Second Post

Interesting report the other night on ITV1 which gave Unis a rough ride for misleading some students on degree employability. Things are changing at a rapid pace and sixth formers are thinking long and hard about their options. Study for three years or start work? More information needs to be provided from Higher Education, Government, Employers, Graduates and experts in the field. GRB will be conducting research into which Universities and degree programmes offer the best employability enabling parents and students to see the facts.

http://www.itv.com/news/tonight/episodes/valueofdegrees/

The more people go to uni the less value a degree is. I din't understand the last government's determination to make 70% of 18yo's go to Uni. It isn't for everyone and a balanced economy needs youngster doing apprenticeships as well as going straight into the work force.

A degree is valuable provided it has given you skills required for your to work in your chosen field.

I agree with bsforrester. Given you gain skills necessary for job, a good degree is still valuable. Personally, I think apprentiships need to be pushed more, I think they're seriously under valued. A friend of mine (very intelligent, but not hardworking acedemically) got onto an apprentiship with Jaguar Land Rover after finishing school. He worked hard at it and now, at 22yrs of age brings home around £30,000 average. This year with all his over time, he will be earning £40,000 - and still has no degree.

What did you graduate in?

Have you any inclination of something you may be interested in? If so, apply for some work experience/temping role in that industry to see if you like it. You never know, it could open other doors for you that you didn't even consider. My friend wanted to go into Marketing, went for a temping role at an agency - ok all she did was work at the reception, but they loved her enthusiam and personality that once her term was over, the head of the PR dept offered her a postion as a PR account exec and now, a few years on, she is a succesful PR manager at the same agency.