For a long time, the path seemed very straightforward – you worked hard at school, got good grades, went to university, and then everything else would just fall into place after that. It was usually presented as the safe – and correct – option, and it was basically expected because it was the responsible thing to do.
But things aren’t quite that simple anymore, and although university can be a brilliant experience because it can open doors in certain professions and gives people time to grow, learn, and work out what it is they want to do, it’s definitely not the only route to a successful or fulfilling life, even if it’s sometimes talked about that way. With that in mind, keep reading to find out whether university is the only path to success.
Success Looks Different For Different People
One of the biggest problems with the idea that it’s university of nothing is that it assumes success only has one definition, and that’s not the case at all – success can mean lots of different things. For example, some people see success as having a specific career that needs a degree, and others see it as running a business, learning a trade, working creatively, or doing more practical things.
That’s why things like apprenticeships, vocational qualifications, starting a business early, or going straight into employment are all good options too, depending on who you are and what you want. In fact, in a lot of industries, you’ll find that experience and skills are just as important (or maybe more so) than a degree.
You just need to understand what suits you rather than going down a path that’s expected, even if it’s not taking you where you want to go.
Academic Pressure Isn’t Always Helpful
Some students totally thrive in academic settings because they enjoy lectures, essays, research, and exams. But others find that environment unpleasant and perhaps even restrictive, and it’s not going to be the right thing for everyone.
For younger students, building good basics and foundations earlier on can make a big difference, no matter whether university is on the cards or not, and support like tutoring personalised to your child can help work out where the gaps are and where their strengths are, which can really help when it comes to working out what to do after school.
The World Of Work Has Changed
Careers don’t really look the same as they used to just a few years ago, and these days you’ll see that a lot of industries are interested in digital skills and practical experience, and some high-paying roles don’t even need a degree at all. Then there are some that might need some extra training, but not necessarily at university.
At the same time, student debt has become a big issue, and although for some that investment makes perfect sense, it a degree isn’t actually needed for the career the child wants to go into, or if an apprenticeship or other route could get them there just the same, then the financial element is going to play a part in the decision about whether university it the right option.
Skills Matter More Than The Route
Look at any job ad or think about interviews you’ve had recently, and it soon becomes pretty clear that employers are more and more interested in finding people who can problem solve, and who have good communication skills, as well as some practical experience if possible. And the best thing is that those things can come from various different routes, and not just through university (although you will tend to learn a lot of them there as well).
What we’re saying is that the route to get to a job is less important than the skills you learn doing whatever it is you choose to do – what someone can actually do, the experience they have, and how they work out problems is what employers want to know about.
Give Young People Space To Decide
One of the most helpful things parents and teachers can do is stop thinking that there’s only one right path for kids to take, and stop asking which university or degree students want to take. It would probably be more useful to ask them what kind of life they want, or what industry they’re interested in working in, and go from there.
The last thing anyone wants is to put children under pressure, but making them think they’ve got to go to university when they don’t actually want (or need) to is going to do just that. But when you support them and help them explore the various options, they’ll be able to choose something that really works for them, and that’s the end result you’ll want.
