Why does university feel like the only route? We have all been infiltrated with murmurings of ‘my parents met at Durham, did you know 60% of people who meet at university will get married’, ‘my cousin is so cool she goes to Newcastle, look at these pictures from her night out’ and ‘he is so successful, only because he got a degree in physics and economics.’ Whether we have been lured into the idea of university to find the love of our lives, bounce between ‘Tup Tup’ and ‘Swingers’ in Newcastle or pursue a degree we don’t particularly enjoy at the hope of graduating with Elon Musk’s net worth, I think we can all agree, there is a very low percentage of airtime given to other options. There are endless angles to articulate here – let’s consolidate and unpack:
But I need a degree!!!!
Isn’t ‘the university experience’ the ‘norm’? –FOMO’s a real deal (fear of missing out).
Hang on… is there another route?!
So, the pressure to get a degree. Parents, teachers, great aunts, even the cashier at your local Sainsbury’s will throw, ‘so love, what are you going to do in LIFE?’ at you from the ripe young age of 12, imminently hurling you down the rabbit hole of uni, degree, jobs, money, qualifications (AHHH!). The Independent carried out a survey on exactly this type of pressure. Out of 189 students, 63 said their parents wouldn’t support them if they didn’t go to university and 75 said they personally would feel like a ‘failure’ not going to university.
FAILURE – I hate the word, and it is stemmed from PRESSURE – PRESSURE to pursue the ‘norm,’ avoiding the looming idea of ‘FAILURE’. Foreshadowing yourself as a ‘failure’ before you have even attempted any route seems rather unfair. I can’t help but think, the reason your parents might not ‘support’ you, is due to the ignorance of other routes. ‘But darling, you love Chemistry.’ If your favourite subject at school is Chemistry with a comedic teacher and constant fun with your Bunsen’s and besties, just consider that these 50-minute lessons are most likely very different to a 4-year biochemistry degree. Of course, if it’s your passion, follow it, but just because you enjoy a subject, doesn’t mean you MUST study it at university because it seems to be what everyone else is doing. Over 30% of people end up in jobs unrelated to their degree; on those terms you could say those uni years were pointless.
This all sounds harsh, but the word ‘failure’ is exactly that, harsh. I admit, when writing this article, I was basic and did google ‘successful people who didn’t go to University.’ Granted, I was tempted to namedrop Lady Gaga and Alicia Keys, but sadly we don’t all have the natural singing talent of these ladies (if you do, go get ‘em whilst you are still in the under 25 category on X factor), but reading the stories of Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres, even Bill Gates and Sir Richard Branson – none of these people have a degree and I don’t think you would see ‘failure’ associated in their realms. Ok, it’s a niche bracket, but what is stopping you – and there are many routes, equivalent to university that will leave the lingering word ‘failure’ far behind.
Social pressures, social anxt, and arguably the biggest reason here, – FOMO. We all get it, embedded from the one girl in reception whose ‘birthday party you are now not coming to’ after not sharing your rainbow playdough with her. Even though we all claim, ‘it’s so fine, I really don’t care and wanted to watch “Friends” instead’ – it sucks. (Maybe don’t watch “Friends” on this occasion, you are just adding salt to the wound). Of course, when everyone else is delving into who is going to what uni, and how much fun they are going to have, it is easy to get caught up in. Who wouldn’t want to live with all their best friends, working hard (hardly working) with a newfound independence? I get it, and it is great fun. However, there is so much that isn’t spoken about. Myself and my flatmates can vouch for multiple nights spent with blotchy eyes, feeling, in all honesty alone. It has such a culture of ‘everyone is having the best time’, that sometimes when you aren’t (even if it is just a ‘bad day’ heightened by constant flu and freezing flats), you can feel very much on your own. The drinking culture, living politics, an unusual city, anxiety-inducing situations. It is a lot to take on, and a huge adjustment from having our hand held the whole way throughout school. Arguably, this is a reason TO go to university, learn about that independence, albeit, being plunged into life elsewhere will give you a rude awakening anyhow. The drinking culture: it is big, and it is real, and pretty much the only initial way to make friends. Freshers for a start – 2 weeks spent with a constant hangover, making friends, and trying to work out who to live with from a few pints at the pub… difficult. We must all remember, there is fluidity in friendships. Yes, they may be the first people you see but if it isn’t clicking right – own it; you are the driver in your own story. Then of course, there is the cost. University is expensive and again, back to the trusty survey, 68 of the 189 students regret higher education because of how much it costs. As soon as that mortarboard is flung away, the laughs and loans swiftly follow.
I am cutting into this ‘pressure to pursue university’ but must provide some alternative options. There is a website – notgoingtouni.co.uk. Says it all! It discusses the extensive amount of degree apprenticeships you can do – avoiding competitive enjoyment, specific subject pressures, and the financial strain of university. You can earn money, gain experience, and get a degree all at once. Then there is a condensed year business/finance course – Quest, OMBS, the list goes on (I will link all below.) You can go abroad – even consider courses out there. Who’s to say you don’t have the next big business idea – create a start-up. Obsessed with a fashion business or a car dealership company? Go chat them up and start making coffee for them and running their errands, who knows where that could lead you?
This isn’t meant to be a ‘let’s hate on uni’ time. Uni is fun. You have three or four years of biding time before you must totally commit to a lifeline. It is rare to know what you want to cement yourself in whilst dealing with the trials and tribulations of teenage life at 17. You can meet a whole range of fantastic people and live-in awesome cities. You can get a year abroad. You get about 5 months of holiday a year… make the most of that. You get a degree – bonus if you love the subject, and even better if you use it to get a job. You might meet the love of your life, get some epic Instagram pics in ‘Tup Tup’ and who knows, you could become the next Elon Musk. But you can also do this by getting a degree apprenticeship, work experiencing the hell out of life or setting up your own little side hustle. You do you, and maybe we should all realise uni doesn’t have to be the ‘norm.’ Give more airtime to the other options. Abolish the PRESSURE.