Is University Really Worth It?
For this particular article, I'm going to break it down into sections. Firstly though, the main point that I have to mention is that you should only go to university if it's the right decision for you. Do not let other people push you into going if you feel it's the wrong move. However, you should remember that people close to you will care about your decision - so don't keep them in the dark.
Will I enjoy university?
'University will be the best years of your life' - who hasn't heard that before. But is it really the truth? Why do so many people say this?
Here are some of the main reasons people give for why this statement is true:
- you meet amazing like-minded individuals, some of which you'll be friends for life with
- you will enjoy a great social life - there's so much to do and enjoy
- you can become independent - no more relying on your parents or guardians
- you can challenge yourself to become the best you can be
- you can find love (whilst it is true that you can do this anywhere, many people meet their future spouse at university)
People who didn't go to university will argue that you can do any of these things without going to university. People who have gone to university argue that why bother if you can do them all at university whilst studying to gain an important qualification.
Should the cost of University put me off?
University is not cheap, so it's natural that you'll be asking yourself the question 'Is University worth it?' Don't worry, you're not alone. Here I will break down what a degree will cost you, and what you're going to benefit from once you have it.
A university degree will cost you the following:
- The debt you have when you graduate. This includes your tuition fees, accommodation costs, food + drink, socialising costs, etc. This will accumulate to around £25,000.
- The money you could have earned if you weren't at University. An average 18, 19 or 20 year old leaving school after A-Levels will earn £13,000 a year. This equates to £39,000 over the course of 3 years. This could be less if you work as a student, but for this example, we're pretending you're unemployed.
Therefore, the total cost of going to university for three years to attain a degree is £64,000. However, you would not have had this much money if you didn't go to university.
Now that you know the real cost of going to University, you'll want to know the benefits. The things you'll benefit from are:
- According to the British government, a graduate will earn £400,000 more over their entire working lives than somebody who decided not to go to university.
- 10 years after graduating, women earn 46% more on average, and men earn 30% more on average than non-graduates.
- No matter what subject you take, you'll have an array of career options to choose from. You're a lot more desirable for companies as a graduate.
- Your chances of unemployment will be halved.
- 80 percent of students say that regardless of the debt accumulated, university is worth it
- You will have greater earning power.
- Your income will rise a lot faster than non-graduates.
- Added security - you have a degree that you can always fall back on.
Think about it like this - you're investing in yourself. An investment in yourself is arguably the best investment you can ever make.
Will I regret not going later on in life?
As people get older and experience more of the world, they begin to reflect on decisions they've made during their lives. In my reasonably short life, I've spoken to many adults who wished that they did more with their lives and went to university. However, no one has ever told me that they wished they hadn't gone. This tells me something, and it should tell you something too.
However, that's not to say that you won't succeed in life if you don't go to university. Some of the richest and most well known people in the country didn't attend university.
Can I be successful without going to University?
A good university education is not the only way you can find success, and it does not guarantee success. Regardless of the piece of paper you receive at the end of your course, you will still require a good set of personal skills to thrive in life.
If you look around you at many of the famous and successful people in the world, you will find out that quite a lot of them will have not benefited from a good education. However, you would also see that for every success, there has been a failure.
Can you be successful without going to University? Yes.
If you believe in yourself, anything is possible. At the end of the day, the decision is left to you and you alone. If you have a dream, and believe university is not for you, then who am I to tell you that it is.
Concluding remarks
There's no doubt that this is one of the most important decisions you'll ever make. Do not rush yourself into a decision - take your time, weigh up the pros and cons, and go with what your heart is telling you. Don't be afraid to listen to advice, but remember that it is you who will have to live with the consequences of what you choose - be they positive or negative.
As I'm sure you've grasped by reading this article, there really is no set answer to 'Is University really worth it?' However, I hope that this article will help you decide if university is for you or not.
