University is a golden ticket to success, right? Or is it?
Three things I’ve noticed that are on the increase in recent months:
One: Discussions on Linkedin about whether students are customers or whether the relationship is something different.
Two: Debates on social media about whether university is worth it, or whether apprenticeships are better.
Three: Newspaper headlines suggesting that university might not be the golden ticket everyone thinks it is.
The common theme to all of these is the idea that going to university is a simple, transactional relationship: you go to university, pay your fees, and your attendance at university provides you with a more successful future. The best universities will, of course, provide you with an even better future than other, more ordinary universities.
But it’s all nonsense. University simply doesn’t work like that. For the simple reason that each of us are different. We all have a different starting point. We all have different skills and abilities. We all have different hopes, aspirations and expectations. And, bluntly, some of us work harder to achieve these than others!
Yes, a student is a customer who pays tuition fees, and they should expect value for money; great teaching, facilities and support. But going to university is no more a guarantee of success, than joining a gym is a guarantee of fitness.
Whether a student benefits from their time at university is, just like with gym membership, far more to do with the effort they put in than anything else.
Now sure, you want to choose your university wisely, just as you would a gym.
Looking for the best gym for you?
You want a place with good quality, and up-to-date facilities which match your particular interests. You want great trainers and coaches in the sports and disciplines you want to get good at. You want enjoyable and inspiring classes that appeal to you, and that fit with your lifestyle. You might even want to know who else has been to that gym, and whether they got fit.
And to find this all out, you’ll speak to friends and family, you’ll look at reviews, you’ll read guides on choosing the best gym, and of course you’ll go and visit to see which you like best.
But ultimately, when you choose to sign up for your gym membership, you know full well that however good the gym, the facilities, the coaches and the classes are, the main thing that will determine whether you are successful at getting fit will be you.
Will you go to the gym regularly? Will you take the classes that are recommended? Will you follow the trainer’s advice and do the exercises set for you? Will you stick to their dietary advice? Will you stay back and do more, even when it’s not part of the programme?
And the sooner we all realise that it’s exactly the same for university, the better.
Going to university is not a guarantee of success. It’s an opportunity to shine. And whether you shine or not? Well, that’s up to you!
For more thoughts on how to make the most of your time at university, have a look at:
