I think continuing your education is very important. For many, having a degree is necessary to get where they want. There are a small (very small) percentage of people who have the drive and ambition to get there without it, and yes, Top 100 lists show these people do sometimes make it, but for the majority it just simply isn't the case. Most people can't get there without a degree. I really think the value in education lies in keeping the brain active, networking, teaching you things like critical analysis, and yes, as I think GeeWiz is saying, also encouraging you out of your comfort zone.
Daniel that's pretty appalling that you were not encouraged to differ in opinion from your Arts lecturer. Isn't reasoned debate pretty much the whole point of Arts?

as has been said already, education plays an important role in your growth and development. A degree is a piece of paper and there are some industries which focus on that piece of paper.

It's not to say that not having a degree will be the end of you, and same goes if you don't do well in Year 12. Who has the right to limit you and say that you suck and will not amount to anything just because the State Education system has categorised you in a certain way? It's what you, as an individual, decide to make out of your life and taking responsibility for your actions.

If you decide to pursue a B.Arts or B.Marketing or B.Law, that's your own choice. However take responsibility for it :) I detest the older generation who limit the younger generation because they don't want to study in a Uni and say that they will amount to nothing. That's a pretty arrogant stance. I'm not saying that we're perfect, and nor should we be 'cos how do you learn if you don't make mistakes? You only don't learn if you don't take responsibility for your choices and actions and I'm digressing...

Anyway, to give you a bit of info about me. Back in high school, I also did a Cert IV in Multimedia during VCE (or HSC) and then proceeded to go to Uni to study a double degree of Multimedia/Engineering. I ended up dropping the Engineering as I wanted to go out and work and had had enough of studying. From my 4 years experience in the workforce, it really rings true that you will only apply a very minute of what you learn in uni out in the workforce. Nothing beats having experience.

For the future, I'm heading down a direction which has nothing to do with what I studied in Uni.

Life goes on, people change, choices change. There's always an opportunity if you're prepared to pour your life into it.

University has a purpose, degrees have a purpose but it's not to say that it's a death sentence if you don't have one.

Decide what direction you want to go, or at least...the first step. A career exists for your entire life and will contain many different jobs and experiences. Live it, relish it and appreciate it.

Good luck :)

I'm old. I know a lot of people - degreed and not. For what it's worth: I do not know one person who dropped out of college - or didn't get a degree - who doesn't now regret it.

My brother has a pretty good job, (he has no degree - got in through the back door so to speak). It's still his biggest regret, even though he has a good job.

I think an education is a very good box of tools, and that life is a big job. Why not have all the tools you can? You never know when you're going to need them - even if it's just to open a door later...

Being in univeristy myself at the moment, I do think it is important, but not necessarily because of the education. I go to a liberal arts international university, and they do have a great educational system that doesn't teach you to fall into the norm and helps you learn many practical things (unlike many univerisities, most of the work is practical rather than theoretical), however, the most important thing is the networking. University gives you a chance to meet so many different people going into various fields who may become useful to you later in life, and I feel people are more likely to listen to you if you have a degree behind you. I don't believe that because you have a degree you deserve to be heard more and given more of an opprotunity, but not having a degree is stigmatized. So I think, just go with it. Whether you end up in same career as your degree, great, if not, that's fine also, but overall, its just a nice thing to get your foot into that door no matter what path you decide to take. :)

I was pressured by my parents since Primary school to be something 'great'. They treated me like a child genius. Always expecting A's on my report cards, making me do extra classes outside of school. In High School I was in all of the advanced classes, winning medals from CSIRO etc, etc.

Did they freak out when I left Advanced Science to study Dance.
....In the end it was all for nothing anyway. The constant pressure was too much. I ended up hating study and school all together, developed depression and generalized anxiety disorder - and only just scraped by year 12.
I completed Cert. 3 in Multimedia and Cert 2 in Applied design. I also studied the Advanced Diploma in Multimedia for two years, only to discover that I hate being in front of a computer - I'm a creative person, and I need to use my hands.

I'm 21 now, and even now my decision to study hairdressing and makeup artistry is met with resistance.
I think what's important is that you have to choose a career that makes you happy, whether it involves further education or not. You have to be true to yourself and your talents, and take whatever steps you can to fight for your dream.

x

Post Last Updated:22.04.2008 at 17.33

Parents aspirations can often be so conflicting with our own, and also so damaging. But we can't really expect any different of them, most of us will do the same.

i disagree. im not the type of person to pressure people into doing anything. im a firm believer in do what you want to do not what pays the best. my dad pushed me so much through school i purposly didnt try in yr 12 just to spite him (i realise now not the smartest thing to do). Then again i realised what i wanted to do with my life so i worked my butt off and now in my final year of a 6 years double degree in IT at uni.

Ifyou dont go to uni its not the end..... sum industries you need the piece of paper that says your good. Personally i think its all a joke as experience outweighs a degree

i went to uni and loved it. my current male didnt because he cudn't sit and study like that- and he is vastly more successful than i am. Uni has taught me things though, and we can see differences in our thinking becuase of it- I tend to analyse and process ideas more systematically (this was a taught thing- i dont analyse in any other aspect of my life) where he is more intuition based. If i had kids i would probably make them go to uni. He would probably let them choose- but there is a difference between choosing not to thats backed by reasoning (ie the male chose not to but is in a serious career), and choosing not to because you're lazy (and working at maccas- unless thats ur lifes dream i guess).
Uni does teach you a lot though... and was undoubtedly the most fun i ever had.

Post by ruru

If i had kids i would probably make them go to uni.

Try to "make" your kids do anything at that age!
lol
I have first hand experience on this one. I wish my daughter would go to univ. Hopefully she'll see the light.

lol. i got made to go to uni haha- i guessi t was the brainwashing from an early age that did it :P