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?

Thing is that debt doesn’t actually start being paid off though until you earn a certain amount.

i imagine some do just go for the experience and to have fun - Universoty students days are amazing. Then you are looking for jobs as a graduate and a whole lot of jobs don’t require a specific degree and those that you initially did do give you certain skill sets in the working workd

It’s an additional gain from going to uni.

It’s not just about the subject.
it’s so much more.

Did you go to uni? What did you study?

Why do you disapprove of swearing and then keep repeating ‘BS’. You know what that stands for yes?

God, your mindset is depressingly small-minded, petty and materialistic.

Also, are you saying your children left school at sixteen to work? Of their own volition?

You have done well and this is what I am saying, you don't need a degree and if you go for one, make sure its worth something

Sadly, just being "happy" does not pay the bills, especially if one lives in any part of London. Therefore, if you are spending 35/40/45 hours at work Mon to Friday even if working from home, why not get decent pay

2 of my three kids worked their way up like you did, left school with gcse's and then the co paid for their degree etc to take them over 80k and now they are earning more than double that

Not yu but many are are not understanding that there are good degrees, ok degrees and almost worthless degrees depending on uni you have been to and also need to consider job prospects

My point is in my culture, most parents older parents just wna the kid to go to uni but not really have an idea of what that entials. They are viewing through rose timted glasses as from my background many are docs/consults or other respected jobs in NHS, law, engineering etc but about hlef end up with a worthless degree or low level passes and cant get a job

So what is the "certain amount" ??
is it 50k, 60k 100k - what is it.

Please be aware the cost of living in London and cost of property and cost of rents

Even docs and nurses start out on relatively below avg wages

So just for that you go to uni and possibly end up with an almost worthless degree as you cant get job and to add to the burden, possibly a massive debt of 30k - all for what

You really need to start providing evidence for this statement.

If you are going to uni, go for something you know can be utilised in other sectors and many jobs around with super pay scales

Where did you gain your qualifications in career development? What makes you think everyone is motivated by super pay scales ?

So what is the "certain amount" ??
is it 50k, 60k 100k - what is it.

£27,660

I think most of us @DistinguishedSocialCommentator recognise the fact that there is Oxbridge (which by the way does a whole lot of the degrees you spoke about in your first post) Russell Group universities, then Universities then the old Polytechnics and degrees from then are rated differently.

i think most of us concede that a fine art or politics degree from Oxbridge outranks for example a law degree from an old Polytechnic.

the actual argument you have about degrees does have merit. Your choice of degrees does not and potentially ignores the fact that some simply go for the experience to increase the number of years being a student and having fun before entering the real world of work

I think you might actually have a chip on your shoulder about some of your kids not going to university and are ‘protesting too much’.

You don’t have to answer but are you from the Indian subcontinent? I am from a similar background and have seen communities like that where relatives bitch and gossip about others’ kids and who earns what.

Not everyone lives in London (or wants to).

My employer’s graduate scheme starts at well over average salary. It’s accessible with any degree from any university - not sure what the minimum grade is. I interview for the scheme occasionally and we definitely don’t discriminate on the degree or the university. So that’s some evidence against your assertion that some degrees are bullshit.

@DistinguishedSocialCommentator it starts at 27660 and comes out as a tax, any bonuses etc get taxed as well

what does London have to do with it - I do live in London/Surrey suburbs but not all graduates do

what does London have to do with it - I do live in London/Surrey suburbs but not all graduates do

Exactly.
In fact it's one of the biggest myths with regards graduate employment.
Graduates either stay in the place they studied or move back home.
Very, very few move to a completely new place.

I could take you more seriously if your grammar and spelling were better.

i think most of us concede that a fine art or politics degree from Oxbridge outranks for example a law degree from an old Polytechnic

I don't. I did a law degree from an ex poly and it has stood me in good stead for practising law.

I'm sure doing a degree at Oxford or Cambridge (had that been possible) would have launched my legal career quicker or given me different choices. But it never seemed like a serious option to someone like me. Besides which we simply couldn't have afforded for me to go somewhere I wasn't allowed to get a term time job and I wouldn't have wanted to put in the amount of study required. Plus I'd have had to also do a law conversion course = more expense which was unaffordable.

No-one in my family had been to university before, so just going to university seemed such an incredible opportunity for me. Much of what university someone attended is linked to social class and background, much more so than any natural ability.

Unlike many that go to uni, no work, end up with a degree that cant get them a job and a massive debt to burden them even before they have started out in life

Define 'Many'......
All the research shows that graduates are less likely to be unemployed, if they do lose their job they find employment quicker than a non graduate and are more likely to earn more over their lifetime. This more stark for women and people from lower socio economics backgrounds.

Learning doesn’t have to be vocational. It’s unfortunate that tuition fees etc have made it so you have to justify the cost with income.

As it happens so do I so hope you aren’t offended! Which I think is why I picked it

It was alive and kicking 2/3 years ago in London! It made me so cross! Such exploitation.

I think the chip on shoulder comes from the fact that @DistinguishedSocialCommentator didn't go to university.

(Although they are yet to clarify why they said they did on this thread, yet left education at 18 on another- despite having been kindly asked to clear up the confusion several times)

We've heard about the 3 amazing children and their stellar careers about 89 times on this thread alone, yet the OP seems strangely reluctant to tell us about her own education, although of course, it's pretty easy to extrapolate both from this thread and others, that there was very little of it.

Thnak you for the figures so you are in debt of lets say 30k and once you start earning peanuts, plus salt, you start paying off your debts. What about the rent/mortgage/fod/travel etc. Exact;y why I feel too many take uni education as a pathway to riches/great jobs but sadly we all know its not the case for many

Why do people keep guessing what I'm say re london. town/city/country is favoured by 100% of anybody. You may not be aware but living in London or daily travel gives a greater chance to a job of choice and possibilities of good pay and that is a fact. London is the centre of jobs but please feel free to disagree with me.

Its a fact of life that sadly many ignore to their cost

The grammar and spelling mistakes are done on purpose I think.

There is no consistency in the type of mistake made. If they were genuinely dyslexic (for example) or had any kind of cognitive disorder, they would be.

I'd say it's done for effect. It's noticeable that sometimes posts are perfectly well written, and other times not.

I have 2 science degrees (bachelors and masters). DP has an arts degree and he earns double what I do.

Well bully for them.

I can only hope they're not as arrogant and insufferable as you are coming across.

I would have been beyond devastated if any of my children had left school at the tender age of 16.