Is University worth it?
Discussion
In light of recent threads regarding salaries, I am asking what the PH consensus is on University.
I am at a stage in my life where I have the option to study a business related subject at a good universty, or to go find a job, maybe as a trainee accountant starting at AAT being fully chartered (ACA?) in around 4 - 5 years.
Only trouble is, with the economy as it is, I think it would be a struggle to find a suitable role at the moment.
I want a high paid career in the future, with the option of going self-employed, and I am not afraid of working hard to get there, and was wondering if I would struggle to progress without a degree.
I'm thinking of a degree as an investement, not a license to get pissed up all the time (although it is in reality), but is the (large) investment really worth it?
So many people think that uni is the be all and end all of getting a good salary and career.
I am at a stage in my life where I have the option to study a business related subject at a good universty, or to go find a job, maybe as a trainee accountant starting at AAT being fully chartered (ACA?) in around 4 - 5 years.
Only trouble is, with the economy as it is, I think it would be a struggle to find a suitable role at the moment.
I want a high paid career in the future, with the option of going self-employed, and I am not afraid of working hard to get there, and was wondering if I would struggle to progress without a degree.
I'm thinking of a degree as an investement, not a license to get pissed up all the time (although it is in reality), but is the (large) investment really worth it?
So many people think that uni is the be all and end all of getting a good salary and career.
Academically probably not, but IME uni gives you a much broader education than just the Degree. At the companies I've worked at (all bluechip) there was a notable difference between those that had lived away at uni than those that hadn't. The forces provide a similar outlook. Both will give you a much wider perspective on life.
don't bother
get the best paying job (in sales i reckon) you can, save some money, then start your own business
i guarantee that if you work hard, and aren't a complete tool, then you'll make more money that way then going to university and racking up a huge debt
i went to Uni, did Accounting with Finance at Cardiff, and it was a complete waste of time.
didn't teach me anything i couldn't have found in the local library!
get the best paying job (in sales i reckon) you can, save some money, then start your own business
i guarantee that if you work hard, and aren't a complete tool, then you'll make more money that way then going to university and racking up a huge debt
i went to Uni, did Accounting with Finance at Cardiff, and it was a complete waste of time.
didn't teach me anything i couldn't have found in the local library!
My opinion is that University is worth it, but the reputation of the course and uni are vital to future prospects. Assuming you're a 6-former (or whatever the current description is), bear in mind that uni isn't just about studying - it's also about making lifelong friends, learning how to manage cash and living away from the parental home.
If you're able to get into one of the top tier of UK unis (the Russell Group) and do a course you're interested in and is relevant to a future career, then I'd say definitely go for it.
The government's "degrees for all" program has devalued a lot of degrees, but not all of them. Employers still place value on tough courses from high quality establishments.
If you're able to get into one of the top tier of UK unis (the Russell Group) and do a course you're interested in and is relevant to a future career, then I'd say definitely go for it.
The government's "degrees for all" program has devalued a lot of degrees, but not all of them. Employers still place value on tough courses from high quality establishments.
Edited by ewenm on Friday 14th November 13:50
ewenm said:
My opinion is that University is worth it, but the reputation of the course and uni are vital to future prospects. Assuming you're a 6-former (or whatever the current description is), bear in mind that uni isn't just about studying - it's also about making lifelong friends, learning how to manage cash and living away from the parental home.
If you're able to get into one of the top tier of UK unis (the Russell Group) and do a course you're interested in and is relevant to a future career, then I'd say definitely go for it.
The government's "degrees for all" program has devalued a lot of degrees, but not all of them. Employers still place value on tough course from high quality establishments.
Damn, The University of Wetwang isn't on that list - must be an oversight.If you're able to get into one of the top tier of UK unis (the Russell Group) and do a course you're interested in and is relevant to a future career, then I'd say definitely go for it.
The government's "degrees for all" program has devalued a lot of degrees, but not all of them. Employers still place value on tough course from high quality establishments.
DiabloRojo said:
So many people think that uni is the be all and end all of getting a good salary and career.
A degree opens doors otherwise closed. What you do once you have gone through them is down to you and not much to do with the degree, frankly. People make fine careers without a degree - but a good one, from a respected university, will stack the odds in your favour.And you get to bone hot student girls.
Or whatever else floats your boat...I never planned to go to Uni but was advised that back in 89/90 it would be an extremely wise way to hide out for 3 years while the economy crapped out and got going again.
It was good advice and served me very well indeed. Uni was a fantastic 3 years of my life and very importanly gave me an additional base of professional contacts which has been natuarally moneytised (?) over the last 15 years.
I knew quite a few people who went into the City at 18 and skipped Uni. On the surface they appeared to be doing well but the reality is when we graduated our starting salaries were not much different to theirs and looking back now, we have accelerated way past all of them who have almost without exception become trapped in ruts. There are quite clear, if hidden, career streams in the City.
