Working out whether University is for you
For many of us, going to University seems like a mandatory step in life; using your degree to get a good job with good pay. In reality, university is not for everyone, and there are alternatives to spending three or four years getting a degree in order to succeed! In this blog we have a quick look at what University can offer, alternatives to university, and where to find these other opportunities.
Do I have to go?
There are a few circumstances where university is essentially a must; in order to become a doctor a degree in Medicine is standard, for example. However this is a minority of cases; it is rare that there aren’t other avenues you can take in order to get into your desired sector. Find out from your career choice if university is a compulsory step on a website like prospects.ac.uk , and if not, then look at the other approaches you can take.
What if you don’t know your career choice yet, and therefore don’t know if you will need to go? In this case, I would recommend talking to a teacher or professional about what you enjoy doing, and if there is any room for doing this on a professional level. Please remember we are still in early stages and we don’t have to have everything figured out yet, just a rough idea is okay.
So if you think you want to go, studying something you enjoy would be the best option. Unless the sector is extremely niche, a lot of employers don’t actually mind the degree you choose. As long as you have learned the transferable skills needed to succeed in the workplace/ a professional environment, you should be in a comfortable position to succeed in your job applications.
Goal listing
Write down what you want to achieve in life, and see if university lines up with these plans. Even if it is as simple as a chance to live away from home and gain life skills with others your age, then list it down.* University does provide many life experiences such as socialising skills, time management and responsibility.
What if you love the idea of university and would like to attend, but it clashes with a potential goal of saving money? Although university does provide maintenance loans, have a look at bursaries and scholarships you can apply for. Furthermore, consider ‘Degree Apprenticeships’. These allow you to study at university for free and have a job in that sector at the same time, so you can earn while you learn.
Keep in mind that a lot of the pros and cons are based on the assumption that you are going to work for someone else as a next step (hence the continuous mention of ‘employer’); you might come out of university and decide you want to work for yourself. In this case, consider pursuing a degree that’ll aid you in your entrepreneurial journey. Or you can still stick to studying something you love, and taking an online course on business management later on.
*If the chance to live away is your only motivation to attend university, you might want to look into house-sharing with others your age rather than attending University. You’ll certainly save student debt by doing it this way.
Gap years
It also might just not be for you yet. There is absolutely no shame in putting your education on pause for a while to pursue something you love, or find out more about something non- school related. The last thing you want to do is rush into university and realise you don’t actually like it, and feel as if you’re wasting over £9000. Consider taking a gap year, where you can travel, work or simply gain knowledge about a sector that interests you. I am a huge advocate for gap years- especially if you use the time to gain some sort of work experience. Many employers look for experience when hiring employees, so you’ll be setting yourself up for the future.
If you’re already in university and are having these thoughts, then don’t worry! Firstly analyse why you feel this way, and whether these reasons are minor and fixable. If you don’t like sharing a bathroom then you can change that. If it’s the course, then see if you can transfer.
If you simply do not want to continue this year then see if your university allows you to take a year out between studies — as long as you build a good, convincing case for it and produce a game plan that shows how you will be productive then you have a fighting chance at being granted one.
If you have carefully considered the options above and still decide you do not want to continue at all, then don’t panic. The main thing before you take any major decision would be to have a plan, so decide what you want to do instead. Have you found a good apprenticeship somewhere? Do you have a business idea that you are willing to dedicate time and money to? Do you have a backup plan in case any of these fail? Irrespective of what you choose, always remember that there is a fine line between doing things you don’t like for a desired end goal (which we all have to do at times) and doing something that drains you of happiness, for an end goal you don’t have much drive behind.
Whatever you decide in the end, know that life is a journey and you can succeed no matter what avenue you take! For some, university has been the stepping stone needed in life, and for others not attending was the best decision they’ve made. Regardless, you’ll get there in the end.
