General Chat

I went to a college when I left school, for 2 years. I lived at home 1st year and shared a flat 2nd year. Being a student then was great as I got a full grant and no worries about student loans, starting a pension, etc. We just used our Student Union card to get into cinemas and theatres cheap and used the heavily subsidised student union bar. But I did go and stay weekends with folks at uni at York and East Anglia (Norwich) and enjoyed the drinking, concerts and jelly & custard fights. Nowadays I think its all about passing exams and getting qualifications and finding a job and somehow paying off your student debt whilst taking out a mortgage and paying a huge pension scheme. nell

Hi Daniel, my dtr got into Uni at 18 to study economics etc and only stayed a month - totally hated it after so many years at school. Went out and worked in the stocks/shares/finance market for years. Last year she spent 6 mths backpacking the world and came back to go to Uni as a mature age student (24 yrs) and is now studying environmental science and is loving every minute of uni life. Likewise my son did the same thing, worked, backpacked and then went to uni as mature age student to become a primary school teacher at age 26yrs. Dtr in law now 31 also at Uni and is just finishing her final year studying to be Early Childhood/Primary school teacher.

Everyone bangs on ..... Relax ........ (???) Unfortunately it seems that in this day and age many employers require qualifications of some sort beyond O levels. If you have the will to get ahead in life then I guess that Uni is an option that will give you qualifications that will help but I would say that the qualification is useless on its own if you do not have other merits that would run parallel with that subject. Many youing people take an easy option by taking Business Studies and probably pass but in the real world you will be quickly found out if you do not have a good level of mathematics - or even English. All that I have said is regarding employment, possibly in a major company. On the other hand if you think that you can succeed and be self-employed then that is a risk that You take but bear in mind that your self-employed status may bring you into contact with people who have qualifications and so it becomes a battle of the fittest. All the comments that you have seen so far on this thread appear to be about the social side of Uni but you must know that is only a side issue and probably helps you through the period required to attain whatever you want. From your personal viewpoint I can see that you have certain skills and the desire to 'make it' withiout further education - and you may succeed but don't you think that having a uni qualification is not only good for your own morale but is also a good standby if ever needed. You only have to look at the various so-called celebrities who are everywhere and realise that whether they are top businessmen, sports personalities, involved in the 'pop', comedians .... so many have been through uni and have qualifications and maybe when they are looking at the £££ they have acquired their uni training, and the people they mix with, has taught them how to use it.

Yes, according to my daughter it was!! Nanna-M :)

Neither of my children now in their 30s/40s wanted to go, both had good brains and could have gone. They both chose to work up in their chosen field (both went into Insurance by different routes) and both have done extremely well, taking external exams, OU etc.. So I would say university is not necessarily the way to go. but each child must decide for themselves. Parents should not be pushing their kids to go to uni just because it sounds good. ann Glos

Think of the DEBT Dan, then think if you can get ahead with your natural abilities,(which I am sure you have plenty!), consider what prospective employers might expect and then decide. Lots of employers do inhouse training or allow release for uni courses and as a lot of people on here have said - you get more out of any course having experienced the big bad world first. Personally speaking I feel the 'kudos' of having a university education isn't there anymore - it used to be only the top 10% of the more able students that went - now its everyone whether they have the ability or not and thats a shame because the incidence of self harming and other problems in this age group have more than doubled due to the pressures put on them and the coincidence is there for all to see. University is not for everyone inspite of what th govmt. says! Good Luck whatever you decide jen

Daniel, Both my boys seem to be enjoying it and they are only an hour away from home. Every other weekend they come home to raid my pantry and deep freeze. My Daniel was up north and was studying languages. After two years he decided that he was in the wrong course. He came back down south, changed courses and this October will be starting his third year in tourism. David, on the other hand had an adjustment problem and I was convinced that he would not make it through the first semester, his friends gave him lots of moral support. I just told him to do whatever he wanted to do as long as he did not become a 'beach bum.' He made it through the first year and in October he will be starting his third year in computer engineering. On the down side, they have both become lazy slobs and drink but I am thankful that neither of them have started smoking. Lindy ;-)))

Dan, my daughter loved Uni, but there again, she did go to the University of Liverpool!! (and 9 months in Madrid!)

Son and eldest daughter both went both enjoyed themselves, daughter is considering going back to do another course, number 2 daughter isnt sure, says it seems a lot of hassle so each to his own........ Barbara..xx

While I was doing A levels, the pressure to go to Uni was immense. If you didn't really know what you wanted to do after A Levels they asked 'why are you bothering with them?' I couldn't take it and left half way through my last year. My head of 6th form tried to talk me into staying on, but it didn't help when he said people were turning up at his office crying, because they felt so pressured. I'm now doing a degree at the Open Uni and it's the best choice I've made. Considering my boyfriend is at Nottingham Uni, I'm glad I made my choice as I can see what uni life is like for him, and he's not enjoyed it as much as he thought.

Apparently the venu for your degree is now also something to be taken into account. OH tells me that engineering job adverts often now stipulate degree from 'traditional' uni, as they want depth rather than breadth of knowledge. Jay

I'm not saying that qualifications are not important, but the stress and 'Life or Death' emphasis on going to university is really over the top. There are other avenues for successful careers. People seem to forget that.

When I was 18 (hundreds of years ago), only 2% got the chance of Uni. There was no suggestion that I could ever aspire to such heights of intellectual achievement, At 40, I got a degree from the OU. I'm immensley proud of that although it did me no good other than the achievement But, Dan, you've got to decided what is best for you Anne

It's not a personal plea for advice. I'm not going in the near future that's for sure. It's just seeing Lucia's sleepless nights, not eating, and other strange symptoms which made me post.

I agree with Gwynne best 3 yrs of my life, Did things I would never have had the opportunity to do now. Part of my course was a 6 month swap to live in Florence. Travelled, met good friends. Wouldn't have changed it, though it is an individual choice. catherine xx

*Thinks blimey Kaz went to University I wonder what she studied ? Textiles & fashion perhaps ??* pmsl :0)) Joan

:0PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP to Joanie!

RAOFPMSL !!!!!!!!!!! Don't remember there being a Uni in good old Ponders End lol ! :0PPPPPPPP Joan xxxx

Just clarifying what I was on about - the need for qualifications in my opinion, is real. How you get there, via uni or OU etc, is up to you. I would guess that uni life gives you styles of life that you would never otherwise see.

Dan Also remember not every young person handles it like Lucia has My middle son is awaiting his GCSE results on the 24th of this month, he could not give a fig as long as he gets the 4 passes he needs to get into Art collage. Steve