Female Forum

Hindsight is a wonderful thing.
When i was in school, we were told “Do your GCSEs, get your A-levels & go to uni, then you’ll get a good job. I did my A-levels(well i started them) and struggled, dropped out and got a job at a hotel,and ever since i have been stuck in the rut of a minimum wage job, only now am i able to change it by going back to college.

If i could advise young people leaving school, i would tell them that going to Uni isnt the B all and end all!, but they dont have to drop out and get and ill paid job either. These people are usually more suited to learning a trade in the local college, gaining experience(which is what employers like) and working their way up.

The old system of Grammar Schools or going to Technical college worked - i think.
The acedemics when to Grammar and the practical students went to tech.

If i could bring one thing back, id bring back the Apprentice option, i think alot of people would be better off with that!.

What do you think?

I agree about University not being the be and and end all. I went, and got my degree and have ended up not using it. There’s people where I work who are the same grade as me and earn the same but because they started straight from school are only 21 (I’m 26) so I feel like I wasted three years and built up a load of debt for nothing. I don’t regret going, because I met some cool people and had some great experiences, but I’m not sure it was worth it.

So my advice to a school leaver would be go to University if you have your heart set on something that needs it e.g. being a doctor or an architect or something. But is you’re just going because it’s the thing to do, maybe think twice and see what else there is.

I definitely agree with you two. I don’t think it is the main point. A lot of parents/teachers are forcing children to go to university and just do ANY course because it would be “better” to have a degree behind their name. I don’t think there should be such a pressure on students to do well. I just done my final year of university, I get my results the 26th of June. And to be honest, I am absolutely terrified. Its in my mind that if I don’t do well...then I fail and I am ‘doomed’ (for a lack of a better word).

I almost feel that if universities become more practical and hands on (like medical students would be for example) it would be really good for students who are better visually and with creativity.

I also feel that it should be made free for the local community. I think they should make and incentive for the children. Say for example if they do go, the don’t have to pay their fees back if they get higher than a certain percentage.

But then again, it should be free and education should be promoted for all children with all different talents. I feel that the government and education board to adapt the teaching strategies to the children, not children adapt to a different school. Say for example have a mixed teaching strategies. See what works better for what student and teach them how to maximize their potential.

Any feedback on that?

Say for example have a mixed teaching strategies. See what works better for what student and teach them how to maximize their potential

this is what my dad used to tell me they more or less did, aparently the kids who passed their 11 plus went to grammer school because they were more accedmically gifted and did well that way, and those who didnt were sent to the college to concerntrate on more pratical hands on work. This system was critisised for segregating children at the time, but i think the kids did alot better for themselves then(with better careers) than they do now!

My advice would be to not let anyone sideline you into picking a career or deciding on what you wanted to do at 14. There is a whole wealth of knowledge to be gained from going to uni, deciding on an apprenticeship even jumping into the first ill paid job and it takes time to work out what makes you happy.

I was once very keen to be an Architect but that changed for me.

Another thing if you do think you know what you want at school leaving age then go for it ‘shoot for the moon’ as they say as even if you change your mind you will gain something from the experience and many skills cross over anyway; not to mention you will look like a go getter to any future employers.

My advice would be, if you don’t want to go to Uni, then get to college and get some practical experience/qualifications. Even if you don’t use them straight away, it gives you a useful skill to fall back on.

All this advice is definitely helping me at the moment. I have just finished university. But I don’t know what I want to do with my degree. I’m not sure if I want to go into teaching or something else. I was so sure what I wanted to do 3 months ago, but now I am having doubts. I suppose the thing is to just keep on expanding your skills, and keep your options open and make best to what you have around you. So I’m going to take the summer to decide what I want to do and be busy writing out my CV and Visa and so on.