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?

Please list all of your academic qualifications and income before continuing.

I think that would be very helpful.

Business studies which encompasses law, accounting, economics, marketing, data analysis- ya completely useless!

Sounds like you're at least having fun, even if it's not your career!

Unlike the OP who wouldn't have a clue on how to do a walk on as an extra or have fun.

Any degree?

If so, how would Media studies get you a job if you lived in Stoke in Trent?

Taking medical degree would on the other hand, open the door to a mass of job opputuines..

Well you are a complete fool because my DC1's degree is an Arts degree, but they work in Education.

Sibling has a Law degree but hasn't ever worked in a legal capacity. Is my sibling superior to me with my Arts degree??!

What a crock of shit! Not everyone is the same, and there's room in the world for people with all sorts of skills and interests.

That article doesn't say what you think it says. Read it more carefully. Do you really think there's a Maths 'industry' in the UK? Or that the majority of Law grads are solicitors or barristers?

Ah wise up, it's a very small proportion of students that will meet the strict criteria for Medicine!!!

You could take Media Studies, and you know, move out of Stoke on Trent?!!!

But those are all rather boring jobs! I did a degree in a subject I was rather good at, at a university I was very privileged to get into....My current job is not related to my degree AT ALL but the skills I learned have benefitted me ever since.

Have your family really only run shops despite having "worthwhile " degrees?

Why would somebody who wants to work in media or Art be aiming to work in a bank?

I bet loads do! Marketing, PR, comms - banks need them and creative grads want to do them!

OP are your parents from an Asian background? Mine were and came to the UK in the sixties. They were very much of the immigrant mentality of us becoming doctors, lawyers etc and we obliged. But our kids now are doing language degrees, humanities etc at great universities. My parents have learned that Medicine, Dentistry and Accountancy are not the only careers and view our kids’ choices with interest.

They are not dismissive and rude about ‘Arts’ degrees. They have adapted and we certainly have realised too that ‘professions’ aren’t the be all and end all. Why do you think you and your family are stuck in the seventies and have not modernised your thinking? The world has changed.

My dd has a 1st in Forensic Biology, and works in a lab testing materials.

Thanks! I do like my job, it's just not interesting to the general public haha.
@DistinguishedSocialCommentator what 'mass of opportunities'?

You are possibly holding them back by discouraging them to get a degree. We recently had this conversation at work on those of us with and without degrees, the common point made was that in order to climb higher a degree was needed so those without hit the ceiling faster than the rest of us who can keep climbing. I would agree that they are every bit as capable as the rest of us, one guy even better than all, but our further education counts. It's just common practice now thats many companies require graduates to have a degree, even if not in a relevant degree, for certain roles

I like to think I've done pretty well with my art history degree from a top uni. Senior lawyer at a City firm. I don't really give a monkeys what degree our trainees have - learning about academic legal issues (e.g. the law of ancient Rome) isn't going to help draft a contract, provide advice on legislation etc.

What's the point in doing anything?
Why does everything have to have the purpose of earning ££££?

Without someone being prepared to study:

Arts
Studio Fine arts
Arth History
Business studies
Exercise Science
Fashion

Many things that make our lives sweeter just wouldn't exist.

So not everyone get a job in their choosen university subject, maybe not everyone is actually looking for a job in this particular subject?
Or maybe they are just not good enough for the industry, but are able to home in on the skills that are developed whilst studying?
I don't think you are able to be the judge of that.

If so, how would Media studies get you a job if you lived in Stoke in Trent?

Oh I don't know - working on the social media, advertising, marketing of say Seven Trent Water, The LA, Burton Albion, of online social media for a local company or even a global one given that, you know it's mainly online, or for promotions for local hotels, sports groups, designing poster campaigns for local businesses, online news reporting for the region, regional TV and radio - just off the top of my head. Or maybe you move to Manchester, Birmingham etc?

I could brag more....in fact I shall! Without my BS degrees, I wouldn't be able to choose when and where I work. I live completely fine and have 4 kids who are also completely fine and we have everything we need an more. I don't think I work more than 6 months a year total. Those BS degrees are useless

To be clear then OP in your considerable experience in HE (not sure in what role) the ONLY point of a degree is that it leads directly to employment? Not for any transferable skills, developing independent study, critical thinking, meeting deadlines, team work, social skills? Just straight line A-B?

I mean I know law grads from RG Uni's with good degrees who can't find work but obviously that's not because they did a BS degree.

The more you say about you and your family’s ’party jokes’, the more I imagine entire streets suddenly emigrating rather than accept an invitation to these witty banterfests.

You seem to have no idea about the transferable skills and knowledge gained from an University education. Some of the subjects you listed lead to extremely varied and interesting careers. It also depends on the calibre of the student. How many extra-curricular activities did they participate in while at University? Did they engage in study skills, other skills-based workshops? What was their attendance and engagement in lectures? All of this enhances their confidence and the value of their degree. No degree is automatically going to land you a job as if you are entitled to one.

Well, they are not Artists or actors, are they?

And? I don't understand the point you're trying to make. I am simply saying that the value of a degree is what it leads to. It doesn't become worthless if you find grad level employment in an unrelated field - the vast majority do - even your revered Maths and Law grads.

It's win-win - study a subject you love for three years, use the degree to get a grad level job. What's not to love!

Thought you said business studies was stupid? It's giving a higher chance of a job than law

I think you have missed the point of a degree. Yes there are jobs a person can get without a degree, and there are ways to work up through the ranks. There are some careers where a degree is required.

My son is doing film making. I expect you think of this as a "Mickey mouse" degree. Do I expect him to go and become the next Speilberg? No, not really. But he is learning a lot of useful skills for working in media - scriptwriting, directing, camera work, sound work, production, post production. And more importantly, he is thriving, he is doing something he adores, has met like minded passionate people for the first time in his life, he has grown SO much in confidence and self belief and even if he never works in the industry, I don't think he will ever again think he is a weird person that isn't really great at anything. He has also had a "soft launch" at adulthood and living away from home. Absolutely worth every penny.

Trust me, its typical party joke for us and the people that we know, "going to uni, what degree are you hoping toa achieve."? Answer, 'Media Studies

You sound fun at parties…

Partner and I both got politics degrees and are now in policy roles. For us, math degrees would’ve been useless 🤷‍♀️

I agree with most of what you have posted

I disagree the bit about me "holding them back."!!

I'm actually telling them to only waste time and loads of money by going to a uni if they are to study for something that will make it massively easier to get them into a decent paying job, otherwise go to work and work you way up and get paid for it

In coucils, they offer to pay for your degree and at the same time you get paid for work and almost guaranteed the now job once you have qualified

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