I would like to comment on the situation as a teacher (from the other side of the barricades, so to speak). I communicate quite a lot with my students and many tell me why they entered and why. Parents and grandparents often force it. Often a person doesn’t know what to do after school, why not go to university? Often girls believe that education is a kind of dowry and that it is more interesting to talk to an educated wife. Many people go because “now there’s nowhere without a tower.” And only a small part comes to receive education with adequate expectations and understanding of the process.

In my opinion, to answer the question of whether it is worth it or not, we need to consider several trends and facts.

1. In general, to all people higher education no need. There are a huge number of jobs and specialties where a person needs specialized secondary education or just secondary education (completed school). For example, to work as a waiter, receptionist, secretary, courier, or barista, it is enough to graduate from school and undergo on-the-job training. If you are satisfied with this kind of work (they pay for it, by the way, often higher than for the work of specialists with higher education), then higher education will simply be a waste of 4-6 years of time (during which you will earn money at work and maybe get a couple of promotions ). Many students want to gain practical skills and algorithms (do it once, do it twice, here’s the result), they want a specific craft, from which they can live. This is a good request, but it is essentially a request for secondary specialized education. And this is not necessarily about electricians, plumbers and car mechanics. There are also hairdressers, manicurists, system administrators, jewelers and many, many others. These are good, necessary and paid professions. You can make a career in them and see the results of your work. Again, if you like this, then higher education will again be a waste of time and lost profit.

2. Unfortunately, people’s attitudes towards higher and secondary specialized education are not the same. In our country, higher education is still perceived with respect and honor. And they often speak about secondary special education with disdain (for example, “ugh, some kind of birder”, “this is for stupid people”, “why couldn’t you at least get into a bad university”?). I think this is completely wrong. This phenomenon has its roots in Soviet time, when specialists with higher education worked in more comfortable conditions, received a much higher salary and moved along career ladder. About 20% of people had higher education, and obtaining a diploma was a powerful bid for social success. The memory of those times is still alive in the minds of our parents and grandparents. The situation, however, has completely changed since the mid-80s (30 years have passed, but the stereotypes remain). The demand for specialists with higher education is not as great as the supply (thousands of university graduates are not in demand). And, on the contrary, the professions of a makeup artist, administrator or call center operator are in much greater demand, they pay more and higher education is essentially not needed there. Why waste 4-6 years?

3. Higher education now performs the functions that were previously performed by secondary education. Previously, the school did not hesitate to leave children who had not mastered it well enough for a second year. school curriculum. A grade of "one" was in use and a two had to be earned. No higher demands were made; the demands were simply adhered to more consistently and clearly. By the end of school, a person had not only a basic set of knowledge, but also a number of social skills sufficient to start adult life. Nowadays, a school graduate is rarely ready for anything. Everyone is given a certificate, repeaters are pulled up to 11th grade (even if they don’t really know the 7th grade program). But in the end, these people need to be sent somewhere so that they can “mature”, gain communication skills, and understand how, what and where. And so they are sent to a university for another 4 years to learn their wits. This is not about a full-fledged higher education, it is about socialization and entry into culture. + Of course, now there is objectively more information and a more complex social structure, people are growing up later than before (a global trend).

4. The quality of higher education leaves much to be desired (this applies to both regular and top universities). There are many reasons for this. This is also the mass exodus of teachers in the 90s. And insufficient funding, insufficiently high salaries. And excessive bureaucracy, endless checks. And as I wrote above, the level of preparation of applicants is not always sufficient (and often it’s not about knowledge, but about the ability to plan your time, communicate politely with teachers, independently complete tasks without super-detailed instructions, the ability to motivate yourself, etc. ).

5. Ultimately, higher education for many is a way to get some kind of magic crust. Its magic lies in the fact that parents and relatives will leave him alone. The magic is that the employer will not show off (and the employer requires higher education both where it is necessary and where it is not necessary).

So is it worth it or not?

If you just want to earn money in peace, the content of your work activity is not so important to you, your relatives are putting pressure on you, and you want to “be no worse than everyone else,” then IT’S NOT WORTH IT. You will lose several years of your life without seeing the point in your actions. You'll miss out on the professional experience and money you could get if you went straight to work.

If it is important for you to engage in a specific job or area of ​​activity that requires in-depth training. If you want to engage in teaching and/or scientific activity. If you want to gain deep knowledge not only about how to do a specific job, but also understand how society and the world work. If you are committed to self-development in the intellectual sphere. Then it's WORTH it.

