Was it worth going to University?

Oh yeah, worth it.

I did ten years in the field I got two degrees in. I might go back to that field again someday.

I learned invaluable experiences both in the field I was taught to do and in life/social experience.

I made life-long friends there that I have managed to keep since then.

Yeah, I’d say it was worth the intense student loans.

I can understand that 

I was on the earlier phase of the student loan so it was different to how it is now. I didn't plan on my health taking a nose dive like it has. As an investment in myself it was worth it. But then I did it for me, not for anyone else, I didn't care if I got a 1st or a 3rd, I just wanted to enjoy this precious time of learning, something I'd never really had before.

Interesting take, but is the debt worth it if no job at the end 

I didn't go to uni, I got an level 6 qualification in 2020 because someone said I was competent to do the role I was doing because I didn't have a qualification so I got the qualification to prove them wrong 

I think at 16 we asked kids to decide what they want to do for the rest of their lives and that we give the false impression that you can do any job you want if you have passion go and do it 

The reality so few end up in careers they did uni qualification in and those who do fight hard to get into the industry 

Even roles we think we need people to work in have no guarantee a job after training, my niece designed to do the uni route to become a paramedic, and yet students a year above her are being told no experience no job

But students on apprenticeships for the same job are finding it easier to get a job, so we have thousands coming out of uni with massive debt and no job in the role they got debt in

With regards to student loans it's stupid the whole system, apparently only around 30% of student loans are ever paid back, and I question the whole interest, what's the point of interest?

• Has me wonder are loans backed by an outside source and government ends up paying extraordinary amount of money in interest to an outside backer
• If no outside backer and money does come from taxes, then do they keep it like this for fiscal drag?

One of the reasons student loans rack up so much debt is because unless you earn more than £39k a year you are always paying less than interest each year 

At lower end £30 a month, is not touching anything 

Apparently the AVG student debt is £53000 so why don't they make it interest free, but everyone, regardless of earnings pays that figure back over 40 years at £110 a month.

Then everyone would pay back and we wouldn't need the stupid interest and if people are going to say but those on minimum wage can't afford £110 a month, then maybe it's time to consider if jobs at minimum wage should need a degree and if they do businesses she invest in training more 

I keep thinking about retraining , but I'm not going to get into that much debt at my age without knowing there is a high chance of a job 

I just don't think most uni students are in roles with a high chance of a job at the end 

I went from 2004-2008 and studied medaeval history and I loved it. I didn't go because I wanted a job out of it, I did it for me, because I wanted to, I already had one trade and was in the process of setting up another business when my health intervened and I became to unwell.

Would I do it all again, yes, but, the sort of courses that interest me are few and far between as theres no obvious route to a job. A history degree is not a mickey mouse degree, it's serious academic study where you learn real transferable skills. I would think twice about getting into the amount of debt students are faced with today and the student loans system is an outrage.

Education, especially at university level is about so much more than the subject you study, it's not a training course, it's not just about the university life, it's all the skills you learn the knowlege you pick up about other subjects from talking with friends. The teaching isn't just about sitting in class rooms, its about learning how to learn, not being spoon fed by teachers, its about learning how to research, how to think critically about your subject, how to write clearly, concisely and put a point of view across, whilst citing sources you agree with an why as well as those you don't.

I loved being around interesting and interested lecturers, the resourses of a university library, I enjoyed the work too, of being able to focus on particular areas of my chosen subject deeply.

I don't think I could do it now though, I'd never cope with the tech!