A waste of time, energy and money?

I have found myself questioning the worth of my degree. Lectures are posted online, and seminars don’t require compulsory attendance, yet I am studying law at a top 10 university. I sometimes think I pay a significant fee purely to use the library facilities. The social life is great, and I have met some people who will remain good friends, but the culture of universities can often be quite draining.

I see the value in an apprenticeship, however it’s very difficult to train as a Solicitor without obtaining that magical piece of paper. As I attend open days at law firms, I am routinely told that Solicitors don’t use anything they learnt at university as part of their job; I question why my profession cannot incorporate people who want to train on the job. I would happily have left school at 16 and worked in a law firm doing basic admin, and then gradually built-up knowledge and practical skills. I could have earnt money early on in life and if I needed to study academically, I would happily have taken a year long study break, but 3+ years is stretching it.

I understand that university is an opportunity to ‘find yourself’ but I could spend 12 months backpacking to discover who I am! It can be an opportunity for people to change direction and learn new skills which can’t be measured purely by exam results. However, the debt that you’re left with at the end of the degree and the competition for jobs is always going to be there, regardless of the economic situation.

It’s not just me who has started to question the value of a degree, according to London recruitment firm Hays; “Almost half (45%) of employers now think it’s not important for a job applicant to have a degree, while only 16% say they wouldn’t consider an applicant without a degree”.

There’s also an argument that degrees might not be fit for the future. The World Economic Forum estimate that 65% of children starting primary school today, will work in jobs that don’t exist yet! Soft skills alongside practical experience will have far greater weight than that piece of paper.

As I’m in my final year of studying law, it’s too late for me to change course and I was always going to obtain a degree given the requirements of my role. I wonder what my university will look like in 20 years’ time, even 10 years’ time. If it’s still operating like a glorified public library, students will demand more value for money and employers should do the same.