Higher education is one of the first points in describing the requirements for most vacancies. In fact, HR specialists do not often file higher education diplomas in employees’ personal files. There is an idea that universal higher education is necessary, and life without it will go downhill. But is this really so? The approach to higher education has become overgrown with many clichés. Today we will look at the most common reasons for obtaining higher education, and what they lead to in reality. To understand whether you need to start.

When is higher education needed?

Obtaining a specialty that is impossible to study on your own. And this is perhaps the only one hundred percent objective reason. Indeed, a number of specialties require higher education. For example, becoming a doctor or chemical engineer without long-term specialized training impossible. Higher education provides close control over the acquisition of skills and provides a basis for practicing them in practice.

Initially, the higher education system was aimed specifically at teaching specific skills, the independent development of which difficult, unreliable or even unethical. Over time, higher education began to cover a wider range of activities and expanded to professions that previously did not require higher education.

Increasing the general level of erudition. Higher education primarily teaches not a specialty, but what where to find information and how to process it to learn the specialty on your own. This is one of the key skills for successfully adapting to changing living conditions. Of course, you can learn this without a university, but the institute provides a good opportunity to do this in a short time. If you want to learn how to learn, a college degree can really help. In addition, higher education provides knowledge in general basic academic disciplines - psychology, philosophy, economic theory, sociology, law, conflictology. Basic knowledge on these subjects can only help in life. At least for general development.

A smooth transition from childhood to adulthood. If the two previous reasons apply to people of any age, then this one applies only to school graduates. Adulthood different from the everyday life of yesterday's schoolchild. For many teenagers, the period of adaptation to a new status can be traumatic. Students can become a kind of psychological buffer for saying goodbye to childhood. The reason for pursuing higher education is, of course, subjective and not for everyone. But it’s still a plus sign, because the desire to be a student in order to prolong your carefree youth at least a little more is completely normal.

Whenever it seems necessary

Inability to receive Good work without higher education. The manipulation, beloved by older generations, “if you don’t study, you will become a janitor,” of course, firmly settles in the consciousness and takes on a negative connotation. If such attitudes force you to get a higher education, then it is better to think hard before entering a university or even work with a psychologist. This will help separate real desire from imposed feelings of guilt. Success in life depends on one's ability to adapt, not one's penchant for academic success. But we're talking about something else.

Getting a good job without a higher education is not so difficult, it’s enough have any skills. Doing renovations in apartments, for example, is good work. Being a flight attendant on a passenger plane, responsible for the safety of passengers, while seeing the whole world is also good. Neither one nor the other specialty requires higher education. And the list goes on and on. In addition, some positions that do not require higher education for employment allow you to study at the employer’s expense. This can be done, for example, by the police.

Impossibility of being a respected specialist (and person) without higher education. This reason also requires psychological work. Or, again, real examples that destroy this myth. Midwives, jewelers, architectural restorers - all of them do not have higher education, only secondary education. But it is unlikely that anyone will call their work little respected.

Bad reasons to get a higher education

Parents said - it is necessary. Listening to parents is good, and no one argues with that. But a person lives his life independently and only he determines the need for training, the right specialty for himself, etc. Parents, of course, can advise something, but they must make categorical decisions only about themselves.

Everyone gets a higher education. Doing something for a company is not the path that will lead to success. Getting an education is a conscious, responsible step that can seriously change your life. And this step should be based on personal goals and desires.

Higher education is a great tool that can make you a professional. But it is not necessary for every specialty. For example, many humanitarian areas can be mastered independently much faster and much more deeply than at a university. A trivial example of this is famous writers, poets who did not receive higher education, but throughout their lives honed their literary skills and achieved brilliant success. Technical specialists were also not spared from receiving higher education. Many well-known companies can showcase self-taught programmers on their staff who are in no way inferior to their colleagues with a diploma.

Examples can be given endlessly, but the essence is the same: higher education is not always the only source for mastering a profession

The decision to obtain higher education should be purely individual. Some people really need it; it is simply impossible to carry out certain types of activities without higher education. Higher education is a wonderful tool that can unlock extraordinary potential. But in modern times, even without higher education, you can live with dignity, there is no doubt about that. Therefore, whether you need higher education or not is not controversial issue. This is a question whose solution is determined individually in each specific case. And the decision depends on goals, wishes And existing skills And resources.

Is higher education necessary to achieve success and material wealth? Today this question can already be classified as rhetorical. The employer requires a diploma of higher education; already from elementary school, teachers and parents talk about the importance of studying at a university. At the same time, everyone knows that a diploma does not at all guarantee employment for a good position, but rather ways of self-realization and professional growth in modern world enough without it. In addition, everyone has many successful and decently earning acquaintances without education. Maybe then it’s not worth spending priceless years of youth and significant funds to obtain the coveted diploma?

Some statistics

An analysis of a survey conducted among Russians suggests that higher education is valued quite highly today. Thus, as many as 74% of respondents are confident in the need for it. At the same time, 24% consider early employment of young people a priority.

About 67% of Russians are ready to spend heavily on the education of their children and grandchildren. Moreover, only 57% of older people agree to save for the future of their offspring.

Young people, on the contrary, are more determined - as many as 80% are firmly convinced of the benefits of education.
It is interesting that obtaining a higher education in the eyes of the majority of respondents is not only an opportunity for material well-being, but also a path to self-improvement. This suggests that our population considers spiritual growth and human development important.

Why against

Among those same 26% of people surveyed who are skeptical about higher education, many cite the following arguments.

• Price

It’s good if the graduate is on a budget and does not pay tuition, otherwise the family will face serious costs.

• Time

Why do you need a higher education if you can go straight to work? Anyone young man I want to start earning money and gain independence from my parents as early as possible, and not wait 4-5 years, struggling with textbooks.

• Irrationality of education

Higher education involves studying many unnecessary and uninteresting subjects that will never be useful in the future.

• Number of universities

Nowadays, the number of so-called commercial institutions has increased. Low passing scores correspond to the quality of teaching. The qualifications of teachers in such institutions also leave much to be desired.

• Lack of practical skills of graduates

Unlike technical schools and colleges that provide working specialties, a university provides only theoretical knowledge in the field of profession.

• No guarantees

No one can say with complete confidence that having received the long-awaited diploma, they will be able to get a prestigious job in their specialty.
At first glance, it is difficult to disagree with many statements, because the university really does not provide any job specialty, does not teach how to make money or build your own business. But why then are so many students sitting in classes, taking coursework, tests, laboratory and theses? Maybe, in fact, the race for higher education takes away an extra 4-5 years of youth, after which you will have to go to a lower position and earn pennies, instead of going to work right away and becoming rich and successful.

Of course - for

Naturally, among those who have not graduated from universities there are many people who have achieved success in every sense, so there is no point in saying that having a higher education is absolutely necessary. However, there are many serious reasons to still enroll in a university.

• Developing intuition

A university is not needed for a student to store formulas, constants and theorems in his head. It must teach you to think, understand and not be afraid of completely new tasks and extreme situations. A person with a higher education receives certain skills and a map of such human knowledge that allows him to intuitively make the right decision. This is it true value higher education, and not the presence of encyclopedic erudition.

• Always in good shape

The young graduate has a flexible and powerful brain that is capable of learning quickly. This session clearly proves this! But education is also very useful for older people. By mastering new information, a person forces the brain to work and prevents it from aging. In fact, educated and well-read people do not lose clarity of mind and have excellent memory.

• Connections

Study time is a great opportunity to acquire useful contacts, which we cannot do without in our time.

• Changing career path

Anything can happen in life. Often, even if you have a decent job, you won’t be able to get a job without a specialized higher education.

• "Educated" is a priority

Any manager, when hiring an employee, prepares for the fact that he will have to be trained and retrained, introduced to the realities of a particular enterprise. And it doesn’t matter whether it’s a red-diploma student or just a smart person. However, the “crust” will still be a big plus in favor of the applicant.

• "Walk while you're young"

Student years are the most vivid impressions and memories. They will last a lifetime. This is the time when young people not only learn to be independent, but also fall in love, go out, have fun, and create strong friendships. There is simply no point in missing out on all this!

Many, after receiving an education, do not stop there and continue to develop and improve themselves throughout their lives. Such people often become successful. The main thing here is that education becomes a means and not an end in itself. If a person doesn’t want to learn, why force him? Maybe someone likes the work of a welder, then he should go to a vocational school, where he will be taught the craft and given a decent and well-paid job. And for those who dream of acting, it is better to listen to their heart and boldly comprehend the basics of art. Otherwise, he is unlikely to become a good specialist in another field. How often can you meet those who have studied for 5 years at the institute in a specialty that is uninteresting to them, but do not want to work, and cannot!

You can’t become a dropout either the best option. Such a person cannot be trusted. What employer would want to have an employee who is not used to getting things done?
Therefore, most often the most successful students are those who:

• choose a profession based on the call of their hearts, and not on parental insistence;
• receive education purposefully, consciously, clearly imagining themselves in professional activities;
• do not deviate from their goals and improve their education even when employed.

