Every year more and more people choose to go to university after finishing A Levels – it’s the natural choice, right? That’s why you worked so hard, right?
As the numbers of students have risen, the expectations have risen with them. Countless 17-year-olds are drawn in by the promise of a lifestyle soaked in alcohol and takeaway grease, as well as a three-year reprieve on actually heading out into the world. Chances are, half of you are making a massive mistake.
Debt, debt, debt
Don’t get me wrong – university can be an amazing and hilarious time. A lot of high-paying jobs do require degrees. If you love something so passionately that you want to study it for years to come, then go for it. But there are downsides: the debt being the biggest one. It’s easy to brush it off when you see your account fill up with your termly loan. But in the rare moments of clarity, you suddenly remember that most of it is just that – a loan. It’s not a grant, and you’ll have to pay it back.
On the flipside, you will need this money (barring fabulously rich parents). There’s just no way out of it! The lifestyle isn’t always as great as it seems – you might be living it up every night to begin with, but everything catches up with you, and the Freshers 14 is infamous for a reason. Unless you’re already a good cook (and so few students are), then you’re probably going to end up relying on the same staid routine or microwave meals. Gourmet, it ain’t.
Choosing the right subject
On top of all this, you’d better hope you love what you chose – there’s no getting out of it now, and everyone around you sure as hell will. Even universities have a minimum pass requirement and you’ll only end up in deeper debt if you can’t graduate first time round. Besides, who wants to spend £9k a year on something they hate?
But despite these considerable negatives, you can still have an amazing time studying – just don’t forget them before you jump onto UCAS. It really isn’t for everyone, and shouldn’t be treated as natural progression. Find what you love, and find a way to do it. University may not hold any of the answers for you, so think before you enroll!
Do you have any more reasons why you shouldn’t go to university? Let us know in the comments below.
Photo: Abd allah Foteih / Flickr
Warwick Editor for Career Camels and Deputy Comment Editor for The Boar.
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