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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

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Original poster

Should DS go to university

17 replies

IDK · 22/01/2012 17:36

DS is in Year12 doing humanities subjects. He has no idea what he wants to do for a living. He is intelligent but not academic eg for one of his GCSE he got a D for coursework because he didn't apply himself but got A* in the exam. He is a strong character; a leader; a persuader. I can see him doing a sales or negotiating job. I can't see him being a grey suit.

In the past I would have encouraged him to go to university so he has three years to grow up and find himself but now that tuition fees are so high I am changing my mind. Unless you know that you are aiming for a job that only takes graduates does university make sense any more.

OP posts:

webwiz · 22/01/2012 17:59

Well I still think there is a lot of value in a university education even if you don't know what you are going to use it for. I have lots of romantic ideas about the joy of learning things and that education is more than just a means to an end. However with the rise in fees I can understand why it seems a less appealing choice. Does your DS want to go to university? or is he a typical year 12 who hasn't a clue? It isn't so black and white as "go now or don't go at all" he could still go to university after working for awhile if he had a clearer idea what he wanted to do then.

Original poster

IDK · 22/01/2012 20:01

I have romantic ideas about education, too, but DS doesn't. I don't know if I should be encouragin him. The main benefits of education are the transferable skills but he could just as easily learn them in the workplace as he could at university.

The money involved is the equivalent to the deposit on a property and you wonder if that is a better investment.

OP posts:

GrendelsMum · 23/01/2012 10:55

Why doesn't he see what his options are if he doesn't go to University? e.g. what sorts of jobs can he apply for with A-levels and no work experience? Are there training schemes he can apply for straight out of school / college? If he thinks that there are realistic options for him, he can always work now and go to University later if he feels like it

bakingaddict · 23/01/2012 11:10

I think you have to consider what they would want to do at university as £27,000 for 3 years is a lot to pay to discover yourself. Ditto what GrendelsMum says. I know of lots of people who did more vocational degrees as opposed to academic degrees and a lot of those are existing on £16K temping jobs and are bitter as they haven't been able to climb the graduate ladder. I went to uni when there was no fees and you got full grants but if I had to do it now i'd probably try and get a few years work experience first

GrungeBlobPrimpants · 23/01/2012 15:44

Well, you have to want to go to university and you have to have a passion for the subject you want to study

If he's still unsure why not consider the option of a gap year after A levels - get a job/some work experience. It may make him focus his mind a bit more on what he wants to do and either result in a strong university application the following year OR focus on something vocational etc.

Original poster

IDK · 25/01/2012 09:29

Thanks for your thoughts, ladies, but I was hoping for more responses. I will try re-posting this on the Sec Ed section.

OP posts:

ssd · 25/01/2012 09:33

am following this with interest

I guess there are just no guarantees anymore

a degree used to be a big deal, now everyone seems to have them and many are still job hunting

yet having a degree feels like it would increase your chance of getting a decent job

its a hard one

OneHandFlapping · 25/01/2012 09:35

One option would be to apply for a place and defer it for a year. He could then spend the year doing work experience/an internship in a field he might be interested in.

It would give him another year to grow up - someone who arses about with coursework is unlikely to settle down to unspervised study at uni, and the possibility of earning some money.

The school may have some links with local businesses, or get him to take his CV into eg all the local estate agents, or google.

elvisaintdead · 25/01/2012 09:39

I work with people who have degrees, usually in things like business, marketing, sociology...etc and I know from speaking to them that they feel a bit fed up that they have studied and are in debt and are doing the same job as people of the same age without a degree.

I don't think it helps progression - I have no degree but have progressed quickly - but I don't think it hinders it either.

I think if he doesn't know what he wants to perhaps he should consider a gap year - do some travelling or some volunteer work or even and entry level job and see how he feels in a years time?

I will support my kids in whatever they want to do but won't be pushing uni unless they have a career in mind that needs a degree such as teaching or law. These days I think a trade is much more useful and a better guarantee of a decent job, especially things like plumbers, electricians etc.

