my DD started a Maths degree at a Russell group uni, but she really didn't enjoy this even with knowing that the degree would have opened lots of doors for her. She then switched to a degree studying Business and Marketing and she excelled in it and left with a 1st. Just having a 1st class degree from a very well regarded uni (regardless of subject) has opened doors for her. She is now on a graduate training programme for a large well known beauty company.
But what she has never regretted is going to Uni doing a course she enjoyed and learning to be independent and making life long friends.

Which university you go to makes a difference. Though I agree the experience of living away from home (if you do) and some non-academic skills you gain should be a part.

@twelly

I find it bizarre that sixth forms talk about the experience as being so important almost neglecting the education - this approach has resulted in students almost seeing the 3 years as a chance to "have a great time" without a thought for the future. We have too many degree courses, too many universities , too many students - all funding themselves. We should have fully funded courses for a smaller number of students who are going to university for the education

“The experience” is crucial. However I think people misunderstand what “experience” refers to. It doesn’t just mean nightlife, it’s a whole host of others things that actually are crucial to your career.

E.g. work placements and opportunities to get internships or placements or part time work.
Societies and opportunities to get experience for your career.
Being with people like you—intelligent, cultured and international. Learning as much from other students as from professors.
Living independently, manner of teaching, how you gain crucial life skills. How you have to learn to control your own schedule and finances.
The extra currics and guest lectures at the uni—the opportunity to meet leaders in various fields. The trips they offer where you learn about different disciplines. Work and development opportunities from these. The careers fair where top recruiters meet top students and open doors.

Basically, if you do uni right you end up with a top degree and a full cv, plus lots of contacts and a strong understanding of career options. You’re well placed to walk into a great grad career. Equally, you have a bloody good time!

Some unis have excellent opportunities, others don’t. At some unis it’s almost hard to leave without a good range of experiences, at others there is nothing on offer.

One of mine went purely for the uni experience, he studied History and a Masters in modern history. Another son went for the experience and for the subject, Economics. They both loved their subjects, I think you have to if you want to study it at degree level.
I was happy that the experience was a driving force for both of them to go, youngsters have so many years to work now retirement age keeps getting older and older.

But what she has never regretted is going to Uni doing a course she enjoyed and learning to be independent and making life long friends.

That's great to hear.

Incidentally, in my university I come across, quite regularly, students that possibly should not be at university.

In Ireland we did amazingly at pushing higher education for many. It's wonderful when it's what the students want.

Often they would better in a different model of tertiary education eg an apprenticeship or a practical course at a technological college (which are fast being pushed down the university route too).

It's a pity as we in some cases are not serving some students well with this approach.

I feel there are more diversity of offerings in the UK. Also, the 'college' system post GSCEs seems to me to offer exactly that kind of training opportunity to young people, who can make an informed decision about their path thereafter.

I know that no system is perfect. I'd wish for that experience described above for every student. I feel sad when I meet students who aren't motivated & find it overwhelming.

I had no idea how to 'do' university. I was 1st in family to get to a levels, never mind uni. I did become a teacher. I wonder if would have done if I'd had parents who knew more about professional jobs . My parents thought good degree = amazing job. My disappointment at the lack of glittering career at 21 led me to teaching, which was meant to be a well paid stop gap until I found something else to do.

Financially, I'd have been better off working from 18 and buying a small house at 21. But I've done this 'stop gap' for 20 years, so it can't be that bad.

Some excellent advice here - I did a humanities degree (not history but similar) and got a graduate job with one of the Big 4. Did my accountancy qualification and I'm still there albeit in more of a specialist consulting role. I actively look for people with arts degrees. 90% of the job I/colleagues do is writing reports or presentations. Actually being able to write an essay is a huge huge advantage - doesn't matter what the subject is but it's really obvious who has had that training at university.

DH studied history and has a very good business career.
I studied another arts subject and do something totally unrelated.

We both have MA's.

I am encouraging my dc to go to Uni if there is something, anything they want to study academically for 3 years.

It is about learning to think, analyze and grow up a bit.

I see the MA as the settling down and focusing qualification.

