Is getting a degree a must?

Published: 
By Daniel Hurworth, Hong Kong International School
Listen to this article
By Daniel Hurworth, Hong Kong International School |
Published: 
Comment

Latest Articles

Improving concentration and relaxation is a walk in the park – with a dog

Climate change, urbanisation lead to early flowering of cherry blossom trees

Tatler to give fans 50% ticket refund for Messi’s Hong Kong no-show by May

An intense smell from a rare corpse flower attracts visitors in San Francisco

Hong Kong grocery chain DCH goes out of business after 39 years

Hong Kong logs coldest start to March since 2016

Ever since I can remember, my path has been laid out for me: finish primary school, go to secondary school, then go to university.

As a child, I didn't question this. But now I'm about to start my final year of secondary school, and I've been wondering if higher education is necessary.

Some companies are starting to hire students fresh out of secondary school for their creative minds. But most of the time, you need a degree to get a job. For many students, especially in the United States, what university they go to depends on how much they can afford to pay for tuition. There are of course student loans, but that can mean years paying off debts.

Many students who have just finished university say, "I didn't learn much, but I needed my degree".

This is a shame. You might learn some things at university, but not as much as you should considering how expensive it is. But without a degree, you have a very slim chance of being hired.

We students should be able to say "no" to higher education, and still be able to achieve what we want in life.

Daniel Hurworth, Hong Kong International School

From the Editor

Thank you for your letter, Daniel. I agree that it can be hard to get a job these days without a degree. Hard, but not impossible. Some of the most successful people in the world, like Steve Jobs and Walt Disney, didn't go to university. Mark Zuckerberg also dropped out of Harvard to work on Facebook full time. 

You have to be passionate about whatever you do. Employers want people who are interested and focused, and can make their company better.

Going to university shows that you can study well, which is an important skill, but without personality and motivation, it's not worth much.

But a lot of people aren't sure what they want to do, or what their passion is. University can be a great place to explore this. And remember that university isn't just about learning from textbooks. Social skills, independence and time management are all very useful skills and qualities that last a lifetime.

There's no right or wrong path when it comes to learning, just make sure you're happy with your choice.

Lucy Christie, sub-editor

Sign up for the YP Teachers Newsletter
Get updates for teachers sent directly to your inbox
By registering, you agree to our T&C and Privacy Policy
Comment