Having said all of that, if you are planning to go to a 'technical' or 'polytechnical' uni or planning to spend 3 years studying David Beckham or Andean w
king Techniques then not only would you be better off going straight into the work place but everyone would probably benefit from you putting a bullet in your head at the earliest convenience.
As you have mentioned Accountancy then I suspect you can ignore the previous paragraph. Only you know what you really want to do in life and whatever that is having a professional qualification behind you will be of great benefit and importance even if you do not actually end up working in that field.
If you do go into accountancy then I suspect that you will see first hand and very very quickly just how much further and how much faster those with good degrees from good unis progress.
It was good advice and served me very well indeed. Uni was a fantastic 3 years of my life and very importanly gave me an additional base of professional contacts which has been natuarally moneytised (?) over the last 15 years.
I knew quite a few people who went into the City at 18 and skipped Uni. On the surface they appeared to be doing well but the reality is when we graduated our starting salaries were not much different to theirs and looking back now, we have accelerated way past all of them who have almost without exception become trapped in ruts. There are quite clear, if hidden, career streams in the City.
Having said all of that, if you are planning to go to a 'technical' or 'polytechnical' uni or planning to spend 3 years studying David Beckham or Andean w
king Techniques then not only would you be better off going straight into the work place but everyone would probably benefit from you putting a bullet in your head at the earliest convenience.As you have mentioned Accountancy then I suspect you can ignore the previous paragraph. Only you know what you really want to do in life and whatever that is having a professional qualification behind you will be of great benefit and importance even if you do not actually end up working in that field.
If you do go into accountancy then I suspect that you will see first hand and very very quickly just how much further and how much faster those with good degrees from good unis progress.
rhinochopig said:
ewenm said:
My opinion is that University is worth it, but the reputation of the course and uni are vital to future prospects. Assuming you're a 6-former (or whatever the current description is), bear in mind that uni isn't just about studying - it's also about making lifelong friends, learning how to manage cash and living away from the parental home.
If you're able to get into one of the top tier of UK unis (the Russell Group) and do a course you're interested in and is relevant to a future career, then I'd say definitely go for it.
The government's "degrees for all" program has devalued a lot of degrees, but not all of them. Employers still place value on tough course from high quality establishments.
Damn, The University of Wetwang isn't on that list - must be an oversight.If you're able to get into one of the top tier of UK unis (the Russell Group) and do a course you're interested in and is relevant to a future career, then I'd say definitely go for it.
The government's "degrees for all" program has devalued a lot of degrees, but not all of them. Employers still place value on tough course from high quality establishments.
You get to make good friends (contacts) and as said already get to live the life of a student (i.e. do a lot of drinking, meet fit girls who are generally up for it, move out of home which teaches you a lot, and sleep), which you will never do again.
You spend a long time working, so if you can finance Uni, go, if not, then get a job. You will also be excluded from certain professions without one, but if that doesn't bother you, then no worries.
You spend a long time working, so if you can finance Uni, go, if not, then get a job. You will also be excluded from certain professions without one, but if that doesn't bother you, then no worries.
From a financial view point I don't know, but I would say unless you plan to go into a career doing what you study, don't go to University.
I went and dropped out because I was studying a subject I enjoyed rather than I wanted to work in. I didn't enjoy it all that much it turns out, amongst other factors.
A lot of people will tell you to go for it regardless; best years of your life etc - It wasn't heading down that route for me but looking at my friends I can see they're enjoying themselves, whereas I now struggle to get out as much as I like because anyone my age has gone cross-county, and I'm still at home.
That said, you can make friends at work too.
I went and dropped out because I was studying a subject I enjoyed rather than I wanted to work in. I didn't enjoy it all that much it turns out, amongst other factors.
A lot of people will tell you to go for it regardless; best years of your life etc - It wasn't heading down that route for me but looking at my friends I can see they're enjoying themselves, whereas I now struggle to get out as much as I like because anyone my age has gone cross-county, and I'm still at home.
That said, you can make friends at work too.
Edited by Heskey on Friday 14th November 14:01
ewenm said:
rhinochopig said:
ewenm said:
My opinion is that University is worth it, but the reputation of the course and uni are vital to future prospects. Assuming you're a 6-former (or whatever the current description is), bear in mind that uni isn't just about studying - it's also about making lifelong friends, learning how to manage cash and living away from the parental home.
If you're able to get into one of the top tier of UK unis (the Russell Group) and do a course you're interested in and is relevant to a future career, then I'd say definitely go for it.
The government's "degrees for all" program has devalued a lot of degrees, but not all of them. Employers still place value on tough course from high quality establishments.
Damn, The University of Wetwang isn't on that list - must be an oversight.If you're able to get into one of the top tier of UK unis (the Russell Group) and do a course you're interested in and is relevant to a future career, then I'd say definitely go for it.
