pren
Established Member
I've been following this thread with some interest.
I went through Uni 2000 - 2003, following a Criminology & Criminal Justice degree. At the time of choosing my degree, I have to say I had no particular desire to follow a career in that field. I think I only took that course because I'd studied law and sociology at A level and found it really interesting.
My studies were funded by the Student Loans Company. At present I owe them around £9,000. This is repaid when I start earning over £1500 per month, at a rate of 15% of whatever I earn over that level. If I make £1501 in a month, I pay £0.15.
Since graduating, I have repaid £75 as I've never had particularly well paying jobs. At present, I'm working as a furniture maker/assembler for a caravan company. A good use of my education? No.
With hindsight, my decision to go through University was ill thought out. At the time, university was seen as a way of continuing the fun lifestyle I'd found as a 6th former. Repaying the student loan was never a major concern of mine at the time. I remember being told that it wasn't a big deal and that it would only be repaid at a low level over a long period. I think this was from one of the reps from the SLC.
Since graduating, I have never used the knowledge I gained at Uni. In this sense, it was a waste of my time and money. However, the social education and personal development I gained was invaluable. I came from a small town where the majority of its inhabitants were very much of the same mould. Anyone who didn't fit into that mould were considered as strangers. In this category, I'd include non-whites, homosexuals, liberals etc..
University forced people together who would never normally meet. I found that most of my preconceptions of different social groups were totally unfounded. I've met some of the people from my town who didn't go to uni. They're still exactly the same as when I left them. Insular, bigoted and generally a bit thick.
I believe that everyone should be given the chance to be removed from their 'comfort zone' in early adulthood and made to test the preconceptions they have grown up with. Should this necessarily be a university degree at the expense of the taxpayer? No. Can this social expansion and personal development of young adults have a price put on it? Again, no. I'd find it very interesting to see some violent criminality figures illustrating any divide between those who went to university and those who didn't. I'd expect to see a very low percentage of those who attended uni to have a record of 'yobbish, loutish' behaviour.
My time at uni has taught me to keep an open mind and be accepting of others. I've made some lifelong friends and have learned some extremely valuable 'life skills' that I don't think I could have learned anywhere else.
yes, I spent a lot of time drinking and getting stoned. Yes, I ate my bodyweight in potnoodles and was generally unhygienic and unhealthy. I also spent a lot of my time involved in very worthwhile activities that expanded my education in ways no degree course could. I volunteered for and then ran the student support service, Nightline for 2yrs. I think this counted for the bulk of my personal development, making me the person I am today.
I think I've rambled enough now. University is valuable to society, not just in turning out our future doctors, lawyers, engineers etc, but to turning out our future 'model citizens'. If we deny them this for the sake of money, where does that leave us? Financially rich yet socially bankrupt? perhaps.
I went through Uni 2000 - 2003, following a Criminology & Criminal Justice degree. At the time of choosing my degree, I have to say I had no particular desire to follow a career in that field. I think I only took that course because I'd studied law and sociology at A level and found it really interesting.
My studies were funded by the Student Loans Company. At present I owe them around £9,000. This is repaid when I start earning over £1500 per month, at a rate of 15% of whatever I earn over that level. If I make £1501 in a month, I pay £0.15.
Since graduating, I have repaid £75 as I've never had particularly well paying jobs. At present, I'm working as a furniture maker/assembler for a caravan company. A good use of my education? No.
With hindsight, my decision to go through University was ill thought out. At the time, university was seen as a way of continuing the fun lifestyle I'd found as a 6th former. Repaying the student loan was never a major concern of mine at the time. I remember being told that it wasn't a big deal and that it would only be repaid at a low level over a long period. I think this was from one of the reps from the SLC.
Since graduating, I have never used the knowledge I gained at Uni. In this sense, it was a waste of my time and money. However, the social education and personal development I gained was invaluable. I came from a small town where the majority of its inhabitants were very much of the same mould. Anyone who didn't fit into that mould were considered as strangers. In this category, I'd include non-whites, homosexuals, liberals etc..
University forced people together who would never normally meet. I found that most of my preconceptions of different social groups were totally unfounded. I've met some of the people from my town who didn't go to uni. They're still exactly the same as when I left them. Insular, bigoted and generally a bit thick.
I believe that everyone should be given the chance to be removed from their 'comfort zone' in early adulthood and made to test the preconceptions they have grown up with. Should this necessarily be a university degree at the expense of the taxpayer? No. Can this social expansion and personal development of young adults have a price put on it? Again, no. I'd find it very interesting to see some violent criminality figures illustrating any divide between those who went to university and those who didn't. I'd expect to see a very low percentage of those who attended uni to have a record of 'yobbish, loutish' behaviour.
My time at uni has taught me to keep an open mind and be accepting of others. I've made some lifelong friends and have learned some extremely valuable 'life skills' that I don't think I could have learned anywhere else.
yes, I spent a lot of time drinking and getting stoned. Yes, I ate my bodyweight in potnoodles and was generally unhygienic and unhealthy. I also spent a lot of my time involved in very worthwhile activities that expanded my education in ways no degree course could. I volunteered for and then ran the student support service, Nightline for 2yrs. I think this counted for the bulk of my personal development, making me the person I am today.
I think I've rambled enough now. University is valuable to society, not just in turning out our future doctors, lawyers, engineers etc, but to turning out our future 'model citizens'. If we deny them this for the sake of money, where does that leave us? Financially rich yet socially bankrupt? perhaps.