Any decent Uni would do, although I would always advise visiting to check you click with the ethos of the place.

enjoying university is of course important and it is great when students enjoy their course and enjoy the rest of the experience - clubs, placement etc. What I find bizarre is when students are going to university with at the incentive being the experience ie the social and partying experience rather than the subject and the placements which are seen as an inconvenience. I feel that many of the jobs which ask for a degree don 't need one - it would be better to enter
with A levels or equivalent and train on the job. I suspect that one of the impacts of covid might be the move to more blended learning with less students going away for the experience as it people now realise they can access lecturers from anywhere in the uk.

Sorry you haven't found it helpful. I still think you are over-thinking it. Can you really not think of a few universities off the top of your head that you can imagine DC1 for example, fitting well into?

No I don't @EarringsandLipstick because as I said I have absolutely no knowledge at all of the universities in the UK. The system in my own country is very different. You don't get to choose as such. You have a competitive entrance examination and you take what you get.

This is also why I started this thread. It is an alien world out there for me. Yes even after 20 years in the UK.

@CovidSmart

Sorry you haven't found it helpful. I still think you are over-thinking it. Can you really not think of a few universities off the top of your head that you can imagine DC1 for example, fitting well into?

No I don't @EarringsandLipstick because as I said I have absolutely no knowledge at all of the universities in the UK. The system in my own country is very different. You don't get to choose as such. You have a competitive entrance examination and you take what you get.

This is also why I started this thread. It is an alien world out there for me. Yes even after 20 years in the UK.

What about your DH? You said he went through the U.K. system?

Have a look at the league tables. (The Guardian ones can be a bit fickle, but the TES and CompleteGuide ones are steadier.) Look at uni websites. Just try to get a feel for what grades get you into which courses, where.

Thank you all for your feedback. Some really interesting point of views and exeriences.

One thing that really stuck out for me is that basically, in the UK, going to a good university with the right placements during the Uni years (and spending time with similar people so building netwroks) = best chance at a good job in nearly whatever area you want. Good too is to have the best grades possible.
But the subject as such isn't as important.

Yes DH went through The UK system but through a poly rather than Uni.

None of his parents had been to Uni before and the career advisor at his school guided him very badly, telling he didn't need math when he wanted to do some engineering :( His experience of university hasn't been the best.

So as you have all been helpful, I have another question forf you.

What about those who do their degree/MA but fail to get a job or can only get a MW job and never manage to get out of it?

Why is that happening? What's the difference between those students and the ones who succeed and end up with a job at £50k as a graduate?

I didn’t really know what I wanted to do and went to uni to study music just for the love of studying it, at a Russell group university. It was a wonderful experience that I don’t regret.
At least one of my degree peers went onto to accountancy graduate schemes with their honours music degrees so certainly at that time ‘a degree’ from a good uni did open lots of doors.
I then went back to do a masters and professional qualification in something similar to nursing with placements etc. It was a totally different experience and I’m glad I didn’t do that as my one undergraduate degree.

What's the difference between those students and the ones who succeed and end up with a job at £50k as a graduate?

In my experience: Eton.

There are a lot of paths where it is basically just a degree you need not a specific one, and without one you would not be able to progress/it would be much harder to progress. There are many conversion courses, eg. Teaching, many healthcare roles, social work, law conversion etc.

There are of course also paths where you need a specific degree, like medicine.

So everyone is right!

History graduates are highly sought after.
Many of the top graduate recruiters specifically target history courses - particularly accountancy firms.

It's a great degree to choose!

Oh and around 80% of graduate jobs don't ask for a specific subject.

My DS is off to university in September to study an academic arts subject at a russell group uni. I have strongly encouraged this. I am firmly of the view that an English / history / politics / geography degree from a traditional university combined with some good work experience and extra curricular me will stand him in good stead for the kind of career he wants

@CovidSmart

So as you have all been helpful, I have another question forf you.

What about those who do their degree/MA but fail to get a job or can only get a MW job and never manage to get out of it?

Why is that happening? What's the difference between those students and the ones who succeed and end up with a job at £50k as a graduate?

Because they think just getting a degree is enough.

This is where the university experience can really help, there are lots of opportunities to develop your employability skills while at uni but you have to be proactive!

Good university plus good degree 2.1 or more plus good work ethics then very unlikely I have problems getting a career.

Most important thing is to study something that you are actually interested in at a good university.