Should i go university or not

Common criticisms cited include the ridiculously high fees, grade inflation, newspaper league tables and the ever expanding array of courses. All of these criticisms are interrelated — to justify high fees and rank well in newspaper University league tables, University lecturers are incentivized to inflate grades. Despite this, the data is hard to understand and the results are based off of the National Student Survey which is easily manipulated by the individual Universities.

To rank highly in these league tables, Universities are incentivized to show high grades and high post-graduate employment statistics which is indirectly linked to grades. This has led to a point where grades have become so inflated that employers are frequently requesting that candidates have achieved a grade or above to even be considered for a job role.

The problems with Universities in the UK date back to at which point Polytechnics were converted in to Universities and were given the power to award formal degrees overnight. In a push for more graduates, the standards University degrees are held to have been slowly eroded over time. The drive towards improved grades has naturally affected the nature of the material taught within degrees. Take an Engineering degree for example, to ensure students achieve reasonable grades and the University continues to rank highly in the league tables, the most difficult material may be omitted or neutered.

On average, degrees are worth the money from a financial perspective. The caveat to this is if you end up in the same job after a degree as you could have got anyway, clearly the degree was not worth it purely in terms of the numbers.

When you step back and think about it, this is a crazy state of affairs for your personal finance. Overall, the University system in the UK has been subject to increased criticism and some of the objections to getting a degree including the financial implications are valid. For certain careers, a degree is not necessary and work experience is considered more important. And in other careers, such as medicine, a degree in a set subject is essential.

For example, did you know you can become a lawyer without going to university? Alternative routes are not always considered a direct equal to a degree — they may only allow to you progress to a certain level in your career — so be sure to check out any limitations they may include.

Fees and talk of future debt and earnings can soon start to seem like Monopoly money and without an idea about your future expenses and living costs, are not always particularly meaningful. That said, it does pay to find out exactly what going to university is likely to cost, what help you can get and what student loans mean.

Explore different scenarios — what would student loan repayments look like if you went on to a well-paid, average, or low-paid job? Look closely at course content. Just as there is a difference between subjects at GCSE and A-level, so the jump from A-level to degree can bring a different focus. Open days and virtual open days can help you get a feel for what you like, both in terms of courses and the wider university experience.

Consider employment prospects for your chosen course — where have recent graduates ended up? As with many aspects of life, the biggest advantages of any chosen path are often the unexpected ones.

In the long term, people reflecting on their university days often find the wider benefits, such as developing confidence, making connections, or involvement with clubs and societies, more important than their actual studies.

You could:. The ability to continue learning — whatever route you take — is set to become an essential skill in working life. Choosing well: how to pick the right path for you. Tactics for making decisions. What next after A-levels or college? Applying for university? UoPeople Arabic. Business Administration.

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Hiring Manager For better or worse, there is an algorithm to hiring nowadays. Industry Some industries are more likely to require degrees, such as fields of psychology or hard sciences, whereas some areas are more heavily dependent on relevant skills — such as some areas of technology and business.

How You Define Success Ultimately, it is up to you to determine how you define success for yourself. Trade Schools Trade schools are schools for specific careers. Certifications There are plenty of fields today that offer certificates in place of, or in addition to college degrees.

Real-Life Experiences If you can start a good job and work your way up, or learn the skills you need and move on to your dream career, by all means go for it! Apprenticeships Apprenticeships are ways for you to get real work experience while learning with the best in the business.

Military Experience Military experience is another non-college route to go. To learn more about the cookies we use, see our Privacy Policy OK. Close Privacy Overview This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website.

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