Who needs your higher education diploma

Often in our time, job advertisements contain a requirement for a higher education.

It is understandable when we are talking about specialists such as doctors, teachers, engineers, lawyers, etc. But why would an employer have a sales consultant with an education, or a secretary, or even a security guard?

Often he wants to be sure that he is hiring a person who, at a minimum, knows how to communicate with people and behave within the bounds of decency. And he hardly needs the crust itself.

This is easy to check by phone. All you have to do is call the ad and ask if you need a higher education diploma. Most likely, you will be told that it is desirable, but not required.
Psychology will explain everything here. By asking the right question, you will show yourself to be competent and an intelligent person, who sincerely does not understand how higher education can be useful in the performance of work duties.

But why then are such requirements presented to applicants? Most often, this is necessary in order to scare away unwanted people who want to apply for a vacant position.

Employer's opinion

To make it easier to understand the employer’s motives, it is enough to listen to the opinion of one of them.
Elena, who is the head of a department at one of the large companies in Moscow, has had to select personnel more than once: “There are professional areas in which you cannot do without higher education in any case - doctors, engineers, teachers... Trade does not require a “tower”, but When selecting employees for my department, I give preference to certified candidates. Why? As an employer, I need, first of all, literate people who can communicate and think. Without education, I’m ready to hire only a person with “bright eyes” and experience.”
Employers are confident that a person who has graduated from a university is able to work, has a broad outlook and knows how to analyze information.

What kind of education to have - everyone decides for himself. And let it not be an extreme necessity or a guarantee life success, but with it comes a career path, and life path may become much easier.

Do you need to get a higher education?

• Educational process in IT *

I recently had a very interesting discussion with a 17-year-old young man, which began with his phrase, “Mark Zuckerberg dropped out of school and became successful.” I saw in him the same stupidity and naivety that was in me, with the only difference that when I was 17 there was no Facebook, and my “uneducated” and successful idol was Bill Gates. I diligently explained to my parents that they were completely wrong, and that success can be achieved without a higher education. They, in turn, hammered into my head that with a diploma from a good university I would never be left without a job and stuff like that. In a discussion with a young man, I became convinced that this issue is still relevant. I hope that this text will help all 17-year-old “me” who cannot understand whether they need to study at a university or not.

“You won’t find a job without a diploma”

“Mark Zuckerberg dropped out and became successful”

Classical education or self-education

Do I have enough motivation to develop?

Three main assets

Tags: higher education, university, diploma, self-education, motivation

Modern youth do not quite understand whether higher education is necessary in our time. In the Soviet Union, a specialist who received a “tower” could count on good workplace with high wages. Today, not all graduates with several higher educations can find themselves suitable job. And people with a secondary education have no problem getting jobs in companies and within a few years grow into chief managers and directors. Do you need a higher education to get a job today? Read about it below.

Why go to university?

Looking through biographies famous people, one can understand that many do not have higher education. These people either left the university on their own or were expelled. Young people are inspired by the examples of such individuals and do not want to waste time on learning. Is it good? No. Why does a person need to go to university? To gain basic knowledge of the profession. Someone might say that the knowledge taught at the university is always out of date by at least 2-3 years. And indeed it is. But still, in a higher educational institution they teach the basics that help the graduate get the job of his dreams. If a person has chosen his development vector correctly and is interested in studying at the university of his choice, he will be able to become a good specialist in 4-5 years. By combining theoretical knowledge with practical skills, a student can quickly and stress-free understand how to work under tight deadlines, how to take criticism and how exactly to work on mistakes. The knowledge and experience that students gain at university stays with them for life.

Is it possible to find a good job without education?

Theoretically, this can be done. But in practice it is very difficult. Today the state is making every effort to ensure that leadership positions are occupied by people with higher education. And in the pedagogical sphere, a similar trend is also observed. If you want to work in a municipal institution, then you simply need to have a higher education. Do I need to get a degree to work for a private company? In most cases, yes. But there are also exceptions. For example, if you are a good specialist in your field and you have a desire to grow in the field in which you work, then no one will look at your education. But if you are applying for the position of an intern, that is, a person without work experience, then the first thing you will be asked about is a diploma in your specialty. Therefore, if you do not want or cannot study on your own, then you simply need to go to university.

