is University education really overrated?

[lovethehighlands]

a relative came over just to brag how good her son did and the uni he's got and he's going to become some high flying medical engineer or something.

i simply said "my OH is a master carpenter skills he picked up from his family members and helping mates out and we still live comfortably and he did a NVQ at trade colleague"

my OH is in so much in demand as a carpenter/joiner that some people have to wait 3-4 months before they are seen to. lot of the house he's done himself.

surely people who go to University and college are just getting a crappy deal and fools? FIFTY GRAND debt!

why can't kids just become carpenters, plumbers, locksmiths, electricians etc where the money is!

i know people who went university in medical, teaching and they live the same as us. we have a house, we go on holidays, drive a nice car and have a great social life. (although OH is in depression which i've posted but pre covid he did martial arts)

so whats so special about University?

uni is on the whole a positive experience and depending on what/where studied it will increase your earning power and life chances
Conversely as you say a skilled tradesperson will earn very well too
Depends on what the individual wants and is capable of

Tbh sounds like you were both bragging going on what you've written 🤷🏻‍♀️

Some university courses are useful and worth the money, some aren't. Some trades can teach life skills and provide a comfortable life, some can't. Nothing particularly special about either imo, depends what each individual is suited to.

Magaluf is an experience, i don't get stressing over exams paying expensive fees and debt which you will never clear unless you get a really good job which is not guaraanteed.

i know someone did really well in a computers degree now working as an admin person earning about £10 ph.

What’s your actual point? Are you going to go down the you know someone who has a first but works minimum wage, meanwhile the btec qualified person has three cars and a big house…

she started it, normally she never comes over and she came in smiling all happy like. sat down offered her a drink and then started to ask what my little ones want to become.
then she had to say it "my son did'nt study much but still passed and got a place"
then she started going on about how great Uni is like looking down on people who didn't go.

I set her straight.

@lovethehighlands its very simple though…not everyone can become a carpenter or locksmith etc. some people WANT to become doctors, lawyers etc so the fees don’t bother them. We need people who want to do these jobs ffs. We can’t all be bloody tradesmen. And not all countries charge for university, so not everyone has university debt. I have 2 degrees, a diploma and a PGCE and no debt whatsoever.

i know more people who went to university and work in crappy jobs. i dont get the point of it.

if they had spent 4-5 in trade or marketing they would be earning big bucks at aged 22. i know a 22 year old relative who works in the city (no university) straight out of college.

and he's living the high life and no debt!

Uni isn’t a great fit for everyone and there is real value to trades. Her pride in her sons achievements don’t mean a tradie is worthless. She may have worded it wrong but she was bragging because she is proud and it’s only just happened.

Look no one has to justify going to uni or not going
Uni yes it is an experience, one I’m glad I had. I always wanted to go to uni, so made sure I did. Personal choice and from background it was a challenge

What's so special about uni - well if you want to be an engineer/doctor/dentist/nurse/social worker/scientist etc it's pretty vital!

You’re posting with a specific one sided agenda that uni is overall rubbish go get a trade.or work way up in a job
you can’t see you’re just as myopic as people who denigrate those who don’t go to university

NHS outsources loads of staff from abroad. i dont know what jobs you think these kids will get. its too much of a downpayment on a job you wouldnt get.

couldnt 50K be used to open a business?

Most of my male family members work in trades, its really hard physical work and even more so doing it often 6 days a week if self employed, until retirement.
Most suffer from some sort of joint or health complaints related to their work by the time they reach old age.

That's the other side.

But tbh, unless my child had a strong vocation I wouldn't push uni. I think its up to us as parents to help them find what they want to do most.

Your point is ridiculous. Yes, being a carpenter/plumber/builder is great, but if everyone becomes one and nobody goes to university to become an industrial chemist, or a doctor, or a lawyer, how do you think the world will operate?

I'm not really sure why you're comparing the two. She's obviously very proud of her son and you are of your husband.
Comparison is the thief of joy.
As it goes, I'm very well educated and have a good job, but my oh has a trade and didn't go to university. We have different skills in life and that's absolutely fine. It would be boring if we were all the same.

Op,you’re not conversing you're simply berating posters and repeating your firmly heard opinion

I think you have a massive chip on your shoulder.

I know people who have and have not been to uni and are incredibly successful.

Sometimes young people need a journey to find their vocation and that is university. Some fine it immediately and crack on with their careers.

My DCs are pondering their options and a decent apprenticeship is a valuable and if they don't get a place will consider Uni.

I think we have to be pleased that our young people are moving forward in whatever they are doing.

couldnt 50K be used to open a business?

Yeah but what good is that if you want to be an doctor? And the vast majority of NHS staff are educated in the Uk.

Obvs for some learning a trade is a better route. For others, going to uni is a better route. Both are valid choices if they're right for the person.

People are different, they have different skills and different aspirations.

Luckily there is no one-size-fits-all in life.

Shame on you for pissing on a proud mum's chips though - you sound lovely.

It could be just me, but if a family member came to tell me good news about her son, I think it’s a bit odd to start bragging about your husband? Is there a back story? Because it seems the proper response is to say “wow, I’m so happy he got the grades he needed. Must be so exciting to be 18 and starting out”

Not “my husband is a master…..”

I dunno it sounds like you wanted to rain on her parade for some reason. Results day is stressful enough without pissing down on family good news imho.

She’s so excited today because her son has got good grades and got into the university course he’s been hoping for. It’s his plan for the rest of his life, as far as he knows right now, and it’s just starting. She’s allowed to be proud and excited! Uni is great for loads of people. Trades are great too. If you’d gone over all excited because your 18 year old had got onto a good apprenticeship to start learning his trade, I hope she’d be happy for him and you and she wouldn’t “set you straight”.

This.
And many tradesmen use accountants....who need a degree.

Never mind the men, OP, do YOU have a trade or a degree?

^I set her straight[
hmmm that’s up there with I tell it as it is, I speak my mind all euphemisms for being bombastic and rude
if you’re really so relaxed about not attending uni You’d not be putting anyone straight

And need a doctor to sew their hand back on when the chain saw slipped!

If she really did come over and brag, I can understand why you responded like this.

If, however, she simply came over to share her joy (but it made you feel insecure because you have a complex about people getting formal education, and it touched a nerve) your response was unnecessarily defensive and pointless.

why can't kids just become carpenters, plumbers, locksmiths, electricians etc where the money is

Oh come on. Such a silly question. You must know what the answer to that is. Rhetorical question surely?

i know someone did really well in a computers degree now working as an admin person earning about £10 ph

And what kind of 'computers degree' was this then?? 🙄There are several different fields you can specialise in. They're not all fantastic degrees, and not all of them are run by good universities, but some of them are decent. They are a gateway to entry level positions where you can earn a starting salary of 30k and be earning up to 60k within 5 years. It's not the only way - the truly gifted can apply direct to companies but it depends on the field.

i know people who went university in medical, teaching and they live the same as us. we have a house, we go on holidays, drive a nice car and have a great social life

And? So what??? Those people wanted to work in professions where degrees are essential. Some people are passionate about medicine and teaching. They are not all thrilled by locksmithing. Thank God there are people that are into a variety of subjects because otherwise who would be there to cure and care for you and teach your children? They need to go through the formal education to do what they do.

I really don't doubt that the trades you've listed are very well paid, but you do come across a bit insecure.