University? - by Jeff Hutton (From Your Local Guardian)

University? - by Jeff Hutton

5:18pm Monday 20th August 2007 in News

Recently on the television their has been the news regarding the whole university debt issue and I'm sure many people are asking is it really worth it?

I don't really though the actual figures on this subject but the idea is that those who go to university have a higher salary in life than those who don't, yet this is now being put into question.

For me I got a reality check when I did some summer work at a music studio in the whole new media career path. It became so apparent that especially in the new media sector such as web, video, audio etc employers are looking more for experience than they are for qualifications! This obviously cant be true in all jobs but from my experience and many I've talked to in the new media world they will look at a candidates CV and the first thing they will look for is their experience within the industry.

It seems all well and good going to University, falling into debt which is simply inevitable with the cost of living, tuition fees and course materials, which are covered by various grants and bursaries but not all the costs are covered and debt is inevitable and what do you expect once you've completed your degree? A full time job in your chosen path I guess, so imagine your frustration when you get turned down because you haven't had enough in work experience and instead someone the same age as you who has never been to university and instead has been working for the last three years get the job, that must be quite painful to take, as a family friend of mine discovered the other day.

So what to do? I cannot give you an answer I'm afraid, its down the what you want at the end of the day. Me I've just quit college half way through my course after being offered a full time job at a music studio in London, the salary is basic but in a year I will have gained huge experience in the new media side of things which those staying at college and planning to go to university may not get, so in a few years time when I go for a new job in the new media field and I'm up against a fresh out of university student with a degree but no full time experience in the job, I don't think ill be too worried, but that's my opinion.

So maybe University isn't worth it? I doubt that is true, we all know the life experiences that can come out of going to university, becoming much more confident with yourself, becoming independent and at the end of the day a degree which gets you a job and a salary which is what all teenagers at the end of the day want when there older, well most.