1. Your degree might not be relevant to your job
This is a sad truth, but most of what you will learn at a university will never be applied to your actual job. Of course, some courses such as medicine are more relevant if you go on becoming a doctor, but even in this case many things that you have learned will not be relevant to your day-to-day work.
From my personal experience, many of my fellow university friends work in completely different spheres from what they pursued at a university. A chemistry graduate who now has a technology start-up, a history graduate working in investment management and an economics graduate working in PR!… You get it, your degree does not define your first, second or last job!
So if you studying or planning to study a subject that won’t define your career, why fixate on the degree when at university? Think of your passions, actual life goals and spend a little more time achieving these.
This is not an advice to slack off your lectures or get crappy grades, this is just a thought to take it easy. If you hate a subject, failed an exam or find a lecture super boring, that’s okay! Re-focus your energy somewhere else and see a bigger picture.
2. You might hate your course and/or studying in general
Again a sad truth, that I was too close to at some point during my undergaduate course.
Your course might not be the right fit for you. At all…and completely. It is hard to know what you will enjoy before coming to university. Even if you loved physics in school, and read numerous books on the subject and won school competitions, when it comes to studying physics at university you might hate it. Or you might be very bad at it. Or both!… It is a possibility.
So you might realise you hate your course when you halfway through your education so you just stick with it. So why waste your time trying to fall in love with the devious subject? I suggest putting just enough effort to get a decent employable grade and aim the rest of your focus into something you actually enjoy. I advice getting a part-time job, learning some real skills and getting some cash instead!
3. You won’t remember most of what you have learned
The brain is like a 16GB iPhone – it has space but it is never enough! And we must keep on deleting files for new stuff. So we end up forgetting a lot of things, especially the knowledge we do not use (refer to my point №1).
So upon finishing a university course, be grateful if you remember 20% of the content. Realistically it will be less and the amount of knowledge will decrease every year. Until you will eventually forget the title of your dissertation you worked so hard on!….
What you won’t forget is this amazing trip to a fun fair with your best friends, the surprise birthday party you threw for your college boyfriend, the first part-time job, and your embarrassing dancing at the university ball! (did not happen to me)
So while at university make sure to make space for memories your brain will never want to erase! 🙂
4. Degrees and disciplines change a lot over the time
This is a short point, but most of the degree content changes a lot over the time. Except for perhaps Philosophy, where it seems the older the theory the better! J
New history is written, new medicine is invented, new construction techniques are developed!
So be prepared, that most of what you have learned will not be relevant to your profession in a decade. To remain an expert in your field, you will have to keep on learning and learning, even if originally you got your degree from Oxford!
Hence please do not get stuck on understanding a certain concept, model or book – there is a possibility it will not be relevant in a near future!
What I mean to say is – a degree is a good start to becoming an expert, but it is just such a small part of your professional success in our constantly changing developing world.
5. You might find a different passion
University is a great opportunity to continue your existing hobbies or a chance to try something new.
One of my friends studied Chemistry as an undergraduate, and damn was she good at it! One of the best on the course with a top dissertation grade. But she also wrote for a university magazine. First about science, but then about everything on earth. She is a journalist now, even though everyone was betting on her becoming a successful chemist.
And that is an awesome example, you need to be open to new passions in your life. You can be good at your subject, but you should never hesitate to explore other things that interest you. Who said a scientist can’t be an amazing journalist?
So when at college, please follow at least one of your passions. You might hate it, you might suck at it, but for a little chance of finding your real purpose in life it is a small risk to take!
6. Most useful life skills are learned outside the classroom
Having studied social science at university, I need to accept that many degrees are much more relevant to the real world careers. I am sure a degree in engineering or pharmacy will equip you with real skills for your job.
But even best professional degrees will never teach you independence and how to take care of yourself. The only way to acquire this skill is to move out from your family, preferably to a new town (I suggest new country!) and start your little independent journey. And what a best way to do it than moving to a university town!
Along independence university experience will teach you how to get along with people from various backgrounds, cultures, and ages! I believe in a professional world it is called “communication skills”. And what surprising is, these skills are not taught at lectures. You will learn them when sharing a house with a difficult friend, having a new boss every month in a pub you worked part-time at and getting along with teammates in your university sports team!
7. You might suck at your degree
Yes, unfortunately, there is a chance you won’t be very good at the discipline you choose to study. All of us have certain talents, while we struggle with other skills. So there is a chance you will find it hard to succeed at your degree even though you did well in school and got in a good university in the first place.
And that is fine if you learn to accept it in a positive way. So what if you are bad at advanced mathematics and you are struggling to get these top grades in Economics? Your success is not defined by your ability to understand complex theorems.
Academic knowledge is good, but it is not necessary for many careers. If it turns out that you are working hard, but good grades are not coming your way, just do your best. Just make sure while you are chasing these grades, you don’t forget to enjoy your university experience.
8. Life is meant for good friends, not good grades
And finally, very obvious and extremely positive point. I promise you, you will make friends for life at university. You will meet people that will inspire you, people you fall in love with or people that will make your life better.
And no knowledge in the world can replace amazing friends you get to share your university life with.
Do you agree with my reasons? Let me know your thoughts in the comments section – would love to hear your opinion on this topic.
Also, do check out my post on how to choose a university to study in the UK.
Best of luck from Mind The Grad!