Personal development

Why do people go to university? To become versatile developed person. In any specialty, wherever you enter, in addition to core subjects, you will be taught languages, as well as given knowledge that may be useful to you in a related field to your main activity. For example, if you are studying to be an architect, then you just need to know art history, if you plan to become a chef, you need to study culture different countries, and if you see yourself as a dancer in the future, you need to have a good understanding of fashion history. You are wondering whether a programmer needs a higher education. You don't need it to become a highly specialized specialist. You can find all the necessary knowledge on the Internet. But to become an interesting person who has a broad outlook, you need to go to university. After all, in addition to computer science and mathematics, you will study probability theory, physics, mechanics, etc. Related areas of knowledge are not as useless as many people think. You should always remember that there is no such thing as too much knowledge in life.

Is there a difference between those who received and those who did not receive an education?

To answer this question, you need to compare two individuals. In most cases, there is an intellectual gap between people who have completed secondary education and those who have received higher education. This does not mean that some people are worse and others are better. This means that among the people who graduated from the university there are many scientists, writers, poets and other celebrities. Among people with an unfinished “tower” or without one at all, there are also intellectuals who have achieved success, but there are only a few of them. If you compare average people, their lives are fundamentally different. Those with higher education prefer to spend their leisure time culturally. They go to theaters, museums, social events, lectures, etc. And people with secondary education prefer to relax in clubs, bars and restaurants. They do not strive for their spiritual saturation; art is indifferent to them. And for the most part there is nothing to talk about with such people. Are you thinking about whether to get a higher education? If you want to be a person with a capital P, it is simply necessary. It helps people become organized, find their path in life and their calling.

Is a second education necessary?

If you have ever gotten a job, then you will not wonder whether you need a higher education diploma. Of course it is needed. But is it necessary to get a second “tower”? Everything here is very individual. If you received your first education for your parents, and this is a fairly common situation in our country, then there is nothing wrong with receiving a second higher education. But if you liked your studies and you decided to get another education in order to avoid work, then this is great stupidity. The knowledge gained at university is quickly forgotten. If you don't practice the skills you've learned, after a few years they will go away and you'll have to learn all over again. Therefore, you should not run away from work. There is no point in getting a second education in the same specialty. The institute provides a good foundation, but remember that it teaches you outdated knowledge. Therefore, it is better to obtain all the necessary additional information not at the university, but at specialized courses.

Courses and trainings

Do you need a second higher education, you understand, but what is its difference from short-term courses? At the university you will receive basic knowledge, which will then be convenient and very easy to add new information to. Without a strong foundation, you will not be able to build either a house or your temple of knowledge. The courses will benefit those who can apply the information they hear. Remember that a person cannot take away more from a training session than they can understand. And in order for all the information you listen to not be useless, you must have a good understanding of the area you are studying. Don't believe advertising that promises that by completing magical courses in a month, you will become an artist. The basic knowledge, and most importantly, the practice that you will receive in a specialized institution, cannot be compared with the grains of knowledge that you will be given in courses. The same goes for marketing and accounting courses.

Trainings are good when you improve your skills and are not trying to acquire a new profession.

What do employers value?

You just graduated from university and are wondering whether higher education is necessary in our time. If you have just started looking for a job, here are some tips on who employers want to see in a company.

• A person not only with a diploma, but also with a head. A graduate must have a good understanding of his field of specialization, and not just have a piece of paper stating that he spent 4 years at the university.
• The desire to learn is just as important as having a diploma. Graduating from higher education educational institution, the graduate must understand that his education does not end there. He will have a lot more to learn, understand and master.
• Active life position. Most employers want positive employees who take initiative and are not afraid to express their opinions.

How to pass an interview and get the desired place in promising company?

• Be confident in yourself. Employers love people who know they can handle the responsibilities assigned to them. You need to show the director or the person who will interview you that you are a good, albeit novice, specialist. Do not ask questions like “is higher education necessary in our time?” You can make jokes, but it is better to appear in the role of a serious person.
• Show a good portfolio. During your studies, you completed many projects that were yours coursework. Feel free to show them off. It is best to show your abilities in practice.
• Bring diplomas and awards to the interview and show them. Let your future employer know that you have something to be proud of.

How to become a department head within a few years of working in a company? Remember the role of higher education in our time. Should you boast about your knowledge? You shouldn’t show them off, but people should still understand that you are a good specialist. And in order to maintain your knowledge at the proper level, you should take additional training courses at least once every six months.

To get into leadership, you need to take the initiative. Don't be afraid to take on additional responsibilities and offer interesting ideas to improve your company's performance.