Is University the Only Way – Sophie P
For as long as I can remember university has been the default next step after school.
The moment you step into year 12, people ask constantly, ‘what course are you applying to?’ and ‘which uni do you want to go to?’ As well as teachers banging on about UCAS deadlines and improving your personal statement. But with the rising tuition fees and the constantly changing job market, the question arises: is university the only route?
Clearly, university comes with many advantages. If you want to be a teacher, a doctor or a lawyer then stop reading now, as these professions legally require degrees. Getting a degree put you in a stable place to get a job and generates high earnings in lots of cases, and of course networking, as university allows you to meet similar minded people from across the world. Finally, who could say no to 3 more years of studying before having to face the real world?
But university comes with a cost, with a minimum of three years studying, many students end up in significant debt with no guarantee of a job at the end, and for some the idea or finishing school to study more is their idea of hell.
That is where apprenticeships come in. Although highly competitive, they allow students to earn a salary whilst getting real world experience, and in some earning your degree (which is paid for). Lots of industries also offer jobs in the industry following the completion of your training. So, whats the catch? Well, these apprenticeships are often in demanding fields such as finance, engineering, and media, meaning days are long often with up to 4 days of work and 1 study day a week.
Others choose to leave formal education altogether completing courses or travelling and interacting with other to build up their CV’s. As studies are starting to show, degrees are becoming too fixed with modern training becoming more valuable… so this is a valued option.
So, to summarise, university is still a respectable choice, however it is not the only way.
To finish, here are two pieces of advice:
– Mr Hodson: ‘Go to university, it’s about more than just studying…’
– Me: ‘Do what appeals to you, don’t just follow the crowd.’
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