Why are so many YP going to uni, when uni isn't right for so many YP? AIBU to think fewer YP should go to uni as it's only giving them a huge debt?

[MerryAquaKoala]

It seems such a waste of time for so many, racking up huge debt and gaining no benefit from their degree whatsoever. It seems to me that uni's accept such low grades from A Level these days, it's literally a scheme to keep money going to the university and definitely not for the benefit of the YP.

It probably even comes further back to A Levels - A Levels aren't right for so many YP yet currently it seems they're funnelled into doing them anyway.

Something doesn't feel right with it all and in the end it's a YP left with huge debt for the rest of their life (usually). Seems so wrong.

My son has just started his 3rd year at Uni. He's doing an Art degree. He knows that AI is taking over what would be entry level jobs for him in that industry so his degree won't do anything for him. It's just a piece of paper with thousands of debt attached to it. So the education side is useless to him.

But the social side? He has an amazing part
time job which he loves and will hopefully lead to a career. He never would have had the job is he didn't go to that University. He lives with his 2 best friends. He's grown and developed so much as a man he wouldn't be the person he is today if he hadn't gone through all of the crap he has in the last few years. A very expensive way to get to where he is!!

Daughter is doing her A levels and will not go to University.

There is more to life than work. DD could have stayed in our (provincial) town, and gone from school to, say, an insurance office or accountancy firm. Yes, she would be earning - but it's all a bit bleak isn't it?

Why wouldn't you do this if you could?

Debt, of course, but you only pay that back if you earn well. A lot of public sector workers (the employer of choice on MN) will never have to pay the full amount back.

That’s not true. My DS is applying for 5 and has to achieve A*AA in 3 of his 4 A-Levels to get his place, that is not an easy achievement. He’ll work his butt off to get this next summer to get onto the degree he wishes to study.

Totally agree. We’re a long time working, so young people should have fun in education for as long as possible.

They should aim high. If it works, great. If it doesn’t, well at least they had an amazing experience whilst they tried to better themselves.

It doesn't mean it's not true. It might be true of the course and uni he wants to go to, but there are many universities and courses that just want bums on seats. Behold: the foundation year. If you do poorly, you get to do an extra year in uni.

Good apprenticeships are bloody hard to get on to and are often taken by the kids who get the high A level grades anyway.

There needs to be more for the C-E candidates who aren't really sure what they want to do yet.

You could of course go to uni for 3 years, and then get a job at an insurance company in a provincial town, assuming you're not passed over for the 18yo who is cheaper and has the same job skills as the 22 yo grad.

It's not a wasted thing for some. I would have sucked in anything trade related, I kid of think the contempt for academic education is equally unfair as some people's contempt for trades. Each person has their own path, forcing people into any one is short sighted.

Obviously i had a student loan but I will never be earning enough (disabled) to pay it off so I don't bother thinking about it.

Why would they? Why use a longer word when people understand a shorter one

To be fair, I think my b7 pay reflects the responsibility I have. I have a masters level qualification (pgdip) and got a distinction but my experience gave me the skills for the job, the pgdip was interesting and I enjoyed it but I don’t know I do my job better for it.