Although university applications are at record levels this year and the competition to get a place at university is tough, not everyone considers a degree the key to future prosperity.
One student who has got at A-level an A, two B-s and C, Das Bikramjit Gakhal from Leicester, is not going to enter university although he was offered places after applying. He realized that he doesn’t need a degree in his chosen career of accountancy "on the job". He will work as an audit trainee with MacIntyre Hudson in September and then study with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). 18-year-old Das wrote in his essay: "It's a much quicker route than university - you become chartered in four years".
Das also had a fear of graduating with the debt on his shoulders and although he will lose some social aspects that students have, he considers that all the financial risks during the years of study are not worth taking. Moreover, he was afraid of not finding a job after graduating.
Last year Laura Griggs, 19, from Leeds also chose not to get a place at university and has no regrets now. She hopes to become a chartered accountant by the time she would have got a degree. She says: "It's an enormous debt for three years, when you can get the qualification without getting into debt and earn money at the same time".
According to the website notgoingtouniversity which promises various opportunities for young people, it can be a difficult decision for young people not to enter universities. Sarah Clover, communications director of the website, says: "There is an awful lot of pressure to go to university, which is why the drop-out rate is so high". In 2007, 7.4% of young undergraduates left university after one year, according to the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
David Willetts, Universities and Science Minister, realizes than there are many routes to get a well-paid job, but "further education and on-the-job training are of vital importance, which is why this government is investing in further education and has provided 50,000 extra high quality apprenticeships". Besides graduates are expected to earn at least £100,000 and have better job prospects.
The government says it is almost impossible to become a top professional without a degree. "University is a life-changing, long-term investment that has benefits both for the individual and society generally. It helps individuals hone their thinking and analytical skills, gives them confidence, and the ability to re-skill as life changes."
