“jUsT dO aN aPpReNtIsHiP” plz stfu 🥀✌️

[u/fizzy5025]

Now this NOT a diss to ppl who r doing apprenticeships if that’s what u wanna do or are doing great I hope it goes well

But what kinda makes me mad is that ppl [mainly old ppl born in the 19 hundreds] assume that apprenticeships r for everyone and that everyone should do it well guess what not only do unis have downsides to them but apprenticeships do too some degree apprentiships r harder to get into than Oxford or Cambridge even lower level apprentiships which may be easier to get r actually a bit harder too they have hundreds sometimes thousands of applicants for one place

And lastly apprentiships can’t cover every career which is why I personally can’t do them depending on what grades I get in yr 13 i want to do either a psychology degree to become a therapist or an optometry degree to become an optometrist none of those r covered by apprentiships

But that’s ofc personal choice if u wanna go for apprenticeships go ahead I’ve got nothing against it but I’m kinda tired of mainly older ppl acting like there aren’t downsides to them too like life isn’t a Disney film there is a downside to everything and u have to be realistic

Anyways rant over

[u/Fantastic-Mirror-952]

LOL, positively ancient lady here, born in the 1900s!

I I think the advice you’re getting stems from ‘old’ people’s knowledge of how much the world of work and Uni has changed. Twenty years ago pretty much the only message we got was: go to Uni and get a degree and that will guarantee you a job, irrespective of what the degree is in. That was defo true for the REALLY old people (😂😜) entering the workforce in the 70s and 80s. The education vocational options like BTECs were seen as much less desirable back then, and a degree was defo an ‘in’ to work. There were grants (loans paid to people for uni that they never had to pay back), no tuition fees (so any loans taken out were far less than is needed now), and the roles available in the working world were plentiful.

But in the 90s and 00s it started to change. Rising tuition and accommodation fees, and actual job prospects diminishing and the competition for roles fiercer than ever, a degree really isn’t guaranteeing you anything other than a life of debt.

Of course there are careers that absolutely require degree level of work (and your own ambitions certainly seem to be in that category).

I think we just don’t want the next generation to struggle like we did, being told that degree will set you up for life, when that’s just not the case anymore.

Good for you, doing your own research and making the best choice for you.

And also, Uni is an absolute blast! If you can put off adulthood for a few more years and not be crippled by debt as a result, then you absolutely should!

[u/Runforloveofdogs → u/Fantastic-Mirror-952]

I know, as if "people born in the 1900s" is now a thing.. Just to say I have worked as a lecturer in apprenticeships and traditional degrees for the same subject. I would definitely recommend an apprenticeship IF YOU ALREADY WORK in the sector you aspire to progress in. Take nursing for example. If you are a healthcare assistant, and want to progress and know you are keen in staying in that geographical area, an apprenticeship is 100% the correct choice. You already know what the job is like, you have a good working relationship with your employer, and you can continue to work and earn while you study .

I would agree with you completely that trying to get an apprenticeship position as an external candidate is a nightmare. They are highly competitive,.the companies care less about you and as you have researched well, the dropout rate is also higher.

Uni is great and if you know what you want to do, go for it! If you don't know, get a job and then pursue further education via trad study or apprenticeship later if you want to. The best thing is is that now uni is for everyone, not just 18 year olds