• Question: What benefits have you got from going to university, is it worth it?

    Asked by anon-214016 to Helen, Farah, Dave, Cheryl, Bastian, Alun on 11 Jun 2019.
    • Photo: Alun Owen

      Alun Owen answered on 11 Jun 2019:

      I developed so much as a scientist and a person going to uni and I made friends for life. I probably could have still got into science without my degree but I wouldn’t be where I am now. University is definitely worth going to 😀

    • Photo: Dave Underhill

      Dave Underhill answered on 11 Jun 2019:

      I didn’t go straight to university, I drifted from job to job trying to work out what I wanted to do. When I was about 20 I was admitted to a psychiatric hospital and when I came out I realised I need some proper focus in my life, but I was still unsure what to do. Before very much longer I needed to have surgery which meant I was laid up at home for an extended period. That is when I finally decided to take the plunge and did a distance learning certificate in archaeology (which had always interested me as I had been a historian). I suddenly discovered I was good at it and really enjoyed it. I haven’t looked back since. I can honestly say going to university probably saved my life! It gave me focus and direction, I have learnt so much not just about archaeology but about myself. I would say that University is definitely worth it, but it isn’t for everyone. I think it is most important to work out what you want to do even if that means taking a year or two out to gain perspective and work that out. Then once you have decided, and if university is the way forward, investigate the lecturers and make sure they are the best in your chosen field. When at University you really do get out what you put in, if you engage and work hard you will learn and excel.

    • Photo: Farah Elahi

      Farah Elahi answered on 11 Jun 2019: last edited 11 Jun 2019 9:14 am

      Well I wouldn’t have been able to do a PhD without going to university first and doing a degree. I would say it depends on what career you would like to go into. If you want to be a Medical Doctor, Lawyer, Teacher, Vet, Dentist for example, you will need to go to University and get a degree. When I went to university 11 years ago to do my undergraduate degree, it was common for us all to go to university (fees weren’t as expensive then as they are now). However today with the rise in university fees + more flexible opportunities to undertake apprenticeships and training after secondary school, I would say your choices are different to what mine were 11 years ago.

      My advice would be to think long and hard about what career you would like to do; talk to your family, teachers, career advisors at school and reach out to your school alumni and find out what advice they have for you. They will know more about the most appropriate way for you to start your career (i.e. going to university or going down an alternative route). Do not choose a particular path simply because your friends/peers have chosen it – its easy to be influenced. Also don’t feel like you have to make a choice straight away. I think there’s a lot of pressure for students to know exactly what you want to do after school, and therefore some people might make decisions without thinking them through properly. If you’re not sure about what you want to do, take time to think about it. You’ll appreciate it later on in life.

      University is what you make of it – its a chance to learn about a subject you’re passionate about, make friends for life, become independent, and develop a career. I couldn’t imagine my life without going to university, but I appreciate it is not for everyone and everybody’s path is different

      I hope this helps 🙂

    • Photo: Helen Faulkner

      Helen Faulkner answered on 11 Jun 2019:

      I really enjoyed my time at university so I would definitely say it’s worth it.
      You learn so much more than just the subject you are studying, you learn independence and resilience and social skills that are really useful later in life.

      I would say choose your course and your university carefully as some are better than others and some are more well known than others which can be a plus on your CV.
      Also you are going to be living in that area for at least 3 years so choose a place that you want to live in.

      I would also advise joining sporting teams or groups as I didn’t and always wished I had.

    • Photo: Cheryl Williams

      Cheryl Williams answered on 11 Jun 2019:

      I really enjoyed uni. I went to the University of Birmingham which is 100 miles away from home so I had to live there, and consequently grow up fast! It gave me independence: I was still reliant on my parents doing a lot for me. There was also a lot of studying, I seemed to go to more lectures than all of my flatmates combined! I had to work hard for my degree and I think this has prepared me more for the world of work. I learnt a lot of skills at uni that I still use today in my job, and for me the uni experience was worth it.

      Having said all that, the career pathway for my job has changed significantly in the last 10-15 years since I graduated. You don’t have to go to uni full-time to get a healthcare science job. You can now do a part-time degree whilst working on placement in the lab, and we are looking at introducing apprenticeships for students coming straight out of school/college. I think this is a good opportunity for someone who may not be able to afford to go to uni to pursue a career in healthcare science.

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