Is Attending University the great Con of our time ?

[GaelicFox]

The cost of courses will soon rise , the amount of useless courses continues to rise , and strangely the demand to go to uni seems to be on the rise 

 

but the hard fact is the rewards in lifetime pay averages are narrowing dramatically between those that went to uni and those that didn't. 

 

I actually feel strongly that that current system is a cash cow for the boards and management of our Universities who are rewarded fortunes in pay and perks 

 

I genuinely believe that our young people are being conned into believing that university offers them a gateway to bettering themselves .......

 

I also believe the student loan system (with crazy high interest rates) is nothing more than a tax 

 

I Would love to hear from people who have attended uni and today do not use that degree for thier job .... 

[theessexfox]

I'm buzzing for uni so hope not.

[GaelicFox]

1 minute ago, theessexfox said:

I'm buzzing for uni so hope not.

Can I ask what's exciting you ? Im generally interested 

 

And if I gave you £30-40k and gave you a 3 year pass to travel the world or get an apprenticeship would that excite you ? 

[theessexfox]

Just now, GaelicFox said:

Can I ask what's exciting you ? Im generally interested 

 

And if I gave you £30-40k and gave you a 3 year pass to travel the world or get an apprenticeship would that excite you ? 

I'm excited mainly to move out and become independent and have a new challenge and meet new people. The intellectual challenge that a Cambridge education will provide for me also excites me, to stretch my thinking and broaden my horizons and political perspectives. Studying social anthropology is also something I've never been able to do and really appeals to me.

[SouthStandUpperTier]

Shout out to the DMU alumni! Representin'!

[ScouseFox]

from the age of about 13-14 schools (and then colleges) make out that there is simply two options come the age of 18;

 

- go to university. any university. any course. this is option a, the successful option.

- don't go to university. no matter what a levels you have or what plans you have to do in your life, without applying to university you will die, probably the day after results day. 

 

 

it's a bit warped really. i'm 23 now, work in a company and job role where everyone else has a degree (literally don't think there's one person on my team who has a degree that has anything to do with our job, mind) but i started at the bottom of said company and worked my way up, earning not taking instead of going to uni and joining half way up the ladder. 

 

each to their own, but degrees are pointless unless they are very good degrees, and i'm not paying 50 odd grand for "the uni experience". 

 

edit - "very good degrees" as in degrees in fields that you aim to work in, like loveday said. 

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

Depends what you study, really. I wouldn't have gotten a foot on the ladder in what I do had I not gone to uni.

[ScouseFox]

and a less serious post

 

[GaelicFox]

1 minute ago, theessexfox said:

I'm excited mainly to move out and become independent and have a new challenge and meet new people. The intellectual challenge that a Cambridge education will provide for me also excites me, to stretch my thinking and broaden my horizons and political perspectives. Studying social anthropology is also something I've never been able to do and really appeals to me.

Ok your going to an oxbridge collage so that sort of is yhe cream of the cream and your not really in my mind the people I'm concerned are being conned 

 

social anthropology , in your career path what will passing this degree lead to you doing in the future ? 

 

It sounds an interesting course , but how do you feel it will shape your future employed life 

 

 

[GaelicFox]

3 minutes ago, SouthStandUpperTier said:

Shout out to the DMU alumni! Representin'!

Conned  

[Guest Sharpe's Fox]

the effect of a service based economy and the increasing corporatism and privatisation that inbeds itself into institutions that were formerly regarded as essential for the progress of the nation.  Universities are state subsidised businesses selling 'experiences' to customers i.e. the students and are not seen as an extension to the normal state education system enriching lives and human progress. If you don't like it blame neoliberalism.

[GaelicFox]

1 minute ago, ScouseFox said:

and a less serious post

 

Actually I don't think that's less serious ... I actually think many just sign up to get out of home and get a cracking social life 

[GaelicFox]

1 minute ago, Sharpe's Fox said:

the effect of a service based economy and the increasing corporatism and privatisation that inbeds itself into institutions that were formerly regarded as essential for the progress of the nation.  Universities are state subsidised businesses selling 'experiences' to customers i.e. the students and are not seen as an extension to the normal state education system enriching lives and human progress. If you don't like it blame neoliberalism.

Bingo .....

[TheUltimateWinner]

My view is from one of someone who took an apprenticeship instead of opting to go to uni.

 

When I was doing my a-levels I found that it was shoved down your throat that you had to go uni, I had to do a UCAS application even though I was 99% sure I didn't want to go down that route (however, suppose it was quite nice to keep my options open a little bit longer).

 

I didn't get any support in finding an apprenticeship, found it myself.

 

I certainly think doing an apprenticeship was better for me, as the industry I work in looks at more hands on experience rather than whether you have a degree. After I finished my apprenticeship I got a decent job and I'm currently very settled and happy with my choice. 

 

When I spoke to some people in Uni same age as me (maybe even a little older) doing a course in the industry I work in, I asked what job role they wanted to go into and it was the one I was in at the time so... definitely pleased with my choice considering they had over two years left on their course.

 

There should be more guidance on other options. There's far too much focus on going to uni when some people don't even need to as it's not the best route to get a foothold in the industry they want to work in.

 

For some people uni is the right choice, for others it isn't. However, the lack of information on other options is ridiculous, and can see why some people get suckered into thinking Uni is the only option.

