To Uni, or not to Uni… That is the Question…

And it really is. A cross-generational question, the first big decision point in the venn diagram of your life. Not to freak you out but this is worth a think about.

The Pros, (this is easy)

Parties, sports and unlimited dating opportunities. (If that is your vibe)

And it really is – So long as you pick a uni worth going to (Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool, Sheffield, Bristol, Newcastle). Your tinder will never be dry, your schedule will never be empty and you will always have a smile on your face.

Seriously in terms of night life, your biggest issue will be deciding the genre of music you want to listen to tonight. Or perhaps its sports social night and you want to get sweaty and drink VK untill you recycle it into the street in a rainbow mess of alcopop.

Fancy a chill one? Cheeky zoot perhaps? No more hiding in the park because your eyes are as red as the devil’s dick, you have your own house! Wake and bake bro. The world is your oyster! (not that you’ll be able to afford those).

If this isn’t you, uni’s have societies that cater to the strangest intellectual interests, no matter how niche, there is a society for it. I’m talking LSE’s Hummus Society, the Quidditch Society of both Duram and Sussex, Cardif’s Custard Wreseling Society and the The Zombie Apocalypse Survival Society, apparently the Students of Manchester like to be Prepared. (https://www.grb.uk.com/)

This leads to an often-overlooked advantage of uni, a chance to find your people. As you transition into an adult you may find that your interests and ideas change along with you. At this point you may enjoy the company and conversation of people different to those from your home environment. A chance to make friends with people more aligned with the person you are naturally becoming. This allows your character to develop naturally. Think of it like this. You are thrown into a new environment. No one knows you or your past. The friendships and connections you will make now are a reflection of who you are at this present moment, not the agrogate of everything that has happened prior in your life. A total fresh start. Something to consider.

Independence. Independence for young people is an invaluable resource. From small things like thinking to change your sheets on your own accord, to bigger ones such as going out and finding a job for yourself. At some point you have to leave the bosom of the family home and spread your wings. University fast tracks this, forcing you to develop the skill of independence. While naturally, most people move home for a while post Uni, that taste of freedom, of independence, of not being nagged whether you will be home for dinner or not, will spurn you to take steps to make that a reality for yourself faster. Furthermore, living with your mates is fucking jokes.

Cons, yes there are definitely cons.

Uni is not for everyone. Do not go to uni if you hated studying in school.

Simple as, if you have zero interest in the subject you are considering, find one you like, or don’t go. As I will discuss later, this shit isn’t cheap. So many people go to uni, hate their degree, drop out after a year and are left paying for 1/3 of a degree that they don’t have.

If you didn’t find a subject that you clicked with in school, fear not there are a whole host of other subjects that are generally not studied in school. Do your research. Find a subject that sounds interesting. Look at the reading lists. Read some of it. Then read some more of it.

If the idea of doing this of your own accord sounds like hell on earth, you have failed the test and uni is not for you. As a bear minimum you must, at least, not mind reading material around your degree. Think, you are going to have to attend lectures on a weekly basis. Read countless articles. Construct essays from said articles. How does the thought of doing this sit with you? If you are already thinking, can’t be arsed…, You know what the right call is.

That said, if you are a decent writer and tactical, you can scrape through doing very little work, and many people do this. If that sounds like you, then the decision needs to be made of how much you want the lifestyle, I am not saying this is a bad call. I was ready to study a subject I was not overly passionate about just for the parties before I found a subject I liked.

Money. Uni is spenny. Thanks to the two faced LibDem coalition government, led by Nick Clegg, uni is expensive. 9k a year on Tuition, 5-10k on accommodation and 5-10k on food and living. And if for some unimaginable possibility, you or your parents don’t have a spare 20k a year lying around, loans are available with 7% interest rate which doesn’t wait for you to get a job to start rolling. Yikes! If you are familiar with the idea of compound interest you will know that only those earning a lot, early in their careers will hope to clear this debt. And guess what if you drop out, still gotta pay!

All that said, on average you will earn more if you go to uni. The department of education’s figures show that graduates of working age earn, on average, £10,000 more a year than their peers without degrees. Also, they are less likely to be unemployed.

Moreover, while the debt and the interest can seem scary, it is better to think of it as a small tax. Yes, everyone hates tax, but its just part of life. Nothing certain other than death and taxes and all that¹. A small amount of your paycheck gets taken each month, depending on how much you earn, and no monthly repayments are required until you earn over about £30k (Depends on the loan you take out). For reference, I came out of uni, got a degree level job earning £32k and I think student finance take £30/ month off my salary before I get my hands on it. £30… Think of it as buying the government dinner once a month in exchange for three of the best years of your life, which will likely, result in a more positive trajectory for your life.

So regarding money you need to make that call on your own. Perhaps It is best to think of it as short term con, long term pro. Everyone has to make this call on their own.

1. Benjamin Franklyn. ↩︎