Service jobs can easily be moved abroad but people will always need their central heating fixing by a person who is physically present in the same room.

dizzyday07 · 25/01/2012 09:47

As the mum of a DS who after 1 term of Uni is quitting, I'd recommend that if he doesn't have a passion for a particular career/subject then maybe it's not the best place for him at the moment.

There are lots of careers that you can get into at an entry level, and through hard work and part time studying can in the end result in just as good prospects.

I think sometimes kids feel under pressure (from society not necessarily parents) to think that you MUST have a degree to ensure that you don't end up cleaning the streets for the rest of your life!

mumeeee · 25/01/2012 10:02

University is not for everyone. However it's more than just getting a degree. You do grow up and learn to cope on your own. I agree you do have to be passionate in what you do. DD2 is in her finally year of a Drama degree and has got 2.1's in a lot of her assignments ( well the ones I know about). She does want to get into acting but knows that is very hard. She has grown up over the last couple of years and has been discussing with her friends about what to do when they finish. The plan is to stay in Kingston and get a job while still looking for an acting role. Sorry I digress but what I'm trying to say if we had insisted she did a different degree that she wasn't passionate about I know age would have just become very frustrated and wouldn't have worked so hard. She didn't go until she was 19 which I think helped a lot.

Original poster

IDK · 25/01/2012 10:14

Service jobs can easily be moved abroad but people will always need their central heating fixing by a person who is physically present in the same room.

True, elvis. Unfortunately DS is cackhanded dyspraxic so trades are out of the question.

There are lots of careers that you can get into at an entry level, and through hard work and part time studying can in the end result in just as good prospects.

True again, dizzy. When I look around me at who has done well in life - nice house, work/life balance, contented family, some v. wealthy - there are an awful lot of non-graduates in the list. Will it be the same for DS's generation?

OP posts:

Oblomov · 25/01/2012 10:31

I think the issue here is not about Uni, but your poor ds, and his choices.
We need Xenia here. Seriously. I went to Uni, doing languages, with no idea what job I was going to do. And i fell into what I currently do.
I so wish I had been given really sound careers advice.
There are people who give it. Just think, how worthwhile it would be to pay a few hundred pounds now to give ds direction. You can get online questionaires that really look at your skills, whether you're a plodder , or a leader, whether you want an easy life or seriously committed. And also long term planning. ( I know your son is not a woman), but plently of mners find they train to be a solicitor and then can't do it as a mum, no part time options. no one pointed that out to them before, did they ?
but what will the world be like in the next 40 years. because thats how long he'll ned to work. from age 20-60=40 years. shame to be in a job he hates. will we need accountants like we do? will the energy /green/fuel issue be the job to go for?
Don't foucs at the uni, being the issue here. Him, his personality and good careers advice is the real issue here.

Original poster

IDK · 25/01/2012 10:46

OP posts:

dizzyday07 · 25/01/2012 11:42

I found this site but can't say how good it is

lambbone · 26/01/2012 15:03

Certainly no-one should be going to university who doesn't really want to be there, whether it be for the love of learning for its own sake, or for the fact that it will get them where they want to be.

My own daughter was very undecided - but I suggested to her that she apply for deferred entry (even though it potentially put her into the starting in 2012 category - ouch!), and see how she felt after working for a while. At least then she would be giving herself the opportunity. She was also in the happy position of knowing she had a job to go to when she left school.

So she made her grades and had a place in the bag, knowing that she could withdraw at any time between A level results and Sept 2012

No-one in the family has been putting the slightest pressure on her to decide one way or another - she is happy doing what she does - but she made an announcement recently that she wants to go. I am pleased that it is her real choice and she's not just following a well trodden path.

The school at which I work regularly receives bulletins from an organisation called notgoingtouni which is full of interesting opportunities and may be worth checking.

PiedWagtail · 26/01/2012 15:11

If he's intelligent but not dynamic then I'd say no!!

Can you afford it? Will he apply himself to get the grades to get in? Does his school have a careers advice service?

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