When finishing school, many of us feel the pressure to go into further education of some sort. With so many options available, it can be daunting to choose which route to take. Apprenticeships, university, traineeships, college and vocational courses all offer excellent opportunities to enhance our education. Around 7 in 10 school leavers discuss their options with family members. Parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles often take a keen interest and love to offer their advice on the topic. Teachers are another influential source, naturally so given the impact they have on our education. Sometimes, however, this advice can feel more like pressure.
Back in 2018, researchers conducted a survey of UK school leavers. Half of those who participated reported feeling pressured to go to university, over other further education options. This figure increased the next year, with two thirds of students feeling pushed towards university courses. This is linked to the fact that young people feel the stress of choosing their career from a school age, with the focus for many being to attain top grades. Once achieved, university has been the traditional next step.
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How has this happened?
Typically, schools prioritise assisting learners through the UCAS application system. As a consequence, less time is given to outlining alternative options. This can have the effect of creating the impression that university is the best next step. Vocational courses are often seen as the option for those “less academic” and, as a result, are viewed as less valuable qualifications. When surveyed, only one in seven parents thought their children would benefit from taking part in an apprenticeship. In contrast, over 56% of parents believe university is the best next step for their children.
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Do the facts back up the ideas?
While many professions, including doctors, lawyers and engineers demand a degree, this isn’t always the case. Studies have found that many top employers actually tend to value work experience over top grades. This may come as a surprise to some. However, young people are becoming more aware about this. Many feel the added pressure of gaining relevant and valuable work experience alongside their further education. This can lead to a massive impact on mental health amongst university students. Almost 9 in 10 reported struggling with feelings of anxiety, which is a very worrying figure.
Apprenticeships can be a great way of combining learning with on the job experience. This is helpful for many learners who do not actually know what they want to do as a career straight out of school. If it’s not working out, it is much easier to explore alternative options, leaving with transferable workplace skills rather than large amounts of student debt. The UK government also offers many different funding choices.
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University benefits
For those who do choose university, there are some great benefits. Social networking is a major one. Making links with current and past alumni can help build a strong professional network, which is key in certain industries. Research and innovation options are another. Many universities fund research into areas from science and health to sociology. This has lead to vast improvements in infrastructure and breakthroughs in scientific fields from the work done in university laboratories.
The Instagram version of university life may seem like a series of nights out, fancy dress events and lazy days in the sunshine. However a surprising study found that the students who are the happiest are those who spend more time working on their degree. This points to higher levels of engagement with their courses. It also has an impact on their mental health. The director of the Higher Education Policy Institute, Nick Hillman, said their research indicated that ‘Things like student wellbeing become a problem when students feel helpless and directionless and they have lots of time to sit around worrying rather than getting on and engaging with their discipline.’
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So what is the best choice?
The final choice is always up to school leavers themselves. The best thing we can all do is to help them explore as many different options of further education as possible to relieve some of the pressure. We can additionally provide them with as many transferable skills as possible. WiseUp Team Building provides events which teach and improve many of these skills. From communication and leadership to resilience and problem solving, our school activity days are great preparation for learners. Whether they choose university, college, an apprenticeship or to take some time out to travel and explore, we can help get them ready. Contact us today to discuss your requirements.
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