How to decide whether to study for a degree

There comes a time in most young peoples lives to decide whether to pursue further education by enrolling at university and doing a degree course or, to go into employment after high school or college education.

This is by no means an easy decision for some and there are lots of factors that need weighing up before deciding to enrol on an appropriate university degree. While many students make their minds up about going to university long before they are due to go, some remain undecided until it is time to start the application process for university courses.

A lot of publicity, sometimes bad, regarding the huge debts that many students accrue during the course of their university education can scare off some potential undergraduates from pursuing a degree. However this should not necessarily be the only factor that determines whether you should or should not go to university.

The advantages of getting a degree

• A degree is a pass to better jobs – There is no doubt that when people contemplate doing a degree, they think of the better opportunities that will be afforded to them by getting a degree. This is one of the main motivational factors that persuade people to go ahead with a degree course.

• A person with a degree earns more during their working life – There is lot of research showing the earning differentials between people with degrees and those without through the course of their working lives; there is a significant difference. According to the Census Bureau, a graduate (Bachelors Degree) typically earns over $50,000 compared to under $29,000 for those with a high school diploma, while those who do not finish even high school, earn just under $20,000 a year. The statistics are for year 2005. These are significant differences.

• People with degree in managerial position – There is evidence that there a lot more people in managerial positions in most industries that hold a degree than those without. This would indicate that a person with a degree has more chance of getting promoted and hold positions in organizations with more authority.

• Many jobs have degree prerequisites – There are lots of jobs, especially the more technical like those in the computer industry, engineering, stock broking, investment banking to name a few that require a degree in appropriate courses.

• Prestige associated with holding a degree – A degree provides a person with a lot of pride and has a good deal of prestige associated with holding it. In a competitive job market, a degree can hold a lot of value. You are sure to gain some advantage over people that do not hold a degree or have any other higher education qualifications.

Disadvantages of doing a degree

• Possibility of accruing large student debts – Unfortunately, this is one of the main factors that often dissuades potential undergraduates from going on further education. The worries about accruing big debts and then taking years after starting work to pay off debts can be off-putting.

• Getting a head start in working life – Many see themselves as being better off by going to work sooner rather than later. They see that, instead of studying for 3 or 4 or even longer, they can earn a lot of money and gain experience in work during this time.

• A degree may not get you a job – Unfortunately, in a very competitive job market, a degree many not necessarily get you the job that you had been planning. You may have to settle for a job that pays a lot less and isn't at all what you had in mind when undertaking your undergraduate study.

• Some jobs do not require a degree – It is true that some jobs do not require a degree. A person may be better off getting training, either on the job or working part time while receiving training. There are many jobs that are more ideally suited to people with technical knowledge gained through actual experience of work rather than all the theoretical knowledge that an education mostly provides.