 

 

[Matt]

If you're going to use it to help and enhance a career that you want to do then no, it's worthwhile.

 

Unfortunately it seems to me people go to Uni simply to toss it off for a few years because they don't want to work/don't know what they want to do, study some stupid subject, waste alot of money and are in debt for years, then moan - Not everyone may I stress, but I dare say/view a majority!! In that case yes it's a con and I don't quite see the point.

 

Common sense really.

 

Education/schooling had alot to answer for as when I was a school (Years ago now ) if you didn't go to uni, you're a failure, far from it in my eyes. Looking from the outside in it got even worse and you were even more pushed into it after I left school, finally people are cottoning onto Apprenticeships again.

[Mark_w]

5 minutes ago, ScouseFox said:

from the age of about 13-14 schools (and then colleges) make out that there is simply two options come the age of 18;

 

- go to university. any university. any course. this is option a, the successful option.

- don't go to university. no matter what a levels you have or what plans you have to do in your life, without applying to university you will die, probably the day after results day. 

 

 

it's a bit warped really. i'm 23 now, work in a company and job role where everyone else has a degree (literally don't think there's one person on my team who has a degree that has anything to do with our job, mind) but i started at the bottom of said company and worked my way up, earning not taking instead of going to uni and joining half way up the ladder. 

 

each to their own, but degrees are pointless unless they are very good degrees, and i'm not paying 50 odd grand for "the uni experience". 

You'd have learned how to use your shift key at university.

[theessexfox]

3 minutes ago, GaelicFox said:

Ok your going to an oxbridge collage so that sort of is yhe cream of the cream and your not really in my mind the people I'm concerned are being conned 

 

social anthropology , in your career path what will passing this degree lead to you doing in the future ? 

 

It sounds an interesting course , but how do you feel it will shape your future employed life 

 

 

I do agree that a lot of people go to university these days who could easily spend their time getting into work and be better off.

 

With regards to social anthropology, that's just one strand of the course, I'll mainly focus on Politics and International Relations which will hopefully equip me well for the world of diplomacy and that sort of career, or at the very least display to any future employers that I'm capable of critical thinking and applying myself in a challenging environment.

 

My sister, however, just finished a three year degree in PE and Sports Exercise Science and has decided not to do the teacher training which was the obvious next step from that - she wishes she didn't go to university. So I agree there is definitely a point to be made here.

[Samilktray]

Its a bit weird really, not sure how anyone can be expected to absolutely know what they want to do for the rest of there life at 16 years old. I'm 26 and still haven't the foggiest and speak to people older than me all the time who still don't know. 

[Amin]

I'm undecided, but I wouldn't recommend anyone blindly go to university just because it's the done thing.

 

I graduated with a first class in mechanical engineering last may and over year of job searching later, I've only just received my first engineering job offer this week. 

 

That is all well and good, but when I look at my mates who started on an apprenticeship at 16 and are now managers, with their own flat and nice car and compare that with me: still living with my parents, no car, over £40k in student debt, it makes me wonder if I made the right decision. 

[TheSomersetFox]

Going into my third year in a month. Loved uni so far, but it's been down to the people and the experience of it all. Doing well in 3rd year might serve me well in the future with my History degree but i've absolutely no idea what I want to go into when I leave. Will be pretty daunting this time next year.

[Wymsey]

I know someone who had a mental breakdown whilst studying, left university and is now earning £60,000 (!) at a supermarket chain three years after.

 

He was shortlisted for the above graduate role, but had to inform the company's HR department about the breakdown and as he really wanted the role, he really had to persuade them he's got the potential to be great in that role.

The company replied saying they were really impressed with him and it didn't matter about failing university due to the breakdown.

 

So it just shows that the stress university can bring for many students, academically, isn't necessary if you have something lined up afterwards.

It's all about the personality (such as desire to succeed) that can get you far in your career and not just a grade on a piece of paper in many aspects. 

 

Though I know quite a few ex-students who left a few years ago not in graduate roles, and personally think that's the key trend here; there's, generally speaking, a lack of graduate roles locally for those who have graduated.

[indierich06]

I probably wouldn't be living in London, wouldn't have my current very well paid job or my own flat, and I probably wouldn't have met my wife if it wasn't for my degree, so I can't agree I'm afraid.

[ScouseFox]

2 minutes ago, indierich06 said:

I probably wouldn't be living in London, wouldn't have my current very well paid job or my own flat, and I probably wouldn't have met my wife if it wasn't for my degree, so I can't agree I'm afraid.

to be living in london doing a "well paid job" I assume you did a pretty good degree. 

 

discussions like this are usually aimed at people who got three Cs at a level and spent 40 grand to get a 2:2 in event management at liverpool's third choice uni. 

[cityfanlee23]

Always thought it was a massive con. 

I'd love to see us move towards an economy where we scrap bullshit jobs and uni courses and start actually focusing on how the hell we slow down the destruction of the planet and focus on that. 

Scrap uni fees and encourage people to go into green technology courses, all this social media and marketing bullshit just keeps the wheels of the Neoliberal machine turning as we slowly kill off the planet in the name of endless growth and consumption (capitalism) 

Education should be accessible to EVERYONE free of charge, instead we sell off some stupid dream of a broken system.

 

 

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

That's why I went, god I love the neoliberal machine