AIBU to feel that some parents just want their children at Uni even if its a BS degree

[DistinguishedSocialCommentator]

Hello
I come from a background/culture where education is seen as very important and going to a university is a must (My parents came to England in 1962)

Yes, more and more jobs are seeking degrees and often even when not necessary. There are many professions where you must have a degree to join the course training

However, what I and my family call BS degrees, to name but a few

Arts
Studio Fine arts
Arth History
Business studies
Exercise Science
Fashion

I cant see what jobs they will get as there must be other routes, less intensive and extensive to get the job they want

When I've talked about mickey-mouse degrees at parties etc and not be aware that some parents children or they may have studied them, they start to defend the indefensible.
The biggest bS degree is 'Politics' - WTH!! Sadly, we know a few people whose children have done that and ended up running the family shop/business - total waste of a degree

There are other degrees just as crappy - they should be banned IMO

AIBU to think these degrees are a waste of time and often do not aid the person into a job in that field?

I can imagine that dance training has a lot of overlap with skills needed to be a good surgeon. Great control over your body being one key skill.

My friend did fashion and went on to become head buyer for Laura Ashley then monsoon. She’s an exec at a health company now. I did history and politics - understanding political systems across the world is quite handy if you’re a civil servant. Understanding business -useful if you want to run a business successfully and legally. Are your family a bit thick?

Media studies is one of the degrees recognised for my career in communications/PR. I didn’t go that route but many did. We’ve just employed a new team member earning £35k in his early 20s who did TV and film at uni. I earn over £50k and I’m happy with that. Isn’t it great the world has so many options and opportunities?

As above. Btw - I have a very good and well-paid job in the Arts.

I studied Fashion Buying and Merchandising at uni.

It gave me the opportunity to have an industrial placement year which gave me skills, knowledge and connections. From that, I was able to get a grad job at a large retailer HQ. I worked my way up and now am a Buyer who regularly travels overseas to visit suppliers.

Quite frankly. Go F yourself. Sincerely, a graduate from a “bullshit” degree. 💋

Another one here with a decent job in the arts. Going to university isn’t just about preparing yourself for the sensible world of work though - what about following a passion and a dream, and learning to be a creative thinker? If no one trained in the arts and dared to dream big we’d have no innovation and no culture - how dull would that be?

Actually I think if there was a way to make it a debt free option, then I think all kids who have reached the basic required level, should be able to go and study what the hell they like. More variety of educational interests = more dynamic economy.

I am not fussed my son is doing physics. But it isn’t just the course it’s a life experience (or it should be) living in a different city ect ect.

Art isn't just about painting nice pictures. Who do you think draws the pictures in children's books, birthday cards, wrapping paper home furnishings and decor? Then there's police artists who do artists impressions of suspects or what at unidentified murder victim might have looked like. You can't just walk in off the streets to a job like that. You really need to shut your mouth. You clearly don't have a clue what your on about.

Job opportunities in Liverpool are few and far between? Are they? Have you ever visited Liverpool OP? We've come a long way from the deprivation of the 80s you know!

Not to mention there are quite a few world famous actors from around these parts. Not to mention world fucking famous music groups!

OP, you know that doing a degree isn’t necessarily about the subject, right? It’s about learning to think independently; to frame an argument; to debate; to take responsibility for your time and the demands on it; to prioritise and structure your workload — and many other things besides. That’s why many employers often want people with degrees but don’t necessarily demand a specific degree.
As far as I can see, you seem to be confusing degrees and professional qualifications. I mean, it’s possible to argue that a maths degree is irrelevant unless the recipient goes on to work in a maths-related field…?

I read about and hear about parents throwing money at their children to get a degree, Money parents can not really afford and the kid usually ends up with a BS degree an ends up working as they would have without going to uni, end up working in the family shop/store/business

It’s their money and their choice. It doesn’t affect you at all so why do you care?

Fwiw, I would prefer for my dc to have the uni experience over an apprenticeship any day. They will be working for the rest of their lives, they don’t need to start at 18 just to save us a few quid when they could be with like minded people their own age learning and having a blast.

Ds is planning on doing a degree that pretty much guarantees him a decent job at the end of it. One of your top ten list as it happens, but that’s not why he chose the subject. He chose it because it’s his passion which is the best reason in my book.

Dd is a few years off uni but is thinking of taking Classics or History. I very much doubt she will walk straight into a related job but I don’t see how further study of a subject she is passionate about to degree level can be a bad thing. But then I actually do value education.

If I won the lottery tomorrow I would sign up to do a second degree. I studied English literature and history on my first degree and then a primary PGCE. I love studying, learning and presenting facts and my opinion about those facts. I would probably go and do an English language degree, maybe with creative writing just for the God damned hell of it!

Your parents brought you up to be rude in other ways by the sound of it.

You started a thread which you knew would upset and offend people.

What were hoping to gain from this?

I’m planning at least one degree in retirement. Art history at the Courtauld. Or improve my Italian and do one in Italy.

I think this is very true. I think it's because I'm neurodivergent as fuck. But I can't stand disingenuousness. Op you obviously think you are better than everyone and so much better educated. So just own it! Don't dress it up as wanting a debate, it's just cringe.

The OP is conveniently ignoring this fact.....
This is exactly how the UK graduate labour market works. And I get my information on this topic directly from the Head of Labour Market Intelligence at Jisc and the CEO of the Institute of Student Employers.

But clearly the Op knows better 🤷🏼‍♀️

Arth is Welsh for bear - is the history of bears a BA or a BSc, I wonder? 😂

their children, O educated one... 🤭

Arth is Welsh for bear - is the history of bears a BA or a BSc, I wonder? 😂
Ooooh you'd offer both. One that focused on the evolution and biology of bears (BSc) and one that focused on bears in history, literature, art and mythology 😂😂

You choose if you can afford it and afford to pay off the debt if/when you get a job as it all depends where you live. Uni used to be free and nowadays many end up with big debts that can make people depressed especially if they can get a job inn the are they studied in

Uni used to be free and nowadays many end up with big debts that can make people depressed especially if they can get a job inn the are they studied in
Do you have evidence of this?

You can pop it in the same reply to my request for your data source for your comments on the graduate labour market.....

OP you come across as so incredibly ignorant. I don’t know if it’s because you have a very sheltered and insular life where you don’t mix outside of your own social groups/ culture, or whether you have been brainwashed by your family as a child into thinking that only certain qualifications hold value.

The fact that you say that people with these apparently valueless degrees end up working in the family ‘shop/ store/ business’ speaks volumes. I don’t know people who have family shops/ stores/ businesses. The vast majority don’t have that crutch to fall back on- perhaps if these graduates didn’t either then they might be more motivated to use their degrees in their chosen field?

I also imagine that seeing as only a select few degrees seemingly hold value to you, you have never worked, or at least never worked outside of those fields that you have been dictated to work in. So you have no idea how the ‘mickey mouse degrees’ are applied to the jobs they’re sought for. If you are intelligent enough to have managed to obtain any of these ‘prized’ degrees you certainly hide it very well.

Many thanks. Exactly what two of our kids did and now in the top 5% pay bracket
One of the three kids went to uni to be a dentist now going for orthadentist gets paid less than the 2 other siblings.