The government's "degrees for all" program has devalued a lot of degrees, but not all of them. Employers still place value on tough course from high quality establishments.
I never went to uni but worked hard and have got a good job within the city.
If you want to go the AAT (which I have done) and ACCA or CIMA route it might be worth going for a company that offers paying or helping towards your studying.
That way you can gain on the job training for your log book and then move on to better things
Good luck
If you want to go the AAT (which I have done) and ACCA or CIMA route it might be worth going for a company that offers paying or helping towards your studying.
That way you can gain on the job training for your log book and then move on to better things
Good luck
I didn't go to University and am starting to wish that I had.
Whilst I don't think that not going has held me back too much yet, I think that it has the potential to do so as my career progresses, depending on which route I take.
I feel a degree would be a "nice to have". Alas too late for me now at 28.
If you have the chance to go and fancy a career in something like accountancy, do it.
HTH
Whilst I don't think that not going has held me back too much yet, I think that it has the potential to do so as my career progresses, depending on which route I take.
I feel a degree would be a "nice to have". Alas too late for me now at 28.
If you have the chance to go and fancy a career in something like accountancy, do it.
HTH
rhinochopig said:
ewenm said:
rhinochopig said:
ewenm said:
Damn, The University of Wetwang isn't on that list - must be an oversight.Edited by ewenm on Friday 14th November 14:06
Just to add are there are some jobs and some positions which require you to have a degree. For example if the career you fancy needs you to be chartered then you will need one. You can do it part time whilst working, but a proper course would be very hard to do whilst working. Hats off to anyone who took that route.
ewenm said:
My opinion is that University is worth it, but the reputation of the course and uni are vital to future prospects. Assuming you're a 6-former (or whatever the current description is), bear in mind that uni isn't just about studying - it's also about making lifelong friends, learning how to manage cash and living away from the parental home.
If you're able to get into one of the top tier of UK unis (the Russell Group) and do a course you're interested in and is relevant to a future career, then I'd say definitely go for it.
The government's "degrees for all" program has devalued a lot of degrees, but not all of them. Employers still place value on tough courses from high quality establishments.
I finished my a levels earlier this year, i'm having a gap year to save some money etc, with the (original) idea of going uni next year. It's just i'm pondering on whether it's worth it now. Ive got top grades in business and economics for gcse and alevel and it's a subject I enjoy studying.If you're able to get into one of the top tier of UK unis (the Russell Group) and do a course you're interested in and is relevant to a future career, then I'd say definitely go for it.
The government's "degrees for all" program has devalued a lot of degrees, but not all of them. Employers still place value on tough courses from high quality establishments.
Edited by ewenm on Friday 14th November 13:50
I'm not the type of person who thinks that by getting a degree, you can just simply walk in to a highly paid job, unlike some people I know. I just want to know if I would get value for money by going to uni (with regards to future prospects), when there are alternatives avaliable.
swerni said:
pugwash4x4 said:
don't bother
get the best paying job (in sales i reckon) you can, save some money, then start your own business
i guarantee that if you work hard, and aren't a complete tool, then you'll make more money that way then going to university and racking up a huge debt
i went to Uni, did Accounting with Finance at Cardiff, and it was a complete waste of time.
didn't teach me anything i couldn't have found in the local library!
Aren't you making one huge assumption here.get the best paying job (in sales i reckon) you can, save some money, then start your own business
i guarantee that if you work hard, and aren't a complete tool, then you'll make more money that way then going to university and racking up a huge debt
i went to Uni, did Accounting with Finance at Cardiff, and it was a complete waste of time.
didn't teach me anything i couldn't have found in the local library!
Far more people fail in sales than actually make a good career and living out of it.
If it were that easy everyone would do it, then the earnings would drop through the floor.
I'm afraid that fundamentally, sales, like recruitment is for people who screwed up
Probably not going to make any friends with that remark, but the vast majority of salesmen you see out and about are not exactly life's dynamic winners.Something like Law or Accountancy gives a very firm base for any type of good job with long term career prospects. I suspect that the vast majority of board members in the UK have such a qualification in their distant past.
They also offer the kind of job and revenue security that very few jobs do and excellent long term plans along with putting you in the direct firing line to meet the kind of people and have the kind of ideas that you will need to go out on your own.
learning to sell is the FIRST and MOST important skill that anyone needs in life
In Business if you can't sell then you are dead in the water.
learning to sell does NOT mean learning to knock on people's doors, but means learning how to connect with people, EARN their trust, find out what they need and work out how to beat those needs at a price they can afford.
In Business if you can't sell then you are dead in the water.
learning to sell does NOT mean learning to knock on people's doors, but means learning how to connect with people, EARN their trust, find out what they need and work out how to beat those needs at a price they can afford.
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